Abstract:

The article discusses the concepts of kapwa and loob in the context of Philippine politics, particularly, in the relationship between the president and the citizens. The study examined the concepts of kapwa/pakikipagkapwa and how these have figured in the inaugural addresses and state of the nation speeches of the president from 1986 to 2013. As a contribution, the aforementioned concepts which are located within the scope of rhetorical politics are examined through the textual analysis of the speeches. There are different types and levels of relations between the president and the public as reflected in these speech acts. These types range from informing, to expressions of concern, and involvement. Pakikipagkapwa can be sensed in the speeches of the president together with some consistent patterns and tendencies in the interaction between the president and the public-at-large. These patterns are observable across time. On the other hand, it became difficult for the research to establish if indeed the kapwa/pakikipagkapwa of the president sufficiently indicated or reflected his loob/kalooban. Deficits in conceptual and theoretical standards of evaluation, methodology, and research designs that may be useful in investigating loob/kalooban remain to be resolved. This article concludes with an invitation to scholars to further discuss philosophical, methodological, and practical issues in order to widen the prospects of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research among Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Pilipinolohiya, and other Social Sciences.