ONE OF the founding fathers of Philippine psychology, Fr. Jaime Bulatao, SJ, was recognized as one of Quezon City’s Most Outstanding Citizens for 2008.
A ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria on October 12, awarded Bulatao, a professor at the Psychology Department, for his work in the field of psychology in the Philippines.
“It made me happy and encouraged me to continue living,” said Bulatao, who is currently diagnosed with senile emphysema, a degenerative disease of the lungs. He is 86 years old.
The award recognizes outstanding achievements of citizens to their fields and to Quezon City.
“I was very happy because it [the award] was an appreciation that I’m still useful to the ordinary citizens,” he said.
Bulatao is the co-founder of the Psychological Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association (PGCA).
Some of Bulatao’s contributions to the field include the book Phenomena and Their Interpretation: Landmark Essays 1957-1989. The book explored Filipino character and Philippine culture. Bulatao, as an expert in clinical psychology, was also one of the first to explore the phenomena of human consciousness in a local setting.
In 2006, he received the President Emeritus Award from PGCA. He continues to be an active member of the Ateneo’s Psychology Department, which he helped establish in 1961.
Still serving
In recent years, Bulatao has still kept an active lifestyle, despite his illness. He still tries to reach out to people in need through his work. “What they appreciate, I think, is the counseling. At least they have someone to call. They call me,” he said. He added that people with suicidal tendencies, especially the poor and disabled, are able to talk to him.
Presently, Bulatao continues to contribute to the field. “He hasn’t stopped working, thinking, growing,” said Susan Cellano, Bulatao’s teaching assistant for around 30 years.
Cellano said people still come to Bulatao for counseling. “He wants to help and connect with people, with the world.”
Bulatao said he finds joy in the life-long connection he forms with his patients and the people he encounters.
Still passionate
Bulatao also still teaches class, where his students undergo experiential teaching. His classes involve exercises in hypnosis and, sometimes, astral projection, said Geoffrey Miles Mercado (II AB Psy), who attended the “Bu Eagle” talks during “Think Psych!,” the Psychology Week last September 15 to 18.
Paula Elise Doroteo (II BS Psy) also met Bulatao during the Psychology Week. When Doroteo heard him talk about his work, she said, “He’s obviously so passionate about psychology, it’s infectious.”
Through his classes, Bulatao said his students learn to become individuals. “They grow up, they have an identity, they are themselves,” he said.
“I think that’s what they learn in my class. They lose that sense of fear in society,” he added.
Cellano said, however, that despite being active, Bulatao has learned to accept that he is not a young Jesuit anymore.
Still hoping
One of Bulatao’s hopes for Philippine psychology is to have Ateneo’s Psychology Department declared a Center of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education.
He said the country can also emulate the Middle-East, specifically Dubai and Qatar, by establishing a center of higher learning for the future of Philippine psychology.
“We have Ateneo and UP [University of the Philippines], so we have tremendous resources to make Quezon City a center of higher learning for the whole of Southeast Asia,” he added.
