Kapwa: The Filipino Idea We May Need to Remember

Long before modern psychology reached the Philippines, Filipinos already had their own language for the inner self, relationships and community. Loob. The world within a person. Kapwa. A shared identity — the recognition that the person beside you is not entirely separate from you. The babaylan belonged to another time and another understanding of healing. But centuries later, Filipino psychologist Virgilio Enriquez would place kapwa at the heart of Sikolohiyang Pilipino. And perhaps there's something in that idea worth remembering today. Because sometimes “kaya mo ’yan” isn't enough. Sometimes strength means admitting: “Hindi ko na kaya mag-isa.” And sometimes kapwa means answering: “Hindi mo kailangan.” If you're struggling, please reach out to someone you trust or a mental-health professional. ☎️ NCMH Crisis Hotline: 1553 We are still each other's kapwa. 🇵🇭 #HiddenPhilippineFiles #Kapwa #MentalHealthPH #SuicidePrevention #Philippines