Abstract
This study explored the lived experiences of Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5
(CKD5) patients undergoing hemodialysis in San Pablo City, with emphasis on their
psychological resilience. Using a qualitative phenomenological design and Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), five participants shared narratives that revealed how
resilience was constructed and sustained amid the challenges of end-stage renal disease.
Ten themes emerged: Somatic Hostility and the Threat of “The End”; Supports in
Human Connections; Active Defiance and Sacred Surrender; Mediated Belonging and
Mental Refuges; Restoration of Resilience through Acceptance; Emotional Calibration in
the Face of Clinical Uncertainty; Tactical Resilience and the Sovereignty of Mind;
Negotiation of Functional Normalcy; Dualistic Experience of Meaning-Making; and
Relational Reconfiguration and Protective Bonds. These themes portrayed resilience as a
dynamic, multidimensional process involving cognitive reappraisal, emotional regulation,
spiritual engagement, and reliance on familial and communal support.
The findings highlighted Filipino cultural values pagpapahalaga sa pamilya
(family-centeredness), bayanihan (communal solidarity), and pananampalataya (faith) as
central pillars of resilience. Patients anchored their coping in familial bonds, spiritual
devotion, and collective support, reflecting the cultural ethos that resilience was not an
individual pursuit but a shared journey.
This study contributed to resilience research by contextualizing it within Filipino
culture and healthcare realities. It underscored the need for culturally sensitive
psychosocial interventions that strengthened resilience as a vital non-clinical determinant
of well-being among CKD5 patients, affirming that resilience was not merely survival but
the art of living meaningfully amidst vulnerability and strength.
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