Pamagmasabal: A proposed environmental stewardship framework for the Kapampangan

• Main Author: Antonio, Bonnadelbert Agasang
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Environmental management > Philippines; Religious Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdd_tred/9
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study ventured into exploring the notion of pamagmasabal as a Kapampangan articulation for environmental stewardship among selected youth participants in Pampanga using a sequential mixed-methods design. The responses of the informants (adults and youth) for the qualitative interview, analysis through cultural exegesis, and literature review were utilized in developing a measure tested among 385 youth respondents in four towns in Pampanga. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two dimensions of pamagmasabal as environmental stewardship. The first dimension describes an external outward dimension suggesting the steward’s relationship to the environment, while the second reveals an internal inward dimension suggesting the human person’s caring identity. Pamagmasabal as environmental stewardship honors a caring disposition as fundamental to one’s identity. The values of caring and compassionate concern, which are fundamental values in understanding environmental stewardship, are essential ideals in promoting a sustainable culture for the community. Based on the analyses and interpretations done on the data gathered, the different findings revealed that: Pamagmasabal is perceived as a profound way of showing care and concern for people, things, and the environment. A person who is “mapagmasabal” shows compassion (papakit yang malasakit) and has concern (pakialam). The values of pamagmalasakit (care / compassion), pamag-lingap (to give care), pakialam (concern), and pamamye-ulaga (to give value or importance) emerged as the key conceptual correlates that Kapampangan adults associate with pamagmasabal. Among the youth, malasakit (concern / care) surfaced as the dominant value. The youth also mentioned pakelam / pakialam (compassionate concern), pamag-lingap (to take care), pamanatindi kareng makapaligid keka (consideration or paying heed for those around you), pamaningat (to take care), pamisam-metung (being united), and pamamintu kareng utus da reng matua (to be obedient to elders) as related values for pamagmasabal. Pamagmasabal is a Kapampangan concept that revolves around the notions of care, concern, and compassion. It is a distinct articulation for care and concern that encompasses other related values like pamagmalasakit (to show compassion), pamag-lingap (to give care), pamagrespetu (to show / give respect), pamakialam (to show concern), pamanyaup (to help), and pamanatindi (to show / give consideration). Environmental education within religious education is a valuable option to promote sustainability and a school-community partnership can realize this possibility. A suitable and feasible point of departure therefore is through the Institute for Christian Formation and Social Integration (ICFSI) of Holy Angel University (HAU) through its implementing units: the Christian Living Education (CLE) and the Office of the Community Extension and Services (OCES). A seminar-workshop on the culture of pamagmasabal and its dimensions was developed for the training of Theology professors and NSTP facilitators of HAU. The one-day seminar workshop was designed to reacquaint the participants with the culture of Pamagmasabal. It was also intended to augment the formation of pro-environmental attitudes and behavior among Kapampangan youth.