Traditional Filipino Arts in Enhancing Older People's Self-Esteem in a Penal Institution

Abstract

Numerous studies have tirelessly and comprehensively accounted for the effects of art as a recreational therapy on mental well-being. However, there has been no previous study on the use of TFA (Traditional Filipino Arts) in the form of Puni as an intervention in facilitating the enhancement of self-esteem of Filipino elderly in a penal institution. Capitalizing on a set of triangulated data, this descriptive phenomenological study purports to have captured the lived experiences of a select group of geriatric Filipino inmates focusing on the effects of TFA on their self-esteem. Transcribed field texts went through cool and warm analyses via a Kelly Grid. Interestingly, a continuum model emerged that revealed two major themes: The reflected and refracted images of Puni-making. The reflected images surfaced the low self-esteem status of the subjects prior to the use of Puni-making. Puni-making, as a recreational intervention, gives rise to the five Rs of the refracted images showing positive change in the subjects' self-esteem: revenue, recreation, reminiscence, reeducation, and reward. On the whole, the use of traditional Filipino arts as geriatric intervention shows its unique power as a recreational and therapeutic tool. Implications of this study to nurse education practice are discussed.