By Elle Miranda | September 2, 2024
The Holy Angel University Psychology Society (HAU PsychSoc), the official student organization for HAU’s Psychology program, commemorated Buwan ng Wika on August 28, 2024, at the Saint Joseph Hall (SJH) academic hall. This is marked as their first academic year 2024-2025 event.
The event's theme, "Alon ng Kalayaan: Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Sandigan ng Mamamayan, Diwang Umaagos sa Kamalayan," intends to awaken the Psychology students to assert their rights amidst ongoing issues in the Philippines, specifically in the ownership of the West Philippine Sea.
Professor Bianca Camille Banog, the organization's primary mentor, highlighted in her opening remarks that Wika is the bridge for Filipinos to understand and relate to each other. She further stated that relating with others leads to a connection, which creates the concept of pakikipagkapwa, a Filipino value that psychologists hold essential.
“Alon ng kalayaan, kalayaan ng paggamit ng wika,” Prof. Banog stated in connection of wika to psychology.
Jiel Halili, the chancellor of HAU PsychSoc, emphasized its annual celebration, which speaks to how Filipino psychology started in the country.
“Lahat tayo, nasa ibaba man, nasa itaas man, basta Pilipino ka, mayroon tayong pinanghahawakan at bilang Pilipino, kailangan nating ipaglaban kung ano ang atin. Mayroon tayong karapatan at mayroon tayong sandigan.” Halili said to the Psychology students.
The celebration featured three competitions related to the West Philippine Sea and the Filipino attitude of Ugaling Kanya-kanya. They are Psych Feud: Mandaragat Edition, a rendition of the famous TV show Family Feud, on-the-spot slogan-making with the theme Sisid sa Salita: Paglikha ng Islogan, and a debate entitled Tindig ng Sikolohista: Talastasang pang Karunungan at Kamalayan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino.
All year levels from the Psychology program participated and showcased their skills and dedication, emerging victorious in the competitions: Psych Feud: Mandaragat Edition with Team Ingrown, Francine Rose Cacho for Sisid sa Salita: Paglikha ng Islogan, and Tindig ng Sikolohista: Talastasang pang Karunungan at Kamalayan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino with Team 1.
Succeeding the competitions, HAU PsychSoc proposed its voluntary membership fee for the first semester. Marchete Mora, the bursar of the organization, talked through the breakdown of the ₱150 membership fee: ₱45 for the PVC card, ₱40 for the lanyard, ₱20 for the seminar speakers and facilitators, ₱15 for framework resources, ₱20 for certificates, prizes, and tokens, and ₱10 for the donation drive. Mora added that this is still subject to approval from their higher-ups.
Furthermore, the chancellor discussed that the Block of the Year assessment for Psychology students officially began. The criteria are active participation in the activities 25%, attendance and punctuality 20%, awards achieved 25%, engagement and interaction 15%, and collaboration and teamwork 15%. The awarding will be held next year at the Psychology Night.
Dr. Alfredo B. Santos, the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), closed the event by encouraging the students to let their awareness flow.
“Akala lang natin sumasama at sumasabay lang [tayo] sa agos, pabalik-balik. Pero despite ng paulit-ulit na ginagawa, nakakakita tayo ng mga pag-usbong sa mga bagay na dapat natin ikatuwa.” Santos, then, acknowledged the role of the people in the sector of the program, especially in times of pandemic.
Students shared varied reactions to the event such as Janellah Embudo, a freshman from AB Psychology, noted that she enjoyed the competitions because they are influenced by Filipino culture.
“We still have to celebrate it to commemorate yung patriotism natin and to celebrate who we really are as Filipinos," Embudo stated when asked about the event's relevance.
In contrast, Hannica Golocan and Gabrielle Rosapapan, 3rd-year AB Psychology students, observed the difference in the event from the previous years. The management of the program was wiser. However, the lessened audience and crowd interaction made them prefer the previous celebrations. Still, they think this event is a platform to make Filipino psychology known and allow Filipinos to realize that they have their practices and identity in psychology.
Photo courtesy of Carmela Lumanlan
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