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Competence in research is an attractive feature that should be established for all practitioners because specialists with training and expertise in research will recognize strategic thinking, interpretation, and synthesizing more easily. Hence, this study aimed to describe the knowledge competency among junior high school mathematics teachers on the research processes applied on the contents of the various sections of a quantitative research paper. The descriptive method of research has been used to characterize the knowledge competence of 108 junior high school teachers on the research processes. The study used the research skill test, which was a researcher-made instrument, consisting of 50 multiple choice items with four choices each. The instrument went through the process of validity and reliability analysis obtaining a good result of 0.81. This study revealed that they were "novice" or had achieved the learning level of competency on the research processes applied on the contents of the different parts of a quantitative research paper. More so, they identified that interpretation of statistical results was a challenging part of doing a research paper.

Purpose: There are major gaps in our knowledge of hereditary ocular conditions in the Asia-Pacific population, which comprises approximately 60% of the world's population. Therefore, a concerted regional effort is urgently needed to close this critical knowledge gap and apply precision medicine technology to improve the quality of lives of these patients in the Asia-Pacific region., Design: Multi-national, multi-center collaborative network., Methods: The Research Standing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and the Asia-Pacific Society of Eye Genetics fostered this research collaboration, which brings together renowned institutions and experts for inherited eye diseases in the Asia-Pacific region. The immediate priority of the network will be inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), where there is a lack of detailed characterization of these conditions and in the number of established registries., Results: The network comprises 55 members from 35 centers, spanning 12 countries and regions, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The steering committee comprises ophthalmologists with experience in consortia for eye diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, leading ophthalmologists and vision scientists in the field of IRDs internationally, and ophthalmic geneticists., Conclusions: The Asia Pacific Inherited Eye Disease (APIED) network aims to (1) improve genotyping capabilities and expertise to increase early and accurate genetic diagnosis of IRDs, (2) harmonise deep phenotyping practices and utilization of ontological terms, and (3) establish high-quality, multi-user, federated disease registries that will facilitate patient care, genetic counseling, and research of IRDs regionally and internationally., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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.)

With the increasing demand for quality research to cope up with the industry trends, understanding the need among researchers should primarily be established to further improve capacity and practices over the production of theoretical knowledge. Essential to support is the notion of exploring issues then stimulate the concern. This study established the concern on research capabilities among Graduate School student-respondents at President Ramon Magsaysay State University conducted during the First Semester School Year 2018-2019. The study made used of descriptive research design with survey questionnaire as the main research instrument. The data was processed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study concludes that respondents perceived their capabilities in writing research proposal and publishable research paper both as "Moderately Capable". The respondents perceived the availability of facilities, time, training, funding, other resources and support from agency in doing research as "Moderately Available". The analysis of variance test revealed that there is significant difference on the research capabilities of respondents in writing research proposal when grouped according to position and highest educational attainment; significant in writing publishable research paper when grouped according to sex, position and research seminars/trainings attended; significant in the availability of facilities, time, training, funding, other resources and support from agency in doing research when grouped according to sex, position and research seminars/trainings attended.

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]

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]

Background and Objective: High-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are needed to guide practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders to provide optimal health care. This study aims to appraise the CPGs developed in the Philippines using the AGREE II instrument., Methods: Ninety-one CPGs were appraised independently by two health-care professionals. CPGs were considered acceptable if they garnered an overall mean score of at least 75.0% for all 6 domains and a domain score of at least 75.0% for rigor of development. A mean score of <75.0% on either of the criteria implied that the CPG needed revision., Results: Overall mean scores of the CPGs ranged from 8.4% to 79.2%, with a mean of 43.9% (standard deviation = 13.4%). In general, CPGs scored better for the domains of clarity of presentation, scope and purpose, and stakeholder involvement. Lowest scores were obtained for the domains of rigor of development, applicability, and editorial independence. Only 1 (1.1%) CPG qualified as acceptable., Conclusion: AGREE II is a practical and useful guide in appraising the quality of CPGs. Strengthening technical capacity in various medical fields is essential to improve the quality of CPGs. Rigor of development, applicability issues, and editorial independence should be emphasized in CPG capacity-building activities., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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 present study investigated the dominant verb-phrase structure and the semantic functions of the modal "must" in research papers. It also determined whether the modal "must" conforms to or deviates from the standard modal usage in American English. A total of 122 graduate research papers were analyzed. The findings revealed that the dominant-verb phrase structure of the modal "must" was must + base form of the verb and Filipino graduate student researchers most favor the obligation/compulsion/advisability function of the modal must. Moreover, the results of the present study substantiated Morales' (2015) linguistic assumption that the obligation function of the modal must has a continuous usage in Philippine English and further confirmed the findings of Gustillo (2011) that the modal "must" in Philippine English maintains its conformity to the standard modal usage in American English.

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 examines how internationalisation of higher education institutions is reflected through their mission and vision statements by comparatively analysing the mission and vision statements of selected universities in Malaysia and the Philippines. To carry out the study, twenty (20) mission and vision statements of public and private universities in Malaysia and the Philippines were collected and analysed, underlined by the importance of textual agency in policy orientations. The framework used in analysing the mission and vision statements includes the analysis of textual practice and discourse practice. The micro-level analysis of the discourse focused on the textual practice, such as vocabulary, grammar, and text structure. Moreover, the genre and style of text were also analysed. The findings of the study reveal that the mission and vision statements of universities in Malaysia and the Philippines align with respective country policies, and have something in common as far as the concept of internationalisation in higher education is concerned. It is also evident that universities in both countries emphasise the importance of producing global and competent graduates, and obtaining international recognition and world-class education.

The COVID-19 pandemic calls for educators to deliver learning experiences that are relevant in order to empower students to adapt to these unprecedented times. Science, Technology and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary social science course included in the undergraduate general education curriculum in the Philippines that can potentially be designed to help students make sense of the coronavirus crisis. This study aims to describe the insights on the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate students enrolled in STS classes through the textual analysis of their reflection papers. A total of 74 reflection papers were qualitatively textually analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the data: (1) appreciation of the science and medical community; (2) sensitivity to the barriers of scientific progress during the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) gaining social consciousness about the impacts of the pandemic, and; (4) enrichment of critical thinking and social engagement. Educators are encouraged to incorporate STS approaches in their lessons to foster students' critical understanding of current socio-scientific issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical and mechanical properties of branch wood from falcata [Falcataria molucanna (Miq.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes] grown in Caraga Region, Philippines were determined to assess suitability for end-uses such as core veneer and as material for light construction and handles and boxes as the stem wood. Tests done to compare the properties with the stem wood showed significant differences in relative density (average values of 0.284 for the stem wood and 0.255 for the branch wood) and shrinkage properties in all directions. Axial position significantly influenced variation in moisture content (p = 0.0024) for stem and branch wood, as well as relative density (p = < 0.0001) plus percent tangential (p = < 0.0001) and radial (p = 0.0014) shrinkage. For the mechanical properties, the stem wood end hardness was significantly higher by 28.8% at green condition (p = 0.0003) and by 13.36% at 12% MC (p = 0.0133) than the branch wood. The compression perpendicular to the grain at 12% MC of the stem wood was also higher by 16.10% (p = 0.0166). However, for the other mechanical properties studied, the differences were not significant. The bottom portion of the stem and branch wood exhibited the highest mechanical properties, which can be attributed to the higher relative density at this portion (p = 0.0001). Based on the results that showed insignificant differences in most of the properties between the wood types of F. moluccana, the branch wood can possibly be used for similar applications as the stem wood such as for light construction, non-structural veneer, and plywood; for tool handles, boxes, and other household items; and for pulp and paper. The utilization of the branch wood of F. moluccana, therefore, can augment the raw materials supply for the local wood industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anatomical properties -- namely, fiber length, fiber diameter, lumen diameter, cell wall thickness, vessel length, and width -- of young (3-, 5-, and 7-yr-old) Falcataria molucanna (Miq.) Barneby & J. W. Grimes from Caraga Region, Philippines were evaluated to determine the variations among ages between and among trees, tree height, and their derived values as well, henceforth as a basis in recommending the potential of the species for various end-uses. Three trees per age of known seed origin were collected and used as materials. FPRDI standard procedures for determining anatomical properties were followed. Data were analyzed using three-factorial in complete randomized design (CRD) and Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test was used to determine significant differences among treatment means. Except for cell wall thickness, the variations in anatomical properties among age and tree were highly significant but not significant among height levels. Fiber diameter and lumen diameter increased as the trees aged. The cell wall was very thin with mean values of 0.0033 mm (3-yr-old), 0.0032 mm (5-yr-old), and 0.0031 mm (7-yr-old). Vessel length and width decreased from 3- to 5-yr-old and increased at 7-yr-old. Fiber length's mean values increased from near pith (NP), middle (M), to near bark (NB) at all three ages and height levels except in the 3-yr middle (1.1665, 1.2032, and 1.1541 mm) and 7-yr butt (1.1541, 1.2326, and 1.2009 mm). Other anatomical properties at three ages showed no consistent trend of variations from NP to NB. The potential uses of younger falcata based on their anatomical properties were for pulp and paper, veneer, and light construction applications where strength and durability are not important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting in the 1960s, traffic congestion became a staple part of Manila's history. Rapid urbanization, century-old thoroughfares, and large-scale migrations to Manila are just some of the reasons for the worsening traffic conditions. During the Marcos Era, the academe, practitioners, government agencies, and various organizations produced plans, position papers, and transport documents that sought to understand, assess, and perhaps provide possible solutions. Using data available in the libraries of University of the Philippines Diliman, this research note seeks to provide an initial survey and preliminary review of transport materials that documented and proposed solutions to the traffic congestion in the city of Manila from the 1960s until the 1980s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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]

The paper focuses on work undertaken in Cambodia to develop a monitoring framework that integrates Multi-lingual Education (MLE) with Child Friendly School (CFS) indicators. I begin by comparing CFS dimensions and indicators in Cambodia with those of the Philippines, and Nepal, and aligning MLE principles, arguments and foci with the CFS framework. I argue that an evidence-referenced system, such as the use of a rubric, is a model for giving meaning to achievement by linking it to evidence of growth or progress and measurement along a developmental continuum. Rather than just monitoring against a summative checklist, an evidence-based system describes the evidence so that progress can be benchmarked, and programs can be improved. Based on analysis of this research, I suggest an approach that could be used to reflect MLE indicators within the CFS framework, using an evidence-based rubric to monitor progress along a developmental continuum. [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]

19 FSW to parents, April 30, 1899, May 27, 1899, FSW Papers; Gerald F. Linderman, I The Mirror of War: American Society and the Spanish-American War i (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1974), 67-90; Linn, I Philippine War i , 89-90, 123-26. 20 FSW to parents, May 27, 1899, FSW Papers; FSW, Angeles, to parents, October 22, 1899, FSW Papers; Report of the Lieutenant General, H. Doc. 56-2-2, pt. 6, p. 133; Coffman, I The Regulars i , 50-52; Karsten, "Armed Progressives", 266. 68 Colonel William H. Bisbee, Thirteenth Infantry, Binolanan, to Adjutant General, Washington, DC, April 23, 1900, USRAMU, LS (June 16, 1899 to April 23, 1900), RG 391, NAB; FSW to parents, July 8, 1900, FSW Papers; FSW to GHW, September 21, 1900, January 23, 1901, FSW Papers; McAlexander, I History of the Thirteenth Regiment i , 130. 49 FSW to GHW, January 9, 1900, FSW Papers; FSW to parents, July 8, 1900, FSW Papers; FSW to GHW, May 7, 1900, FSW Papers. 23 Report of the Lieutenant General Commanding the Army, 56th Cong., 2d sess., H. Doc. 2, pt. 4, pp. 571-72. 24 FSW, Angeles, to parents, August 28, 1899, FSW Papers; Report of the Lieutenant General, H. Doc., 56-2-2, pt. 4, pp. 571-74; Jamieson, I Crossing the Deadly Ground i , 105, 112, 135-37, 144-48. 25 FSW to parents, August 28, 1899, October 22, 1899, FSW Papers; FSW, Paniqui, to parents, November 30, 1899, FSW Papers; Report of the Lieutenant General, H. Doc., 56-2-2, pt. 6, p. 221. 74 FSW, Dagupan, to GHW, June 1, 13, 17, 1901, FSW Papers; E. Finley Johnson, Judge, Third Judicial District, Philippines, to FSW, January 4, 1902, FSW Papers; FSW to Johnson, January 8, 1902, FSW Papers; Jerome C. Knowlton, "Elias Finley Johnson", I Mich. Alumnus i 7 (1901): 236-38, https://repository.law.umich.edu/articles/6. [Extracted from the article]

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]

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]

This paper aims to explore the impacts of industries and climate change on communities in the Philippines. This will be done through a review of relevant social and environmental literature and then the application of this to the current political, environmental, and economic state of the Philippines. The economy of the Philippines is unique, while a significant proportion is still from agriculture, mining, and other primary industries, the Philippines also has a significant proportion of income from a rapidly growing services sector, including tourism, business process outsourcing, and overseas Filipino workers. The article will discuss the expected impacts of climate change on the low-lying collection of islands, and the subsequent consequences this will have on Filipino industry. Further consideration will be given to the anticipated impacts climate change will have on public health, and how theoretically this could interact with the economy to play out for communities in the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a visual analysis on photographs that were gathered from the main and secondary pages of the websites of the Philippines' top four higher educational institutions (HEIs), namely University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU), and University of Santo Tomas (UST). Specifically, this paper used denotative reading, analysis of visual grammar, and connotative reading on the photographs to ascertain how each of these four Philippine HEIs represented their self-images in contradistinction with each other in terms of their teaching, research, extension, internationalization, campus and facilities, and student life, as well as their overall positioning. This paper was able to establish that UPD has strongest self-representation in teaching, and campus and facilities; ADMU in campus and facilities, and teaching; DLSU in teaching and student life; and UST in student life, and campus and facilities. This paper was also able to establish that UPD has the weakest self-representation in extension and internationalization; ADMU in research and extension; DLSU in extension and internationalization; and UST in research and internationalization. This paper is significant as it is the first publication that analyzes the websites of Philippine HEIs and even of Philippine corporations, while contributing to meager international literature on websites of HEIs and corporations. By looking at individual and collective self-representations of the top Philippine HEIs, this paper aims to gather insights on the status of Philippine higher education including the challenges it faces. [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 paper aims to assess the legal and regulatory framework for mobile banking (M-banking) in Tanzania. The technological development in information and communication technologies has converted a mobile phone from a simple communication device to a very complex instrument that allows people to perform various digital transactions and extra operations such as web browsing and email reading. Such tremendous developments have brought in place the regime of M-banking. The birth of M-banking has brought legal and institutional challenges that were not anticipated before. It has complicated the traditional role of the telecommunication regulator and financial regulator in the business and caused legal gaps that need to be bridged. Design/methodology/approach: To disclose the legal gaps and bridge them, the study used doctrinal legal method and comparative study to learn the experience of international legal instruments and policies and laws of other jurisdictions. This paper has evaluated the contribution of international legal instruments and legal frameworks of foreign jurisdictions such as Kenya and the Philippines. Findings: It has been revealed that the prevailing laws regulating M-banking in Tanzania do not adequately address and bridge the existing legal gaps. There is a need to enact a specific law regulating M-banking and confer such powers to a specific institution to deal with regulatory issues. Originality/value: This paper stresses the importance of enacting new laws that will offer room for financial inclusion in the digital economy and protect consumers against financial risk. It also intends to act as a catalyst and change agent in policy and legislative development in the M-banking industry. It would also bring special attention to addressing consumer rights, security and risky issues surrounding the M-banking industry. Although several other authors in Tanzania have written in this area, they have not clearly focused on disclosing the existing legal gaps resulting from the convergence of the financial and communication sectors. This paper is therefore trying to offer an extensive discussion on the legislative development in the M-banking industry in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide a pastoral response to the increase in the number of suicides in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper will look into the reasons and statistics related to suicide since there was a sudden spike in number during the pandemic. The See–Discern–Act method is used in this study so that the current social issue will be viewed from the teachings of the Church. First, we will discuss the reports on the cases of mental health issues. This issue has alarmed several professionals that focus on protecting one's mental health. Second, we will discuss key concepts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to present the view on suicide. Also, John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae will be cited to provide a perspective on the value of human life. The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church will also be tackled to explain the Church's view on mental health and well-being. Third, we will attempt to unearth the mental well-being of some Filipinos concerning suicide cases in the Philippines in light of the Church's teachings. Hence, our goal is to provide a perspective on this problem using the teachings of the Church on human life so that we may draw a proposed pastoral theological response. Hence, we propose that the Church must provide plans for prevention, intervention, and postvention when it comes to people involved in any suicide case as these actions are aligned with the goal of the Church to take care of those who suffer from mental illness and emphasize the value of human life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is increasing interest in using verbal autopsy to produce nationally representative populationlevel estimates of causes of death. However, the burden of processing a large quantity of surveys collected with paper and pencil has been a barrier to scaling up verbal autopsy surveillance. Direct electronic data capture has been used in other large-scale surveys and can be used in verbal autopsy as well, to reduce time and cost of going from collected data to actionable information. Methods: We collected verbal autopsy interviews using paper and pencil and using electronic tablets at two sites, and measured the cost and time required to process the surveys for analysis. From these cost and time data, we extrapolated costs associated with conducting large-scale surveillance with verbal autopsy. Results: We found that the median time between data collection and data entry for surveys collected on paper and pencil was approximately 3 months. For surveys collected on electronic tablets, this was less than 2 days. For small-scale surveys, we found that the upfront costs of purchasing electronic tablets was the primary cost and resulted in a higher total cost. For large-scale surveys, the costs associated with data entry exceeded the cost of the tablets, so electronic data capture provides both a quicker and cheaper method of data collection. Conclusions: As countries increase verbal autopsy surveillance, it is important to consider the best way to design sustainable systems for data collection. Electronic data capture has the potential to greatly reduce the time and costs associated with data collection. For long-term, large-scale surveillance required by national vital statistical systems, electronic data capture reduces costs and allows data to be available sooner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is one of the major functions in a university that should be nurtured and fostered in order to advance quality education. The capability of an instructor to conduct research is expedient in addressing the pressing issues in the society starting with the classroom. This study assessed the research capability of faculty members at Cebu Technological University (CTU) - Moalboal Campus anchoring Bandura's Self Efficacy Theory. The works of literature dictate that there's no study about research capability of college instructors initiated in Visayas, Philippines where Cebu is one of the provinces. This prompted the researchers to elicit pertinent information about the demographic profile of the instructors and their research capability (2.89) through a validated researcher-made instrument. All faculty members (69) participated the study. Utilizing descriptive-correlation research design, the researchers established significant relationship of the dependent and independent variables through Pearson-correlation coefficient. The results derived that age (0.13), gender (0.56), and number of papers completed but were not published (0.59) were not significant at 0.05 significant level. Number of years in service (0.04), number of years in conducting research (0.00), number of papers published (0.00), and number of local and international conferences attended (0.02) were significant. The findings of the study ensued a creation of research management plan that provides mechanisms on how to address the concerns and challenges of respondents in conducting research. In this way, college instructors are assisted and guided in completing and publishing their research article, thus, improving the research culture of the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]