Angelie Kyle Babon 
“I don’t have a mantra; but I believe that it needs diligence, hard work, and patience to meet our goals, aside from continuing to work on our life values, characters, and relying on our strength from Up above.”
In the aftermath of her feat in the 2023 PRC Board Licensure Examination for Psychologists last August 9, this is the clear-cut credo of Samar State University’s Student Welfare and Development Services (SWDS) Director and the Chair of the Psychology Program, Dr. Mae Villanueva-Cañal, in her journey of earning her newest license.
At the age of 45, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal has attained multiple service-related awards and specialized titles in her credentials including Registered Guidance Counselor (RGC), Licensed Professional Teacher (LPT), Registered Psychometrician (RPm), and just recently, the title Registered Psychologist (RPsy).
The Outset
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal revealed that taking the Psychology program was not part of her initial college plans.
“Originally gusto ko talaga maging doctor or [take] any medical field related course. Psychology is actually not one of my options. When I was in first year, an akon talaga option [was] either mag BS Bio ako, BS Physics, or Physical Therapy but my result on the NCAE (National Career Assessment Examination) during those time didn’t meet the qualification of the Silliman University… I was put under provision for one semester, I needed to wait another [semester] for me to be able to take Physical Therapy,” she said.
In lieu of following her original aspirations, she pursued an unplanned course — Bachelor of Science in Psychology, which has drastically redirected her to her present career.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in the year 1998 at Silliman University, she worked at Saint Mary’s College of Catbalogan (SMCC) from 1999 to 2003 as a Guidance Counselor. Following her experience in her first job, she explored different fields and work at private organization and corporation; then back at her original track when she became a Psychologist at the DSWD Regional Office.
By the year 2009, when the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology was created, practicing Psychologists and Psychometricians (with certain exceptions) were required to pass the Board Licensure Examination for Psychologists and Psychometricians (BLEPP) by virtue of Republic Act No. 10029 or the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009. Subsequently, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal decided to step down from her job at the DSWD Office, citing that the implemented revised guidelines governing the practice of Psychology had nullified her previous position.
She then started her teaching career in 2010 when she became an instructor at Samar State University Main Campus. In 2013, she completed Master of Art in Education major in Guidance and Counseling Program at the same university. Later on, in 2015, she took advantage of her experience as a Guidance Counselor at SMCC and as a Psychologist at the DSWD Office to seek eligibility for the Registered Psychometrician title under the Grandfather’s Clause. Within the same year, she took the Guidance Counselor Licensure Examination and successfully passed, attaining the RGC title. While immersed in her Ph.D. studies, specializing in Counseling Psychology at Ateneo de Davao University, she cleared the Licensure Exam for Teachers in 2017. Her application for the grandfather clause bore fruit in 2018 with the granting of the RPm title. In the year 2020, she finally earned her doctorate degree.
“Because of the license RGC [I was] open to promotion; RGC was the reason why I have climbed the ladder towards promotion. So, after passing the exam in 2015, by January 2016, if I’m not mistaken, naka-received ako institutional promotion,” she said.
“While nakadi ako ha opisina may nakita ako na area of services, for example ha counseling, which needs to be improved. So as the one who do the counseling services, kinahanglan ako ma-equipped; plus, nagtututdo ako ha Psychology so kinahanglan ako, para ha akon, maging more qualified. If you’re teaching students, you have to equip yourself for them, so nag proceed ako PhD in Psychology to also fulfill my first profession which is Psychology,” she added.
Impetus
As she spoke about her experience in the field, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal unveiled that the foundation of her service lay in her empathy and concern for the mental well-being of the youth.
Maintaining her belief that her involvement in academia could play a part in conducting preventive measures for the protection of the younger population, she pursued her doctoral degree to advance her competence; for the goal of preventing an upsurge in mental health problems.
“Dati na kasi ako ha school setting which is Saint Mary’s, kaya lang na-burnout ako for four years kasi an akon ginkakaptan [was] elementary and highschool, so with that dynamic, I didn’t last. I quit and explored different field until nahi-abot ako ha DSWD [office]. Ha DSWD [office] kasi, more hiya on intervention programs, then I realized that if I will stay in the DWSD [office,] the help I give is more on interventions which doesn’t have a security if the children will be okay after it, given the different cases and the vulnerability of those children and adolescents that the office caters. So, I decided to take a leap to go back to the academe because of the idea that if I am in the academe, I will more or less have a preventive measure, meaning di pa hiya nananabo han bata naga-guide mo na hiya; for example, [through] the implementation of programs, strengthening their characters so they won’t lead to that way na maging victims hira or magkamayda hin circumstances wherein something will happen to them… I don’t want that to happen to young adolescents, that was my perspective. That’s why I went full time teaching where I was able to handle more students. You educate them and build their character and mas nakikita mo hira,” Dr. Villanueva-Cañal explained.
“While having my PhD [degree,] I observed that the cases in counseling is nag-e-elevate. Dati kasi an cases, adjustment la ha klase, ha subject, or may conflict with their professor, or parents, like that. But along the way while I was studying, the cases change; for example, there were already cases of suicide ideation… For me, it needed a higher level of profession which is not that available in Samar area, so I need to target that profession not just for me, not just to strengthen my skills but it’s actually more for my clients and students,” she shared.
Gearing Up
Dr. Villanueva-Cañal also disclosed that she had intended to take the board exam last year; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to proceed causing her to re-enroll in a review center targeting this year’s BLEPP.
“I continued to review, I was just after the discussions and battery of tests. Then after that, this year, I reenrolled to another review center, to a cheaper one… My struggle was my workload kay you are the director and the same time program chair and it happened that there were many activities [going on] … There were things that I needed to sacrifice,” she uttered.
Admitting that she was not confident because of her “marginal” mock test results, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal revealed that she had to put in extra study before the exam period.
“Maski hito na kasagsagan na han exam week, I still study until 2 a.m. familiarizing concepts. I needed to wake up in the morning by 4 [o’clock,] so more or less my sleep only ranged from two to three hours… Of all the exams I took, I was aware that Psychologist [licensure exam] an diri ko pwede balewalain. Board [exam] for Psychologists is one of the most difficult exams,” she revealed.
Balancing duties: Take it one at a time
When asked how she maintain a healthy work-life balance, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal advised to focus on one thing at a time.
“It has something to do with the people around me, they know how busy I am; therefore, nagiging responsible hira han ira obligations… Mayda liwat ako friends nga very supportive, they know how to give way. In short, [it is] very important that your support system including your staff, friends, and family know your nature of work because in one way or another they can actually help,” she expressed.
“Han akon pag PhD, waray ako nag-isip na in 4 years mahuhuman na ako, in 3 years mahuhuman na ako; one at a time, semester by semester. So akon ginhihimo ko nahuman ngani semster nagre-reward ako akon self, nagpapasalamat ako naka-surpass ako, and I usually buy things to remind me of the semester, anything that could be rewarding to me, giving me the drive to take the board exam,” she shared further.
Words from the Pro
In a one-on-one interview with The Tradesman, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal stressed the following insights for aspiring Psychologists:
“Psychology is one of the fields that has a clear path, from the beginning nga nagtake ka BS Psychology tapos nagkuha ka Masters [degree], you have two options, either you want to be procceed with being a Registered Guidance Counselor or a Psychologist… In terms of insight, Psychology equips you, develops your skills within the area of the field and specialization. Depende nala ha person kun paano niya kukuhaon ito na opportunities and how they will take advantage [of it], because it’s already there. The options are there… In terms of realignment aada na talaga hiya, it’s present in the Philippines.”
“I don’t extremely excel in class, I’m just an average person but I’m very diligent and I’m very hardworking. Ito manla imo puhunan [to succeed] … Your license matters whether you like it or not because it promotes expertise and sense of accomplishment for you.”
“Improving your interpersonal skills is very necessary especially in the field of psychology because you will be dealing with a lot of [people.] I was transformed from an introvert and a very shy person, I didn’t have any option because this is my profession.”
Next Step
Dr. Villanueva-Cañal opened up about her desire to establish a clinic in Samar. The Board of Psychology, however, has stipulated that each clinic or center be headed by a psychologist with seven years of experience, including three years of supervisory experience. The resolution further mandates that the head of the psychological services unit be employed full-time — matters she is considering as she contemplates her next career move.
“For now, because of the policy [of the Board of Psychology,] there might be a change in direction [in my career path] … I will first prepare for seven years then after that, I will decide if I will put up a clinic, but the consequence is that I need to resign from my [current] job,” she stated.
Asking her if she still have plans in expounding her credentials, Dr. Villanueva-Cañal uttered that her next aim is not eligibility but certificates to further develop her skills which, according to her, is also necessary in her profession.
“Ha profession han Psychology last na nga title, but may mga type of trainings ako nga gusto — more on enhancing the skills in counseling and Psychotherapy… Just because you have a license, doesn’t mean you’re already equipped. In the field of Psychology, you have the license but you also need to have a certificate for a specific therapy. Ako may plano pa ako, may gin-i-imagine pa ako nga iba nga type of exam that includes training pero kun sano ko hiya makukuha, di pa ako maaram,” she confirmed.
