THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS IN HANDLING INDIGENOUS AND MINORITY STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS TO MULTICULTURAL GUIDANCE PROGRAM, APPROACH AND DELIVERY

The Philippines is considered as a melting pot wherein there have varied beliefs, practices, and traditions, along with these are the numerous indigenous and minority groups. It is so, the country is motivated to include everyone in the development and growth of the nation, specifically the education of indigenous and minorities. In fact, many private organizations and local government unit have been continuously developing programs and project that will promote education for indigenous people and minorities, however, there is still limited knowledge of the effective counseling strategies in helping and assisting them. As such, this qualitative, phenomenological study explored on the lived experiences of guidance counselors who are working with indigenous and minority students in CALABARZON Region. Along with this are the objectives of the study, which is to know the observed culture and tradition of the IPs and minorities, challenges in counseling them and strategies employed by the guidance counselors. The main participants or co-researchers of this study are five registered guidance counselors that were selected based on a set of criteria. Interviews were recorded and encoded and has been subjected to analysis using Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA). The findings revealed that IPs and minorities have no distinct physical features or behavior. They are regarded as kind and hardworking, though they are timid and quiet. The findings also imply that some of them are still following and performing the culture and tradition of their tribe or group while most are evolving due to technological advancement and globalization. The challenges encountered were minimal and manageable, it includes, language and tolerable acts of discrimination. It is also revealed that the system of the school also impedes effective delivery of multicultural counseling. Moreover, various strategies were employed by the guidance counselors in catering the needs of the IPs and minorities. Multidimensional approach, directive counseling, constructivist approach, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Reality Therapy Solution Focused Behavior Therapy, group counseling and other process such as orienting students and establishing a good rapport are found to be effective in counseling the minorities. Thus, several recommendations were drawn which includes adapting the guidance programs that has been developed, the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and culture-based education, uplifting self-esteem and self-confidence among IPs and minorities and reinforcing guidance counselors in schools.