Vince Tajor - The Filipino Worker's Psychologist

21/09/2026

Congratulations to all the newly licensed Registered Psychologists! 🥳 Nakabawi na ba kayo ng tulog?

Surviving years of graduate school, hundreds of clinical hours, and that grueling board exam is no small feat. The Philippine mental health field is incredibly lucky to have you, and your future clients are already waiting for your empathy and expertise. Welcome to the profession! 🛋️🤍

And to our future Registered Psychometricians waiting for September 23: Take a deep breath. You have put in the work, and your license is already waiting for you. Claim it.

Sino ang mga bagong RPsy natin dito, o sino ang magkakaroon ng RPm sa dulo ng pangalan nila sa 23? Tag them in the comments so we can celebrate and cheer them on! 👇🏼

18/09/2026

The unfortunate reality in the Philippines is that while it’s easy to tell someone na “magpahinga ka muna,” it’s a luxury for some that they can’t afford right now.

LITERARY | Slowing down is an expensive thing I can’t afford

For every moment I want to stop, there are responsibilities waiting to be fulfilled and dreams that cannot simply be put on hold.

Because for some, rest is not a choice.

Slowing down is a privilege, and stopping is a risk I simply cannot take. Sometimes, I keep moving not because I want to, but because life gives me no other choice.

I have to show up, no matter what I am carrying.

I have to do it sad.
I have to do it grieving.
I have to do it physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted.

There are days when getting out of bed feels like an achievement, yet the world does not know that. It still asks us to be present. To meet deadlines. To answer messages. To fulfill responsibilities.

So we do.

We smile when we do not feel like smiling.
We work when our minds are somewhere else.
We laugh even when there is a heaviness in our chest that refuses to leave.

And perhaps that is what makes grief so difficult—not only that it hurts, but that it does not exempt us from everything else.

Because the world didn’t end when ours did.

Life does not really pause to spare us. It keeps moving, so we keep moving too. Not because the pain is gone, not because we have healed, and certainly not because we have forgotten.

We simply learn to carry it. And nobody sees how much strength it takes just to show up.

But maybe moving forward does not always mean leaving something behind. Sometimes, it means taking everything that hurts with you and choosing to walk anyway.

Because there are dreams that still need chasing, responsibilities that still need fulfilling, and a life that—whether you are ready or not—continues to ask you to live it.

And so, you keep moving.

______
(by Lady Montalban | Probationary)
(layout by Jericho Jaca | Plumeria)

15/09/2026

“Bat di ka sumasagot? Online ka naman ah.” 🫠

Para sa mga OFWs natin, minsan mas nakakapagod pa yung emotional demands at expectations kaysa sa mismong pisikal na trabaho sa abroad. Dahil malayo ka, madalas feeling ng pamilya mo, kailangan lagi kang available para makinig sa mga problema nila, mag-ayos ng away nila, at maging "shock absorber" ng buong angkan.

Pero bilang psychologist, I want to remind you: You are a human being, not an ATM, a referee, or a 24/7 crisis hotline.

Setting boundaries isn't just about limiting the money you send. It is also about protecting your time, your emotional bandwidth, and your right to have a personal life outside of being a provider. Hindi porke't nag-abroad ka ay pagmamay-ari na ng pamilya mo ang buong oras at atensyon mo. You are allowed to sleep. You are allowed to say, "Hindi ko kaya pakinggan yan ngayon." You are allowed to prioritize your peace. 🤍

Swipe left for practical scripts on how to set boundaries without sounding disrespectful to your family back home. 👉🏼

Anong boundary ang pinakamahirap i-set para sa'yo—time, emotional, o personal? Let’s talk about it sa comments! 👇🏼

(P.S. If you are drowning in family expectations and need a safe space to process the guilt of saying "no," you don't have to carry it alone. Tap the SeriousMD link in my bio to book a budget-friendly 1-on-1 teleconsult. Let's strategize your boundaries together.) 🛋️✨

13/09/2026

It was an absolute honor to sit down with Radyo Pilipinas World Service to unpack a topic that is so deeply personal to millions of Filipinos: OFW Family Dynamics, Utang na Loob, and Psychological Burnout.

Sa panayam na ito, pinag-usapan natin ang mga mabibigat na reyalidad na madalas nating tinatago sa likod ng mga balikbayan box at mga mensaheng "Okay lang ako." We discussed why, as a breadwinner, setting boundaries isn't selfish. It is absolutely necessary for your survival.

Kung ikaw ay isang OFW, breadwinner, o taong pakiramdam ay nauubos na kakatulong sa iba, this conversation is for you. Pinag-usapan natin dito ang:

Constant Communication vs. Emotional Connection: Bakit minsan kahit laging nagvi-video call, feeling mo ang layo niyo pa rin sa isa't isa?

The "Utang na Loob" Trap: Paano nagsisimula ang resentment kapag ginagamit ang utang na loob para hindi ka makapag-set ng boundaries.

The Airplane Rule: Bakit kailangan mong unahin ang sarili mong "oxygen mask" bago mo sagipin ang buong pamilya.

Makinig at panoorin ang buong replay ng interview dito:
👉🏼 https://www.facebook.com/RPWorldService/videos/2047023679280763

Para sa lahat ng patuloy na nagsasakripisyo para sa pamilya: You cannot pour from an empty cup. Wag kalimutang magtira para sa sarili ninyo. 🤍

Anong part ng interview ang pinaka naka-relate kayo? Let me know in the comments below! 👇🏼

12/09/2026

👀👀👀👀

11/09/2026

💯

Work shapes whether people can afford food, housing, medicine, rest, and a future they can plan for.

Decent, livable work is a labor issue. It is a public health issue. It is su***de prevention. ***deprevention

10/09/2026

Yung feeling na gusto mo nang mag-resign after 8 months, pero natatakot kang matawag na "job hopper" ng recruiter. 🫠

For decades, we were conditioned to believe that corporate loyalty is the ultimate virtue (tignan mo nga parents natin diba, patibayan). Dito sa Pilipinas, sumasabay pa diyan ang kultura ng utang na loob. We feel incredibly guilty for leaving a company that "gave us a chance."

But when inflation is skyrocketing, and your annual raise/market adjustment is stuck at 3%, staying in one place for too long just to prove your loyalty can actually harm your financial stability. The rules of the game have changed, and loyalty simply doesn't pay the bills the way it did during our parents' generation.

However, as a psychologist, I also want to offer a gentle check-in: Strategic movement is a powerful tool, but chronic avoidance is a heavy burden to carry.

Before you draft that resignation letter, you need to be deeply honest with yourself about why you are leaving. Are you making a calculated step up the ladder, or are you just running away from temporary discomfort that will eventually follow you to your next office?

Swipe left for 4 neutral reflection prompts to help you decide if it is time to pack up your desk, or time to stay and grow. 👉🏼

Anong pinakamalaking fear mo when it comes to resigning from a job? Let's talk about it in the comments! 👇🏼

(P.S. Navigating career transitions and untangling corporate guilt is heavy work. If you need a neutral, safe space to process your next career move, tap the SeriousMD link in my bio to book a 1-on-1 teleconsult.) 🛋️🤍

08/09/2026

Yung feeling na gumuho yung buong mundo mo dahil lang sa isang missed deadline, galit na boss, o bad performance review. 🛑

When you are trapped in a cycle of severe, chronic burnout, your perspective starts to shrink. Corporate culture has a way of convincing us that our worth as human beings is completely dependent on our KPIs. Your nervous system is so overworked that a single work mistake physically feels like a life-or-death emergency.

But as a psychologist, I need to remind you of the reality outside your cubicle: It is just a job.

A company can replace your role, post your job vacancy, and train someone new in a matter of weeks. But to your family, your friends, and this world, you are entirely irreplaceable.

No shift, no project, and no corporate expectation is ever worth sacrificing your mental health, your peace, or your life. Trabaho lang 'yan. Buhay mo 'yan. The world will always be a better place with you in it. Please stay 🤍

⚠️ You do not have to carry this exhaustion alone.
If work stress has pushed you into a very dark place and you are in severe distress, there is free, immediate help available. Please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline:
📞 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free)
📱 0917-899-USAP (8727)
📱 0908-639-2672

(P.S. If you need a safe space to untangle your self-worth from your job and process your career burnout, my virtual clinic is open. Tap the SeriousMD link in my bio to book a 1-on-1 teleconsult. Let's navigate this together.) 🛋️✨

03/09/2026

Gusto ng pang-senior na output, pero pang-entry-level ang budget?? 🚩🫠

⚠️ FAIR WARNING: As much as we all want to send a spicy reply exactly like the one in this graphic, wag niyo po itong gagawin sa totoong buhay! (Unless you are 100% ready to burn bridges). This meme is for laughs and validation, but we still need to protect our professional reputation, okay?

Pero seryoso, the reality of being lowballed in the Philippines is exhausting. Sa kultura natin, madalas nating pinapairal ang hiya. Tatanggapin na lang natin yung mababang offer kasi "sayang din yung opportunity," "baka bawiin pa nila," or feeling natin utang na loob pa natin na na-hire tayo.

But honestly, accepting a job where you already feel severely undervalued breaks your "psychological contract" before day one. Papasok ka pa lang sa opisina, resentful at ubos ka na. That is a fast track to severe burnout and chronic stress.

You don't have to just swallow a lowball offer, but you do need to navigate it like a pro. Here is how you can effectively say, "Which skills would you like to remove?" without actually sounding rude:

Professional Scripts for Lowball Offers:
- To reduce the scope of work: "I am very interested in joining the team. However, given the budget constraints, which of the deliverables in the job description can we adjust to align with this compensation?"

- To negotiate other benefits (Kung hindi talaga kaya taasan ang sweldo): "If there is no flexibility on the base salary, are you open to negotiating additional work-from-home days, extra leave credits, or a signing bonus to bridge the gap?"

- To set a timeline for an increase: "If I accept this starting rate, can we include a clause in my contract for a guaranteed performance and salary review after my 6-month regularization?"

- To walk away gracefully (sure na kayong di niyo talaga tatanggapin): "Thank you so much for the offer. Unfortunately, I cannot accept a rate below my minimum threshold for this level of responsibility. I wish you the best in your search!"

Do not let a company gaslight you into thinking your skills are worth less just because they cannot afford you. Act your wage, know your worth, and set your boundaries early on! 🤍🥂

(P.S. Navigating career transitions and job market anxiety can be incredibly heavy. If you need a safe space to process your career goals and practice setting boundaries, tap the SeriousMD link in my bio to book a 1-on-1 teleconsult.)

01/09/2026

To everyone sitting for the Psychologist and Psychometrician licensure exams this week: Padayon! 🤍 Take a deep breath. Your future clients are waiting for you, and the mental health field needs your empathy.

For the rest of us, finding the right mental health professional can feel like navigating an overwhelming alphabet soup of titles. Should you see an MD, an RPsy, or an RGC?

Knowing the difference isn't just about saving time and money—it is crucial for your healing journey and serves as your protection as a consumer. You wouldn't go to a dentist for a broken leg, right? The same logic applies to your mental health.

Swipe left to decode the titles and see exactly who does what in the Philippine mental health field! 👉🏼

Do you know someone taking the board exams soon? Tag them in the comments below to send some good luck and encouragement! ✨👇🏼

(P.S. If you are ready to start your own healing journey and want to consult with a licensed professional, you don't have to figure it out alone. Tap the SeriousMD link in my bio to book a budget-friendly 1-on-1 teleconsult with me.) 🛋️🤍