Ken Li’s Reviews > Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being > Status Update

Done and completed at May 30, 2026 🔥

The final chapter is the book at its most philosophical. It reflects on what it means to be a human being, arguing that being human is not separate from the self, kapwa, kalikasan, and the world around us. A fitting conclusion that sees identity not as an individual experience, but as something shaped by our relationships, community, beliefs, and environment.

Chapter 9 feels like the point where the author finally takes a stand. It reframes many “toxic” Filipino traits through a colonial lens, arguing that context matters. One of the more thought-provoking chapters so far.

Chapter 8 offers an interesting critique of modern self-care, privilege, and the dreams we pursue. Its strongest ideas are thought-provoking, though the chapter covers so much ground that some discussions feel underexplored.

Chapter 7 was the easiest and most enjoyable chapter to read so far. It explores the stories, beliefs, and traditions many of us grew up with from folklore and spirituality to tabi-tabi po and concepts like gaba. I appreciated how the chapter connects these beliefs to our tendency to find meaning in the world. Reading it felt like revisiting childhood memories and seeing them explained through a cultural lens.

Chapter 6 reflects deeply on authenticity and what truly makes someone Filipino. While it strongly defines what being Filipino is not, it becomes less clear in defining what being Filipino actually is, turning the chapter more into a commentary on identity and society today. In the end, it feels less like a definition and more like a commentary on the society and identity we continue to navigate today.

Chapter 5 finally reveals the soul of the book. It reflects on how colonization continues to shape the way we think, consume, and participate in culture today. What stood out was the realization that we are not just observers of this system, but also participants. The chapter feels less like an explanation and more like an invitation to become aware of the role we play in preserving or slowly eroding our own culture

Chapter 4 feels less like a methodology chapter and more like a love letter to learning itself. While the earlier push and pull of the book is still present, this chapter focuses more on systematic ways of looking at culture, ideas, and education. More than anything, it reflects how deeply the author values learning and understanding.

Chapter 3 feels more conceptual and structured compared to the first two chapters. Instead of the emotional push and pull of identity and contradiction - It reads more like a framework or methodology section, focusing on context, interpretation, and Filipino concepts rather than emotional tension and contradiction. I appreciated how it grounded certain Filipino words and concepts into specific contexts.

Chapter 1 of Sikolohiya feels like a constant push and pull between identities, perspectives, and language. There’s a lot of contradiction in the writing, but I think that tension is also the point. At times it feels emotionally tiring because the chapter keeps shifting between strong claims and hesitation, but it also makes the writing feel human and reflective. Curious where the next chapters take this.