Tessie Obusan has been writing and publishing many years on Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Filipino spirituality and mysticism, pamamaraan, pakikipagkapwa, and leadership. She has spoken and done seminars and workshops on these topics on many occasions at universities, seminaries and at the Institute of Filipino Spirituality.
She has been a teacher, mentor and inspiration to many modern-day Philippine culture bearers. I have read many of her works, some of which are listed in my other blog posts about her and her work.
Currently she is the curator of Bahay Nakpil heritage house and community center in Quiapo, Old Manila. I was able to meet her there a few years ago, see other post on my visit.
Tess and I were both able to contribute to Leny Strobel’s recent book full of essays from different women, Babaylan: Filipinos and the Call of the Indigenous. There was a book launching at the museum November 2010 that was a great success.
Tessie sent me this email with tons of images, last summer, and I have finally had time to organize the photos and her letter for you in this post. Please enjoy her experiences and thoughts on baybayin:
Dear Perla,
Thank you for inviting me to contribute to your blog…
Some years back we had an exhibit here on people who are into baybayin and products with baybayin motif. These photos are what remained in my files…
Am not sure whether you got copies of modules where I use baybayin as tool for analysis –
Pamamaraang K which is in my book Mystic or Mistake and Bahay, Buhay, Bathala – an attempt to understand the Filipino concept of sexuality and spirituality.
[Note from Babayin Alive: I was actually introduced to Tess’ work around 2000 and read the above book, Pamamaraang K and many of her other books since. ]
This is from the talk I gave in one of the conferences of Sikolohiyang Pilipino. Pamamaraang K also underlines the concept of the ka or relationship – evident on how it is written in baybayin.
Pamamaraang Ka first published in Mystic or Mistake. Click for large view.
The baybayin is also part of Pamanaraan – a kind of crash course on Filipino culture we give to students on field work here, or whenever we are invited to give seminar or talks on Filipino culture. It gives an experiential touch whenever we have to talk about early Filipino culture.
Tess and Reimon. Bahay Nakpil.
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We also give free lessons on baybayin. (Reimon does the teaching. Reimon has Pinuno and Ama, Ina, Anak – ask him about this. [Readers, you can click on the hyperlinks to see these posted here at the BaybayinAlive blog].)

We also use baybayin for the liturgy and rituals. You can see this behind me in the photo in the book Mystic or Mistake.
O diba mas [oh isn’t it more] intimate and interesting!
June 14, 2010
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Partial Bibliography
- Katutubong Kaalaman (Indigenous Knowledge)” by Teresita B. O, in Pamamaraan: Indigenous Knowledge and Evolving Research Paradigms, ed. by Teresita B. Obusan, Angelina R. Eniquez.
- The Filipino Spiritual Culture, Reprint Series No. 1 by Dr. Teresita B. Obusan and Angelina Enriquez. 1994.
- Pakikipagkapwa: The Pamathalaan Approach to Leadership. Ed. by Dr. Teresita B. Obusan. 1998.
- Roots of Filipino Spirituality, Ed. by Teresita B. Obusan. 1998.
07/26/2017
Hi! Where can I get a copy of this book: Mystic Or Mistake: Exploring Filipino Mysticism in Quiapo. Thank you!
08/29/2017
Contact Bahay Nakpil in Quiapo to find out if the author still sells copies. She is a curator there. Good luck!
05/09/2018
Good day! I just want to inquire about all available books of Dr. Teresita Obusan and its prices. I will be doing a research on the culture of peace that emerges from the Tahanan. But I am interested with all her books.
Thanks,
B
07/21/2018
Hi Bernard, contact Bahay Nakpil in Quiapo to see if you can get in contact with Ms. Obusan where she was or used to be the curator. Also here is there facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bahay-Nakpil-Bautista-Tahanan-ng-mga-Katipunero-206403486064404/