Exploring Cultural Disconnection and Values for Filipino American YOUTH
by RV Cyril Molina
by RV Cyril Molina
My resource consists of a 4-week long peer group session of lessons and artistic exercises where Filipino-American clients can connect and bring internal clarity on their identity. They will meet twice a week, with each week highlighting different Filipino cultural values and terms as well as discussing ways to break through toxic cycles rooted with them. For many American-born Filipinos, taking pride in acknowledging their culture plays an important role in how they represent their identity. That being said, many still experience feeling out of touch and a lingering desire to get closer and accepted by traditional values from the mainland. Family-oriented values already exist within Filipino culture so with the help of recreational activities in these peer group sessions, clients are able to cultivate a more engaging and safe space to reflect on each other. Language can also be a barrier and factor to cultural disconnection so implementing specific terms in Tagalog can help clients feel more connected to defining their thoughts and feelings. From their actions, decisions, and especially to their mental well-being, I think this resource could benefit those who want to learn more about what these values and traits are and how they coexist in their life growing up here in America.
Kapwa translates to a shared identity. It expresses interconnectedness with one another.
The first day of the session will serve as a little ice breaker for peers to familiarize with each other and gain a sense as to what the next 4 weeks will feel and look like:
Every lesson will start with a casual weekly check in, then we will jump into the introduction of the VALUE/TERM OF THE WEEK (this week will focus on KAPWA). We will ask peers if they recognize this word and learn to pronounce it.
After revealing the English definition, we will discuss what they each think of the value/term and share their own stories or experiences that might pertain to the word.
This week's activity will be a talking circle. A stress ball will be passed as a talking piece, and whoever catches it gets the spotlight to freely speak on their Filipino-American identity. Peers will get to listen and later elaborate on each other's thoughts, building that foundation to connecting with one another.
Utang na loob expresses an individual's sense of pressure to give back to someone, often feeling this pressure towards their family or caregivers (Maglalang et al., 2025)
For this week's session, we will analyze different children's book stories, pictures, or videos that includes Utang na loob as its lesson. Peers will then get into groups for 3 acting activities:
Warm up: Tableau vivant (living picture): Groups will arrange themselves into a still scene that depicts their interpretation of the word.
Performance 1: Peers will be assigned random character roles and improv act out a skit with the given personalities and description.
Performance 2: Peers will choose one of the stories we watched/read and create an alternative scenario where the main character learned to stand up to feeling Utang na loob.
Peers will have the chance to share their thoughts on everyone's performance pieces and discuss what they could take to apply in future personal encounters.
Hiya expresses the value of keeping a good image of themselves. An individual may become increasingly self-conscious to avoid embarrassment or being perceived as shameless of their actions.
Peers will create a 4-8 square comic depicting the feeling of hiya in the perspectives of different individuals: themselves, an elderly figure, or a younger child.
In this last week, peers will revisit the idea of Kapwa from the first week. We will do another ball and talking piece activity where peers will reflect on how much they think it has strengthened throughout the program. It would serve as a reminder that despite being under this complex gray area of identity, they are capable of finding balance between their Filipino and American cultures and can define themselves as such together. To wrap up the program we will hold a final gallery walk and give out a zine booklet containing drawings along with other visual pieces, exhibiting everyone's creations and celebrate each visual and emotional growth that has happened in these past 4 weeks!
Coffey, D. M., Sepulveda, A. (Apple), David, J. C., Lopez, H. G., Bantol, K. E. A., Castro, J., Jayme, A. J. L., & Javier, J. R. (2022). Creating a shared definition of adolescent mental health in the Filipino American community: A comparative focus group analysis. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 13(1), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000240
Macaraeg, J., & Bersamira, C. S. (2024). Intersecting kapwa, resilience, and empowerment: A case study of Filipinos in Hawai‘i during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 15(4), 342–354. https://doiorg.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1037/aap0000348
Maglalang, D. D., Woo, B., Katigbak, C., Park, M., Choi, Y., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2025). Scale validation of Filipino cultural values and its associations with depressive symptoms and substance use in Filipino Americans. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 16(1), 2–10. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1037/aap0000352