Alfredo V.
Lagmay Sr.
August
14,1919 - December 15, 2005
Miro Jan Benedict G. Navarro
Erin Faith C. Castro John
Paul M. Taylor Shyrill Mae Mariano
2010-25812
2010-25915
2013-22107 2012-60404
Dea Marie Isabel A. Villarosa Ezequiel Joshua D. Gruezo Steven Matthew Cheng
2012-61382
2013-17857 2010-11134
Marinela Isabelle M. Capistrano Sarah Joy Bonacua Arvin Wilson S. Alba
2013-44222 2011-18060
Abstract - There is no doubt that Filipinos aren’t underdogs in the field of science and
technology. Such is proved by the exemplary Filipino scientists like Alfredo V.
Lagmay. This paper tackles the life and career of Filipino Scientist Alfredo V.
Lagmay and his contributions to the field of science and technology. This is
done as a partial requirement for STS X2, summer class 2014 under Professor
Juned Sunido.
Tags:
Alfredo V. Lagmay Sr. , psychologist,
pioneer of Filipino Psychology, National Scientist
I. Personal
Life
Alfredo
Villagracia Lagmay, Ph.D, was born on August 14, 1919 in Manila, Philippines.
He spent his childhood in Intramuros, where poverty forced him to work hard
even at an early age to help support his two younger siblings. Though his
parents were not able to finish their education, that did not stop them from
sharing their desire to learn with the young Alfredo. He was already a wide
reader early on, despite the disapproval of his relatives who did not see the
value of this, and he was able to learn using the typewriter at his father’s encouragement. His hard work came to fruition
when he graduated as the valedictorian of Burgos Elementary School.
Soon,
he went on to become a working student in the University of the Philippines. He
chose to major in psychology because he felt that he could achieve his goal of
healing those in pain, despite not being able to afford medical school.
However, he finished with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1947 because there were no teachers to
handle psychology after the war. Apart from academics, he was also involved in
athletics, specifically running, which he also did in Araullo High School.
Because
of Alfredo’s excellence,
distinction, and influence in his work as an experimental and clinical
psychologist, with emphasis on Sikolohiyang Pilipino, the rank and title
of National Scientist was conferred onto him on July 13, 1988 by then President
Corazon C. Aquino.
Alfredo
married Leticia G. Amante some time in his late 30’s, when his career was already flourishing, and
together they had seven children named Violet, Helen, Susan, Alfredo Jr.,
Sulayman, Gracian, and Mahar, who is currently part of the National Institute
of Geological Science (NIGS) faculty. Alfredo died on December 15, 2005, due to
cardiac arrest.
II.
Academic and Professional Career
For
over four decades in the academe, Dr. Alfredo Lagmay had served as an
influential teacher in the University of the Philippines.
Before
working in UP, he worked in the United States Army in Port Area where he served
as an office messenger boy and was delegated tedious tasks such as scrubbing
and polishing the floor and cutting the lawn.He pursued employment in UP after
passing the first and second grade civil service examinations. He started in
the Property Division of the UP Administration and transferred to the Dean of
Men’s Office after about a year. Later, he then became a reception clerk in the
office of UP President Bienvenido M. Gonzalez.
Since
1939, he worked in UP during the day and attended his classes in the evening.He
graduated cum laude in 1947 with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. In the same
year, he was assigned as instructor of Philosophy. He then pursued a Masters
degree in Philosophy, which he attained in 1951, while teaching in the
Department. The year before, he left to pursue advanced studies in psychology
in Harvard University. June 1955—he was awarded the
Ph.D. degree in experimental psychology.
Afterwards,
he returned to UP and resumed his teaching; this time around as assistant
professor in psychology. In his
days of teaching, he notes the importance of the teacher student relationship
in a classroom; this determines the learning that the student will experience.
It is not the curriculum that we must only focus on, but rather the teacher
himself/herself (philosophy, values, and implementation techniques). The
student must be situated in an environment without constraints to be able to
fully manifest his/her potential. Group techniques in leadership might prove to
be appropriate for the high school; consequently, everything depends on the
philosophy and ability of the teacher to create this environment.
Also,
he stresses in his academe life the importance of having our own locally authored
textbooks. Textbooks play a vital role in the country’s learning. Most of these textbooks that we use
today are still American based; hence, students find it difficult since the
books are situated in a foreign setting. It tackles that most of the interest
of scholars lie solely on producing technical papers and they give very little
importance to writing of textbooks.
III.
Contributions
Alfredo
Lagmay, together with his student Virgilio Enriquez, came up with the
sikolohiyang Filipino (Filipino psychology). During their time, the basis for
psychological studies are that of the western ones, but realizing that was
problematic since the Filipinos came from a totally different background, he
encouraged the development of new methods in approaching the study about
Filipino psychology that would be more appropriate with its diverse cultures.
He furthermore argued that for psychology to be relevant to a certain group, it
must understand the people within its own culture and its cultural norms.
He
had also constructed two projective psychological tests that are suitable for
Philippine education and culture: the “Philippine Thematic Apperception Test” and the “Philippine
Children’s Apperception
Test”. Thematic
Apperception Tests tend to reveal one’s motives, concerns and perception of the world through the stories
they create about vague pictures of people. With the concept of sikolohiyang
Filipino, the TAT’s made by Lagmay
perfectly suited the Filipino individual. These two tests are widely used in
the field of psychology, anthropology, sociology and education in the country
and are recognized
by the scientific community to be a great contribution to the field.
Also,
he has made research on Differential Reinforcement of Rates with Pacing,
Experimental Desensitization to Anger-Producing Stimuli, The Pacing of Behavior
and even the interpretation of the concept of
"Bahala Na".
IV. Recognition and Awards Received
• Valedictorian, Burgos Elementary School
• Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, University
of the Philippines Diliman 1947
• Became a member of the Honor Society of Sigma
Xi, 1952
• Award of Recognition, Pambansang Samahan ng
Sikolohiyang Pilipino, 1982
• Gawad Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Pambansang Samahan
ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino, 1996
• Distinguished Service Award, International
Association of Anthropological Diplomacy and Association of Third World
Studies, 1984.
• Award of Distinction in Psychology, University
of the Philippines College of Arts and Science Alumni Association and College
of Social Sciences and Philosophy.
• National Scientist Award, 1988.
• Honor of Recognition, National Association for
the History of Psychology, 1985.
V. Media
With
B.F. Skinner
At
his desk at the Harvard Psychology Lab
Wedding Day
With
his children
Looking
good with age
Still going strong with
his wife
With
his children and wife
With
then President, Cory Aquino
At his desk still
looking great even at an old age
Still
strong even at an old age!
VI.
References
W. Pickren and A. Rutherford (2010) - A History of Modern Psychology in Context, John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey
Lagmay, Alfredo V (2000) - Journey of a
Humanist. Carandang, Maria Lourdes, Carlota, Ana Daisy, Espanto,
Pacifico, Ventura, Elizabeth. Quezon City: CSSP Publications, University of the
Philippines Diliman.
Bandong, Candy (2014) - Remembering Yabu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gvZjqj-kGo
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