Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Virgilio G. Enriquez, also known as Doc E, is the Father of Filipino Psychology "Ama ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino". He was born on November 24, 1942 at Santol, Bulacan. He is the founder of the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino, (corporate name: National Association for Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Inc.).
According to Dr. Enriquez, Sikolohiyang Pilipino is the fruit of experience, ideas, and orientation of Filipinos. He also said that through this study, a Filipino can better understand himself and in turn, be able to improve his life more. Dr. Virgilio Enriquez stated that the core value of Sikolohiyang Pilipino is the concept of kapwa. Enriquez' initial proposal that a Filipino concept of personhood centered on the core value expressed in the word Kapwa, a Tagalog word that covers the concepts of both "self" and "others," has been expanded by those who studied under him, resulting in an entire system that seeks to describe the Filipino's sense of being a person, and an entire field of study that differentiates the Filipino's sense of being from those of other cultures, especially the western cultures.
Education and Academic Career
Enriquez got his masteral and doctoral degrees in Social Psychology from Northwestern University. he started teaching Psychology in the University of the Philippines in the year 1963, and in 1965, he started using the Filipino language in teaching Psychology. In 1966, he left for the United States of America for his post-graduate studies. When he returned in 1970, he started the "Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino", where he was also given the title, "Ama ng Sikolhiyang Pilipino" to acknowledge all the works he has contributed to this.