USM Department of Psychology

18/05/2026

𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗮 𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗸-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵

Khadiguia Ontok-Balah is a psychology educator and researcher known for her work in educational psychology, social and emotional competence, and culturally responsive education. She earned her Master of Arts in Psychology from the Ateneo de Davao University and is a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology major in Educational Psychology at the De La Salle University. Her research interests include social and emotional competence (SEC), Islamic education, mental health and well-being, peacebuilding, and community empowerment.

She has received recognition for her scholarly and extension work, including the Best Paper Presentation Award during the CAS In-House Review in 2009, the 2nd Best Paper Award at the 2nd International Conference on Educational Management in Indonesia in 2017, and being named a finalist for the Bangsamoro Peace Champion Award 2024. Her advocacy centers on education, psychosocial support, livelihood development, and culturally grounded community programs that promote resilient and peaceful communities.

02/10/2025

𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭!

Last September 24–25, 2025, the licensure examinations for Psychometricians and Psychologists were administered nationwide. Today, the Professional Regulation Commission has officially released the results, and the Department of Psychology proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of its graduates, who garnered 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, and an overall 𝟴𝟵.𝟮𝟵% 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲—surpassing the 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 of 𝟴𝟲.𝟵𝟵%.

This success stands as a testament to the department’s unwavering commitment to quality education, guided mentorship, and a holistic approach in preparing students for the profession. It also reflects the perseverance, resilience, and dedication of our graduates, who carry with them not only knowledge and skills but also the heart to serve society.

The Department of Psychology extends its warmest congratulations to all our successful examinees. Your accomplishment is a source of pride and inspiration—not only for your peers but also for the students who follow in your footsteps, proving that with passion and dedication, excellence is always within reach.

✍️: Department of Psychology
💻: Aisa Dalam

01/10/2025

To honor the invaluable contributions of civil servants to nation-building, the Department of Psychology joined the celebration of the 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲’𝘀 𝟭𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼.

We take pride in congratulating two of our esteemed faculty members—𝗞𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗕. 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼, 𝗣𝗵𝗗𝗰, 𝗥𝗣𝘀𝘆, 𝗖𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗣, 𝗖𝗦𝗔𝗣, and 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗮 𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗸-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵, 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗧, 𝗠𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵, 𝗥𝗣𝗺, 𝗟𝗣𝗧, 𝗣𝗵𝗗𝗰—for being conferred the Silver Kakaw Award. This recognition, given for 15 years of dedicated government service, is a testament to their loyalty, commitment, and tireless efforts in inspiring and nurturing brilliant minds.

✍️: Department of Psychology
💻: CJ Bobadilla

26/09/2025

The Department of Psychology proudly congratulates 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗧. 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆, 𝗥𝗣𝘀𝘆, 𝗥𝗣𝗺, for successfully passing the Psychologist Licensure Examination held last September 24–25, 2025.

This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to your dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to the discipline of psychology. Beyond being a personal milestone, it serves as an inspiration to your colleagues, mentors, and students who look up to your example.

As you embark on this new chapter, may you continue to embody the values of the profession, make a meaningful difference in the lives you touch, and remain steadfast in your pursuit of service and excellence.

The Department shares in your pride and joy as we celebrate this outstanding accomplishment with you.

✍️: Department of Psychology
🧑‍💻: Marielle Pedroso

21/06/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫. 𝐋𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞’𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬!

The Department of Psychology proudly extends its heartfelt congratulations to 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗩. 𝗟𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲, 𝗥𝗣𝘀𝘆, 𝗥𝗣𝗺, who earned her 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. Her degree was officially conferred during the University’s 112th Commencement Exercises on May 18, 2025.

Dr. Llorente began her doctoral journey in 2021 and is now a proud member of Class 2025. She was a recipient of the 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀’ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (𝗦𝗜𝗞𝗔𝗣), a prestigious grant awarded by CHED. She is expected to return this August to continue serving the department and further enrich the field with her academic and clinical expertise.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Dr. Llorente is widely respected for her role as a mentor, her evidence-based teaching strategies, and her commitment to research excellence.

The Department of Psychology is honored to celebrate this remarkable milestone with Dr. Llorente. Congratulations, and we eagerly look forward to your return!

✍️: Department of Psychology
👩‍💻: Catherine L. Fullo

26/01/2025

30/11/2024

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 - 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧, 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨

Youths of today have poorer psychological well-being than in the past decades. According to the University of the Philippine Population Institute (UPPI) (2022), an alarming increase of 7.5% of Filipino youth attempted su***de, from 3% in 2013. Moreover, six out of 10 of these attempts did not seek help from anyone, and only 1 out of 10 is aware of any su***de prevention program or service (UPPI, 2022). This reflects the need to intensify efforts geared toward mental health awareness and interventions to the youth.

To provide basic mental health education among the youth, the University of Southern Mindanao – Department of Psychology took the initiative to spearhead an extension program aimed at minimizing this challenge.

The extension program commenced on November 8, 2024, specifically targeting youths from high schools within the locality of Kabacan. The program focused on the delivery of psychoeducation regarding depression, anxiety, and stress among the target participants from the University of Southern Mindanao – University Laboratory School, Kabacan National High School, and Gil Manalo B. High School. This was made possible through the efforts of the faculty members from the Department of Psychology:𝘒𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘺 𝘉. 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢-𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘰, 𝘔𝘚𝘗𝘚𝘺, 𝘙𝘗𝘴𝘺, 𝘊𝘚𝘊𝘓𝘗, 𝘊𝘚𝘈𝘗, 𝘔𝘺𝘬𝘢 𝘐𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘗. 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢, 𝘔𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩, 𝘙𝘗𝘴𝘺, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘛. 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺, 𝘔𝘚𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘻 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘊. 𝘈𝘮𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘕. 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘊𝘏𝘙𝘈, 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘈𝘯𝘯 𝘎. 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘢, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘡𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘉. 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘯, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘙𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘥 𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘳 𝘔. 𝘈𝘭𝘪, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘋. 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘰, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘊𝘏𝘙𝘈, 𝘠𝘶𝘮𝘪 𝘗. 𝘐𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘙𝘗𝘮, 𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘰 𝘍. 𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰, 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘉. 𝘎𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘺𝘢, and the assistance of the fourth year AB Psychology students. The faculty members successfully equipped the high school students on mental health and what they can do to help not only themselves but also those around them.

Mental well-being should not be addressed only through personal efforts, but also through a collective initiative aimed at raising awareness and delivery of evidence-based strategies to help prevent and intervene in times of crisis. This extension program is just another step in minimizing this alarming increase of suicidal attempts among youth, and in helping them develop skills to cope.

✍️: Yumi P. Ilagan and Archie D. Cordero
📷: Catherine Fullo

01/09/2024

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡
;
This September, let’s take a moment to reflect on the profound impact of mental health and the importance of our collective support. This month is dedicated to remembering those we’ve lost, acknowledging the countless lives affected by suicidal thoughts, and standing united with individuals, families, and communities who have been touched by this issue.

"Every conversation matters and every tender act of kindness can create ripples of hope". Reach out to someone you care about, listen with compassion, and offer support. By breaking the stigma around mental health and fostering an environment of understanding, we can help save lives and support those in need. Let’s work together to spread hope, promote healing, and ensure no one feels alone. Your empathy and actions are powerful tools in preventing su***de and supporting mental wellness. 🎗💙

Let’s remind ourselves to be kind not just to ourselves but to everyone around us.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲; 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲

𝗔𝗣𝗦 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿; 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴! Ψ





✍🏻: Solvi May Lallen

30/08/2024

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐬! 🎉

We are excited to announce that our accomplished alumnus, 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧, and dedicated faculty member, 𝐊𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚, have published a groundbreaking research paper in the 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 (Vol 13, No 3, 2024, E-ISSN 2460-8467)! 📚✨

Their paper, titled “𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬: 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲,” delves into the lives of unmarried elderly individuals in Southern Mindanao. The study uncovers how their positive thoughts, feelings, triumphs, and aspirations contribute to their psychological well-being, despite defying social norms. Through in-depth interviews and thorough analysis, the research highlights themes such as self-actualization, life accomplishments, and the balance between predetermination and self-determination that guide their meaningful lives.

We are incredibly proud of this significant contribution to both the academic community and the understanding of an often overlooked population. Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement! 🥳👏

Read their paper here:
https://journal.uad.ac.id/index.php/Psychology/article/download/28582/pdf_305




✍️👩🏻‍💻: ZWBL