Life After Boards: Joan Marielle J. Pilapil, RPm

“No guts, no glory.”

This is the official life philosophy of Joan Marielle J. Pilapil, or Maye, and she has embodied this well when she took and passed the very first Board Licensure Examination for Psychometricians last 2014. A BS Psychology graduate of San Pedro College of Davao City, the 23-year-old sports and travel enthusiast currently works as a Human Resource Specialist in a BPO company.

One factor why Maye took the board exam is to have the extra three letters after her name. Another factor was some of her friends and batch mates in college also decided to take the first board exam. Reviewing for the various subjects was a challenge for her, for she was also juggling her work as HR personnel. But she did not let her this hinder from preparing for the board exam. In her free time, she would read her notes, and sometimes review them when eating out in a fast food chain. Maye also attended weekly review classes offered by her alma mater. Maye pointed out that Psychological Assessment was the most challenging subject and that its difficulty added up to her anxiety while waiting for the results.  But instead of wasting her time worrying, Maye focused her job and bonded with her friends.

It was on the evening of November 4, 2014 when she learned that she has passed the boards. When asked about what she felt when she saw her name on the list of passers, Maye said she was “overwhelmed! Wala ko nag-expect! After sa board exam, especially sa psych assessment, wala nako nag-expect na maka-pasa ko.”

(I did not expect [to pass]! After the board exam, especially on Psych Assessment, I did not really expect that I will pass.)

Maye stated that passing the board exam and having a license is an edge on her current job as an HR Specialist. She has stated that her current company plans to utilize psychological tests to assess applicants and employees, and that she will be the one to oversee these tasks in the future.

Maye is keen to learn more about the field of Human Resource and plans to have a psychological testing center in her hometown, General Santos City. With her guts and her attitude, Maye is determined to pursue her dreams and make them come true.

Starting today, we will have a weekly feature named "Life After Boards," stories of Registered Psychometricians after passing the Board Licensure Examination for Psychometricians. These stories aim to inspire future Registered Psychometricians to pursue on their goals, both professional and personal, and utilize their knowledge and skills in Psychology for the greater good.

The odds in my favor

The odds in my favor

by Ruby Ann M. Agulto, RPm

Professional Teacher & Registered Psychometrician

I finished my AB Psychology from De La Salle Araneta University in 2007. Imagine kung gaano na ko katagal na graduate? Nagsimula ako bilang HR Staff sa isang private company for 4 years and I decided to change my career path and studied Education units for one semester. Sinabi ko kasi noon gusto kong magwork sa school, and I was influenced by my mother, who is connected with the Deped school for a long time. Nagsawa ako sa office work at pakiramdam ko hindi ako na-challenge noon.  After finishing my educ units, I applied for the Licensure Examination for Teachers in 2012, luckily, with God’s help I passed the said exam.  I am now a public teacher in Secondary level, became a Guidance Teacher this school year since I have units in MAED major in Guidance & Counseling in Bulacan State University.

Nalaman ko lang na natuloy na rin sa wakas ang Board Exam for Psychometrician, medyo late na dahil June ko na nalaman mula sa isa kong kakilala, I grabbed the opportunity dahil ito naman talaga ang gusto ko ang magka-license to practice my profession.  Nagdalawang isip ako na magreview center kasi nagwowork ako, pero napilit ako ng boyfriend at mom ko dahil nga sobrang tagal ko nang graduate. Wala na ako halos alam sa criteria ng disorders, hindi ko na kasi naaral at nagamit.  Nalate na rin ako ng 2 weeks sa review center na inenrollan ko pero buti natanggap pa rin ako. Isa ako sa pinakamatanda doon, halos lahat sila fresh grads pero nakipagsabayan ako.  Mula noon, nagsulat na ako sa papel, ganito rin ang ginawa ko nung nagrereview ako para sa LET, nakasulat sa papel: “I can pass the board exam, tiwala lang”  At pagkagising ko, bago rin matulog lagi ko syang binabasa, everyday na rin ang prayers ko noon kasi totoo naman na pag lagi mo pinagdadasal, at malakas ang faith mo, makukuha mo ang gusto mo. At isa pa ayaw ko talagang bumagsak, ayoko masayang ang binayad ko sa review at ang tiwala sa akin ng mga mahal ko sa buhay. Pero sa totoo lang nahirapan ako pagsabayin yung work ko saka pag-aaral kasi bilang teacher, nag-aaral ka ulit, laging ganon, at nag-uuwi ka pa rin ng work sa bahay pag hindi na kaya sa school. Imagine that?

One week before the exam, hindi na ako masyadong nagrereview, basta tiwala na lang talaga sa mantra ko, may reflection din ako sa gabi.  Naglalaro na lang ako ng tablet, I don’t want to be pressured, whenever I hear someone saying that we need to review more, or may lalabas na ganito ganyan sa exam, ayaw ko na maniwala, para sa akin relax na dapat ako, nagtiwala na lang ako sa lectures ng review center at inaral ko ulit kung paano mag-analyze ng tamang sagot.  Nagpapicture din ako sa SM North Edsa sa Hunger Games “May the odds be ever in your favor” at ginawa kong fb profile pic.

Nung mismong araw na ng exam, Oct 28&29, kampante ako sa tatlong subjects, sabi ko mukhang papasa naman, sa totoo lang mas nahirapan ako sa Licensure Exam for Teachers kaya sinabi ko sa sarili ko hindi ako pwedeng bumagsak dito, either hindi nabasa ng machine or mali ang pagkaka-analyze ko ng choices. Tiwala lang talaga, pero sa Psych Assesment feeling ko tagilid ako, kinabahan na ako, nagdasal na lang talaga ako at sa kabila ng pagkakaroon ko ng ubo at sipon that day (dala siguro ng anxiety), binalewala ko na lang, concentration saka prayers lang talaga lalo na meron akong mga hindi sure na sagot.

Days passed and on the third day, I began to browse different sites where I could find the result, once released.  When there was this rumor that the release of the exam will be on Nov. 4, sobra na akong kinabahan, kahit na para sa akin intermediate lang ang exam, nawalan ako ng kumpyansa sa Psych Assessment subject kaya naisip ko baka mahatak yun at baka sumablay ako pero, dumating na yung araw na pinakahihintay ng lahat at unang lumabas sa gmanetwork website, hindi pa ako makapaniwala. Mixed emotions. Euphoric. Hinintay ko pa talaga kinabukasan na makita mismo sa prc site yung name ko kasi baka mamaya hindi totoo. Pero ang galing talaga. Pagkatapos non nagdasal ako, nagpasalamat ako kasi tinulungan ako ni Lord, alam nya ito tlaga ang pinakahihintay ko, ang gusto ko.  With my new license, I’m looking forward na sa school magamit ko yung profession ko, sa totoo lang gamit na gamit ang pagiging Psychology grad dahil sa mga students.  Hindi ko rin sinasarado ang puso ko kung muli akong babalik sa Human Resource pero sa ngayon masarap pa rin magtrabaho sa isang eskwelahan, dahil sa bukod sa natuturuan mo ang mga bata, natututo ka rin sa kanila.

(Note: Ruby is an AB Psychology graduate from De La Salle Araneta University Batch 2007. She completed 21 units of Education at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela in March 2012. Ruby became a Registered Teacher on the same year with Values Education as a major and now working in Public High School in Valenzuela since June 2013.  She already have 36 units of Master of Arts in Education Major in Guidance and Counseling from Bulacan State Univerity.  Her hobbies include reading self-help books and dancing. Sigmund Freud is her favorite Psychologist and applying Psychoanalytic Approach in dealing with maladjusted students.  Also in her classroom, most of the time she applies Behaviorism theory of BF Skinner and observes its connection with Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory which posits that people learn from one another through imitation, observation and modeling.  She plans to finish her master’s degree in 2-3 years time.)

OVERJOYED 

OVERJOYED

by AIREEN TAMAYO PARDILLO, RPm

Everyone I know who aspired to become a registered Psychometrician has been preparing for the board exam since June. Review Centers here in Davao City were already welcoming reviewees. I wanted to enroll because customarily, that is what board exam takers primarily do. Too bad the situation I am in did not permit me to. I experienced financial constraint which hampered me from enrolling in a review center. Not just some financial constraint where I cannot pay for the enrollment, but it is more of a survival game. I cannot even pay for my tuition in school! On top of that, my salary is like “Coke” (as what they say). If it’s not sakto, it’s zero. Why is that? I got 3 loans to pay for to assist my father in financing the building of our new tiny house.  It was even difficult to buy a sumptuous meal for lunch so I struggled with noodles and luncheon meat alternately.

So there, my friends started reviewing while I was busy preparing for my upcoming wedding on October 20. My fiancé was still in KSA while I was attending to all the details for our big day. I did not get me a wedding planner/organizer because we are really trying to save, again due to financial constraint. So I did all the planning (credits to my fiancé for his little efforts and for financing the wedding though :P)

It was one week before the exam, and I was not even finished reading the whole book of Theories of Personality! That’s one subject there. I ordered a reviewer from SPARK but was not able to read it because I was too busy. I work from 8am-5pm from Mondays to Fridays and attended school every Saturdays from 8am-9pm. All the details for the wedding were to be attended before I sleep. My only review time is every morning while taking a doze of early morning coffee.

For the whole month of September, I was busy doing school works. Doing reports, preparing TNA, practicing counseling skills, writing modules for every topic we had discussed in one subject.

The following month came. October 20, big day for me! From being Ms. Pardillo to Mrs. de Lara. Next day, I felt relieved (credits to all who helped us prepare the program, to MSYS team who beautifully and perfectly decorated the place for the wedding). Thank God for the successful day. So there, done with all that décor thingy, photoshoots, dress ups. Next in line, the upcoming board exam. From the bottom of my soul I wanted to be a registered Psychometrician. I was hopeful. Well, I got no other choice because if I fail the exam, I might lose my work.

Me, and my ex-boyfie (my husband) left Davao on October 26 at 7:45pm. Due to traffic, we arrived at NAIA at around 10PM. Since we are both unfamiliar with the place, and because our budget is only good for a 2-night stay in a hotel (plus food allowance), we decided to stay in the airport until October 27 early morning. We slept on the floor of NAIA, with all other passengers passing by. While having our goodnight sleep, a security guard from the airport woke us up telling us to transfer because their utility will be cleaning the vicinity. We transferred to another area, still within the lobby, and continued to doze off on the floor. We left the airport at 4am and traveled to Recto where UE is located.

I spent the whole afternoon of October 27 reviewing DSM-IV TR on my laptop while hubby was enjoying the NATGEO channel. After scanning through my e-book, I forced myself to read and answer the reviewer I got from SPARK. It was too painful for me since I know I only got so little time. It was the only time I seriously studied the board subjects. Tired, I stopped reading and said to myself “bahala na, gikapoy na ko ug basa”.

The following day. This is it! I felt jitters all over my body. I experienced stomach ache and been into the bathroom twice before I left the hotel for the first subject of the first ever board exam in the Philippines! PT was given first. I’ve studied this well. After reading question number 1, I was like, OMG! I scanned all the other questions and felt even jitterier. It was difficult. Well at least for me. The questions were tricky as well as the stems. Plus, I am not too familiar with those theories. I felt hopeless after completing the first test. After the second day, I was hopeful that I would pass the exam but I could not gather enough courage and belief for myself. Only God can do what I cannot do. What we cannot do. I continuously prayed even after the exam. We went back to Davao on November 3.

A friend told me that the results will be released on November 4, at 8pm. I painstakingly waited. I refreshed a lot of pages for a hundred times, eager to see the results until I gave up and slept. The following morning, my husband woke me up and told me that a friend in fb posted a screenshot of his name being on the list of roll of successful examinees. He then opened my account and checked first my inbox after seeing 6 notifications of messages. There it is! After opening one of the messages, we read a CONGRATULATIONS! I was in disbelief! All the pain and the tears I’d been through paid off! But hey, I was still in disbelief! Yet together we thanked God for this success! If I try to look back, I got all the reasons not to pass the board exam due to the challenges I’d been through. I cannot even describe it well here. But God has made a way and made me victorious. For the nth time, He showed me His grace and His faithfulness to His promises. In just a month, I got two things in a row now connected to my name: Aireen Pardillo – “DE LARA”, “RPm”. 

To my friends who were not able to pass the exam, may you hold on to your hopes and continue to strive hard. God bless us all! 

(Aireen is 26 years old, with a degree in BS in Psychology from Holy Cross of Davao College, batch 2009. She is currently working as a Psychometrician in a private testing center in Davao City.  Among the great psychologists, she both like Carl Rogers and Maslow. Aireen enjoys reading detective stories, sometimes playing DOTA as a stress-busting hobby. Her plan for the future is to finish masters degree by 2015 and take up the board exam for psychologists.)

Psych Living a Balanced Life

Psych Living a Balanced Life
by Jennifer Francia Pugao Villanueva, RPm
11042014

“Tunay ngang maaaring pagsabayin ang: PAGTATRABAHO, PAG-AARAL, PAG-IBIG, PAGGALA kasama ng mga kaibigan at PAGTUPAD NG TUNGKULIN sa Dakilang Lumikha.”

Apat na taon na magmula nang ako ay nagtapos sa Sikolohiya sa mataas na Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas. Ako ay nagtrabaho bilang bangkera (Teller) sa BPI Kamias-Anonas. Akala ko ay hindi ko makakayanan sa Banking Industry dahil ang kurso ko ay Sikolohiya at hindi kursong pang Teller. Subalit sa biyaya ng Dakilang Lumikha, nagkamit ako ng pinakamataas na pwesto sa BPI Teller’s Certification na may markang 91%. Nagtrabaho ako bilang Customer Service Associate (CSA) sa loob ng dalawang taon. Ninais kong mag-aral muli, kung kaya’t nagdesisyon akong huminto sa pagtatrabaho at kumuha ng MS Human Resource Management sa UST Graduate School bilang isang full-time graduate student. Subalit, dahil na rin sa kalagayang pinansiyal, ako ay huminto sa pag-aaral at naghanap muli ng trabaho. Ako ay kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho bilang Customer Service Assistant sa PLDT Balara. Bagaman mahirap na trabaho ang isang frontliner, masaya ako sa trabaho ko.

May FRANZ’ TIPS akong ibabahagi sa mga nais kumuha ng Psychometrician:

1. HINDI HADLANG ANG PAGTRATRABAHO.

“Kung nakaya ko, makakaya niyo rin! Maaari mong pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho kung gugustuhin at didisiplinahin ang sarili.”

Ang istilo ko kasi, dahil sa pagod na ako pagkagaling sa work, matapos ang hapunan, natutulog muna ako at gigising sa madaling araw para mag-agahan at mag-aral. Inilalatag ko na lahat ng mga aaralin ko at mga kakailanganin ko para tipid sa oras, maiidlip ulit at maghahanda para pumasok sa trabaho. At ito pa, maaari mo ring dalhin ang mga reviewers mo sa work para during break, may binabasa ka. Maiintindihan ka naman ng mga kasama mo na nag-aaral ka. 

2. KUNG IKAW AY MAY GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND HUWAG MAKIPAGBREAK KAPAG NAGREREVIEW.

Mas maigi na alam ng girlfriend/boyfriend mo na nagrereview ka para sa Board Exam. Kailangan malawak ang pang-unawa niya para hindi siya demanding sa time mo. Makabubuti kung ang date niyo ay “DATE REVIEW”. Maganda na siya ay iyo ring STUDY BUDDY, yung tipong kahit nakaupo lang siya sa tabi mo ay nararamdaman mo ang moral support niya – kahit hindi siya nagsasalita at nagpe-facebook lang siya.

3. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT REALLY WORKS.

Hindi lang hanggang libro sina Skinner – nagagamit talaga ang kaniyang teorya sa tunay na buhay. Tuwing pagkatapos ng Mock exams ko sa UST, bumibili ako ng paborito kong pagkain. At motivating rin ang masarap na luto ni Inay pagkauwi ko galing review – HAPPY TUMMY! 

4. KELANGAN MO RIN GUMALA WITH FRIENDS

Siyempre! You need to take a break once in a while specially when studying. Nakakaurat kayang mag-aral nang mag-aral. Kelangan rin tumawa at makipagkulitan sa mga kaibigan. At ang GROUPIE na pang FB. =))

5. HUWAG MONG IDEDEACTIVATE ANG FB, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM O ANUMANG SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

Maximize your resources. Actually, ang social networking sites ay mayaman sa kaalaman kung gagamitin natin sa tama. Tsaka pang tanggal umay sa pag-aaral. Ako, I personally use my FB as a motivator. Nagpopost ako ng mga larawan ng activity ko, in line sa mga napag-aralan ko in Psych and I feel motivated sa positive feedback nila for every post. Same as goal-setting: Goals stated in public are more motivating than the ones stated in private. Kasi may other people na pwedeng makamonitor ng progress mo towards attaining your goal. At ang goal ko nung during review ay makapasa sa 1st Psych Board Exam and it pays well.

6. START AND END YOUR DAY WITH A PRAYER AND WITH A SMILE

"Masaya sa pakiramdam na motivated kang mag-aral. Yung sigurado kang gigising ka kasi bigla kang mapapaigtad sa kama, "OMG, marami pa pala akong aaralain!" Masarap basahin ang iba't ibang teorya ng Personalidad lalo na ang pagkakadepinisyon nila ng PAG-IBIG. Para kang nagbabasa ng isang romantic novel nang hindi mo namamalayan napapangiti ka na pala.

7. HUWAG KANG MAGPAPAGUTOM 

"Hindi bale nang mataba, basta't busog habang nag-aaral."

LAMESA ang study area ko. No wonder biglang lobo ako after review. Walang papasok sa isip kapag gutom. Lagi mo lang uulitin sa isip mo, "Gutom na ako, gutom na ako, gutom na ako.. (to the nth power)

8. MAINTAIN A PEACEFUL HEART

Kahit sinong irate subs, walang makakapagpaiyak saken. Kahit anong galit nila, napapangiti ko sila pa rin sila at friends kami pagkaalis niya ng business office. Iyon ang bentahe natin PSYCH PEOPLE - kaya natin ihandle each personality types. Sa araw-araw na problems na naeencounter mo sa trabaho, just leave them all in your work place. Pag-alis ng office, may ibang buhay ka pa - pamilya, kaibigan, pag-ibig, pag-aaral at paglinang ng talento't kakayahan (mahilig akong sumayaw, gumuhit at gumawa ng art journal with reflections. Pinapaunlakan ko rin ang mga imbitasyon na makapagbahagi ako sa mga espesyal na talakayim sa kasaysayan at boluntaryong pagtuturo sa mga kabataan)

9. HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

Umpisa pa lang, sinasabi ko na sa sarili ko, "Kapag ako hindi pumasa, masaya pa rin ako. Iba ang ligaya na dulot sa akin ng pag-aaral na ito. Binigyan niya ng buhay ang routinary kong buhay. At ang lahat ng ito ay para sa mas ikabubuti ng aking tatahakin sa buhay." Kaya buo na ang desisyon ko na ako ay magtutuloy sa UST Graduate School ng MA Clinical Psychology para mas malawak na mundo na ang aking galawan at maibahagi ko ang likas na talento kong pagmamahal at pagtulong sa paglinang ng kakayahan ng bawat kapwa ko Pilipino. Ang motto ngayon ay: PROMOTING POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN EVERY FILIPINO. 

© Jennifer Francia Pugao Villanueva, RPm

(Note: Jennifer graduated in 2010 at UST. She is currently working as a CSA at PLDT.  Among her numerous hobbies include, Dancing, Painting, Art Journaling with JFPV Reflections.  She is interested in serving as volunteer lecturer of CUFI and teacher of KISLAP (Youth Org).  Albert Bandura is her fave psychologist (I personally chose his Behavior Modeling in our thesis - Cinematherapy on the Aggression Level of Male Juvenile Delinquents. His theory is holistic!  Whenever I do volunteer teachings, I use Filipino movies/clips in order to instill Filipino Values in my participants and his theory works best!). For her  future plans, "I want to be a Psychologist". I dream of helping my Filipino men to heal their self - holistically. I love giving advice and uplifting my friends, loved ones and students. I believe that I was born to help others discover and develop their God-given gifts. Especially nowadays that people in social networking sites develop low self-esteem, depression, experiencing being bullied, I believe I can help in my own simple ways.) 

An Account of Being a Pioneer Psychometrician through the Grandfather Clause of RA 10029

Below is an account of Sir Victorius Q. Bibera, one of the pioneer Licensed Psychometricians in the Philippines. He is one of those who availed of the grandfather clause of Republic Act 10029, Philippine Psychology Act of 2009 that of being registered as Psychometrician without examination. The law provides exemption of taking the licensure exam provided that requirements for exemption are satisfied. Congratulations to all Registered Psychometricians Without Examination! Congrats sir Victorius Bibera! Thank you for sharing your experience here in our blog.

Photo credit -VICTORIUS QUIAMCO  BIBERA

It is an honor to be a part of the Pioneering Batch of Psychometricians Registered Without Examination, Under R.A. (Republic Act) 10029. When I learned about the approval of the law to regulate the Psychologist and Psychometrician profession, I was one of the hopefuls who are seeking to be exempted from the licensure examination.

Photo credit -VICTORIUS QUIAMCO  BIBERA

Last February 7, 2013, I attended the Briefing on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10029 at the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and learned interesting insights and information about the approved law of exempting psychology and psychometrics practitioners who had been practicing the profession for considerable number of years. Having read the qualifications, I gained confidence that I can be a part of Pioneering Batch of Registered Psychometricians. Firstly, I have earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and obtained experience as a Psychometrician for three and a half years prior to June 2, 2010 (before the law was enacted).

Photo credit -VICTORIUS QUIAMCO  BIBERA

One day after the seminar, I did my online pre-screening application at the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) website. Moreover, I started to prepare and gather the necessary requirements like Transcript of Records, NBI clearance, three (3) certificates of good moral character from my graduate school professor, community and employer, certificate of employment with job description (psychometric work) and ID pictures. I proceeded to PRC to submit my requirements last March 27, 2013 and was advised by the attending personnel to follow-up on the status of my licensure application after 2 months. Then came May 18, 2013, I randomly checked PRC website for updates and was delighted to see my name on Resolution No. 2 Pioneering Batch of Psychometricians. On May 28, 2013, I went to PRC to pay for the initial registration and annual fees.

Photo credit -VICTORIUS QUIAMCO  BIBERA

I was informed by my co-worker on the first week of July 2013 that there will be a scheduled oath taking for Pioneering Batch of Psychologists and Psychometricians on July 19, 2013 at Sofitel Manila. I signified my intention to join the oath taking through paying the ticket at the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) office. Then came July 19, 2013, I attended the event alone with the hope of meeting old friends and colleagues. It was indeed a satisfying feeling to witness and experience the first oath taking of my fellow Psychometricians and well-esteemed Psychologists. I was glad to see one of my graduate school classmates, my former mentor in Philippine Psychological Corporation and my graduate school professor in De La Salle University.

Photo credit -VICTORIUS QUIAMCO  BIBERA

During that time, I was working as a High School Guidance Counselor and I have not yet reaped the fruits of my labor (my license). On a positive note, I am sure that it will help me to become more competent in my field of discipline as I plan to venture into psychological testing soon. Last April 2014, I applied as a Psychometrician in the same school I am working upon learning that one of the Psychometricians will be on leave for a year. Fortunately, I was taken in as a Psychometrician assigned to Grade 7 to Grade 12 students. I am still hopeful and positive to finish my graduate thesis the soonest time possible.




Related posts:
http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/07/first-roster-of-filipino.html

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/p/roster-of.html