Gia S.

Evangelista NSTP CWTS 1 – SW (B)

201820555 Prof. Karleen May Reodique

Sikolohiyang Pilipino: Knowing Yourself, Knowing Others

What is/are your insight/s in the five fingers activity? Sikolohiyang Pilipino?

Our discussion regarding the self and others have been very fruitful and value-adding for
me. In the five fingers activity that we did, we were confronted with questions regarding ourselves
and the people around us which seems pretty easy at first glance. But the truth is, these questions
are quite hard to answer – not because we are afraid if we will be right or wrong, but maybe
because we have to really know ourselves first in order to do so. My classmate and I jokingly said
to each other that we are having an existential crisis so early in the morning – and perhaps, in
some ways, that’s true. When it came to the part were we have to share what we wrote to our
seatmate, I was nervous at first and I was trying to see what parts of me could I share. But after
getting the hang of it, it was actually fun because you have found a lot of similarities on your
character and personality as well as experiences with the other person.

Sikolohiyang Pilipino embodies the phrase, “mula at para sa Pilipino”. This subject really
makes me happy because it encapsulates the personality and character of the Filipino people
more, compared to Western theories of Psychology alone. I find it also fascinating that most of
the terms that I encountered regarding the subject are actual terms that we use in our house,
especially in the province. This just shows that Sikolohiyang Pilipino really came from the Filipino.
The terminologies that were being used are not alienated from its users because it is really present
in the daily life of a Filipino.

Why self-awareness or knowing one’s “pagkatao” important in facilitating public service

or nation-building?

Self-awareness or knowing one’s “pagkatao” is extremely important and integral in

facilitating public service or nation-building. It is because it is only knowing oneself can we also
fully offer ourselves in helping the nation. Knowing oneself entails knowing our strengths and
weaknesses – two important factors to know if we really want to help others. Also, as the famous
saying goes, “You can’t give what you don’t have”.

What is/are the core concept/s of Sikolohiyang Pilipino? How does the Filipino common
identity influences your personal identity?

If Sikolohiyang Pilipino can be summarize into two words, that would be “kapwa” and
“pakikipagkapwa”. For Sikolohiyang Pilipino, kapwa means, “unity of self and others; recognition
of shared identity, an inner self with others” and pakikipagkapwa means, “humanness at its
highest level; accepting and dealing with the other person as equal”. The Filipino common identity
has an influence over our personal identities. As a country with a collectivist culture, we are never
separated from our society and the people around us. We influence them and they influence us.
Further, the very essence of “kapwa” cannot be reduced in its perceive translation in English
which is “others”. The word kapwa is much more deep because it entails the self and others.