In a meeting with the SAMASIKOFIL officers last Monday, Dr. Orencita Lozada expressed her delight with how the current roster of Psychology teachers has become a “complete package”.
The latest addition of Ms. Analyn Obeñita, who plies her trade in the field of psychological testing, has been warmly acknowledged by program coordinator. “Ms. Obeñita completes the team. Now, we have a team of teachers who specialize in different areas. When one is not around, a dent can be felt.”
Dr. Lozada is confident that the current roster of psychology teachers has what it takes to take the program to another level.
She also expressed her delight with how things are looking bright for the teachers who are on their graduate studies.
Mr. Ericson Batican, who was unable to attend the meeting because of a previous appointment, and Ms. Nelly Limbadan are moving closer to finishing their respective doctoral studies.
Mr. Hadji Balajadia on the other hand, will attain his master’s degree soon.
Mr. Raffy Sanchez who is currently in the graduate school is also expected to achieve his master’s degree in the near future.
The program coordinator also expressed her expectations towards the current set of officers. “This group [of officers] is very different from the other batches I have worked with. I am confident that they will do their job well.”
My first-day is something worth remembering. I can still recall my sweaty hands, messy hair and my noisy heels as I hurried up to 6th floor because it turned out that my schedule in the printout was wrong—it says classes starts at 8:45am when it’s supposedly 7:40am.
First year was a series of transitions; a period of adjustment. Along with my classmates, we journeyed together battling short-itemed tricky quizzes to head-scratching math problems and loud discussions before General Psychology class started. Looking back, it was a roller-coaster ride full of mishaps, adventures and messed up scenarios, coupled with people who doodled my entire freshmen life with rainbows and clouds both nimbus and cumulus.
As I look forward, I guess I am stripping off the adjustment period. Sophomore year would mean a new route of exposure for new opportunities the school as well the Psych program has to offer. With a welcoming privilege of being able to join clubs and organizations, it may be our time to hone our skills, actively participate in clubs we prefer, gain more recognition and color our entire college experience.
Being able to befriend Psych kuyas and ates during the summer, I am feeling a sweet and sour anticipation for the new teachers on the scene, enough to make the most of us shake our knees as we are asked with perplexing questions, or furrow as we scan through different books and loudly engage to psych-related conversations before classes begin. With the expected academic load, I cannot help but be excited about, amidst being separated with other friends who will be in the other section, hanging out again with old classmates as well as welcoming new classmates as we journey yet together to a whole new ride!
a new ex-PSYCH-ting challenge awaits...
JurilexMaglinte is an incoming 2nd-year psychology student.
I can’t believe how time flies so fast. It was just like yesterday when I was just a wee first year student in the Accountancy Program, and then had a big shift to the Psychology Program during my second year. It won’t be long until I’m going to enroll myself as a third year Psychology student, and clearly, there are things that I’m expecting that is going to make my brain explode. But nevertheless there are times that I’m expecting make my third year life more memorable and heart-warming. To tell everyone the truth I wasn't expecting much of what is to come when I turn third year. I mean, it’s another year level for everyone – especially to us, Psychology students – to overcome in order to attend the graduation on time when we turn fourth year. It was nothing of a “Big Bang” for me until I started remembering my friends in the third year (of course they are going to turn fourth year this year). I remember the trials, hardships and joys they have all experienced during their third year life and maybe I can use that as an inspiration for me to see a somewhat clear vision of the future of what is in stored for me in my third year life.
My third year friends, how should I say this, endured a very stressful year that is full of blood, sweat and tears. Days of sleepless nights and bloodshot eyes just to turn in a very good paper for their final requirement in their major subjects. From that moment on, I got a glimpse of what is going to be my life when I take over their shoes. I’m seeing sleepless nights and bloodshot eyes just to pass the best paper that I can muster (since I’m talking of papers right now, I think I’m going to make a best friend out of paper since my teachers will be asking from us lots of paperwork). I’m also expecting a lot of activity planning that is going to add to our stressful days. As I can recall, my third year friends had a lot of activities that they planned, Psychology Week, and their final exam for Social Psychology to name a few. When I see it, there are days that sometimes because of the many things that are expected from you by both your teachers and peers, you have that ecstatic feeling that you want to give up.
A lot needs to be furnished from us since after third year we are going to turn fourth year and after that the real world. Our teachers wants us to prepare of what is to come in the real world and they are training us as early as being in the third year (and some traces during my second year). Yet not everything that I’m expecting in my third year life will be as the hell it may sound. Of course because of those requirements and planning process, I saw friendships and bonds forged from the fire of hardships and teamwork. I saw a character slowly building within them that makes them feel very good and confident about whatever things that may undertake. This is what I am expecting when I turn third year, this is what I see my life is like for me and my classmates. I can clearly see bonds that are formed, new friends to hold on and the formation of a character and a personality that sends off an aura saying “I don’t care what the outside world throws at me because I can take it all.” It is because of these things that give you yet another ecstatic feeling that you never want to quit school or your teachers and peers.
Clearly this just a bird’s-eye view of what is stored for me and my classmates. The future is unbounded and never definite so there are some side trips and side-winds along the way. The important thing to remember is that whenever you fall down, just stand up, never give up the fight and keeping moving forward to the very future you desire.
Jancarlo Quibod is an incoming 3rd-year psychology student.
March 16, 2010 – Outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved and signed into law Republic Act No. 10029 otherwise known as the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009.
The passing of the said act ends the jinx of the 80’s when several versions of the “Psychology Bill” that have been submitted to the Philippine Congress were never enacted into laws.
The act, originally known as Senate Bill No. 3498 of the 14th Congress, was prepared and submitted jointly by the Committee(s) on Civil Service and Government Reorganization and Finance with Senators Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., Antonio F. Trillanes IV, Loren B. Legarda, and Panfilo M. Lacson as authors.
The act substituted the Senate Bill No. 2280, the PHILIPPINE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOMETRICS ACT OF 2008 which was solely authored by Senator Trillanes.
Republic Act 10029 mandates the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology (Art. IV, Sec. 4) which will be led by a Chairperson who can only acquire the said position via presidential appointment.
The said appointee must, among a number of qualifications provided in the article, “hold a Doctorate Degree in Psychology conferred by a university, college or school in the Philippines or abroad duly recognized and/or accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); have at least ten (10) years of practice in psychology and psychometrics in a duly recognized institution, clinic, or center, as well as at least five (5) years of teaching experience in the field of psychology”.
The passing of the said act also meant that all “All applicants for registration to practice psychology and psychometrics shall be required to pass a licensure examination for psychologists and psychometricians to be conducted by the Board in such places and dates, and subject to such requirements, prescribed by the Commission” (Art. V, Sec. 11).
However, Section 12 of the said bill states that before one can take the said licensure exam, the applicant must hold at least a Master’s degree in Psychology and should have undergone a minimum of two hundred hours of supervised practicum/internship/clinical experience related to services enumerated in par.
Examination subjects for psychologists include Advanced Theories of Personality, Advanced Abnormal Psychology, Advanced Psychological Assessment and Psychological Counselling and Psychotherapy.
A separate licensure exam will be offered to aspiring psychometricians who should at least hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology among other legal qualifications. Psychometricians will encounter Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Industrial Psychology and Psychological Assessment as test subjects for their licensure examination.
Republic Act 10029 aims to protect the integrity of the profession of psychology by providing the commission the legal means to “monitor the conditions and circumstances affecting the practice of psychology and psychometrics in the Philippines and adopt such measures as may be deemed lawful and proper for the enhancement and maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards of the profession”.
Such measures include the imposition of penalties to individuals who will engage in unethical and/or immoral practices in the practice of psychology.
Before the passing of the bill, its’ formal presentation to the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) took place in Davao City on August 2008, during the 45th Annual Convention of the said institution. Then PAP president Dr. Allan Bernardo was present to grace the event.
The act is legally entitled as “AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF PSYCHOLOGY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”.
For more infomation on the PHILIPPINE PSYCHOLOGY ACT OF 2009, visit this link.
