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Designing a relevant teaching-learning program amid a pandemic when in-person learning is suspended poses a significant challenge for any educational institution. At a particular Catholic university in the Philippines, an undergraduate course offered a service-learning (SL) activity wherein students actively served as online tutors to underprivileged students. Due to the health crisis, the SL activity seemed impossible, but a carefully planned program was created to continue the students' formation. The implementation of electronic service-learning (ESL) is executed through the collaborative efforts of the different offices and the partner community. This qualitative research utilizes two methods: the formulation of tutorial guidelines and a narrative approach by exploring the experience of the student tutors as expressed in their reflection papers. Three recurrent themes emerged from the participants' reflections, which can be considered significant components of their learning experience--civic learning, a more profound understanding of the course, and the adaptation of essential virtues. This paper validates the claim that the online teaching services rendered by students are indeed beneficial in their formation as socially responsible citizens. In the same way, the tutees have realized that despite their poor economic situation, they are not alone in battling to have a more comfortable life. Lastly, the study findings also helped the school implement its programs despite the suspension of in-person schooling continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated students' mental health challenges worldwide, including in the Philippines. This paper explores the University of the Philippines' response to this crisis, a crucial endeavor given the country's limited mental health resources. This paper reviews the relevant documents to the mental health initiative, titled "Sandigan, Sandalan," which sought to empower university stakeholders to advocate for mental and address mental health needs despite resource constraints and the university's vastness. The authors also share their experiences and insights in the program. This program is one of the few university mental health programs that were documented in the Philippines after the legislation of the Philippine Mental Health Act and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key recommendations arising from this experience include enhancing program visibility, fostering stakeholder collaboration toward a clear set of program objectives, leveraging mental health expertise, empowering stakeholders, and designing replicable program models for the different campuses of the university. The initiative underscores the vital role that educational institutions can play and provides valuable insights into supporting students' mental well-being amid large scale challenges in low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Strengthening Program for Rural Banks (SPRB) in the Philippines has allowed universal banks to purchase rural banks, and this policy highlights the possible advantages of expanding business combinations for intangible assets. Considering the SPRB, this paper examines the intangible motivation behind banks' actions to purchase capital-deficient financial institutions. This study aims to address sources of intangible assets for Philippine banks as Tobin's q measures. Using Tobin's q as a measure of intangible value allows for identifying contributing factors that determine it based on financial data. The study subjects are actively traded Philippine Universal Banks between 2009 and 2018. The influence of variables in the study on intangible asset value, as Tobin's q measures, was determined using an Ordinary Least Squares model. Operational factors significantly influencing intangible value are investments in subsidiaries and associates, the return on assets, and bank deposits. Activities intended to reach target customers, such as those captured by marketing and advertising expenditures, positively influence intangible value. These findings imply that merely purchasing more assets does not improve the value of intangible resources. Instead, asset productivity, funds to make more loans, and informing the public of bank activities benefit intangible asset values. The implications of these findings offer insight into the sources of intangible assets that investors value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (< 5 mm) have lately been identified in the atmosphere of urban, suburban, and even distant places far from plastic particle areas, suggesting the possibility of long-distance atmospheric transport of microplastics. However, the occurrence, fate, transmission, and effects of these suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) are all currently unknown in the Philippines. This study investigated the presence of suspected microplastic in the atmosphere of sixteen cities and one municipality of Metro Manila, Philippines. Sampling was conducted using a respirable dust sampler mounted with a Whatman GF/C filter paper at an intake flow rate of 1.4 L/min with Whatman GF/C filter paper. Results reveal that all seventeen sampling areas have the presence of SAMPs. A total of 155 SAMPs were found and confirmed in Metro Manila, with the highest concentration in Muntinlupa City and Mandaluyong City (0.023 SAMP/NCM). Fourteen SAMP types were identified across the sampling areas, ⁓ 74% with polyester. This study is the first record of the presence of microplastics suspended in the ambient air in the Philippines. It is estimated that an adult person in Metro Manila has the potential to inhale (5–8 per minute, normal minute ventilation) about 1 SAMP if exposed for about 99.0 to 132 h. Further studies should be done to evaluate the fate and health effects of these SAMPs in Metro Manila's setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the economic upgrading of suppliers in global value chains (GVCs) is influenced by the prevailing governance structures in supplier-lead firm relationships. Using a novel governance index for Philippine and Thai manufacturers, this paper tests if tight effective control received by suppliers can be detrimental to higher-order GVC upgrading. The unique 2012 Survey on Adjustments of Establishments to Globalization was used to calculate the index for Philippine manufacturers, while the World Bank's Productivity and Investment Climate Study 2006–2007 was used for Thailand. The econometric results confirm that tight governance negatively affects upgrading in both countries. Specifically, the Philippine estimates show that tight governance has no impact on process upgrading given that: (1) all GVCs benefit from efficient suppliers, regardless of governance structures; and (2) process upgrading has relatively simpler technological requirements than higher-order upgrading. Tight governance significantly reduces the probability of achieving more sophisticated product, functional, and intersectoral upgrading, especially when this encroaches on the lead firm's core functions. But since governance and control are necessary for efficient GVC operations, suppliers must conscientiously build capabilities and networks to move up the upgrading ladder. For weak-capability suppliers, innovation networks are important external sources of technology and knowledge spillovers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I interrogate the Philippine Indigenous Peoples Education's operational construct of culture to explicate its indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSP) integration into the K-12 curriculum. Pragmatism as a philosophical framework mainly guides the argument in this paper. In the first part, I introduce the old and contemporary meanings of culture and point out flaws in the IKSP integration. Literature backing the essence of IKSP integration into the school curriculum dominated by the Western knowledge system is discussed in the second part, followed by a discussion on culture and indigeneity that nuance further the IKSP integration in public education. The Philippine Indigenous Peoples Education is presented next, highlighting its definition of IPs, focus areas, support systems, and recent developments, ending with a critique. Analysis and discussion follow. The paper concludes with a challenge, especially for the education sectors, to reframe their lenses at looking at culture to build authentic relationships with indigenous communities and provide indigenous learners with an education that is need-based and culture-sensitive, one that respects their worldviews, knowledge systems, heritages, and identities, one that is truly liberating. Providing IPs an education responsive to the changing society can help them achieve a real sense of self-determination for social progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's global economy, transitioning from industry to academia is popular. Professionals from the corporate sector contribute priceless insights that enhance students' educational experiences. However, this change was not without difficulties. Understanding the goals, experiences, and challenges moving professionals face is essential to ensuring a smooth transition and maximizing their contributions to business education. A qualitative investigation in Cebu, Philippines, explores people's motivations, encounters, and perceived difficulties when making this shift. This study demonstrates how the move from industry to academics guarantees that course material will always be relevant to the changing needs of the business sector. Numerous elements, including andragogical knowledge acquisition, coworker support, and economic issues, impact the process. Giving transitioning professionals the necessary tools and assistance requires a sophisticated grasp of these factors. Furthermore, retiring and going into academia is advantageous since it provides chances to stay involved and accomplish goals related to lifetime learning and service. Furthermore, even in the face of external shocks and economic downturns, academia offers stability and opportunities for career transition. This paper clarifies the challenges of moving from business to academics, especially in the Cebu environment. Organizations and governments can use these insights to create customized programs supporting transferring professionals and promoting strong industry-academia engagement. This will allow them to exploit new opportunities and harness associated advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a case study approach focusing on Bulacan, Philippines, we examined three types of social capital (i.e. bonding, bridging, and linking) accessed by small scale aquaculture producers through fish farmers associations. The aim was to determine whether and how types of social capital contribute to promoting human agency among small scale aquaculture producers in the context of their livelihoods. Here, agency is considered an important part of sustainable livelihoods and is defined as people's ability to choose in ways that align with their values and goals, and to act to realise their goals. Agency was analysed in relation to livelihood preconditions, processes, power, and possibilities. The premise of this paper is that types of social capital from fish farmers' associations distinctly contribute to expanding and strengthening the agency of small scale aquaculture producers. The study found that all three types of social capital contributed to enhancing the resources that producers draw on for their livelihoods. The bonding and bridging types helped producers cope with various livelihood challenges by enabling access to mutual assistance and collective efforts for problem solving. The types of social capital were less effective in addressing issues of asymmetrical power relations which adversely affected livelihoods. All three types and particularly linking social capital contributed to expanding livelihood possibilities and enabling producers to explore new avenues for improving livelihoods, enhancing agency. The findings point to the distinct contributions and complementarity of different types of social capital to the exercise of agency in livelihoods. Attending to the different types of social capital and understanding how they are most beneficial in specific contexts as well as where they are insufficent, can improve prioritysetting, targeting, and design for initiatives that seek to work with fish farmers organisations and other types of community-based organisations for livelihood improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the separation of church and state in the Philippines during the early American colonial period, contextualizing it within the process of American overseas expansion and considering it as one of the projects of imperial hegemony construction. After the Spanish–American War, the United States substituted Spain as the new colonial ruler of the Philippines, legitimizing its regime as the spread of 'civilization' to the Filipinos. On this basis, the Americans enacted laws guaranteeing religious freedom and introduced an American-style institution dealing with church–state relations. Beyond the legal and administrative initiatives, the new regime also constructed an official narrative of the transformation of political–religious relations in the Philippine that emphasized the absolute 'difference' between the American human rights principle, which guaranteed freedom of worship, and the Spanish theocracy, which was dedicated to the consolidation of privileges. By legislating the separation of church and state, buying up church properties, recognizing the equality of denominations, and constructing the official imperial narrative of church–state relations, the Americans hoped to 'teach' Filipinos that the 'true' belief was rooted in the inner convictions of individual Christians, not in the authority and coercion of the hierarchical church. By disciplining the construction of 'difference' under tutelary colonialism, the separation of church and state movement initiated by the American colonial government in the Philippines became an important source of imperial self-endowed legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per- and polyfiuoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on paper packaging resist water and oil to effectively contain food and beverages. However, previous studies have established correlations between PFAS and several diseases including COVID-19, cancers, and obesity. The goal of this collaborative research between the Philippines and Singapore is to set a baseline for PFAS levels in local packaging with the intended outcome of further increasing awareness on these contaminants in Southeast Asia, providing a starting point for migration experiments and risk assessments on PFAS in commercially-available food contact materials and articles, and initiating policy developments on these substances in the Philippines. In this study, 15 different types of PFAS were analyzed in selected paper packaging used by major quick service restaurants (QSRs) in Metro Manila. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), PFAS was detected in 100% of the samples with a total PFAS concentration range of 8.20-97.7 ng PFAS/100 cm². The highest amount of PFAS compound measured across all samples was PF-3,7-DMOA (89.8 ng/100 cm²). PFAS compounds regulated in European packaging such as PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA and PFDA were also detected in all samples but at trace levels. Paper wrappers for rice and small burgers were found to have the highest total PFAS of 97.7 ng PFAS/100 cm². This value translates to approximately 65.1 ng F/100 cm² which is way below 10,000 ng F/100 cm², the currently existing limit for PFAS in packaging set by the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food. While each packaging may be deemed safe compared to regulation, the compounded effects brought by use of multiple packaging, and high frequency and long-term exposures require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of self-care has strongly been associated with stress and burnout among nurse educators. It has long been a silent battle as they struggle with academia, clinical practice, and research. Challenges identified that contribute to lack of self-care are heavy workloads, limited facilities for instruction, lack of support for professional advancement, and limited self-care facilities. In support of the Alma Ata declaration in empowering and assisting individuals to obtain knowledge, skills, and resources to preserve health, this paper advocates the need to foster and establish a self-care culture for nurse educators in the Philippines through the Reflect, Recharge, Revive Program. The program framework of Reflect through self-assessment and self-reflection, Recharge through self-care education and training, and Revive for sustainability are collected from various programs already used by some nursing schools that have been proven effective in their respective organizations. Its integration into the current policies and guidelines, including policy frameworks of nursing institutions, will help address stress and burnout associated with a lack of self-care among nurse educators. As a healthy policy, it is believed to positively affect nursing education, especially in decreasing faculty turnover and increasing job performance and self-fulfillment in teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discussed the art appreciation technique using Jerrold Levinson's artistic value in arriving at the importance of aesthetic experience in artwork. Levinson claimed that artistic value covers aesthetic value and achievement value, specifically in analyzing Juan Luna's Spoliarium, which is considered the largest painting in the Philippines and is proclaimed as a national heritage. This paper argued that art should have aesthetic engagement from the viewer's point of view which would lead them to discover its artistic value. Thus, this paper used the contextualizing technique since it augments and strengthens artistic engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goal 4 has commenced a global mandate to provide equitable access to quality education for everyone. In the Philippines, SDG 4 inaugurates the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Policy. This brief argues that while the NCLB has ensured equal access to quality literacy education, it poses socioeconomic-based challenges, declining rate of parental involvement in their children's schooling, overemphasis on standardized tests, and the lack of community involvement towards literacy programs. The Holistic Literacy Enhancement Program (HLEP) is proposed in this paper to help address these challenges to NCLB. HLEP presents policy implications that could assist the NCLB in more efficient and effective implementation: equitable resource allocation, parental and community engagement, and culturally and linguistically relevant assessment tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing lapses of sports-based strategies in the Philippine setting, the gap between its theoretical foundation and its praxis has ballooned, predominantly attributed to the need for more academic work in this area. Correspondingly, this study provides implications for sports-related strategies for predicting a positive public image of the Philippines and harboring peaceful state cooperation through the merits of soft power. To achieve this, this paper has contrived the objectives, including (1) identifying the implications of hosting the SEA Games 2019 for the country by examining the management of the Philippine government, (2) determining the implications of the elite sporting success of Filipino athletes in sports tournaments, and, lastly, (3) identifying the potential of sports through the implementation of sports-related strategy by the Philippines. Moreover, this paper implements qualitative methods, including document review and key informant interviews, to gather pertinent testimonials from various sub-sectors in sports, including national elite athletes, professional coaches, and sports experts, to assess the state of Philippine sports and significantly determine its potential as a serious form of public diplomacy, particularly in achieving its intended outcomes. This study infers that Philippine sports have the capability to influence the country's stature with consideration of the global media as well as advance its foreign policy of international cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The informational domain related to COVID-19 reflects the degree of uncertainty and pace of evolution of the pandemic. This places a burden on peoples' searches for information to guide their choices, importantly including for COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, it is important for health communications that support vaccination campaigns to attenuate vaccine hesitancy to be accessible, including in terms of readability, and adapted to the evolving pandemic. This paper aims to understand internet searches on COVID-19 vaccination, specifically the mix of sources and readability of the sources over a two-year period (2021–2023) in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, for search results in English, as English is a main language for each of these locations. The sources accessed through online searches in June 2021 and May 2023 were categorized by type of source and whether they were from one of the focal locations or elsewhere. The readability of information from web-search results was assessed using a set of readability tests (Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman–Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Grade level). Over the two-year period there was an increase in government sources and reduction in mass media sources with distinct local patterns. Local government sources increased in Singapore whereas foreign government and multi-lateral organization sources increased in Hong Kong, with the Philippines being an intermediate pattern. In contrast to the changing mix of sources, the readability tests indicate a low proportion of URLs scoring within recommended readability thresholds across locations and types of sources over the two years. Information on COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment is an important part of health communications that includes internet search. The paper contributes to understanding health communications during a pandemic, including mix of local and non-local sources and contingency on local social and health context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata) is a freshwater turtle species found in select Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. Our understanding of C. dentata's ecology in the Philippines is not yet fully understood and documented, and this is derived only from a few studies. In this paper, we present our single-event observation of an ectoparasite interaction between C. dentata and the Asian turtle tick (Amblyomma geoemydae) from Sitio Malbato, Barangay Bintuan Coron, Palawan. Our discovery serves as the second documented instance of this ectoparasite on C. dentata in the Philippines, hence extending its known distribution outside mainland Palawan. This finding contributes to the limited understanding of C. dentata's ecology and underscores the need for further field-based observations, which are crucial for their research and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), formerly the National Nutrition Survey, is a regularly conducted survey that records the Philippines' overall nutritional status. This is especially important not only for government intervention and policy-making but also for private sector entities that plan for their nutrition and development programs. First deployed during the conduct of the 2013 ENNS, the electronic data collection system (EDCS) is a tool that implemented computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) functionalities. This paper records the improvements made to this system and its division into separate subsystems, various CAPI subsystems with specialized functionalities, and how they interact with each other. Descriptive analysis was used for the users' feedback and recommendations -- specifically, for usability and navigation, system performance and portability, technicality and security, and visual design. The system is able to support interviews during the ENNS and receive positive feedback -- garnering visual design the highest, whereas technicality and security the lowest acceptability rating -- thereby proving this division useful. Overall, the system is capable of supporting the ENNS and will continue its improvement through the continual user feedback received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What happens when recognized and diverse conditioning factors of linguistic variation are omitted from analysis and/or are not analyzed under a single analytical procedure? This paper explores the consequences of such a choice on data interpretation and, consequently, (socio)linguistic theorization. Utilizing Twitter-style English in the Philippines (EngPH) as a case study, I employ the Twitter Corpus of Philippine Englishes (TCOPE) primarily to investigate and elucidate variations in three morphosyntactic variables that have been previously examined using a piecemeal approach. I propose a holistic quantitative approach that incorporates documented linguistic, social, diachronic, and stylistic factors in a unified analysis. The paper illustrates the impacts of adopting this holistic approach through two statistical procedures: Bayesian regression modeling and Boruta feature selection with random forest modeling. In contrast to earlier research findings, my overall results reveal biases in non-unified quantitative analyses, where the confidence in the effects of certain factors diminishes in light of others during analysis. The adoption of a unified analysis or modeling also enhances the resolution at which variations have been examined in EngPH. For instance, it highlights that presumed 'universals', such as the hierarchy of linguistic > stylistic > diachronic > social factors in explaining variation in some domains, is contingent on the specific variable under examination. Overall, I argue that unified analyses reduce data distortion and introduce more nuanced interpretations and insights that are critical for establishing a well-grounded empirical theory of EngPH variation and language variation as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This short paper builds on and critiques work presenting potential non-disasters: disasters that did not seem to happen despite a major hazard. Previous work does not differentiate among different types of potential non-disasters. This short paper uses local information to propose three categories according to reasons for vulnerability being low or absent. These proposed categories are used to critique the construct of "potential non-disasters". Design/methodology/approach: This short paper uses a subjective approach to examples of potential non-disasters in 2022, focusing on local information that describes what happened. This information is applied and analysed for the three proposed categories using examples from Japan, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam. Such comparisons are useful for critiquing "potential non-disasters", by understanding better local approaches and information available for reporting on situations that could be disasters. Findings: Potential non-disasters remain relevant for exploring mechanisms, tools and actions for educating about vulnerability causes and vulnerability reduction to avert disasters. Limitations are evident by relying on media reports, even local ones with local authors. A suggestion is to implement a grant programme for collecting data immediately after a major hazard without an evident, major disaster. Additionally, an annual report and critique of each year's potential non-disasters, categorised and analysed, would help to evidence the presence and limits of the "potential non-disaster" construct. Originality/value: This short paper contributes a much deeper theoretical dive into understanding potential non-disasters, both describing them and the drawbacks of the construct. To practitioners, the construct now offers more avenues for actions while illustrating their effectiveness in reducing vulnerabilities. Thus, this paper supports multiple, linked pathways towards more non-disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, scholars of academic dependency have tended to focus their discussions on social sciences while treating other fields as separate. They suggest that in order to escape dependency, alternative discourse and autonomy should be developed. In this paper, we examine the Public Health Liberation (PHL) movement in Taiwan and theorize on the marketization and medicalization of the healthcare system since the 1980s as a dependency syndrome. The PHL was initiated by a group of public health scholars—with the second author of this paper being one of its key protagonists—and frontline public health practitioners after the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003. Inspired by the mass mobilization model in public health in Asian and Latin American countries, particularly China, the Philippines, and Nicaragua, PHL trains grassroots public health educators, nurtures critical research, and has built a network of activists for radical public health reform in Taiwan. Based on participatory action research, this paper analyzes the emergence of this influential public health movement and situates it within the global context of neoliberal health reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The fiber morphology and extractive content of Aquilaria cumingiana (Decne.) Ridl. wood collected in Davao Oriental, Philippines were determined to gather pioneering information about the properties of A. cumingiana for better characterization and classification. Wood samples were classified according to color with the aid of a Nix Mini 1 Color Sensor and labeled as A, B, C, and D. The result of the study showed an increasing trend of color lightness percentage from samples A (32.74%) to D (74.96%). Morphologically, both samples C and D (1.03 mm) showed the longest fiber, sample A showed the largest fiber (35.41 µm) and lumen diameter (27.77 µm), and sample C showed the thickest cell wall (4.71 µm). On the other hand, the highest Runkel ratio, slenderness ratio, and flexibility ratio were shown in samples B (0.49), C (33.00), and A (78.13), respectively. The amount of extractives obtained in the study decreases from samples A to D regardless of the solvents used. Statistically, the color lightness, morphological properties, and extractive content were significant across sample classifications. Among solvents used, the extractive content showed a significant result. The color lightness and extractive content showed a negative relationship, which signifies that the color lightness may be used to evaluate the amount and quality of extractives in A. cumingiana wood. Based on the morphological properties, A. cumingiana fibers are found favorable in pulp and paper production. The classification and characterization of A. cumingiana wood properties along the infected portions of a tree and chemical profiling of the extracts would be relevant information to consider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Disasters is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The intensive utilization of tropical inland water bodies for multiple and sometimes competing activities underlines the necessity for their integrated and holistic co-management. This paper presents our synthesis on lake and reservoir fisheries in South and Southeast Asia as social–ecological systems, based on a synopsis of our research findings from a previous EU-funded research programme in Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines (FISHSTRAT project). The paper attempts to merge our results with recent developments in research, policy and practice. We explore the effects of the main external and internal control mechanisms of the trophic state and pinpoint to the high production potential of traditionally unexploited small indigenous fish species. The limitations of conventional centralized management systems highlight the importance of introducing transdisciplinary approaches which integrate limnology, fish ecology and fisheries with the interests of other resource using stakeholders and decision makers in order to develop locally appropriate co-management strategies for sustainable aquatic resource use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper narrates the life of auto mechanics which have been unnoticed for a long time as evidenced by the lack of literature that can be found. Using an Auto-Ethnobiography method of qualitative research, the author shows the life and experiences of auto mechanics in the Philippines, both in the casa and talyer set-up. By providing these experiences and life of the subjects, a glimpse of the hardships and difficulties can be seen with an integration of the experiences of the author, who is also part of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is to provide researchers with a comprehensive literature review while demonstrating how service quality (SQ) led to the development of viable research avenues for future analysis and research. In this study, the review protocol PRISMA approach and meta-literature review are used to analyse the relevant literature using the Scopus database from 1984 to 2023. This analysis takes into account top authors, top keywords by using Publish or Perish and page rank analysis by using Gephi software. Second, the VOS viewer is employed to engage in co-citation analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis aiding in uncovering the core literature and research within this area of study. Initially, analysis reveals that the number of publications follows a general upward trend. Top authors and SQ keywords were identified in the most-cited papers in the Scopus database. The United States, followed by India, Hong Kong, Jordan, and the Philippines, published most of these papers. This study critically analysed data characteristics, labels, measures objectives and key findings of SQ top-cited papers. In addition, this paper provides additional details regarding the evolution of the research topic's trends and offers insights into future research directions. Finally, this study additionally elaborated key results of 88 top-cited papers. The paper demonstrates that SQ is a topic when taken as a whole, is both relevant and emerging and it necessitates future research about the skills of business, management and accounting professionals, as well as their activities and how their customers perceive quality in an environment that is subject to continuous change. This is the first study to analyse and review relevant research on service quality using the review protocol PRISMA and meta-literature review. This is helpful for researchers since it allows them to easily grasp its development and trend. This evaluation indicates potential paths for future research and acts as a valuable reference for additional investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the migration pathways (MP) of individuals from a rural population in the Philippines. The succession of migrations undertaken by an individual and the role of previous migration(s) in subsequent migration have received relatively little attention in migration studies. The present paper fills this knowledge gap by identifying MP types and exploring links between migrations from a life course perspective. It develops a methodological framework based on sequence and graph analysis. Based on research conducted in Bohol (Philippines) using field data, the two methods are jointly used to reveal the diversity of MP. We focused on migrations done between the ages of 15 and 30. Typical MP were identified using hierarchical clustering. Socioeconomic data collected during surveys were used to characterise the types of MP (e.g., gender, education and age). Sequence analysis revealed six types of MP: some are common across the Philippines (e.g., the circular migration towards Mindanao until the 1970s), while others are specific to the area (e.g., permanent migration toward other places in Bohol). Graphs offer alternative representations of MP that allow to consider the shape of both individual and collective MP. The approach developed here is reproducible, easy to implement and contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of migration by looking at the migrants' histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Philippines is a source of labor for many countries. Roughly 10 million overseas Filipinos are working and living outside of the Philippines. This paper examines the association between sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, educational level, and income) and self-rated physical and mental health, access to healthcare, and health habits among immigrant Filipinos living in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Through convenience sampling, Filipino migrants (n = 103) aged 18 years and above participated in the online survey between October 2022 and March 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square. Almost all respondents self-rated their health as excellent and very good. Female respondents are more affected by mental health. Most are enrolled in the Universal Health System of Spain (public insurance). There is more utilization of private health insurance among respondents aged 60 years and above and high-wage earners. Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are associated with males. More than half of the respondents perform weekly exercise occasionally or never. These findings suggest a potential need for targeted interventions with an emphasis on the practice of preventive health and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, especially among financially disadvantaged migrants with lesser health access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient and reliable online assessments has become increasingly important in the digital era. We developed a 10-min online word reading assessment of global English based on the existing paper-and-pencil version of our English silent word reading test. The test includes two parts, namely, random word recognition and contextual word reading. A total of 889 participants (437 children and 392 adults; 62.7% female) took part in the study. They were from various regions including mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Poland, the United States, and the Philippines. Reliability and validity analyses on various demographics samples (by age and country/region of origin) demonstrated that the WordSword Test is highly reliable and valid (e.g., the correlation of this test with other English reading measures were above.80). Education level was positively correlated with test performance, while the correlations between age and test performance were not consistent. Ninety-seven children participants also took the paper-and-pencil version of the WordSword Test. The correlation between performances on the online and paper-and-pencil versions of the test was.879, one year apart. With more children and adults taking the WordSword Test, we ultimately hope to establish norms by area, grade level, and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the advent of the pandemic, online learning was fully introduced into the Philippine educational setup. One of the emerging challenges that online teachers face is fostering student engagement in virtual classrooms. Thus, this paper aimed to examine the predictors of student engagement in online learning. The mediating role of self-regulation in the relationship between instructor scaffolding for interaction and student engagement in online learning was explored. The data from a total of 1217 undergraduate students who were enrolled during the research in a public or private university in Pampanga were analyzed. The correlation among variables was also examined. Mediation analysis using Process Macro was performed. The results revealed that instructor scaffolding for interaction and self-regulation predicted student engagement in online learning. Self-regulation served as a partial mediator. With these findings, developmental programs to promote scaffolding for interaction strategies and self-regulatory behaviors in online learning were proposed to foster student engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper stresses the significance of giving a proper place to philosophical learning in the education curriculum. Specifically, this analyzes and evaluates the planning and execution of The Teaching Profession (TP), a professional course being offered to pre-service teachers that highlights historical, legal, and philosophical aspects of teacher preparation in the context of national standards in the Philippine educational system. Consequently, I stress the importance of improving TP's philosophical content and its delivery so educators are properly exposed to theories that should be used for action research in education. In that way, teachers shall be prompted to shape and build minds by transmitting the philosophical skills of critical, creative, and reflective thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a three-year profile of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas, the Philippines, from 23 Mar 2020-31 Mar 2023 -- with descriptive data on temporal trends, geographical variations, demographic factors, clinical characteristics, transmission patterns, and outcomes for vaccinated and unvaccinated cases. We analyzed data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Department of Health--Eastern Visayas Center for Health and Development to identify associations between COVID-19 severity and mortality and demographic and clinical factors. Moreover, we examined significant differences across gender cohorts and between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. During the three-year period, Eastern Visayas recorded 64,740 confirmed cases, with 98.93% recovery and 1.07% mortality. Most cases (61.72%) occurred in 2021 -- with Tacloban, Ormoc, and Leyte having the highest attack rates per 100,000 population. Infections were asymptomatic (70.40%) or mild (21.83%), and 82.7% of deaths were linked to severe infections. Females accounted for 52.6% of the patients, with a lower mortality rate (44.5%) than males (55.5%). The 20-29 age group had the highest count (22.57%), whereas the 70-79 age group recorded the highest number of deaths (25.94%). The vast majority (93.6%) had no comorbidities. Comorbidities reported among deaths included kidney disease (11.3%), heart disease (7.6%), and hypertension (3.9%). Notably, no significant differences in recoveries and deaths were found between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups (p-value = 0.304). Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age group, place of residence, comorbidity, and vaccination status were significantly associated with disease severity and mortality. Eastern Visayas demonstrated a relatively low COVID-19 caseload (1.59%) within the cumulative Philippine count. This is the most extensive COVID-19 case profile in the Philippines to date, hence providing essential data for pandemic preparedness, enhanced response strategies, and regional health crisis resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize has been identified as an excellent alternative to rice as a staple food in the Philippines. The Asian corn borer (ACB; Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée), one of the most destructive insect pests of maize, damages plants throughout their vegetative and reproductive stages. Most open-pollinated varieties are threatened by pests and diseases. The CGUARD program investigated the potential of traditional Philippine maize as a source of resistance to major insect pests, including ACB. This paper evaluated the response of the selected 149 Philippine traditional maize accessions to ACB at vegetative and reproductive stages through laboratory bioefficacy procedures for potential resistance without the presence of Bt leaf and stalk-feeding resistance were determined through mean larval survival and mean tunnel length, respectively, after 5 d using laboratory-reared second-instar larvae. Improvements in screening procedures for laboratory assays are detailed in this report. Fourteen (14) accessions were identified to have promising leaf-feeding resistance, whereas 30 accessions were identified for stalk-feeding resistance. The resistance of APN 0088, a white glutinous type of maize from Palawan, to both leaf and stalk feeding of ACB was also validated. The results demonstrate the presence of natural resistance to ACB in traditional maize that has been exposed to the threat of the pest for decades. These promising accessions may be utilized to generate ACB-resistant or-tolerant maize, in addition to other breeding programs. Several pigmented varieties with ACB resistance were also identified, which may be further examined for their nutritional properties and potential as functional foods. By utilizing our traditional varieties, we are boosting local maize production that will benefit small-scale farmers and ultimately providing them with a high-performing variety that is crucial in this time of changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies educational inequality in the Philippines from 1950 to 2015, examining changes in the association between social origin and educational attainment against a backdrop of educational expansions and fluctuating economic conditions. Using data from the World Bank STEP Skills Survey, the study employs a sequential logit model to illustrate trends in secondary and college completion, followed by a multinomial logit model to look into differences in college destinations (type and status) between advantaged and disadvantaged students. The findings indicate that despite sustained expansions in the past six decades, disparities in secondary and tertiary completion deepened in relation to social background. The paper also finds that although expansions occurred mainly in public higher education institutions, it did little to alter the trends in college destinations, with advantaged students still more likely to complete in "high-status" universities than disadvantaged ones. Finally, the paper sheds light on how economic recessions have varying consequences on educational attainment, routing disadvantaged students out of college in the short term, while resulting in significant declines in the likelihood of completing higher education for advantaged students enrolled in "high-status" public entities in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, rural conditions are in states of change. They are often highly vulnerable to climate and environmental change, extreme weather events, conflict, socio-economic changes, inequalities, and demographic changes. These changes are putting stress on rural areas, which rely upon agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods and are often the foundation of national economies. Communication for development (C4D) has played an important role in addressing these challenges. Its thinking is broadly consistent with rural development goals—indeed, the roots of C4D come in part from rural development and agricultural extension. Communication for development (C4D) was defined by the World Congress on Communication for Development as "...a social process based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods. It also seeks change at different levels, including listening, building trust, sharing knowledge and skills, building policies, debating, and learning for sustained and meaningful change. It is not public relations or corporate communications". However, after decades of action to address these interrelated rural development challenges, much remains to be done. This paper critically considers the following: What does inclusive rural development mean now, in light of environmental change, and how does this affect the conceptualisation and practice of C4D? This was done by using three countries as case studies: Malawi, Ukraine, and the Philippines. Each of these countries represented contrasting challenges and opportunities for rural development and environmental change, with lessons from their experiences shedding insight into the communication for development thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the case of famous Filipino gay amateur pornographers on Twitter (now X) within the so-called 'alter community', a collective of anonymous Filipino Twitter/X users who produce and consume amateur pornography. Facing homophobia in their everyday lives, queer men seek intimacy, friendship, and self-expression in social media, even through extreme means such as producing pornography with which they are catapulted to fame. Using ethnographic and interview data gathered since 2019, this paper explores the motivations Filipino gay pornographers have for producing pornography and their experiences of dealing with fame and celebrity. It considers the experiences of celebrity among minorities whose issues never received adequate public attention. What does celebrity mean to sexual minorities where patriarchal and heteronormative structures are deeply entrenched? How do they manage their celebrity status within 'networked sexual publics' which competes against the gendered roles they assume outside the internet? While gay pornographers' celebrity capital is contingent on the search for genuine acceptance and authentic self-expression, this article frames authenticity as faithfulness to hetero-patriarchal sexual scripts and pornoscripts. Authenticity emerges from the convergence of platform affordances, individual desires, and fan demands, and it gets complicated in the context of queer porn microcelebrities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delivery of genetic services in developing countries is faced with significant challenges, despite medical and technological advances globally. The Philippines, being an archipelago, faces even more challenges, with significant disparities in access to healthcare, and tertiary medical centers and specialists being concentrated in the major cities. The utilization of different networks for the integration of genetic services in the existing public health delivery system has been valuable. Using the well-established network of the national newborn screening program, genetic services have been successfully integrated into the delivery of healthcare, even at the grassroot level. Equitable access to healthcare, including genetic services, was highlighted and supported by the enactment of the Rare Disease Law in 2016. The support of the academe to assure the sustainability of services was evident in the establishment of a genetic counseling program to augment the work of a handful of clinical geneticists. Professional societies and support groups have been instrumental in identifying genetic conditions to be prioritized and lobbying for increased public awareness, leading to national programs and policies. This paper primarily discusses the value of networks in the delivery of genetic services, specifically newborn screening, programs for rare diseases, birth defects, and genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bukidnon, situated in the Philippines, boasts rich biodiversity owing to its diverse ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and agricultural lands. However, rapid urbanization, agricultural expansion, deforestation, land selling and conversion and mining activities have significantly impacted its biodiversity. This paper examines the current status of biodiversity in Bukidnon, identifies key conservation challenges, and proposes strategies for sustainable development that prioritize biodiversity conservation. Drawing upon existing literature and case studies, this research underscores the importance of integrating conservation efforts with socioeconomic development initiatives to achieve long-term sustainability in Bukidnon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the extraterritorial processes of migration governance has developed a strong focus on immigration states’ externalisation management and the diaspora strategies of emigration states. In labour migration, the scholarship on migrant-sending states has largely focused on the systematic processes of recruitment and employment of migrant workers; in contrast, the question of how migrant workers are extraterritorially governed in return has received less attention, despite its importance for understanding migration governance beyond sending country jurisdiction. This paper contributes to this area of research by investigating how migrant workers are repatriated from host countries during disruptions. Using assemblage thinking as analytical lens, I consider repatriation as an extraterritorial, emergent process, shaped by the relations among state and non-state actors, material and technological resources, and the role of street-level actors. Focusing on the case of the Philippines, I draw from over 30 key informant interviews with repatriation actors to examine how the exit stage of the repatriation process is constructed, mobilised and negotiated for Filipino migrant workers, in ways that reveal the possibilities and challenges of migrant protection in host countries. The paper shows how assemblage and street level analysis can illuminate the different ways migration processes emerge amid disturbances in extraterritorial space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the lived experiences of former gang members in Cebu City. Specifically, it determined the following: experiences of the informants as former gang members, including the reasons why they join, stay and leave the group and the impact of gang membership of the informants as former gang members. This study employed a qualitative method of research employing a phenomenological approach that involves qualitative analysis and assessment of themes derived from semistructured interviews and follow up questions has been made and with an aid with interview guide, observation and exploring the lived experiences of former gang members. The study was conducted in highly urbanized cities, namely Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City and Talisay City. A purposive convenient sampling was employed to select the informants. There were fourteen (14) informants in the study. Fifteen (6) emergent themes were created. For the experiences of former gang members on reasons why they join the gang, three themes emerged, namely: Personal Safety, Peer pressure, and lastly, Broken Homes. For the reasons why they stay in the gang, two themes emerged, namely: Give and Earn Money, The Thug Lifestyle, and More Fun and Happiness. For the reasons why they leave the group, three themes emerged, namely: Family and Job Responsibilities, Realization to Have a Happy and Peaceful life; and In-group Rivalry. Regarding the impact of gang membership and the positive experiences of the informants as former gang members, three themes emerged: A sense of Belongingness, Develop Respect and Trust, and School Achiever. Regarding the negative experiences, three themes emerged: Gang War and Violence, Crime Involvement, and Incarceration. The community must create and sustain a collaborative process for working toward a community free of gang membership and violence. This includes providing a clearinghouse for information on resources, strategies, services, best practices, and funding to prevent, intervene and suppress gang violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to help higher education institutions (HEIs) develop a better understanding of student support and services needs, thereby enabling them to allocate limited resources for initiatives that effectively improve student experience. Design/methodology/approach: An assessment framework following the Kano analysis is developed to categorize student service features based on customer satisfaction and need fulfillment. The framework is used at a local university, using 23 service features listed as minimum requirements by the national regulatory body for education. Analysis of the satisfaction survey results and prioritization are based on quality indices derived from a factor of importance and the satisfaction gap. A survey was conducted for two academic years to generate a comparison of results. Findings: Of the list mandated as minimum requirements for HEIs, the study revealed that no features were regarded as "must-be," eight as performing, 14 as attractive and one as indifferent by the students. As these results were disaggregated per year level, the natural decay of delight as in the Kano theory was exhibited as there were less attractive features for students who have been in the university longest. After a full-year academic cycle, results compared to the baseline figures seemed to reveal of impact of the achievement of performance targets by the units rendering specific activities on client satisfaction. Research limitations/implications: Further rounds of the study are needed to build up more data sets on the relationship between objective performance and satisfaction level for performing features, mindful that this categorization is also bound to change along the way. Practical implications: As HEIs in the Philippines journey towards the establishment of their own respective internal quality assurance systems, this study provides a practical approach for institutions to transform a mere list of student services for compliance into a strategic tool to enhance the student experience. Originality/value: In the context of continuous quality improvement, the study presents how the qualitative Kano model, along with simple quantitative tools in the methodology, can be utilized not only in the planning stage of service design but also in closing the planning, doing, checking and acting (PDCA) cycle and opening the quality improvement spiral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Research on public health, crime, and policing regularly discusses sex workers in Southeast Asia but rarely recognises them as agents of social and political activism. This paper shows that sex workers and their allies in Singapore and the Philippines have long and rich histories of challenging their criminalisation and stigmatisation through cultural activism, political advocacy, consciousness-raising, and the provision of direct services to fellow sex workers. Using feminist ethnography, including interviews and participant observation with Project X in Singapore and the Philippine Sex Workers Collective, this paper explores how sex work activists have strategically adapted to their political environments. In Singapore, they maintain resistance through 'shape-shifting,' working within state-sanctioned mechanisms, positioning themselves as public health service providers, and creating spaces for radical political advocacy. In the Philippines, where an anti-sex work position is more deeply entrenched within dominant social blocs, sex work activists aggressively criticise state policies on social media and in carefully vetted forums but remain strategically invisible to avoid exposure, harassment, misrepresentation, and prosecution. This paper looks at how sex work activists engage in claims-making — underscoring the differences in the political resonance of human rights in both countries — and interrogates how sex work activism challenges social hierarchies, especially concerning migrants and trans individuals. Overall, it contributes to a richer understanding of non-traditional forms of political activism in Southeast Asia and makes visible sex workers' contributions to feminism and labour movements in the global south and non-Western contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove clam is the most sought-after bivalve in the Philippines due to its taste, size, and nutrition. Due to its economic importance, this paper aims to determine the population dynamics of mangrove clam P. philippiana harvested in gleaning sites in the Davao region using the FAO ICLARM Stock Assessment Tool (FISAT II). A total of 2493 clams collected from December 2018-December 2020 with sizes ranging from 14-84 mm SL and 2.2-178.6 g were classified according to size classes with 5 mm intervals. The length-weight relationship was computed and showed negative allometry (a = 0.002, b = 2.6205, R² = 0.89). The estimated growth parameters using ELEFAN I was L∞ = 98.64 mm, K = 1.33 year-1, t0 = -1.07. Length converted catch curve routine estimated Z = 10.27year-1, M = 1.52 year-1, F = 8.75 year-1, E = 0.85, and backward extrapolation generated Lc50 = 34.83 mm SL which is below Lm = 65.76 mm SL. Recruitment patterns were highest during July and August 2020, and VPA showed a high F at 60 mm SL. Beverton and Holt Y/R analysis showed E0.5 = 0.328 and Emax = 0.551, yield isopleths derived from plotted Lc50/L∞ = 0.353 and E = 0.85 values were within quadrant D. The result revealed that Lm>Lc50 implies that mangrove clams gleaned in the area were small and immature. Moreover, F>Fopt and E>Emax and E>E0.5 suggest that mangrove clam fishery in the region was heavily exploited. The study concluded that the mangrove clam Pegophysema philippiana was overexploited and that a management strategy was needed in the Davao Region, Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deictic pronouns refer directly to the extralinguistic world (as in Stop her!), while anaphoric pronouns refer to elements introduced in discourse (as in My best friend is Mary. John adores her.). The distinction is central to linguistic theory and may be central also for understanding aphasia. This paper compares the production of deictic and anaphoric pronouns in fluent aphasia and non-fluent aphasia. It does so both for English and for Tagalog, which allows extensive omission of pronominal arguments. For both languages, the results show a dissociation between deictic and anaphoric pronouns. Non-fluent aphasic speech displays a lower proportion of anaphoric pronouns to non-pronouns than non-brain-damaged speech, while the proportion of deictic pronouns to non-pronouns is either not different (Tagalog) or higher (English). In contrast, fluent aphasic speech displays a higher proportion of deictic pronouns to non-pronouns, while the proportion of anaphoric pronouns is either not different (Tagalog) or lower (English). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every individual's language rights are just as important and, often, even equate to healthcare rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this crisis, essential and lifesaving information and updates about local and international efforts to respond to and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic have to be made available using language(s) accessible and understandable to as many groups of people as possible. Using the lens of language justice, this paper analysed 238 official - information materials on COVID-19 from social media pages of the Department of Health (DOH) regional offices in hopes of unpacking the injustice that those who speak minor languages in multilingual Philippines experience. The hegemonic presence of major languages in the materials was observed as a majority of the information materials were published in Tagalog and English, whereas the Mother Tongues were unequally represented. The researchers argue that more Filipinos are at risk of contracting the virus, as the languages in which lifesaving information are presented are limited and unequal. Autonomy and decentralisation of local government offices and representation of speakers of the minority languages in the production and publication of materials will be an inclusive, sustainable, and participatory community approach to COVID-19 as a language rights emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]