Making sense of being and becoming a Filipino:

An Indigenous Perspective
Synopsis

I. INRODUCTION

National Identity considered to be one of the most complex concepts in the modern
era. It is regarded as a propaganda tool for those fighting for freedom and
independence from colonizers.

II. STUDIES

According to (Cassidy and Tew,1998) discussing National Identity can create

negative impact such as stereotypes and tensions in any group. (Conaco,1996)
observe that it is much better to examine the concept in its socio-political-historical
context, one of the examples Constantino's (1974) thesis on Filipino miseducation
and even Enriquez's (1977) criticism of allegedly Filipino nationalists’ values. In
Philippine psychology there are few empirical studies is conducted. (Cipreus
Ortega,1984) creates an empirical study that explores the Development of Social
Psychological concepts including National Identity among children, while Conaco
examine the location of National Identity within the matrix of social identities
identify as relevant by college students using a Social Cognitive approach in his
study. As an emerging view, National Identity can also be called as Cultural Identity
that according to (du Gaay, et al., 1997) the role of culture in Identity shall not be
neglected since it gathers meaning- representation, identity, production,
consumption, and regulation. Identity that is created within a culture creates a set
of meanings through symbolic representation it is called “The circuit of Culture”
 The circuit of Culture

III. ISSUES

Constantino's (1974) thesis on Filipino miseducation and even Enriquez's (1977)

criticism of allegedly Filipino nationalists’ values and according to him, this lack
of sensitivity to Filipino cultural contexts result in a psychology that is alienating
and estranged from the people it was supposed to serve. He then formalizes a
psychology responsive to Filipino realities and contexts, which he named
sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology), but not ignoring information obtain
from Western psychology that can be applicable to Philippine setting. Despite the
focus on identity and awareness in sikolohiyang Pilipino, no empirical study of
Filipino national identity from an indigenous psychology perspective has been
conducted. There can also be a tendency that in using National Identity can
interchange with Citizenship.

IV. INDIGENOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

There are four threads that define indigenous psychological perspectives:

a) arise from within the culture; b) reflect local behaviors; c) interpret data from a
local frame of reference; and d) yield results that are locally relevant. Indigenous
psychology's main goal is to provide culturally meaningful and relevant knowledge
and practice. (Sinha, 1997). A present research is an attempt to address this gap.
The study's goals are towards: a) uncover the meanings that participants associate
with the term "Filipino"; b) investigate their foundations for defining the Filipino;
c) investigate notions of "being Filipino"; and d) identify the people and places that
shape their ideas and beliefs about being Filipino.
A. In the present research, it utilizes a qualitative approach since it is appropriate
in an indigenous perspective. It also emphasizes that the wholeness of
experience is cherished, and the search of meaning and relevance is emphasized.
B. The writer uses GT (ginabayang talakayan) to serve to highlight the
participants' interpretations of what it means to be Filipino.

Participants

Thirty-six undergraduate students (18 males and 18 females) from the University
of the Philippines Diliman. They presented cultural grouping: Metro Manila and
Batangas (Luzon); Iloilo and Cebu (Visayas); and Christians and Muslims
(Mindanao)

Place of Discussion

participants' environments, usually in their tambayans (student nooks) or in empty

classrooms in the campus.

V. FINAL VISION

Being a Filipino is an important aspect their social identity just like Conaco’s study
on the social identification and identity of college students wherein one participant
from Manila said, “If it's taken away from you, you wouldn't know where to go or
where you have come from”. For the participants, "Filipino" is a category that
denotes a specific group of people this is where Doronila's (1989) concepts:
boundaries of inclusion (loob) and boundaries of exclusion (labas) included.
 The dimensions of being Filipino

Babaw at Lalim (Surface and Depth):

Filipino-ness as an ethical standard

Filipino-ness (qualities); "Pilipino sa pangalan" (Filipino in name or nominal

Filipino), and "Pilipino sa puso" (Filipino by heart). According to Covar (1995), the
type of puso one possesses indicates the persistence of one's own belief in this
regard, a "Filipino sa puso" is someone who regards Filipinoness as a conviction
- (pananindigan) The phrase "Pilipino sa puso" implies that Filipino-ness has
become absorbed or merged with the loob.
The term "Filipino" serves as a sociological category. As such, it is critical to define
its limits. The concept of loob at labas. It is very important to know the significant
components

Pinagmulan (socio- Kinalakhan Kamalayan (religious

(culture component) (psychological
political component)
component) component).