PAP Environmental Psychology Special Interest Group

10/10/2026

𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡.

We don't just 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 mental health. We are 𝘪𝘯 it — meaning, we live inside environments that either support or strain us. Environmental concepts like crowding, noise, lighting, and access to nature directly affect our mood and functioning, just as we are shaped by layers from our room to our culture. When people struggle to rest or function in environments that are overstimulating, under-resourced, or poorly designed, it is not simply low resilience — it is a human response to a demanding context with poor structural support.

If systems shape well-being, then building more humane and restorative environments is also mental health work.

09/10/2026

Congratulations, Dr Benzon, our former Chair of the SIG, and Dr Bernardo!

We commend Prof. Allan B.I. Bernardo and Dr. John Jamir Benzon Aruta for once again being recognized in the Stanford-Elsevier list of the Top 2% of all Scientists Worldwide in the Single-Year Dataset.

Prof. Bernardo and Dr. Aruta are the only Filipino psychologists recognized in this year's 2026 Single-Year Dataset, under the Social Psychology subfield.

Prof. Bernardo is also among the Top 10 Filipino scientists worldwide across all disciplines, ranking 9th.

The 2026 Dataset published by Elsevier lists top-performing scientists across different fields based on various publication metrics.

Congratulations, Prof. Allan and Dr. Benzon! Animo La Salle!

Reference: Ioannidis, J.P.A. (2026). August 2026 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators", Elsevier Data Repository, https://doi.org/10.17632/btchxktzyw.9

27/09/2026

𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙐𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎, 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝘾. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡-𝙋𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙗𝙤, 𝙍𝙋𝙨𝙮, 𝙍𝙋𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙋𝘼𝙋 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙎𝙄𝙂.

The Psychological Association of the Philippines - Environmental Psychology Special Interest Group proudly announces the election of its new Chair.

ABC’s leadership comes at a critical juncture where the intersection of human behavior and ecological crisis demands rigorous scholarship, grounded advocacy, and community-based praxis.

The SIG looks forward to a term defined by critical inquiry, collective action, and psychologically-informed environmental stewardship.

26/09/2026

Congratulations to the new set of BOT Executive Committee!

Meet the Executive Committee of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) Board of Trustees!

Guided by a shared commitment to advancing the science, practice, education, and profession of psychology in the Philippines, the PAP Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee brings together leaders who will help steer the Association toward meaningful and responsive service to its members and the communities they serve.

Executive Committee

President: John Manuel Kliatchko
Vice President: Carmencita Salonga
Executive Secretary: Ver Reyes
Treasurer: Maria Isabelle Lemen
Auditor: Armenia Montaño
Internal Relations Officer: Alyssa Kae Alegre-Lavadia
External Relations Officer: Niel Steve Kintanar
International Relations Officer: Peejay D. Bengwasan

As the Association moves forward, may this leadership team embody collaboration, integrity, excellence, and a continued commitment to the advancement of psychology and the well-being of Filipinos.

Together, let us continue building a stronger, more responsive, and more impactful psychological profession.

25/09/2026

Congratulations to the new set of Board of Trustees!

A NEW CHAPTER OF LEADERSHIP
We proudly congratulate the newly elected members of the Board of Trustees of the Psychological Association of the Philippines!

𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐄. 𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒
𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 (Board at Large)

𝐉𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐎 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐎
𝗜𝗻𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 (Board at Large)

𝐏𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐋𝐘𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐃. 𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐙
𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗼 (National Capital Region)

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐀. 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐀
𝗗𝗲 𝗟𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗽𝗮 (Balance Luzon)

𝐌𝐀𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐕𝐀-𝐂𝐀Ñ𝐀𝐋
𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 (Visayas)

𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐀 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐙𝐀𝐇 𝐉. 𝐏𝐀𝐉𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄-𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐎
𝗗𝗢𝗝 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (Mindanao)

Their election marks the beginning of a new chapter of service, leadership, and collective responsibility. As stewards of the organization, they will help advance its mission, strengthen the profession, and contribute to meaningful initiatives that shape the future of psychology.

May the new board members lead with integrity, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to the communities and professionals they serve.

Congratulations to our newly elected members of the Board of Trustees!

Here’s to a new term of purposeful leadership, shared vision, and meaningful impact.

24/09/2026

Officially released during the Day 1 Fellowship night. Congratulations, ABC!

24/09/2026

See you at PAPCon 2026! 💚

The Psychological Association of the Philippines Environmental Psychology Special Interest Group invites you to our Organized Symposium at the 62nd PAP Annual Convention.

How People Make Sense of Environmental Change: Mental Models, Human-Animal Relations, and Climate-Vulnerable Communities
Parallel Session G.15
Convened by our SIG Chair, Dr. John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta

Featuring three exciting talks:
1. Mental Models of the Perceived Causes, and the Community and Psychological Consequences of Environmental Changes
Presenter: Bridget Aida A. Ceballos (DLSU)
2 RECOVER: Fostering Mental Health and Resilience among Climate-Vulnerable Communities: A Mental Model Approach
Presenter: Avila Odia S. de Jesus (DLSU-Manila)
3. If Not Friend, Why Friend-Shaped?: A Moderated Mediation Model of Ecological Dominance, Anthropomorphism, and Animal Empathy in Shaping Behavioral Intentions Across Clades
Presenter: Maria Guadalupe C. Salanga (DLSU-Manila)

📅 Day 2, September 25, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
📍 Room A103, Ateneo de Davao University

Let's talk about how we make sense of our changing environment — and what it means for our minds, our communities, and our co-existence with other species.

PAPCon Official

23/09/2026

Voting ends today, September 24, 2026, at 12:00NN. Make sure to vote your BOTs, Division & SIG chairs!

Responses in comment section.

As a country facing climate distress, disaster trauma, and rapid urban changes, we believe environmental issues are mental health issues.

The PAP Environmental Psychology Special Interest Group asked the running Psychological Association of the Philippines BOT candidates one central question: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖?

We asked about track record, urgency, and commitment.

Stay tuned for their responses.

23/09/2026

Let’s all show support to ABC as Chair of our SIG! Voting is until today, 12:00NN! 🌳💚

𝗔 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗥 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗭𝗢𝗡 𝗥. 𝗔𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗔

I am pleased to support Alexandria Blake C. Real-Pisalbo, or ABC as we fondly call her, in her candidacy for Chair of the PAP Environmental Psychology Special Interest Group. During my term as Chair, ABC has been one of my most reliable colleagues in the SIG, consistently contributing her time, ideas, and energy to our initiatives. I have valued working with her and am glad to support her continued service to environmental psychology in the Philippines.

23/09/2026

Dear PAPsters,

To keep updated and see minute changes in the ONSITE program and room assignments, scan the QR codes below.

Alternatively, you can access the souvenir program here:

https://bit.ly/PAPCon2026_Program

Room assignments can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PU-CcDSRSfQJXLepQYnO0khYKmp-ugog/edit?gid=941508017 =941508017

See you tomorrow!!!