PAMAGMASABAL: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FRAMEWORK FOR PAMPANGA

Abstract

The existence of the term pamagmasabal in the spoken language of the Kapampangan people, which is a local expression for caring and concern interests the researcher in exploring its profound connection to environmental stewardship. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design investigated Pamagmasabal as a proposed value correlate of environmental stewardship. Based on the responses of 40 informants (20 adults and 20 youth) in the interview, the results of the cultural exegesis, and the literature review, the contextual meaning of pamagmasabal revolves around the notions of care, concern, and compassion. Pamagmasabal appears to be a distinctive Kapampangan expression (a ‘pantayong pananaw’) for compassionate care. Both age groups concur that pamagmasabal is expressive of pamagmalasakit (to show compassion), pamaglingap (to give care), pamagrespetu (to show/give respect), pamakialam (to show concern), pamanyaup (to help), and pamanatindi (to show/give consideration. These results were utilized in developing an instrument that was administered to 385 youth participants for the quantitative survey. The responses were statistically analyzed using reliability tests, data reduction techniques, and Exploratory Factor Analysis to determine the latent dimensions of pamagmasabal. The validity of the instrument was tested using the Christian Environmentalism Scale (Baring et al, 2022) to check for possible convergent validity. The underlying dimensions were subjected to further discussion in light of relevant literature. The results of the quantitative survey of 385 respondents revealed a twodimensional meaning of Pamagmasabal: 1) an external dimension regarding the relationality of the human being to the environment; and 2) an internal dimension manifesting the human person’s identity as a steward which is manifested through his / her inherent values as a caring being. These two dimensions are essential in formulating the final working construct for Pamagmasabal as the Kapampangan expression for environmental stewardship which hopefully may promote a sustainable culture in the province.