Abstract:
This study probed on the self-concept of children in the aftermath of
Typhoon Yolanda which hit the provices of Leyte and Samar in the
Philippines on November 2013, causing thousands of lives lost and
properties damaged. The study included 41 children, aged 7 to 12, as
participants, all are from Carigara, a municipality in Leyte that has been
affected by Typhoon Yolanda. The children participated in an expressive
art therapy activities aimed at helping them process the effects of Typhoon
Yolanda. They were asked to do an art activity for the exploration of their
self-concepts, followed by a focus group discussion (FGD) with 9 of the 41
participants to further probe on their self-concepts in the aftermath of
disaster. Using the “Circles of Life” (Mga Bilog ng Buhay) framework,
which integrates the four important aspects of well-being, namely: (1)
Kalooban or inner self; (2) Kapwa or others; (3) Kakayahan or capacities;
and (4) Kabuluhan or meaning-construction, participants were asked
about their fears, self-descriptions, perceived srtengths and capacities,
loved ones, and life goals. An analysis of the recurrent themes in their
expressive art session and based on their responses in the FGD, the study
reveals that children in Carigara were found to be relatively well-adapted.
They also had positive disposition in life and relatively well-knitted social
support systems that contributed to their coping and resilience after
experiencing the disastrous effects of Typhoon Yolanda.
