Review Centers Claim to Fame and Survey Result

The survey was posted here  with the following instruction - (ONLY FOR THOSE WHO REVIEWED VIA REVIEW CENTER.) The purpose of this survey is for us to learn the experiences of those who availed review for the Board Licensure Exam for Psychometrician offered by review centers. The result of the survey also aims to provide constructive feedback to these review centers for them to further improve their services. So we hope you can help answer this survey. Survey result and output will be shared in our blog. Please be assured that your identity and responses will be kept confidential. Survey will take about 4-5 minutes to answer.) Replies were gathered from the period of November 1-6, 2014.  There were 48 respondents. Below are the results/responses using Google Survey Analytics.


Gender
Female = 38
Male    = 10

Respondents'  Schools

• Assumption College - Makati
• Adamson University
• CEU
• Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila
• Colegio de San Juan De Letran - Calamba
• Dominican College San Juan
• EAC- Manila
• Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
• Holy Angel University
• Jesus Reigns Christian College
• La Consolacion University of the Philippines
• LPU-Batangas
• LSPU
• Lyceum of the Philippines University
• Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite Campus
• Manila Central University
• Manila Tytana Colleges
• MSU-IIT
• New Era University
• Notre Dame of Dadiangas University
• Pasig  Catholic College
• PCU
• Perpetual Help-Molino Campus
• PUP
• Saint Louis College
• Saint Louis University
• San Pedro College, Davao City
• San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite
• Southern Luzon State University
• Southville International School and Colleges
• SPUQC
• St. Theresa's College
• St. Dominic College of Asia
• Universidad De Manila
• University of Caloocan City
• University of the Assumption
• University of the Cordilleras
• University of the East - Manila
• USANT
• UST
• Xavier  University

Review Centers

• Assumption College 
• Adamson University
• Ateneo de Naga University
• Carl Balita Review Center (2)
• DELS in Cooperation with Pathways International
• East West Psychology Review Academy (2) 
• La Consolacion University Philippines
• Mega Minds Review Center (3)
• NCS
• P & P Center
• Pathways International Review Center (2)
• Psi Psychological Testing and Research Services
• Psy Review and Consultancy Center (2)
• Review Center for Allied Professions (3)
• SAGE Review Specialist (2)
• SPARK Review Center (6)
• SPC-ADDU Review Center
• St. Louis Review Center
• Sultan Review Group (2)
• TRIAD Psychological and Testing Review Center (4)

  

Reviewees Recommendations 
The questions asked was - What can you recommend to improve the services of your review center? Primarily responses can be categorized into: review approach and methodology; handouts/materials; monitoring, punctuality and schedule;  costs and others.



Review Approach and Methodology

• Not too long Examinations
• Eliminate extraneous variables like noise due to building construction. Pre-exam held for only a day. Really toxic.
• There should be at least two professor in each subject.. because there is an instance where the professor is having an emergency so we're forced to just leave because there's no one who gonna teach us.. because the owner and also the head professor needs to accompany that professor.
• Review center should revise the program of the review.
• Be more strict on the attendance.
• Stress the importance of ToS. Have multiple rationalization and continuous feedback in the exam. Test checking should be done with precision and explanation of the answer.
• More outcome based sample questions.
• Change some of the resource person & distribute the review materials earlier.
• Make the lectures more lively
• There should be more lecturers and more time for reviewing
• Create a team to ease the workload of the academic coordinator.
• More set of practice questions to answer especially during weekends.
• Provide the extra needs of the reviewees and the instructors should not be boring.
• Longer time to prepare
• Style of lecturing of instructors should be defined by expectations in review centers, not classroom setting. But it was understandable because the instructors didn't have experience in sitting in review centers.
• Psychologist and Psychometrician should not be combine
• Choose competent set of proctors and better lecturers with mastery of the subjects
• Invite more knowledgable lecturers. They and the review center staff should also encourage their students more in doing better in the review sessions and in the actual licensure examination.
• Use more questions and rationalization to learn more
• More time for Psychological Assessment and More test to develop testing skills.

Handouts and Materials

• More useful handouts and test taking techniques and practice.
• Better handouts presentation, not merely printed powerpoint.
• Give the review materials before the lecture start or at least right after
• Provision of handouts(hard copy) which you can read at your own comfort instead of soft copies
• Provide actual hard copy ng handouts, longer length of review, more time for subjects
• I hope they will provide handouts and be prepared with ppts. Initially, they were not giving us our previous test papers for our reviewer materials but on the last few weeks, they gave us everything but without the answer key. They do not provide handouts. Before, apart from the fee, we also pay for photocopies of test paper. They also asked us for separate final coaching fee. Initially, we were almost 70 but at the end of the review, we were less than 20 because the other reviewees gave up beause of their system.
• Uploading of lectures should be immediate or right after the discussion
• Online ppts should be sent on time not 2 days before the exam (juice colored). 
• Improve the print out materials and summary notes.
• Double check the flashdrives some don't work

Cost

• The cost of the review was very expensive. It costs 11,500 and another 3,000 for the final coaching. Worse, the expenses for the handouts was not covered by the large amount we paid. We had to pay them for the copies of reviewers. And the whole review was not even outcome-based!
• Include handouts in the enrollment fee.
• None. It's just that it's too expensive

Monitoring, Schedule and Punctuality  

• Maybe it is better if we start on the right time, kasi meron yung mga weekends na ang schedule ay 8am pero nagsstart na ay 9am.
• Whole weekend sana. both sat and sunday.
• It will be more ok if there is frequent monitoring to the DLP by calling or doing internet phone call to check on progress

Others

• Snacks and foods
• Room space
• Facilities, design, schedule
• Provide White Board

Testimonials of Reviewees 

Not bad for a first time. Circumstances happened not in our favor are outside the center's control. But in the end, we were able to do what we need to do, e.g. final coaching.

Instructors are really good on their subject matter.  But there's this one instructor she's super fun but most of the time she's just telling stories and laughing.

Great! Very humble Review Director and Very helpful staffs. The professors are known  for  their respective field.

It was very beneficial.

One of the best.

The best!!

Please review with them.

The lessons should have been made concise, but still it was an okay experience because of the friendly staff and lecturers.

Supportive environment and great experience.

Indeed, it was a great privilege to part of the Team Triad. Having professors who are seasoned, passionate, and truly believing on what we can do challenges us to be the best we can be. Building the best in us means giving the best for us. God bless.

Great!! It is really informative and it really did give me new concepts and ideas.

Spark Review Center offers a wide variety of pedagogues to their students. From video presentation, analogies, practice test, study buddies, group works and many more. The review center molds its student to their fullest potential as a top notch Psychometrician or Psychologist  Filipino practicioner with integrity and work ethics.

The Best Review Environment

Approachable staff and trained instructors

I have a deep gratitude to our review center that whether I pass or fail they made a big help on my review.

Awesome!

Not so Satisfied Reviewees

The review center needs more reliable staff and lecturers

2nd Batch is inherently more cheap compare to the first batch. I noticed that no handouts were given and thus all ppt are in emails. You should be fortunate to have a printer at home to print it for free. Furthermore, I'd like them to make a rationalization of the answers per item. Or rather have the most difficult items be rationalized extensively. We are fortunate that the board were not so much tiring thus I should give the review center more ideas for improvement. -This statement is coming from a first batch having sit-ins in 2nd batch.

It did not really prepare me for Psych Assessment. no hard copy for handouts kasi puro lang powerpoint or kami mag sulat ng notes. Our lecturer in ab psych did not give her powerpoint or notes in ab psych kasi rumor has it that the lecturer is strict when it comes to distributing her powerpoint to others, which made reviewing abnormal psychology a struggle. 16 hours per subject was not enough, kasi siniksik yung mga topics in a short amount of time kaya yung retention eh hindi masyado mataas. Mabuti nalang maayos yung lecturer namin sa Industrial Psych at Theories of Personality kasi sila lang yung saving grace ng review namin.

Could be better.

If I were to make a testimonial, I will definitely not recommend this review center. Never.

It is a good review center but some lecturers are boring.

Related Links

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2015/01/good-and-least-performing-schools-of.html

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/official-result-from-prc-website.html

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.287826281427858.1073741834.139570119586809&type=3



Links to Facebook Posts of Review Centers

East West Psychology Review Academy
https://www.facebook.com/eastwestpsychologyreviewacademy/posts/1556970817851580
https://www.facebook.com/eastwestpsychologyreviewacademy/posts/1553511471530848

Megaminds
https://www.facebook.com/412728368826291/posts/686994248066367/
https://www.facebook.com/MegaMindsReviewCenter/posts/665452036887255

Pathways International
https://www.facebook.com/path.slacks/posts/1533173396941923
https://www.facebook.com/path.slacks/posts/1512486562343940


RCAP 
https://www.facebook.com/path.slacks/posts/1512486562343940

https://www.facebook.com/670086746382975/photos/a.670090123049304.1073741828.670086746382975/796194993772149/?type=1 

SPARK

https://www.facebook.com/SparkReviewCenter/posts/682012598572624

https://www.facebook.com/SparkReviewCenter/posts/681930438580840


Sultan Group 
https://www.facebook.com/sultanreviewgroup.psychreview/posts/1498025633797915
https://www.facebook.com/sultanreviewgroup.psychreview/posts/1498025607131251

Good and Least Performing Schools of the 2014 BLE for Psychometrician

(Data/table above is of schools with 85 and above examinees.)  Source: - https://www.facebook.com/psychometricianreviewer/photos/a.156299194580568.1073741830.139570119586809/291169341093552/?type=1&permPage=1


We consolidated data from the PRC result of the 2014 BLEPP for those schools with 35-73 examinees. Our objective is to see trends and patterns of schools performance. The data should inform those schools about their status as compared with other schools. And it should also serve as challenge both to schools and their graduates on the need to perform better in the 2015 BLEPP if warranted. Note that some schools are not included since their number is less than 35 and those schools with more than 73 are not also included in the list below.  The national passing rate is 39.31% and the following are the rates obtained by the schools listed below:

From the data above the following are the good performing schools (35 to 73 Examinees):

1) DLSU-Manila - 66.67% (DLSU-Manila is CHED's Center of Excellence for Psychology Program)

2) MSUIIT - 59.62%

3) Ateneo de Davao University - 54.76%

And the following schools could be categorized as least performing schools (35 to 73 Examinees):

1) UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY (for. CALOOCAN CITY P.C.) - 6.98% 

2) SAN BEDA COLLEGE - 20.93%

3) OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY-VALENZUELA - 24.00%

There are 12 schools (half of the list above) that are below the national passing rate of 39.31% (35 to 73 Examinees):

Schools	% Passed
BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY(for BCAT)-MALOLOS	36.36%
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY-MAKATI	32.43%
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY DASMARIÑAS	27.66%
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-LIPA	32.88%
OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY-VALENZUELA -	24.00%
SAN BEDA COLLEGE	20.93%
SOUTHERN LUZON STATEUNIVERSITY-LUCBAN  (SLPC)	27.91%
TRINITY UNIVERSITY OF ASIA (TRINITY-QC)	27.66%
UNIVERSIDAD DE MANILA  (CITY COLL. OF MANILA)	25.53%
UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY (for CALOOCAN CITY P.C.)	6.98%
UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI	27.50%
UNIVERSITY OF THE ASSUMPTION	28.57%

Related links:

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/transition-in-professionalizing.html

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/official-result-from-prc-website.html

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/11/congratulations-to-all-2014-pioneer.html

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Team RPm

Kami naman! ‪#‎Pasado‬ sa 2015 BLE for Psychometrician! Our best wishes for retakers and first time takers! Mabuhay ‪#‎Psychometricians‬!‪#‎kaminaman2015BLEPP‬

Keynote Address of Dr. Allan B.I. Bernardo

• Congresswoman,  Dr  Anna  York  Bondoc,
• Hon.  Commissioner  Yolanda  Reyes, 

• Hon.  PRB  Chair  Miriam  Cue,  and  PRB  members  Hon  Imelda  Villar  and  Hon  Alexa  Abrenica, 

• Dr  Angela  Regala,  President  of  PAP  and  all  PAP  officers  and  directors, 

• Distinguished  guests, 

• Our  new  professional  psychometricians  and  psychologists,     

I  wish  to  extend  my  warmest  congratulations  to  all  those  who  passed  the  first  ever  board  exams   for  psychometricians  and  for  psychologists,  and  to  all  the  other  professional  psychologists  and   psychometricians  taking  their  oath  today.     

The  passage  of  R.A.  10029  or  The  Philippine  Psychology  Act  of  2009  ushered  in  a  new  stage  in   the  development  of  the  psychology  profession  in  the  Philippines,  with  the  national  government   regulating  the  practice  of  psychometricians  and  psychologists.  This  act  that  regulates  our   profession  is  a  clear  statement  of  how  our  nation’s  leaders  recognize  the  important  role  of   psychometricians  and  psychologists  in  nation  building.  We  should  bear  in  mind  that  the   Philippines  is  presently  the  only  Asian  country  where  the  government  recognizes  and  regulates   the  profession  of  psychology.  And  in  a  recent  meeting  of  heads  of  ASEAN  psychology  societies,   the  Philippine  Psychology  Act  was  closely  studied  by  our  ASEAN  neighbors;  and  for  this  the   Philippine  psychology  community  should  be  proud  of  this  significant  and  historic  milestone  of   Philippine  psychology.       

Now,  YOU  are  part  of  this  milestone.  Or  let  me  correct  that.  Your  passing  the  first  board  exams   for  psychometricians  and  for  psychologists  is  a  new  milestone  in  this  milestone.  Although  there   are  a  good  number  of  psychometricians  and  psychologists  who  have  been  licensed  without   examination  even  before  you  took  the  board  exam,  there  is  something  truly  extraordinary  in   your  taking  part  in  the  board  exam.  For  one,  it  demonstrates  how  foolishly  courageous  you  are!   While  many  others  chose  to  wait  it  out,  and  see  how  the  first  exam  goes,  you  took  a  big  risk  and   went  ahead  (some  would  say  crazily)  into  unknown  territory.  So  I  salute  you  not  only  for   passing,  but  also  for  your  extraordinary  courage.     

But  more  importantly,  your  taking  the  exam  is  a  bellwether  of  a  permanent  change  in  the   landscape  of  psychology  in  the  Philippines.  The  permanent  change  involves  a  concerted  effort   to  improve  psychology  education  and  teaching,  upgrading  the  standards  of  professional  and   ethical  practice,  all  of  which  would  contribute  to  the  continuous  growth  of  psychology  as  a   respected  scientific  discipline  and  profession  in  our  country.  Your  passing  the  exam  and  your   taking  the  oath  today  means  that  there  is  no  turning  back  to  the  progress  in  the   professionalization  of  psychology  in  the  country.  Today’s  event  signals  to  all  members  and   stakeholders  of  the  Philippine  psychology  community  that  we  psychologists  take  our  profession   seriously,  and  we  cherish  our  various  responsibilities  in  our  different  communities  and  societies.     

But  let  us  consider  what  this  all  means.  What  does  it  mean  to  be  a  registered  psychometrician   or  registered  psychologist?  What  does  it  mean  to  be  charged  to  execute  our  responsibilities  as   licensed  professionals?  For  some  of  us,  they  will  reduce  this  achievement  to  tangibles  –  the  PRC  pin,  the  professional  ID  card  with  the  registration  number,  the  letters  that  they  can  add  to  their   professional  titles  (RPM,  RPSY),  which  were  obtained  after  filling  up  documents,  photocopying   them,  signing  these,  affixing  the  thumb  marks,  cueing  in  many  lines,  making  several  payments,   and  so  on.  These  tangibles  of  being  a  registered  professional  are  important  because  of  what   they  represent.  And  I  hope  you  value  what  they  represent  more  than  the  pin,  those  letters  after   your  name,  and  the  ID  with  your  registration  number.         

Let  me  share  with  you  what  I  think  this  professional  registration  means.  In  essence,  your   professional  registration  as  psychometrician  or  psychologist  means  that  you  are  now  part  of  a   community  of  Filipino  psychologists.  Who  is  in  that  community?  That’s  the  person  sitting  next  to   you  and  across  you.  That  also  includes  your  former  professors  who  were  previously  licensed   without  examination  (although  let’s  assume  they  would  have  also  passed  the  exam  if  they  took   it).  The  community  also  includes  your  colleagues,  your  former  colleagues,  and  all  your  future   colleagues  in  the  various  professional  fields  of  psychology.  The  community  would  also  include   psychometricians  and  psychologists  in  various  provinces  and  regions  of  the  country,  working  in   clinics,  hospitals,  schools,  community  centers,  organizations,  and  so  on.  The  community  often   comes  together  in  the  Psychological  Association  of  the  Philippines,  whose  members  and  leaders   are  also  part  of  the  community.       

Now  that  may  all  sound  rather  obvious,  so  let  me  give  you  a  bit  of  an  historical  background   about  this  community  and  why  it  sought  to  be  recognized  as  a  regulated  profession.  The  first   attempt  to  get  Filipino  psychologists  registered  was  in  the  early  1980s  in  the  last  years  of   Martial  Law,  in  was  called  the  Batasang  Pambansa.  The  motivation  for  this  was  a  threat.  There   was  word  that  the  Philippine  Medical  Association  wanted  to  restrict  the  provision  of   psychotherapy  and  other  mental  health  interventions  to  licensed  medical  professionals.   Unfortunately,  that  initial  attempt  to  enact  a  law  to  regulate  the  practice  of  psychology  did  not   prosper;  and  it  did  not  prosper  for  another  25  years  or  so.  But  fortunately,  the  Philippine   psychology  community  was  left  to  do  its  own  unregulated  thing.         

What  galvanized  the  Philippine  psychology  community  again  was  yet  another  threat.  The   passage  of  the  Philippine  Guidance  and  Counseling  Act  in  2004  threatened  the  practice  of  many   Filipino  psychometricians  and  psychologists,  as  the  IRR  of  that  law  restricted  the  provision  of   services  such  as  counseling  and  psychological  testing  to  licensed  guidance  counselors.  I   remember  the  anger  and  the  frustration  when  our  colleagues  in  the  guidance  counseling   profession  were  telling  trained  psychologists  that  they  cannot  do  psychological  testing;  and   telling  us,  “You  will  be  fired,”  and  worse,  we  were  told,  “You  will  be  put  to  jail  because  that  is   the  law.”        Fortunately,  no  one  was  put  to  jail,  although  some  did  lose  their  jobs.  I  tell  you  this  history  not   to  speak  badly  of  guidance  counselors,  who  to  this  day  are  our  important  partners  in  the  mental   health  community.  I  tell  you  this  history  because  the  Philippine  psychology  community,   organized  by  the  Psychological  Association  of  the  Philippines  responded  most  positively  to  this   threat,  to  what  could  be  seen  as  some  form  of  bullying  of  the  entire  profession.  Yes,  we  were   angry;  we  were  frustrated;  we  had  to  shout,  scream,  and  vent  our  frustrations  somehow.    But  we  were  not  hopeless;  we  did  not  cower;  we  did  not  surrender.  Instead  the  leaders  of  our   community  strategized,  developed  many  alternative  plans,  and  forged  new  alliances.  

Fortunately  we  found  allies,  in  persons  like  Cong.  Anna  York  Bondoc.  We  also  learned  to   tentatively  resolve  differences  within  our  community.  We  came  together  in  our  own  haphazard   way.  We  responded  positively  as  a  community,  and  the  Psychology  Bill  became  the  Psychology   Act,  and  fast  forward...  we  are  here  today.     

Here  we  are  today,  a  community  that  has  perhaps  reluctantly  come  together  as  THE  community   of  professional  psychologists  in  the  Philippines.  We  are  still  a  community  with  internal  conflicts;   there  are  still  issues  that  we  all  do  not  agree;  and  there  will  be  other  concerns,  big  and  small,   that  will  challenge  our  community  in  the  future.  But  the  milestone  of  RA10029,  and  the   milestone  of  your  oath-­‐taking  today  tells  us  that  we  CANNOT  ever  let  any  issue  divide  our   community  again,  because  we  saw  what  good  can  come  from  uniting  together  as  one   psychology  community.  As  a  community,  we  should  strive  to  find  solutions  and  forge   compromises  regarding  problems  and  issues  that  will  confront  us  in  the  future.  RA10029  not   only  recognizes  the  important  role  of  psychometricians  and  psychologist  for  nation  building.   More  importantly,  RA10029  articulates  a  clear  mandate  for  all  psychometricians  and   psychologists  to  actively  take  part  in  these  processes  of  building  communities,  organizations,   programs,  and  of  building  and  helping  people.     

To  realize  this  mandate,  all  registered  psychometricians  and  psychologists  are  called  upon  to   actively  engage  this  community.  Do  not  take  your  PRC  ID  and  then  just  do  your  own  thing,   thinking  that  you  now  have  the  license  to  do  just  that,  your  own  thing.  Part  of  the  mandate  of   RA10029  is  call  to  professional  citizenship.  You  are  citizens  of  this  professional  community,  and   there  are  certain  values  and  expectations  that  should  guide  our  professional  citizenship.      There  are  many  values,  but  I  would  like  to  emphasize  just  three  value  pairs  this  afternoon,  three   pairs  of  values  which  I  know  are  very  closely  related  to  each  other:  ethics  and  professionalism,   excellence  and  cultivation,  and  empathy  and  responsiveness.       

First,  all  licenses  are  governed  by  ethical  codes.  Psychologists  in  the  Philippines  had  ethical   guidelines  even  before  RA10029.  Part  of  your  professional  citizenship  is  to  know  the  general   principles  and  the  specific  guidelines  of  this  code  of  ethics.  But  this  part  of  your  professional   citizenship  cannot  be  a  simple  cognitive  understanding  of  the  document;  instead,  a  good   professional  citizen  of  the  Philippine  psychology  community  lives  and  breathes  the  provisions  of   this  code  of  ethics,  advocates  the  code  of  ethics  in  all  venues  and  forums,  and  calls  attention  to   breaches  of  the  code  when  confronted  by  such.    It  is  in  your  advocacy  and  exemplification  of  the   provisions  of  this  code  that  you  become  the  ethical  professional  psychologist.  Ethics  and   professionalism.     

Part  of  the  code  of  ethics  refers  to  competencies  –  that  it  is  unethical  for  a  psychologist  to   provide  services  and  undertake  professional  acts  for  which  he/she  does  not  have  the   appropriate  training  and  competence.    The  board  exams  that  you  just  passed  assures  as  that   you  meet  minimum  competencies  to  provide  psychological  services.    But  let  us  keep  in  mind  that  the  science  of  our  profession  is  growing  in  leaps  and  bounds;  new  theories,  interventions,   tools  and  techniques  are  proposed  and  studied  constantly.    As  such,  it  is  the  responsibility  of  a   good  professional  citizen  of  the  Philippine  psychology  community  to  constantly  cultivate  his/her   knowledge  and  skills  as  a  psychology  professional.    The  fact  that  you  passed  the  board  exam   should  not  be  a  license  for  you  to  say  you  know  enough;  instead,  the  fact  that  you  passed  the   board  exam  means  that  you  know  enough  to  start  learning  more  and  more.  Excellence  and   cultivation.     

Why  do  we  need  to  have  such  high  aspirations  and  to  continuously  cultivate  our  skills?  Because   we  have  communities,  organizations,  and  people  we  serve.  And  very  simply,  we  cannot  fail   them  -­‐-­‐  but  that  is  such  an  avoidant  position.  As  a  community  of  professional  psychologists  our   goal  should  not  be  just  to  avoid  failing  our  stakeholders.  Instead  our  goal  is  to  provide  the  best   that  the  fast  growing  science  and  profession  of  psychology  has  to  offer  to  our  stakeholders,   because  we  care  about  our  stakeholders.  We  want  our  communities  to  thrive,  we  want  the   organizations  we  serve  to  meet  their  high  aspirations,  and  we  want  the  individuals  we  help  to   solve  their  problems  and  to  flourish.  Excellence  and  cultivation  is  not  a  personal  conceit.  We   strive  to  be  better  because  we  empathize  with  the  plight  of  our  stakeholders,  and  we  want  to   be  responsive  to  their  needs.  We  do  not  serve  our  stakeholders  with  a  high  sense  of  self-­‐ importance;  instead  we  subordinate  the  esteem  we  have  as  professionals  to  help  our   stakeholders  attain  their  important  goals.       

Also  remember,  that  our  stakeholders’  goals  are  defined  within  a  rather  problematic  society;  a   society  that  experiences  vast  social  inequalities  and  injustices,  where  opportunities  for  growth   and  personal  development  are  not  equally  distributed,  where  individuals,  families,  and   organizations  face  numerous  stressors  and  risks,  where  many  people  voices  are  silenced  by   oppressive  structures  in  our  social  system,  where  many  people  in  the  margins  have  not  found   their  voices  at  all  –  AND  where  highly  educated  psychometricians  and  psychologists  like  you  are   among  the  privileged.  We  can  make  a  difference  in  the  lives  of  others,  if  we  chose  to,  with   empathy  and  responsiveness,  with  excellence  and  cultivation,  guided  by  ethics  and   professionalism.      

Three  value  pairs  that  I  hope  will  be  your  guide  in  your  journey  of  good  professional  citizenship;   a  journey  that  “officially”  begins  today  with  your  oath  –  a  journey  that  you  will  begin  with  a   strong  sense  of  pride.  Yes,  you  should  be  very  proud  of  your  significant  role  in  touching  the   future  of  Philippine  psychology.  But  that  role  is  not  limited  to  your  activities  in  today’s   celebration.  That  role  in  touching  the  future  of  Philippine  psychology  is  a  lifelong  role.  Because   you  should  remember  that  your  achievement  that  we  celebrate  today  is  also  your  mandate  to   serve  the  profession  and  the  community  to  the  best  of  your  ability.  I  hope  that  you  do  not   disappoint  the  leaders  of  the  psychology  profession  who  are  witnesses  to  your  oath  taking   today.  I  hope  you  do  not  disappoint  our  advocates  like  Dr  Anna  Bondoc  and  the  other  former   leaders  of  the  PAP  who  have  worked  hard  to  get  us  where  we  are  now.    Instead,  I  hope  you   become  exemplars  of  professional  citizenship,  and  in  your  becoming  so,  you  are  truly  helping   build  a  stronger  community  of  Philippine  psychologists  that  is  more  united  even  amid  its   diversity,  a  community  that  will  not  only  act  when  it  is  threatened,  but  will  be  proactive  and  animated  in  being  a  force  for  a  good  and  just  society.  You  will  hopefully  be  a  very  outstanding   citizen  of  the  professional  community  of  Filipino  psychologists  that  serves  its  lawful  mandate   with  utmost  conviction.         

When  you  all  take  your  oath  this  afternoon,  you  will  be  changed.  But  more  importantly,   remember  that  you  are  now  licensed  to  be  agents  of  change  for  the  people  you  work  for.  For   me  that  is  a  most  exciting  thought.  And  so  I  have  to  congratulate  you  all  once  more,  and  invite   you  to  form  and  reform  our  Philippine  psychology  community,  and  together,  let  us  touch  the   future  and  make  it  better.     

Allan  B.  I.  Bernardo  

9  December  2014

PICC, Manila

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9L6cSSvjzAodUU2S0NUSGxOQWc/view?usp=sharing


Maraming salamat Dr. Bernardo for sharing with us your keynote speech on the 4th Joint Oath Taking Ceremonies for Psychologists and Psychometricians. Mabuhay po kayo!

Post by Lea Katrine Sabilla.

Video courtesy of Lea Katrine Sabilla

An Oath to Take

(Note: Below is a personal story of one of 2014 BLE Psychometrician topnotchers who preferred to be anonymous.)

Yesterday I took an oath... And lest I forget one of the most crucial time in my life... I decided to simply write about it.

GRADUATION.

Graduating from college was a very powerful and empowering experience. It was pure bliss. And to be able to have a degree at one of the most excellent universities in the country was cherry on top. And so fresh from graduation I had the time of my life. Celebrations went on and on. I traveled with friends, climbed mountains, went to the provinces of my parents... I had not been able to stay at my house for a whole day I think. It was an unforgettable summer for me.

Everything had to end though. That  summer ended. And back in my room I was faced with this BIG QUESTION: What's next? Life taunts me... "Hey, what should you do with that degree you were so proud of?"

And I know then that I had to do something. So I started hunting jobs. But I was way too picky. I applied for jobs, passed those exams, calls here and there, all those necessary stuff. I received offers... which I all declined. Now, all of us know that applying for a job is HARD work. But I always find myself rejecting the jobs I had worked hard for. "WHY?" I asked myself every time. And the only answer I get is a vague "You know you're not ready."

I had a constant argument with myself. It went like this:

"You know you can be ready if you want to"

"Oh yeah?! That's not so simple.  My heart's not yet ready."

"You're impossible! That company is so good! You're wasting money, and we're talking about months of salary here!"

"I said I'm not yet ready."

And a new set of argument would follow suit. I wasn't ready, perhaps. Or maybe, I just needed lots of time to think things through. But I still had another problem... The Board Exam.

Honestly, I was one of those who felt unenthusiastic about BLEPP. It was just an unwanted burden that I had to take on. It made my possible career paths more difficult to achieve. I felt like Harry Potter. In a way, I was one of the first "chosen ones" who needed to walk on this unpaved road. Crazy. I felt like Harry Potter as he faced Voldemort. I was terrified. I'm aware that I was risking my name, my reputation, my dreams and a whole lot more. I'm even risking my sanity in the process, come to think of it.  And to think that I had to "waste" a precious 7 months to prepare for this hateful board exam was just too much. My life was literally put on hold. I was frustrated.

Ironically, I was one of the first few who enrolled in the review classes offered by my university. But that's only because my parents were already asking what I'd do with my life. So I put on a bright face and told them I want to review for the exam.

Funny thing is, I think I was the one who pushed my friends and blockmates (who were all as confused as I am right then) to enroll in the review classes. Haha. All I was thinking then is this: At least we've something to do... for now.  

I stopped applying for jobs. Yet I still wasn't taking the review seriously. I only went to classes because I miss my blockmates and my beautiful university. I was going through the motions. I had awful test scores every time. But I didn't care. Not really. Until I realized that I was not being myself. This is not me anymore. I've always been persistent. And when I do something, I give it the best I've got. My dislike of the board exam got in the way of my enthusiasm for life. So I decided to turn this "threat" into a "challenge" that I have to take. And I do take challenges very seriously.

Also, I  wanted to take this review time not just so I can pass the board exam, but that so I can retain most of what I've learned in the 4 years I've studied this beautiful course, Psychology. I've always been and will always be inlove with this subject. Looking back, I chose this course just because... Just because.  Haha. It was a spontaneous decision. I just wanted to study a versatile course because I still do not know what to do with my life then. I was soul-searching, in a way. But I never regretted that one spontaneous decision that changed my life. However, I realized after graduation that the versatility of this course is a double-edged sword. I wanted to be a Guidance Counselor on my first year in college, an HR Manager the next year, Clinical Psychologist on the third,  Social Worker the next, or a preschool teacher perhaps?! I wanted to do all of that. I was frustrated. Yet this review time enabled me to gather my thoughts and decide on what I really want to do with my life...

Moment by moment, I've found myself being enthusiastic and joyful about all of this. I struggle every now and then, old doubts creep in sometimes... The chances of failure was huge. But then there were my friends. I had them during college, I still have them now. Even though some of them went to med school, some are now working, others migrated... their love and support are still with me. They touched me in ways different with that of my family. Perhaps because they chose me, and stayed anyway :)

Every now and then I studied with my reviewmates/friends at coffee shops (which always turns out to be kwento time! Lol). I thought that we couldn't get any closer by now, after 4 years of being together... but we did. Sharing all those test anxieties, bouts of fear and all those feelings related to unemployment and struggles toward maturity, we supported each other more than we could ever fathom... I loved them more than ever.  Also, I am now friends with college batchmates whom I haven't even said a single hello to when we were in college. Another thing is that I've been reunited with my highschool friends who also studied psychology. I was soooo happy to be with them again. Moreover, I became closer with my sister too! She's a law student and we were both too busy sometimes. But ever since I reviewed for the board exams we became closer than ever before.                                        
The most touching thing though is my relationship with God. I admit that I didn't have enough time for Him in college. Now, I started rekindling my love for Him. I started rereading the Bible. I started to say novenas, like novenas to St. Jude and St. Claire. I also faithfully attended every Wednesday a novena mass at Baclaran. Since then I got in touched with His Suffering Mother. She also faced the unknown, she also faced uncertainties like me right now... but she triumphed.  I was so drawn to her and she gave me so much strength. My supportive parents even accompanied me to Manaog. It was such a lovely place for a soul. I felt tranquility. This review time had been turned into a beautiful spiritual experience for me as well. Also, this was a secret, but I attended mass every single day as I review. My parents thought that I was just with friends or something. It's just that our church is near and I felt that I had so much time in my hands to not be able to give Him an hour of my everyday. Attending daily mass was such a big help to me, in ways that I can't fully explain.      

A couple of months passed. Everything's going so well for me. Enlightened, that's what I am. Happy and blessed, too. Until I only had a month...  Time was terribly fast. I've only finished TOP and bits of IO then. I know I know. It's because I also reviewed Gen Psych, Biopsych, Social Psych, Beh. Measurement & Analysis and Human Dev't... Ok I know, I'm crazy. But I promised to review everything right? So I can retain the four precious years of study... But due to my stubbornness, now I barely have time anymore for the other subjects. And when I think of all the time I read novels... argh. Anyway so week by week I crammed everything as much as possible. But it was still in vain.


MOCK EXAMS

Those exams mocked me, alright.  The mock exams turned out to be a diagnostic exams for me. I didn't follow the pacing of our review classes. So there. I was so scared by now.

A week before the exams I was convinced I wouldn't be able to pass. Despite my faith that God could grant anything for me, I meekly told Him that no matter what happens I'd understand and I'd still be thankful for the Halcyon days He has given me.

Still, I cringe everytime I tried to picture myself failing the exams. I really tried to accept it in advance. I know that I do not deserve to pass. But I think of my parents and they sure deserve to see their daughter pass. If there was anyone as concerned as I with my future, it was my family. I couldn't bear to disappoint them. I would be shattered if I fail. Later on I learned that my father was worried that I wouldn't pass so he prayed (he's not really spiritual).

Two days before the exam I went to a Mcdo Cafe so I can burn the midnight oil with a friend. Guess what, I finished 5 large coffee refills just so I'd stay awake to finish our entire book for Human Resouce Management. I'm a fast reader, but I haven't finished it, much to my dismay. It was six am when we went home. Clap, clap, clap. That was the first time since college that I'd stay awake after midnight just to study. I've still got a day to study but I haven't even started reviewing Psych Assessment. I was so forlorn. Besides  I have no inkling on how to study that subject. I studied our handouts (I haven't even read any of our handouts yet) but I felt that it wasn't enough. By then I know that my chances of passing are getting slimmer.


THE EXAMS

Those 2 days of examination... The exams... Everything's a blur. I remember that I was studying until the very last minute. I couldn't help it. I know very well that I should be resting and stuff, but I can't. I was panicking, my heart was filled with this sickly dread that everything would go wrong. On the first day I only had 4 hours of sleep. I was nauseatingly nervous and sleepy and hopeful all at the same time. I went to St Jude first thing in the morning since I was just assigned to UE. It turned out that it was the feast day of St. Jude! Yaaay! I've always been a devotee. That morning I lighted those set of colorful candles (each color with a diff. meaning) and hoped for the best.

I was so confident with TOP but as I took the exam my confidence level dropped to zero. I was so confused about those items. I was astounded to know that I do not know this and that  (my favorite subject is TOP). At the end of the day I became depressed. I was shocked too, that others seem so confident while I was in pure misery.

Now, my friends and I wanted to attend the mass at St. Jude Shrine to be celebrated by Archbishop Tagle. Hours before the mass the church was already full, and we're lucky that we went early. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep while waiting. The mass was so long but it was worth it. That night I had 4 hours of sleep yet again. So I was sooo sleepy the next day, and I was even more devastated about the exams. I had a severe case of trichotillomania as I "tried" answering psych assessment. It was pure guesswork on my part and I was so so unhappy after finishing it.


WAITING...

Waiting for the results was agony... I dare not hope to pass. I was in a daze. Right after the exam I slept for 18 hours straight. 18 Hours! Classic regression. I cocooned myself in my room. After a while I tried to act okay but I was really depressed about the exams. I was in denial. I was like, "Is it really over?! Can I take it again pleeeasse?". I was even angry for all those involved with the test construction. It was awful to take an exam with typos and grammatical errors. I was so afraid of the results that I asked my friends to just look for my name as soon as the results come out. I haven't any courage.
                   
                                
The final Judgement


I was online when a friend sent a message. Reading "Congrats!" made my heart jumped for joy. I couldn't believe it until she sent the link. I was sooo happy. My mom was shaking as I said that I passed.  I was shaking badly too! Excitement and joy mingled, my sympathetic nervous system was on fire, the fb notifs was crazy, and I'm deliriously happy.


BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...

Midnight came and my blockmates congratulated me... for being a topnotcher.

"HA. HA HA AS IF". "WHAT AGAIN?! SRSLY??! DI NGA?"

Yet I looked it up and my name was there! I refreshed the 'abs-cbn news' page ten times just to be sure but my name was still there! WOW. YAAAY! IT'S TRUE! I never imagined that one coming! My mom and sister were jumping out of joy...

YESTERDAY'S  OATH TAKING

At PICC, it all came back. All the emotion I felt came crashing down on me as I went up the stage. Gratitude, immense happiness, a sense of accomplishment... Who would have thought that I, a happy-go-lucky soul, would be able to receive a medal and be standing right before such astounding persons who contributed much to psychology as a profession here in our country. And to be able to see such pride in the eyes of our college dean, my professors and especially my parents as I wore the medal... It all came back. All I can say is, thank you. I was basking in my loved ones' admiration and joy.

Now that it's over I just wanted to sear these memories in my mind, in my heart and in my soul. Lest I forget... People forget. I may forget. One thing's for sure, the person I am before all of this is so different to the person I am right now. No regrets. I'm so funny, I thought that I'd be wasting my time with this board exams. I was wrong. I was so wrong. It made me fall in love with psychology all over again. It bought me time for myself, bought me serenity, helped me grow to maturity, enabled  me to get closer with my friends, family and especially God... Truly, no matter what I'll face in the future, I'll be a better version of myself. So help me God.