Dr. Virgilio G.

Enriquez
Father of Filipino Psychology

Born in Bigaa, Bulacan on November 24, 1942. He was the youngest among Arsenio Libiran Enriquez and Rosario Galvez Gaspar s 5 children.

Early Education

Ver finished primary education in Manila Central University before transferring to Espiritu Santo Parochial School . He then studied in Colegio de San Juan de Letran during his high school years where he finished 15th among 250 graduates.

In 1961, he graduated with a degree in A.B. Philosophy from the University of the Philippines. As a student, he was not only active in academics but in extra-curricular activities as well.

From 1961-1963, he became a Teaching Assistant at the University of the Philippines as well as an Assistant Instructor in Philosophy at UP Baguio. In 1963, he became an instructor in Psychology at UP s College of Arts and Sciences and was one of the few teachers who used Filipino as the medium of instruction.

He was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship in Humanities and Social Sciences and in 1966 left the Philippines to study at the Northwestern University in Illinois. He earned an M.A. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the said university

On 1971, Doc E returned to the Philippines and was named Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the Philippines On the same year, he founded the Philippine Psychology Research House which later on, became known as Philippine Psychology Research and Training House (PPRTH).

The PPRTH became the center of research and training of Philippine psychology and now houses over 10,000 reference works. It was during that period that he, along with several others, published a lot of notable works on the subject of Philippine psychology.

He was the Chairperson of the Department of Psychology in UP from 1978-1982. As Chairperson of the Psychology Department, he encouraged students to write in Filipino. It was also during those years when he became Professor Emeritus in Psychology.

His approach of making students write in Filipino enabled them to uncover indigenous concepts that were difficult to express in a foreign language. Moreover, it enabled Filipinos to understand better the roots of their peculiar situations.

His influence spread not only within UP but also among institutions, colleges and universities within and outside the Philippines. He received a variety of scholarship grants and awards from different institutes and universities around the world.

Abroad, he was famous not only as an advocate of Philippine psychology but also as a supporter of indigenous psychology and cross-cultural psychology. He authored works that were published here and abroad.

He received several awards as recognition for his contributions in the field of Philippine and Asian Psychology.

Outstanding Young Scientist Award for Social Psychology (1982) NAST Outstanding Alumni (1983) Colegio de San Juan de Letran Professional Achievement Award in Psychology (1987) University of the Philippines Alumni Association

Outstanding Young Scientist Award for Social Psychology

Dr Enriquez died of colon cancer on August 31, 1994. After his death, he was given a number of posthumous awards in recognition of his special contribution to study and teaching of social science through Philippine psychology.

Ama ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino (1994) Pambansang Samahan ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino Outstanding Psychologist (1995) Psychological Association of the Philippines National Achievement in the Social Sciences (1997) National Research Council of the Philippines