SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

LESSON 1: BEGINNING OF SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO  Together with then-chairman of the Department of

Psychology at the University of the Philippines, Dr.
Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) – refers to the
Alfredo V. Lagmay, Enriquez embarked on research
psychology born out of the experience, thought and
into the historical and cultural roots of the Philippine
orientation of the Filipinos, based on the full use of Filipino
Psychology.
culture and language. (Pe-pua & Protacio-Marcelino, 2000)
o Developed two-volume bibliography on Filipino
Psychology and a locally personality test,
Panukat ng Ugali at Pagkatao were produced.
APPROACHES
 1975 – Enriquez chaired the Unang Pambansang
1. Indigenization from within: refers to indigenous Kumperensiya sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (First National
research utilizing the local’s own methods to elicit Conference on Filipino Psychology) which was held
and study culture-specific social behaviors. at the Abelardo Auditorium at University of the
 the theoretical framework and methodology emerge Philippines.
from the experiences of the people from the local
culture. LESSON2: WHAT IS SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO
2. Indigenization from without: refers to research is anchored on Filipino thought and experience as
studies applying western theoretical models and understood from a Filipino perspective (Enriquez, 1975).
methodologies to the local setting.
 Not accurately referenced.  principal emphasis of Sikolohiyang Pilipino is to
foster national identity and consciousness, social
involvement, and psychology of language and
AMONG THE OUTCOMES ARE: culture.
 It is thus concerned with proper applications to
 A body of knowledge including indigenous concepts health, agriculture, art, mass media, religion, and
 Development of indigenous research methods and other spheres of people’s daily life.
indigenous personality testing
 New directions in teaching psychology
 Active participation in organizations among Filipino  For centuries, Filipino behavior has been analyzed and
psychologist and social scientists, both in the interpreted in the light of Western theories.
Philippines and overseas  Since these theories are inevitably culture-bound, the
picture of the Filipino has been inaccurate, if not
distorted.
THE BEGINNINGS OF SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO  Enriquez (1985) later defined Sikolohiyang Pilipino as
“the study of diwa (‘psyche’), which in Filipino
 periods when the Philippines was colonized by Spain,
directly refers to the wealth of ideas referred to by
and then the USA, the psychology taught in schools
the philosophical concept of ‘essence’ and an entire
was predominantly Western in theory and
range of psychological concepts from awareness to
methodology.
motives to behavior.”
 Many Filipino intellectuals, notably the two
 It must be stressed at the outset though that
Philippine heroes Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini,
developing a particularistic psychology such as Filipino
expressed dissatisfaction at the pejorative
psychology is not anti-universal in as much as the
interpretations of Filipino behavior by Western
ultimate aim of Sikolohiyang Pilipino is to contribute
observers.
to universal psychology, which can be realized only if
 1960s – many Filipino intellectuals and scholars were
each group of people is adequately understood
already sensitive both to the inadequacy as well as
themselves and from their own perspective.
the unfairness of the Western-oriented approaches
 Initial work on developing Sikolohiyang Pilipino
to psychology.
concentrated on a type of indigenization which is
 Early 1970s – this was initiated when Virgilio Gaspar
based largely on simple translation of concepts,
Enriquez returned to the Philippines from
methods, theories, and measures into Filipino (e.g.,
Northwestern University, USA with a Ph.D. in Social
psychological test).
Psychology and lost no time in introducing the
o Cultural revalidation is the better term for it, as
concept of Sikolohiyang Pilipino.
Enriquez (1992) suggested.
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

language and politics, philosophy and values, cross-

cultural psychology, and Pilipinolohiya (Philippine
Studies).
LESSON3: PIONEERS OF SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO  One of his most significant awards, the Outstanding
Young Scientist of the Philippines from the National
Virgilio Enriquez: Father of Filipino Psychology
Academy of Science and Technology in 1982 in
DOC E (23 Nov 1942 – 31 Aug 1994) recognition of his work in Sikolohiyang Pilipino.
 1997 – after his death, he was given a posthumous
 Born in the province of Bulacan, Virgilio Gaspar award, the National Achievement in the Social
Enriquez was trained by his father to speak the native Sciences Award by the National Research Council of
tongue fluently since he was child. the Philippines.
 His father would always find time to have a discussion
with him in Filipino. For example, he would ask the Lesson 4: Basic Elements and Features of Sikolohiyang
young Virgilio to read the day’s English language Pilipino
paper, but read it out loud in Filipino as if it was
originally written in that language.  Sikolohiyang Pilipino – refers to the psychology rooted
 1963 – Enriquez was formally initiated into psychology on the experiences, ideas, and cultural orientation of
and started teaching at the University of the the Filipino.
Philippines.  Sikolohiya sa Pilipinas – refers to a series of events
 As early as 1965, he was using the Filipino language in related to the field of psychology in the Phil.
teaching.  Sikolohoya ng mga Pilipino – any theories or
 1966 – he left for the United States to pursue a knowledge of filipino nature regardless of source
Master’s degree, then later a Doctoral degree in (western or local).
Psychology at Northwestern University.
o Through his correspondence with Lagmay, • He came up with a definition of psychology that
Enriquez learned that the matter of teaching in takes into account one’s surroundings (ulirat),
the Filipino language was being taken up eagerly. information and understanding (isip), habits and
 He started preparing for the teaching of psychology in behaviors (another meaning of diwa), and the soul
Filipino, and had a number of discussions and (kaluluwa) which is the way to learning about
arguments with professors at Northwestern people’s conscience (Enriquez, 1976).
University.
 1971 – Enriquez returned to the Philippines, bringing Four Filiations of Sikolohiyang Pilipino by Zeus Salazar
with him a wealth of Western knowledge which he (1985a)
did not impose on his Filipino colleagues and
students. 1. Academic-scientific psychology
 He established the Philippine Psychology Research  entry of Western psychology at Philippine
House (PPRH) which later became the Philippine universities.
Psychology Research and Training House (PPRTH). 2. Academic-philosophical psychology
 1977-1982 – Enriquez became Chairman of the  pursued by UST
Department of Psychology.  under the leadership of individual monks and
 He was adviser and reader of theses and dissertations preachers and the Jesuits.
written in Filipino in psychology, linguistics,  The study of psychology as an aspect of philosophy
anthropology, philosophy, and Philippine Studies. continued in the tradition of Thomistic philosophy
 He taught at other institutions such as De La Salle and psychology.
University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 3. Ethnic psychology
University of Santo Tomas, and Centro Escolar  integrating academic-scientific and academic-
University. philosophical tradition into a national tradition of
 He was also visiting professor at the University of Psychology and Philosophy as universal disciplines.
Hawaii, Tokyo University for Foreign Studies,  Includes; indigenous psychology (own culture),
University of Malaya, and University of Hong Kong  psychology of Filipinos (as observed by foreigners,
(Pe-Pua, 1991).  practice of psychology by Filipinos (normal
 authored several publications in indigenous techniques of enculturation/socialization, and proto-
psychology, Filipino personality, psychology of clinical practice).
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

4. Psycho-medical system with religion o Enriquez also clarified that SIKP is not inconsistent
 religion as cohesive element and explanation. with a universal psychology but is actually a step
towards the development of a universal psychology. It
Major Characteristics of Sikolohiyang Pilipino as an is not anti-Western theory and methods either, but
Indigenous Asian Psychology against a non-selective use of imposition of Western
knowledge.q
a. Empirical philosophy, academic-scientific,
psychology - ideas and teachings of Ricardo Pascual, A liberating, liberated, and interdisciplinary psychology
logical analysis of language;
b. Rational philosophy, clerical tradition, • Enriquez eliminated its bondage to the Western
phenomenology, Thomistic philosophy and perspective, not only in theory and method but in
psychology, practice. In place of clinical psychology and industrial
c. Liberalism, the Philippine propaganda movement, the psychology, he brought in health psychology.
writings of Phil heroes Jacinto, Mabini, & Del Pilar, Livelihood psychology, rural psychology, psychology of
ethnic Psychology. the arts, and others.
• Sikolohiyang Pilipino also became more “responsible”
AREAS OF PROTEST and responsive to the needs of Filipinos due to the
o Sikolohiyang Pilipino is against a psychology that philosophy that we need to make psychology benefit
perpetuates the colonial status of the Filipino mind. and be of service to the people.
o for the exploitation of the masses. • Sikolohiyang Pilipino also became interdisciplinary
o imposition to a Third World country of psychology enriched by the different disciplines to become more
developed in industrialized countries. solid and close to the Philippine reality.
• “Psychology is too important to be left to the
PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTICE psychologists alone.”
o it endorses the conceptualization of psychological
practice in a Philippine context, for example, DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS CONCEPTS AND
livelihood psychology instead of industrial psychology, THEORIES
health psychology instead of clinical psychology. • The Filipino personality is a popular area of study of
o concerned with folk practices or indigenous many foreign scholars who came to the Philippines.
techniques of healing, popular religio-political • foreign ‘‘experts’’ have published their versions of
movements, and community or rural psychology. Filipino values
• These depictions filtered into the textbooks of the
SCIENCE-HUMANISM ISSUE Philippine educational system, transmitted from one
 SIKP is concerned with both. Scientific and generation to another, thus perpetuating a distorted, if
humanistic approaches are both valid. It develops not false, picture of the Filipino.
psychology as a science and psychology as an art.
RETHINKING FILIPINO VALUES
MENTALISM-BEHAVIORISM ISSUE • Enriquez encouraged Filipino scholars to take a second
 admits both but with lesser emphasis on individual look at these values using a Filipino orientation
experience and with greater emphasis on the
collective experience of a people with a common “FILIPINO VALUES’’ FROM THE EXOGENOUS AND
bond of history. Greater importance is attached to INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES
kamalayan (psyche), thus subsidiary importance
attached to ulirat (lower level of physical 1. BAHALA NA
consciousness).  Bostrom (1968) – first psychologist to analyze this
value by comparing it with American fatalism.
ANALYSIS-WHOLENESS ISSUE  Thomas Andres – ‘‘the Filipino attitude that makes
 is not a big issue on SIKP. him accept sufferings and problems, leaving
 It is methodologically on the side of analysis but everything to God.
interprets the result of analysis with a bias for o Foreign said its fatalistic resignation or
wholeness. “withdrawal from an engagement or crisis or a
shirking from personal responsibility”
 SIKP defines it as ‘‘determination and risk-taking’’.
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

o Filipinos are telling themselves that they are  pakikipagpalagayang-loob (being

ready to face the difficult situation before them, in-rapport/understanding/ acceptance with), or
and will do their best to achieve their objectives. pakikisangkot (getting involved), or the highest level
The expression is a way of pumping courage into of pakikiisa (being one with)
their system so that they do not buckle down.
SIKOLOHOYANG PILIPINO PERSPECTIVE
2. HIYA  hiya – propriety/ dignity
 Sibley (1965), an American scholar, translated hiya  utang na loob (‘‘gratitude/solidarity’’)
as ‘‘shame’’.  pakikisama – companionship/ esteem as
o Lynch (1961) saw hiya as ‘‘the uncomfortable colonial/accommodative surface values
feeling that accompanies awareness of being in  bahala na – determination
a socially unacceptable position, or performing a  Sama/lakas ng loob – resentment/guts
socially unacceptable action.’’  pakikibaka – resistance, as confrontative surface
 the more appropriate translation of hiya in English is values.
not ‘‘shame’’ but ‘‘sense of propriety’’ (Salazar,  kapwa – shared identity
1981, 1985b)  pakikiramdam – shared inner perception, a request
to feel or to be sensitive to. It is a shared feeling, a
3. UTANG NA LOOB kind of ‘‘emotional a priori’’.
 Kaut (1961) as ‘‘debt of gratitude’’  kagandahang-loob – shared humanity as linking
o Andres (1994) as ‘‘the principle of reciprocity socio-personal value.
incurred when an individual helps another”  pagkatao (personality), is Asian – deference for
“obligation to repay the debt in the future” authority, modesty/humility, concern for others
o Hollnsteiner (1961) as ‘‘to show his gratitude
properly by returning the favor with interest.’’ INDIRECT COMMUNICATION
 Enriquez (1977) as ‘‘gratitude/solidarity’’. Its not  part of our socialization is being sensitive to non-
necessaritoy a “burden” or “debt” connotes. It is not verbal cues, having concern for the feelings of
absolutely obligatory in the immediate future. others, being truthful but not at the expense of
o Utang na loob is a calling heard by many hurting others’ feelings. This has made the
Filipinos who go to other lands but who still sharpening of pakikiramdam a particularly
retain strong ties with their homeland. desirable skill in many situations involving Filipino
social interaction.
4. PAKIKISAMA vs. PAKIKIPAGKAPWA  There is ‘‘hesitation to react, attention to subtle
 Lynch (1961, 1973) to pakikisama as ‘‘smooth cues and non-verbal behavior in mental role-
interpersonal relations’’ by going along with the playing (if I were in your shoes, how would I feel)
group or the majority decision, i.e., conformity.
 Enriquez started unfolding the concept of kapwa INTERNALITY-EXTERNALITY by Salazar
(shared identity), which is at the core of Filipino this is something researchers should be conscious of when
social psychology, and which is at the heart of the trying to understand the Filipino personality.
structure of Filipino values.
o pakikipagkapwa which means treating the other Honor and its different English translation
person as kapwa or fellow human being. 1. PURI - refers to honor which is physical, such as that
bestowed through compliments or applauses for a
TWO CATEGORIES OF KAPWA: good performance, thus external.
1. Ibang-Tao (outsider) o It can also refer to virginity which is a virtue
 the interaction can range from pakikitungo expected of unmarried Filipino women.
(transaction/civility with), to pakikisalamuha
(interaction with), to pakikilahok 2. DANGAL – honor from within – knowledge of one’s
(joining/participating), to pakikibagay (in-conformity true worth, character, achievement and success. It can
with/in accord with), and to pakikisama (being along be acknowledged through an award or a tribute
with). (parangal, which is actually pa-dangal) but even
2. Hindi-Ibang-Tao (‘‘one-of-us’’). without such gestures from outside, it is within you.
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

o Thus, a poor person who is a kind and honest magdala ng tensyon, pagkamabahala, kahustuhang
person and respects the dignity of hard work emosyonal, kakayahang berbal sa Filipino.
has a lot of dangal.

THE GREAT CULTURAL DIVIDE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS RESEARCH METHODS

by Carmen Santiago, a postgraduate student of psychology
Two Sides of Cultural Divides at U.P. – student of Doc E.

1. On one side of the cultural divide are Filipinos who  did a study on pagkalalaki for a class – which was
have maintained a more mass-oriented worldview, the turning point in Phil. Social research.
culture, and way of life.  Pakapa-kapa (‘‘groping’’) approach was first
o Reads the komiks, listen to soap operas on introduced.
radio, watch soap operas on television, and so o ‘‘a suppositionless approach to social scientific
on. Visits the indigenous healers for both investigations
physical and mental or emotional ailments. o is an approach characterized by groping,
2. On the other side of the cultural divide are the Filipinos searching and probing into an unsystematized
who have adhered to a more elitist viewpoint. They go mass of social and cultural data to obtain order,
to performances in cultural centers and theatres. They meaning and directions for research.
look down on people on the other side of the divide.
FIVE BASIC GUIDING PRINCIPLES RELEVANT TO THE USE
Not only do the poor eat different food, if they OF INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE AND RESEARCH METHODS
eat at all, but they also have their own tastes in
leisure and entertainment. They are supposed to 1. The level of interaction or relationship that exists
between the researcher and the researched
be bakya or ‘lacking in sophistication’ (bakya
significantly determines the quality of the data
refers to the traditional wooden clogs, popular
obtained in the research process.
among the masses who cannot afford expensive
o It is recommended that the first level under
shoes). In fact, they have their own culture and
Hindi-Ibang-Tao, which is pakikipagpalagayang-
speak their own language. While the elite speak
loob should be reached, at the minimum, in
English and occasionally throw in some French
order to be assured of good quality data.
for comfort, the Filipino masses speak Filipino
2. Research participants should always be treated by
and a regional language’’
researchers as equal, if not superior – a fellow
human being and not like a ‘‘guinea pig’’
o basically, respecting the participants with
 Thus, it is not regionalism which divides the respect.
 Filipinos. It is in the cultural aspect where we 3. The welfare of the research participants takes
witness a disparity. precedence over the data obtained from them.
o if the publication of the research report will
DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS PERSONALITY MEASURES jeopardize the situation of the people, then it
 1975 – developed the Panukat ng Ugali at Pagkatao should not be continued.
(PUP) (Measure of Character and Personality) in 4. The method to be used in research should be chosen
which utilized dimensions of personality that are on the basis of appropriateness to the population
relevant to Filipinos. (and not sophistication of the method) and it should
 originated from an understanding of the Filipinos, be made to adapt to existing cultural norms.
test administration procedures were also adapted o one should go through the process of getting to
to Filipino ways. know each other first informally before asking
 Have cross-cultural similarities in the dimensions questions on topics that are not that common
they measure to people
 1990s – tests were developed to measure a wide o Researchers cannot expect people to adjust to
variety of Filipino characteristics – katalinuhan, the method; the method should adjust to the
pagkarelihiyoso, kaasalang sekswal, kakayahang people.
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

o Utilize pakikiramdam; through it, a researcher for the first time. The U.P. was the first university
will know when to ask personal questions and to offer it.
when not to pursue them; when it is time to o Jose Ma. Bartolome – first faculty to ever
leave; or how to interpret a ‘‘yes’’ or a ‘‘no’’. teach the course.
o Rogelia Pe-Pua took off where Bartolome.
5. The language of the people should be the language o greatest difficulty during the first semester
of research at all times. was the lack of a textbook. So, the students
o It is in their own mother tongue that a person and Pe-Pua immediately worked at gathering
can truly express their innermost sentiments, these materials, reproducing them and
ideas, perceptions, and attitudes binding them into one volume.
o next group of students the following semester
Some of the indigenous research methods helped with indexing and publication work.
 Pagtatanong-tanong – improvised informal, o The final printed form of the book
unstructured interview Sikolohiyang Pilipino: Teorya, Metodo at
 pakikipagkuwentuhan – story telling, informal Gamit was launched towards the end of that
conversations semester, both in Filipino and English
 ginabayang talakayan – collective indigenous  1982 – Two other compilations have been
discussion), published
 nakikiugaling pagmamasid – participant  1985 – Sikolohiyang Pilipino Isyu, Pananaw at
observation Kaalaman edited by two postgraduate students of
 pakikisama – getting along wit Enriquez, Allen Aganon (a priest) and Ma.
 pagdalaw-dalaw – visiting Assumpta David (a nun), was published
 panunuluyan – residing in the research setting  1992 – Enriquez came out with Indigenous
Psychology: A Book of Readings.
Impact on the teaching of psychology in the Philippines  1972 – first M.A. Psychology thesis written in
 In a U.P. Psychology faculty meeting in 1970, Filipino by Amelia Alfonso
Academe responded to this call by trying to make  1990 – first two dissertations, defended by Danilo
the university more relevant to the interest of the Tuazon and Grace Aguiling-Dalisay
common people.  Lagmay was the first to teach Philippine
 Professors Fredegusto David and Amaryllis Torres Psychology as a ‘‘special topics’’ course at the
responded graduate level before it was formally instituted as
 David taught psychology in Filipino the year before a separate graduate course in 1978.
he left to pursue his Ph.D. at Temple University in  1994 and 1996 – Elizabeth Protacio-Marcelino and
Pennsylvania. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio became the first graduates
 Torres used and developed the Filipino language in to receive their Ph.D. with Philippine Psychology as
psychology consistently and continuously, inspiring the area of concentration.
others to follow. She used the terminologies
recommended by the National Science AREAS OF APPLICATIONS OF SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO
Development Board.  inviting Flipino psychologists to talk shows to give
 1971 – Enriquez on a full-scale effort translating some insight on the relevance of Sikolohiyang
psychological materials into Filipino. Pilipino to the various topics under discussion
o Several materials in the different areas of  Bulatao – “Filipinos are freer to be themselves when
psychology were published. Enriquez built up in a sympathetic group of friends than in a one-on-
a collection of student papers and set up a one situation”
library of Philippine psychology, housing  Filipino are more susceptible to hypnotic suggestions
materials written in English and in Filipino, and enter into altered states of consciousness more
published and unpublished, at the PPRTH. readily than American.
 Initially, students avoided classes which were  Pioneered by Elizabeth Protacio-Marcelino and her
conducted in Filipino but few years later, students colleagues at the Children’s Rehabilitation Center,
became comfortable in Filipino classes. they provide psychological help to children in
 1978 – Sikolohiyang Pilipino as a subject was especially difficult circumstances such as children in
instituted and offered at the undergraduate level
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

situations of armed conflict, street children, cultural experience, and hardly speak any
prostituted children. Philippine language.
 social and clinical psychologists have helped battered  according to him, SP should focus on the lived
women understand their problems in the light of the experiences of people immersed in Philippine life
different socio-cultural conditions affecting women and culture. Filipino-Americans do not have a
in Philippine society (Feminist Psychology) ‘‘national consciousness’’ precisely because they
 in the marketing of specific products and are outsiders unable to participate in national
understanding consumer behavior. discourse that shapes consciousness.
 Non-government organizations involved in  he pointed to the contradiction in Enriquez’s pro-
community education particularly in grassroots Filipino views and convictions while at the same
leadership formation have developed a training time writing in English for a Western audience.
module
Highlights of the issues raised in reading Salazar and
Enriquez
Associations, conferences and other professional meetings Psychology and culture
 Enriquez spearheaded several activities that have  For Salazar; First, there should be a psychological
continued long after his death in 1994 such as the tradition in Philippine culture before one can say that
holding of annual national conferences there is such a concept as SIKP. Discipline of
 1975 – first ever conference; to discuss the status Psychology is foreign in origin and therefore, should
of psychology in the Philippines be given a new meaning and reinterpreted in a
 From this conference, the Pambansang Samahan context relevant to Philippine life and culture.
sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (PSSP, National Association  For Enriquez; culture is derived from the process of
for Filipino Psychology) was born, aiming to discovering individual psychological elements and
promote Filipino thought. themes. SIKP exists as long as there are Filipinos. This
 Thus, there were conferences held in Tacloban, psychology is already found in Philippine life and
Bicol, Marawi and other places; the 1997 one was culture. One simply has to examine the attitudes,
in Puerto Princesa in Palawan. beliefs, values and practices of the Filipino and give
 Enriquez was also responsible for establishing importance to the Filipino’s personhood and
organizations in specialized areas such as child aspirations as a people.
psychology, psychology of the arts, psychology of
language, history of psychology, and so on. UNIVERSALITY OF PSYCHOLOGY
 For Salazar, history and traditions of a particular
The spread of Sikolohiyang Pilipino outside the Philippines culture is sufficient to contribute to universal
 Enriquez travelled throughout this life where he psychology. He believes that universal knowledge
met various scholars who take interest in SP which cannot be found at the level of phenomenon or
later on build organizations and associations that experience but rather in the construction and
supported the goals of SP. interpretation of meaningful concepts and theories.
 1970’s and 1980’s – existence of organizations in  For Enriquez, it is necessary to understand the
the United States (San Francisco and New Haven), experiences of many cultures and traditions before one
Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Hongkong. can contribute to universal knowledge in psychology.
He considers the similarity of observations of
Debates within Sikolohiyang Pilipino phenomena and diverse cultural experiences as
 most prominent debate in the area was initiated indicators of universal knowledge in psychology.
by Zeus Salazar, a historian who did most of his o Salazar’s more ‘‘emic’’ approach and Enriquez’s
graduate and postgraduate training in Europe. more ‘‘etic”
o He made significant contributions to SP by  Roberto Tangco – questioned SP’s position on the issue
underscoring the need for a socio-historical of universality and asserts that SP, although it claims to
perspective in understanding the psychology contribute to universal knowledge, has not shown
of the Filipino. sufficient proof of its contribution or even proof that
o Fil-Am are not ‘‘Filipinos’’ since they are not such knowledge exists in any given culture
legitimate culture bearers – they were born in o he is implying that SP’s phenomenological
the United States, do not share the Philippine orientation is not scientific and cannot pass the
SIKP311 PRELIMS – FINALS BRV

scientific standards of objectivity, reliability and

validity
 The response to Tangco’s criticism is this: While
Sikolohiyang Pilipino tends to be phenomenological in
orientation, it has mechanisms in place to ensure that
the tenets of scientific endeavor are upheld.
 Sylvia Estrada-Claudio “culture is not given nor static”.
She claimed a tendency for SP to gloss over negative
aspects of Philippine culture and ignore the power
dynamics at play in given cultural contexts.
 Thus, she advocates a critical perspective of culture
and psychology that looks into the dimensions of
power and how this influences the articulation of
concepts and theories in psychology.

In contrast to the debates, there are a number of new

researches that have been able to present revisions and
elaborations on the basic tenets of SP.

 Grace Orteza has improved on SP’s understanding of

pakikipagkuwentuhan (‘‘story-telling’’) as consistent
with the core concept of Enriquez’s kapwa psychology.
 Guanzon-Lapeña has made significant contributions in
the understanding of the concept of leadership among
the grassroots Filipinos by developing a new
framework for leadership among Filipinos

Sikolohiyang Pilipino in the realm of universal and world

psychology
 What generally considered as ‘‘universal’’ psychology is
based on the psychology of industrialized and
developed countries of the West. It seeks to apply
western theories and methods to non-western
societies and cultures. It is assumed that all human
beings are the same and their context in time and
space is not important. This is the brand of psychology
that SP objects to.
 SP accepts the scientific character of psychology but
questions its universality which is also questioned in
other parts of the world.
 Through the discovery and use of indigenous concepts
and methods, SP is contributing to a truly universal
psychology which is based on a new set of principles:
diversity and equality
In an effort to understand and discover its own
‘‘particularities’’ not dictated by the West,
Sikolohiyang Pilipino attempts not only to test
hypotheses based on western theories but rather
to generate its own set of hypotheses, theories
and body of knowledge.