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There has been an increasingly dominant presence of Filipino ESL/EFL lecturers in Thai higher education; yet, few studies explore the intercultural communicative practices between these Filipino lecturers and pre-service teachers in science teacher education. This study examined Thai pre-service science teachers' perceptions of their Filipino lecturers. The theoretical framework of this study consists of intercultural communicative competence (ICC), tensions between native and non-native English speakers (NES-NNES), and Thai students' perceptions of English and its varieties. Using a qualitative research paradigm, this study employed focus-group interviews with 15 pre-service teachers from biology, math, and general science majors at a Rajabhat University in Thailand. The findings suggest three key issues: 1) Filipino lecturers' teaching styles and methods, 2) classroom communication, and 3) their English accent. The implications of this study promote not only the integration of cross-cultural exchanges and translanguaging practices into classroom interactions between NES/NNES lecturers and Thai learners but also awareness of World Englishes and Global Englishes to envisage multicultural/lingual realities in social and professional contexts. This study sheds new light on the pragmatic benefits of enhancing Thai learners' intercultural communicative competence as part of ESL/EFL pedagogy in Thai higher education.

Physical education (PE) develops students' motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for active living. As such, individuals need to participate in various physical activities (PA) which contribute to a healthy lifestyle. But many PE programs fail to bring the actual value of a lifetime PA and fitness. Therefore, there should be extended scientific research that promotes participation level as a health intervention that will promote health and wellness. Through this, an exploratory-sequential mixed method inquiry was utilized to gather insights of senior high school PE teachers towards the development of physical activity plan (PAP). Likewise, the remaining senior high school PE teachers in the province assessed the degree of alignment of the PAP in the most essential learning competencies in PE, and the degree of the practical application of the developed PAP in PE instruction. The qualitative results summarized the general ideas of PE teachers regarding the PAP. They have specific suggestions on what topics, PA, and classroom assessment tools should be included in the plan related to the competencies in PE 1, PE 2, PE 3, and PE 4. As such, a series of performance rubrics have been attached to the plan. Moreover, the quantitative results revealed that the developed PAP has a high degree of alignment with the current competencies in the senior high school PE curriculum. Likewise, the developed PAP has a high degree of practical application in PE instruction. Integrating the data in the two phases of the data collection, showed that the developed PAP can be implemented in the senior high school PE curriculum. As such, the PAP may be utilized as the baseline for PE teachers for implementation. Moreover, future researchers may address the limitations of the conducted study.

Graduates' employability indicates the excellent education and relevant preparation they obtained from their respective degrees. Tracer studies have enabled higher education institutions to profile their graduates while also reflecting on the quality of education they provide. With the foregoing, a tracer study determined the demographic and academic profile of teacher education graduates from 2017 to 2020 in a state university in the West Philippines. It also ascertained the advanced studies they attended after college, their employment data, the relevance of college preparation with their current employment, difficulties they encountered while securing employment and in their present job, and recommendations to strengthen the teacher education program. The study utilized a descriptive survey research design with 80 non-random samples chosen based on availability. The survey was based on the Philippine Commission on Higher Education with modifications elucidated from previous studies. Results showed that graduates took the teacher education program with a strong passion for the teaching profession. More graduates received honors and awards, passed the licensure examinations for teachers, attended advanced studies for professional development, and are employable. Besides, the graduates' college preparation is relevant to their current employment. Further, difficulties and problems encountered and recommendations to strengthen the teacher education program were noted. These findings may serve as a baseline for curriculum review and give suggestions for future tracer studies.

The primary objective of this study is to review and characterize research-based music assessments that might be used to guide and assist teachers and students in transforming their attitudes and perceptions, ability to express their ideas and concepts during the assessment process openly. This study employed descriptive and autoethnographic methods to elicit information about current conditions and practices through the library approach and literature review. The identified music assessment techniques were used to determine how well students comprehend important points in a session. It includes the Music Concept Memory Exercise and Instrumental and Vocal Schematic Processing for music lesson instructions and the Five-Letter Name Pitch Memory Test and Three-Chord Familiarization Assessment for basic instrumental music instructions. They are used as a core component deliberately designed to expose classroom teachers and prospective teachers to the essentials for effective instructional practices. Effective evaluation ensures that learners' knowledge, understanding, and skills are transferred effectively in future contexts.

The crisis during the pandemic restrained the livelihood of women and disrupted their economic opportunities. Specifically, during the height of the lockdown, when people were restricted from going out, the livelihood of women who sold and peddled seafood products was greatly affected. This paper unfolds women's socio-demographic profile and knowledge regarding the laws for protecting women's rights in the lexis of the Republic Act No. 9710, also known as the Magna Carta of Women, and their economic condition in the informal economy during the pandemic. This descriptive mixed method quantitatively surveyed 70 women and another 10 women for the Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings have shown that women in the informal economy were predominantly in the middle and late adulthood stage, married, the majority had a low level of education (i.e., elementary & high school levels) and were the breadwinners in the family. Also, the average size of each family consisted of 7 members with an average family monthly income of 7,407 pesos. The themes unearthed that informants perceived the Magna Carta of Women as unfamiliar and vague concepts, inconsistent implementation, and responsive leadership. On the other note, informants highlighted that the imagery of women in society gained parity in gender roles. It was revealed that women struggled with delayed assistance, parental obligations, prejudice, and partial treatment.

The type of leadership exemplified in educational organizations has a significant role to play in organizational success or failure. Using a correlational research design, we investigated the effects of leadership behaviors exhibited by leaders in various higher education institutions in the country (as perceived by 14 Filipino graduate scholars) on productivity (measured in terms of passing rates in board examinations in 2016). Results showed that the presence of more leadership behaviors (concerned with both productivity and people) is strongly associated with greater organizational productivity, while leader-follower relationships and productivity did not show significant association. The educational leader's people and task orientations were established to have complementary roles in predicting school productivity. The data derived from this study also showed consistent patterns with respect to the underlying relationships proposed by various trait and behavioral theories of leadership and through the application of the Leadership Grid.

Significant consequences are results of mere decision on determining the language of instruction specifically in the early years of education. It means that rightful language choice leads to educational success. Contrariwise, an inappropriate selection of a language proves to be detrimental in the taking place of learning. With the recent language policy shift from English to Mother tongue (MT), in the context of the Philippines, as medium of instruction in the teaching of mathematics in early grades, this study examined how language proficiency in the MT relates to mathematics achievement. Study participants include 71 grade 2 students aged 6-8. The findings show that the respondents' mean achievement in mathematics and their mean proficiency in the MT are both described as 'advanced'. Moreover, it was revealed that there is a very strong positive correlation between the respondents' achievement in mathematics and proficiency in the MT.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a reportable disease of swine that causes farreaching losses to affected countries and regions. Early detection is critically important to contain and mitigate the impact of ASF outbreaks, for which timely available data is essential. This research examines the potential use of Google Trends data as an early indicator of ASF outbreaks in Southeast Asia, focusing on the three largest swine producing countries, namely, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand. Cross-correlation and Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence indicators were used to evaluate the association between Google search trends and the number of ASF outbreaks reported. Our analysis indicate strong and moderate correlations between Google search trends and number of ASF outbreaks reported in Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively. In contrast, Thailand, the country of this group in which outbreaks were reported last, exhibits the weakest correlation (KL = 2.64), highlighting variations in public awareness and disease dynamics. These findings suggest that Google search trends are valuable for early detection of ASF. As the disease becomes endemic, integrating trends with other epidemiological data may support the design and implementation of surveillance strategies for transboundary animal diseases in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionThis study aimed to determine factors influencing help-seeking, accessing treatment and sustaining recovery among Filipino PWUDs during the country’s war against drugs.Purposive sampling was used with respondents recommended by program managers or community facilitators of community-based drug rehabilitation programs. In-depth interviews with clients and their families were conducted in 17 local government units across 8 regions in the Philippines. Transcripts were analyzed using Nvivo 12.The results highlight barriers to help-seeking, including the PWUDs’ belief that they don’t need help, fear of police and incarceration, stigma and discrimination. Enablers to help seeking and treatment adherence were motivation to change, accessible treatment options and family support. Community acceptance, quality of care of service providers, and support of community leaders enabled both help-seeking and recovery.The findings suggest the impact of a punitive approach and the need to reframe drug use as a health issue. Results also suggest the need to reduce stigma and discrimination and promote positive messaging to enable help-seeking, adherence, and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period of October–December 2019, the Cotabato–Davao del Sur region (Philippines) was hit by a seismic sequence comprising four earthquakes with magnitude MW > 6.0 (EQ1-4; max magnitude MW 6.8). The earthquakes triggered widespread environmental effects, including landslides and liquefaction features. We documented such effects by means of field surveys, which we supplemented with landslide mapping from satellite images. Field surveys allowed us to gather information on 43 points after EQ1, 202 points after EQs2–3 and 87 points after EQ4. Additionally, we built a multi-temporal inventory of landslides from remote sensing, comprising 190 slope movements triggered by EQ1, 4737 after EQs2–3, and 5666 at the end of the sequence. We assigned an intensity value to each environmental effect using the environmental seismic intensity (ESI-07) scale. Our preferred estimates of ESI-07 epicentral intensity are VIII for the first earthquake and IX at the end of the sequence, which is in broad agreement with other events of similar magnitude globally. This study, which is the first case of the application of the ESI-07 scale to a seismic sequence in the Philippines, shows that repeated documentation of environmental damage and the evaluation of the progression through time may be useful for providing input data for derivative products, such as susceptibility assessment, evaluation of residual risk or investigation of the role played by ground shaking and by other mechanisms able to trigger environmental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify and understand the implications of school peer influence on learners' education of the Senior High School students of a higher educational institution residing in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. The data are collected from 75 students from the overall population of 308 students of the Academic Track - Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS) strand enrolled in the academic year 2023-2024. A quantitative research approach is employed in this study to facilitate an in-depth interpretation and analysis of the objective data to understand further the influence of school peers on the academic success of the learners. Further, the descriptive type of quantitative research is utilized, as quantitative descriptions are presented using descriptive statistics. The results of the study pointed to a concentration of respondents in the 80-89 General Weighted Average (GWA) range, demonstrating that a considerable proportion of the students performed academically in this range. The conformity of companions has contributed to learning choices such as study routines and educational objectives. It ought to be recommended that educational institutions set up strategies or programs that encourage an anticipatory approach to social engagement learning, motivating students to participate in academic and extracurricular endeavors, per the results of student lethargy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand drive tourism by exploring the experience of drive tourists and the role and function of motor vehicle clubs (MVCs) concerning their motivations, drive experience, and route choices. The growing demand for transportation and car ownership has popularized drive tourism in recent years. MVCs have started to explore this form of travel to expand membership. In the Philippines, there has been a dearth of literature on drive tourism despite road transport being the most dominant mode of travel. A qualitative inquiry through the case study approach was used to explore the drive tourism experience of MVC members. Data collection includes individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Four major themes emerged from the study: immersing with the motor vehicle; engaging with the MVC members; a sense of belongingness; and considerations in route choices. Being in a group plays an integral part in motivating a member to travel to determine destination choice and develop an attitude toward travelling itself. Though recent studies on positive emotions, engagement, relationship, meanings, and accomplishment or the PERMA model were utilized in exploring festival experiences, this study provides a novel contribution in using the model to interpret the experiences occurring in drive tourism in the context of MVCs. The study contributes by using the Philippines as a case given its archipelagic configuration, current infrastructure, and road development that could open opportunities while posing tourism and transport challenges where the function and role of MVCs can be critical in facilitating the growth of drive tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 15 January 2023, a shallow, moderate earthquake with a magnitude (Mw) of 4.7 and a depth of one kilometer struck the northern part of Leyte Island in the central Philippines. Originating along the northern Leyte segment of the Philippine Fault, a well-established creeping fault, the earthquake caused significant geologic, structural, and socio-economic impacts despite its low magnitude. Probable surface rupture and landslides were reported, leading to a comprehensive field investigation. Our investigation revealed an ~8 km discontinuous surface rupture along the northern Leyte segment of the Philippine Fault, with a maximum left-lateral displacement of 2 cm. This was the first documented occurrence of such a phenomenon associated with an earthquake of a magnitude less than 6, particularly along a creeping fault segment. The maximum ground shaking felt was reported on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) to be VI (very strong), equivalent to a Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) of VI along the fault strike. However, strong motion accelerographs recorded a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.407 g, equivalent to PEIS VIII (very destructive), attributed to local site amplification influenced by subsurface geology. In the area where the local site amplification occurred, limited liquefaction was observed on marshlands with recent and alluvial deposits. Two landslides were observed in the mountainous area west of the fault. Structural damages were noted in areas with PEIS VI intensity and areas transected by the surface rupture. Despite the earthquake's low magnitude, the event documented significant impacts, including surface ruptures, liquefaction, landslides, and severe structural damage. The peculiarities of this event are attributed to the shallowness of the earthquake source, and local site conditions, including geology, geomorphology, and soil properties, contributed to the severity of the impacts. Moderate in size, this earthquake emphasizes the importance of documenting moderate-sized earthquakes as a tool and guide for medium- and long-term earthquake risk assessment and resiliency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This comprehensive review explores how Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines manage the threat of swine transboundary animal diseases (TADs), focusing on foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), and African swine fever (ASF). The challenge at hand is the effective control and prevention of these diseases, crucial for safeguarding the swine industry and food security in Asian islands. This study examines varied government strategies, such as mass vaccination, zoning, and intensive surveillance, employed by these islands. Taiwan successfully eradicated FMD through widespread vaccination, Japan effectively controlled CSF re-emergence in wild boars, and the Philippines utilized a zoning strategy for FMD eradication. Despite these successes, the persistent threat of an ASF pandemic, particularly in the Philippines, underscores the need for tailored and unified approaches in transboundary disease control. The lessons gained from these past experiences contribute to global efforts to manage TADs, emphasizing the importance of multi-sectoral and multi-institutional cooperative strategies for the benefit of society's health and food security. Swine transboundary diseases pose significant challenges in East and Southeast Asia, affecting Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. This review delves into strategies employed by these islands over the past two decades to prevent or manage foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), and African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs and wild boars. Despite socio-economic differences, these islands share geographical and climatic commonalities, influencing their thriving swine industries. Focusing on FMD eradication, this study unveils Taiwan's success through mass vaccination, Japan's post-eradication surveillance, and the Philippines' zoning strategy. Insights into CSF in Japan emphasize the importance of wild boar control, whereas the ASF section highlights the multifaceted approach implemented through the Philippine National ASF Prevention and Control Program. This review underscores lessons learned from gained experiences, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of swine disease management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their ability to perform and accomplish tasks. On the other hand, physical fitness encompasses an individual's comprehensive state of bodily health and well-being. It pertains to the capacity to engage in physical activities effortlessly, efficiently, and without undue exhaustion or strain. The study aimed to determine the level of Physical Fitness and Self-Efficacy in PATHFIT 1 of Education students when grouped according to sex, year level and major field of specialization. This study used a descriptive and correlational research. The respondents were the 234 students using stratified random sampling. A standardized questionnaire used in this study for self-efficacy was taken from the general selfefficacy scale. The physical fitness questionnaire was researcher made and undergone a validation process. The salient results of the study were as follows: the level of physical fitness and self-efficacy were moderate; physical fitness significantly influenced the self-efficacy of Education students; there is no significant difference in the level of physical fitness of education students when grouped according to sex, year level and major field of specialization; and there is no significant difference in the level of self-efficacy of education students when grouped according to sex, year level and major subject. An enhancement program was formulated to better the importance of developing physical fitness and self-efficacy among students to monitor progress and changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology in education plays a vital role, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers can harness online learning as a powerful educational tool by integrating technology into existing curricula. Thus, this study determined the extent of technology usage and learning outcomes of the students in the different subjects in terms of the most essential learning competencies (MELCs). Moreover, significant differences and relationships were explored for further analysis. The results revealed that most of the students used technology to search and study their lessons, watched DEPED TV episodes to learn, participated in online courses, and answered modules. Additionally, usually installed apps on their phones, but they were unlikely to listen to the radio. As such, the student's learning outcomes are significantly high across subject areas despite of difficulties experienced. Relatively, highly significant differences and relationships were seen in some areas in terms of variables for both usage and learning outcomes. Therefore, technology is a factor in education. It is then recommended to utilize the continuity plan for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the current landscape of teaching literacy to Filipino Deaf students in a multilingual, multi-cultural classroom amid the pandemic. The article highlights the uniqueness of Filipino Deaf students as multilingual learners in a multi-cultural classroom and the lack of literature and research on Deaf multilingualism both locally and globally. Moreover, the article focuses on the role of Deaf teachers in teaching Filipino Deaf students, especially in their literacy development. The steps being done to ensure that the curriculum is inclusive of Deaf learners who use Filipino Sign Language (FSL), teacher preparation and materials development, and the challenges in the shift to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed. Future directions and recommendations include review of curriculum and adaptation, enhancement of teacher preparation, promotion of collaborative teaching and research efforts, and the production of more appropriate and accessible instructional materials for Deaf students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Without adequate preparation and competence, nursing students entering the practice might not respond effectively to the growing health and healthcare disparities among the LGBTQ+ population. Objective: Guided by Pacquiao's Framework for Culturally Competent Healthcare, the study aimed to describe and to compare nursing students' self-rated LGBTQ+ care competence by personal, sociocultural, and educational characteristics, and identify the relationship between LGBTQ+ care competence, level of compassion, and the number of LGBTQ+-related topics offered in nursing curriculum. Methods: A cross-sectional study was implemented through online survey among fourth-year nursing students (N = 208) from nursing schools in Metro Manila using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender-Nursing Education Assessment instrument, the Revised Short Version of the Compassionate Love for Humanity Scale, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Nursing students' overall LGBTQ+ care competence mean rating score was 5.21 out of 7.0. Attitudinal awareness had the highest mean rating score (mean= 6.34, SD= 0.98), followed by basic knowledge (mean= 4.93, SD= 1.27) and clinical preparedness (mean=4.25, SD=1.23). Significant differences in the overall LGBTQ+ care competence mean rating scores were found based on exposure to LGBTQ+-related media contents (p=.03), personal experience in caring for LGBTQ+ clients (p=.00), ethnicity (p=.020), friends' acceptance of LGBTQ (p<.001), categories of educational institution (p<.001), and level of awareness of the school's LGBTQ+-related policies (p=.001). Overall LGBTQ+ care competence had a weak significant positive correlation with compassion (r=0.232, p<.001) and number of LGBTQ+-related topics offered in nursing curriculum (r=0.200, p<.01). Conclusion: Findings show that the current generation of nursing students has more positive awareness, acceptance, and attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ population. Embedding LGBTQ+ health in the nursing curriculum must be strategically placed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ever-expanding body of literature suggests the possible link between diasporas and the exacerbation of civil wars in their home countries. One of the most notable findings on the link between diaspora and armed conflict is derived from a set of arguments known as the Greed and Grievances Thesis. According to the said framework, a higher diasporic support to a homeland conflict is positively correlated with a higher incidence of civil war intractability. Applying this framework to the data on external support to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) insurgency from 1990-2008, the study notes that there is a lack of support from the Moro diaspora which forced the MILF to secure peace with the Philippine government. On the contrary, the increase in conflict activities during the insurgency can be qualitatively attributed to the economic and political support from hostile states and international terrorist networks that support the Moro insurgents against the Philippine government. The study concludes that there is an absence of substantial evidence on the role of the Moro diaspora in funding the insurgents due to other factors such as internal financing for the rebellion and the role of international actors in prolonging the Moro conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crisis during the pandemic restrained the livelihood of women and disrupted their economic opportunities. Specifically, during the height of the lockdown, when people were restricted from going out, the livelihood of women who sold and peddled seafood products was greatly affected. This paper unfolds women's socio-demographic profile and knowledge regarding the laws for protecting women's rights in the lexis of the Republic Act No. 9710, also known as the Magna Carta of Women, and their economic condition in the informal economy during the pandemic. This descriptive mixed method quantitatively surveyed 70 women and another 10 women for the Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings have shown that women in the informal economy were predominantly in the middle and late adulthood stage, married, the majority had a low level of education (i.e., elementary & high school levels) and were the breadwinners in the family. Also, the average size of each family consisted of 7 members with an average family monthly income of 7,407 pesos. The themes unearthed that informants perceived the Magna Carta of Women as unfamiliar and vague concepts, inconsistent implementation, and responsive leadership. On the other note, informants highlighted that the imagery of women in society gained parity in gender roles. It was revealed that women struggled with delayed assistance, parental obligations, prejudice, and partial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Dengvaxia® (dengue vaccine) controversy has been identified as one of the main reasons for the measles vaccine hesitancy in the Philippines. Our study aimed to identify various issues related to the Dengvaxia® controversy and to link these issues with the social perspective of measles vaccine refusal. Methods Semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion using ethnography research were conducted with 41 parents and healthcare workers in Pasay City. Using Victor Turner's Social Drama Theory, our study identified existing social issues relating to the different angles of the Dengvaxia® controversy and the measles vaccine hesitancy. Results Misinformation on the failed Dengvaxia® rollout implementation has challenged the fundamental understanding of the importance of immunization programs. Our findings on vaccine hesitancy in the community showed a complex problem with compounded factors, including medical populism, moral panics and other social views. We described how Pasay City's clinic waiting room became a significantly important scenario where individuals often discuss information, concerns and experiences on vaccines and vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion Our study suggests that the Dengvaxia® controversy may reduce the measles vaccination confidence in the Philippines. Lack of transparency played a crucial role in this dilemma, producing a cascading effect on the other vaccines' safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine which domain of teachers' clinical competence significantly influences students' skills development. This study employed a non-experimental design utilizing the causaleffect technique. The respondents were 11 public senior high school students in District 1 of Compostela, Davao De Oro -East and West District. A random sampling technique was employed in selecting the respondents of the study. Mean, Pearson-r, and Regression Analysis were the statistical tools used in the study. Results revealed a high level of clinical competence of teachers in terms of content knowledge, learner-centeredness, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and role modelling, practice-based reflection, and improvement. Results also revealed that the level of skills development of students was high in terms of soft skills, performance and training methodology. The correlation coefficient between the two variables of the study revealed a highly positive significant relationship. Interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and role modelling, and practice-based reflection and improvement was revealed as the domains of clinical competence of teachers that best influence the skills development of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Improving employee performance has been crucial in different organizations for it reflects the company's product and service quality. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting employee performance in the engineering and technology department in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The effects of these factors such as communication, empathy, encouragement, growth and rewards to employee performance were analyzed. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that among the five factors, the encouragement, growth, and rewards were found to have a significant effect on employee performance in the engineering and technology department. Surprisingly, communication and empathy were found to have no significant effect to employee performance. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study that investigated the factors affecting employee performance in the engineering and technology department in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results could serve as a guideline for the management under this type of department. The framework could also be helpful for sustaining the elevated performance of the employees in the engineering and technology department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease that threatens the swine industry globally. Since its introduction into the Philippines in 2019, ASF has spread extensively in both commercial and backyard farms. Here, using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, including conjoint and SWOT analyses, world café discussions, and multivariable regression models, the most important factors that influence the spread, diagnosis, and control of ASF in the Philippines were identified. Research findings suggest that swill or contaminated feed, inadequate biosecurity protocols, and movement of personnel were the top risk factors favoring ASF spread among farms in general. For commercial farms, contaminated vehicles and personnel were also important, whereas for backyard farms, the introduction of new pigs, environmental contamination, and poor feeding quality were relevant risk factors. Notable clinical signs of ASF in pigs include reduced feed intake, huddled behavior, and reluctance to stand. This study highlights the need for timely reporting, trust-building initiatives, and enhanced biosecurity measures to effectively manage ASF outbreaks in the country. Results here contribute to the knowledge of factors affecting ASF spread in the Philippines and can help design prevention and control measures in ASF-infected countries while enhancing preparedness in countries free from the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crescent perch Terapon jarbua is a demersal and catadromous fish that is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific region. It is a commercially important species in the Philippines and other Asian countries. Morphological differentiation among populations of T. jarbua throughout Philippine waters was investigated using morphometric and meristic characters. A total of 609 crescent perch (428 male, 181 female) were collected from nine localities in the Philippines. Meristic analyses showed the highest significant differences among populations in the lateral line scale and gill raker counts. Morphometric analyses revealed significant differences in shape among the nine T. jarbua populations. Allometry was found to be independent of size differences. Morphological differences were detected in the head, lip, and caudal peduncle regions. Specimens from General Santos City and Navotas were the most morphologically distinct from each other, whereas specimens from Sariaya and Balayan had the most similar shape. These can be attributed to the latitudinal gradient of the localities. Sexual dimorphism was also detected as significant differences were found in the specimens' lip positions, anal fin spine positions, caudal peduncle width, lateral line scale counts, gill raker counts, and pectoral fin ray counts. These morphological and meristic variations could be attributed to differences in feeding habits because T. jarbua is an omnivorous fish with a broad diet and can be found across marine, freshwater, and brackish environments. Further investigation of its diversity is recommended through the evaluation of T. jarbua feeding habits and their habitat's physicochemical characteristics. Additional sampling of populations outside of the Philippines is also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadcast news, as a fleeting medium, falls into the journalism discourse of communicating the truth. Therefore, whatever is aired should be based on facts. In the Philippines, the recent presidential elections on May 9, 2022, had news outfits cover the different candidates during the campaign trail. This included the church-owned television network, Net25. Their flagship program, titled "Mata ng Agila" ("In the Eye of the Eagle"), is the subject of this study as it used opinion-based phrases in the newscast. Through Erving Goffman's framing analysis, selected voice-over packages were analyzed through qualifying their language, style, and presentation, to determine their authenticity. Mikhail Bakhtin's framework on production of talk was also used. Michel Foucault's concept of power further gave depth on how an ideal newscast should be given under the context of the elections. It showed how the newscast's manner of speech for a certain candidate differs in comparison to another contender for the presidency. These phrases attribute to inauthenticity, which diminished the purpose of producing news. The study thus suggests a standard for newscasts, especially in this age of valid concerns about disinformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is a prevalent disease in dairy cattle. One of its important etiological agents is the species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Thus, this study aims to characterize the virulence and multi-drug resistance (MDR) profiles of Enterobacteriaceae strains previously isolated from dairy cattle with clinical mastitis in Region 4-A, Philippines. Results showed that 60% of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 100% of the Proteeae tribe (Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and Morganella spp.) exhibited hemolytic activity. Hemolysin-coding gene, viz. hpmA, was suspected to contribute to the hemolytic activity of all Proteus spp. Biofilm formation was observed in several isolates and mrkD, ireA, ucaA, atfA, and ureG genes were expected to be accountable for this virulence trait. All Enterobacteriaceae strains were classified as MDR pathogens. All isolates exhibited resistance to erythromycin, penicillin, clindamycin, and lincomycin. Resistance to streptomycin and tetracycline was also exhibited by a significant number of isolates and the resistance genes (rrs and tetK) responsible for this resistance were most frequently detected. Only one isolate of M. morganii harbored integron-related gene intI2. The characterization of these strains has significant health and economic implications. Severe virulence and drug resistance of these strains pose a challenge in the management and treatment of intramammary infections in dairy farms. Being reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance-associated genes, these strains pose a threat to the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Swine Fever (ASF) has threatened the swine industry of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, since 2019. Given the severity and the economic impact of the ASF epidemic, understanding the spatial and temporal patterns of the disease is crucial for devising effective control measures. Here, data on 19,697 ASF farm outbreaks reported in the Philippines between August 2019 and July 2022 were analyzed to estimate the space–time clustering, seasonal index, and directional spread of the disease. Central Luzon was the region with the largest number of reported outbreaks, followed by Regions I and II, whereas Western and Central Visayas remained ASF-free throughout the study period. ASF outbreaks were temporally and spatially clustered and exhibited a distinct seasonal pattern, with highest and lowest frequencies reported between August and October, and April and May, respectively. This seasonal pattern may be explained, at least in part, by a combination of environmental and anthropogenic factors, such as rain and cultural practices leading to disease spread. The results here will help inform decisions intended to mitigate the impact of ASF in the Philippines and will contribute to the understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of one of the most important emerging swine diseases globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

REEFGAME is a computer-assisted role-playing game that explores the interactions among management strategies, livelihood options, and ecological degradation in subsistence fishing communities. The tool has been successfully used in the Philippines and a variety of student workshops. In the field, REEFGAME operated as a two-way learning tool, helping local fishers better understand their collective impacts on the marine ecosystem and providing researchers with insights into fisher livelihood strategies. This demonstrates the game's ability to serve as powerful springboard for social learning and discussion among stakeholders, while providing useful scientific insights into decision-making processes. Although not specifically designed for the purpose, REEFGAME has also been used in the university setting to facilitate student engagement and demonstrate a range of social and ecological concepts. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)

The aging population of the world has dramatically been increasing thereby creating the need to assess and address the emotional feelings of the elderly. The intent of this qualitative study was to capture the essence or the lebenswelt of the Filipino elderly's sense of belongingness. This was accomplished by capitalizing on the power of conscious doodling and elicitation interviews with a select group of elderly persons confined in a government-run institution. A sample of 40 elderly (17 men and 23 women) aged 60 to 85 years voluntarily participated in this study. Interview proceedings were tape-recorded and were later on transcribed. Following the typological coding approach, the doodles and data transcriptions were categorized and thematised into three distinct levels of feelings and emotions. Interestingly, the three thematic levels of the elderly's sense of belongingness include Plain, Plateau, and Pinnacle. The first level, called Plain, encompasses the feelings of abandonment and avolition; the second level of Plateau describes their feelings of adaptation, association, and assurance; while the third level, termed as Pinnacle, highlights their feelings of acceptance, antiphony, assimilation, and attachment and actualization. Notably, the emerged sense of belongingness by both male and female genders has generally similar patterns before and during admission in the nursing home, except for some differences. (Contains 2 figures.)

Quantitative descriptions of stream network and river catchment characteristics provide valuable context for enabling geomorphologically-informed sustainable river management. For countries where high-quality topographic data are available, there are opportunities to enable open access availability of baseline products from systematic assessment of morphometric and topographic characteristics. In this study, we present a national-scale assessment of fundamental topographic characteristics of Philippine river systems. We applied a consistent workflow using TopoToolbox V2 to delineate stream networks and river catchments using a nationwide digital elevation model (DEM) acquired in 2013 and generated through airborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IfSAR). We assessed morphometric and topographic characteristics for 128 medium- to large-sized catchments (catchment area > 250 km2) and organised the results in a national-scale geodatabase. The dataset realises the potential of topographic data as part of river management applications, by enabling variations in hydromorphology to be characterised and contextualised. The dataset is used to reveal the diversity of stream networks and river catchments in the Philippines. Catchments have a continuum of shapes (Gravelius compactness coefficient ranges from 1.05 to 3.29) with drainage densities that range from 0.65 to 1.23 km/km2. Average catchment slope ranges from 3.1 to 28.1° and average stream slope varies by more than an order of magnitude from 0.004 to 0.107 m/m. Inter-catchment analyses show the distinctive topographic signatures of adjacent river catchments; examples from NW Luzon highlight topographic similarity between catchments whereas examples from Panay Island shown marked topographic differences. These contrasts underline the importance of using place-based analyses for sustainable river management applications. By designing an interactive ArcGIS web-application to display the national-scale geodatabase, we improve data accessibility and enable users to freely access, explore and download the data (https://glasgow-uni.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a88b9ca0919f4400881eab4a26370cee). The national-scale geodatabase provides a baseline understanding of fundamental topographic characteristics in support of varied geomorphological, hydrological and geohazard susceptibility applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SAGES International Proctoring Course for Laparoscopic Cholecystecomy accepts applications from low to middle-income countries for SAGES faculty to train local surgeons. A regional public hospital in the 10th most populous city in the Philippines was one of the chosen sites for the 1-week course in 2010. Two SAGES surgeons and one nurse trained two local surgeons and four nurses identified by the hospital director. Methods: All patients seen in the out-patient clinic at the Zamboanga City Medical Center in the Philippines and scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy from the first day of the course in August 2010 until December 2018 were entered into a prospectively collected database including demographics, pre-op diagnosis, operative findings, histopathologic diagnosis, conversion rates and 30-day complications including re-operations. Results: 521 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Majority were female (63.7%) with a mean age of 45.9 years. Most procedures were completed laparoscopically with an open conversion rate of 3.3%. Three patients underwent laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy. Reported complications requiring reoperation included one stump necrosis, two incisional hernias and one retained stone. One serosal injury and one surgical site infection were also reported for an overall morbidity rate of 4.6%. Pathology showed chronic calculous cholecystitis in 92.8% of specimens. No 30-day mortality was recorded. Conclusion: The SAGES International Proctoring Course for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy has been shown to be a successful method for global surgery training. A focused 1-week direct proctoring model in the Philippines showed a sustained culture of safety in cholecystectomy with low 30-day morbidity, complication and conversion rates over a decade following participation in this program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the threats and challenges confronting many economies, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines has grown 10% per year in the last decade, ensuring the country's economic stability. Quezon City is the Philippines' ICT capital and has the most BPO workers in the National Capital Region, comprising 135 BPO establishments and 75 tax-paying BPO firms. The city was awarded the most significant office development in 2019. This study fills a knowledge gap by evaluating the BPO industry's contribution to the Quezon City's local government to improve future efforts for the growth of the BPO industry in the city and its socioeconomic status. The case study method of qualitative research was used in the methodology. The essential data was gathered from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the City Government of Quezon City, and in-depth interviews with focal persons from government bodies and the BPO industry. Despite COVID-19, the Quezon City BPO industry remained resilient and flourished from 2019 to 2021. The local partnership program between the private and public sectors aided in the continuous operation of the BPO industry, job retention, and revenue generation. The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has generated significant revenue for the betterment of the local government unit of Quezon City and the country, Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) launched Global Surgery 2030 to address the surgical services inequities with a bias toward low‐income and middle‐income countries like the Philippines. The same inequity is observed particularly when it comes to the urban‐rural divide. With more than half of the population living in rural areas, access to surgery becomes a major challenge that further impedes the much‐needed health of an economically productive workforce. The Universal Health Care [UHC] Act (RA 11332) of 2019 ensures that all Filipinos have access to quality, cost‐effective, promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services without causing a financial burden. Recognizing the provision of essential surgery, in the context of primary healthcare is important. It should be accessible, continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated at the time of need – parallel to the principle of primary health care. Driven by this concept and experiences, the authors conceptualized and presented the Philippine Rural Surgery model for future development and implementation. This is envisioned to provide essential surgery among local rural primary health care settings that is universal, accessible, cost‐effective and safe. As this is still new in the Philippines, we proposed tenets and recommendations based on WHO Health System Strengthening building blocks to guide stakeholders in creating formal plans towards institutionalization under the principles of UHC. Such access to surgical service in the context of a unique socio‐demography of the Philippines would be essential in attaining the parameters and provisions set by the UHC Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine mastitis is a common bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the mammary gland in dairy cattle. Staphylococcus is one of the most predominant and significant pathogens known to cause mastitis. Thus, this study was designed to isolate and assess the prevalence of Staphylococcus strains in dairy cattle with clinical mastitis in Region IV-A, Philippines. Baird Parker agar (BPA) supplemented with 5% egg yolk tellurite emulsion was used as selective media to differentiate coagulase-positive S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS). The isolated pathogens were phenotypically and genetically characterized for further identification. Surprisingly, out of 85 isolates, only 56.5% belong to the genus Staphylococcus and 43.5% were non-staphylococcus strains despite the use of a staphylococcus-specific selective medium. The overall most prevalent species among the isolates were S. chromogenes with an isolation rate of 21.2%. The antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolated bacterial pathogens were also done. Several staphylococcal isolates exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics. S. aureus showed hyper-resistance to three out of seven antibiotics -- specifically streptomycin, clindamycin, and lincomycin. Surprisingly, most of the non-staphylococcal isolates exhibited hyper-resistance to multiple antibiotics. Proteus mirabilis, P. penneri, and Providencia stuartii showed almost 100% resistance and hyper-resistance to all antimicrobials tested except amoxicillin. These findings suggest that the detection of diverse species of mastitis-causing microorganisms is an important concern for the dairy sector, as different pathogens might represent different hazards and require distinct treatments, particularly on the type of antibiotics used to treat the infection. The erroneous choice of antimicrobial could unnecessarily expose the udder microbial flora to antimicrobials, thereby inadvertently promoting the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens that poses a serious threat to both animal and human health. Extreme antibiotic resistance detected in strains present in mastitic dairy cattle also raises a substantial public health concern, particularly when it comes to the consumption of food and food products, such as milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion of evidence-based practice (EBP) in entry-level physical therapy (PT) curricula is meant to develop the necessary competencies for better EBP uptake in clinical practice. This study aimed to: 1) determine the practice, knowledge, and values for EBP of the graduates of an entry-level PT curriculum with EBP education; 2) compare graduates' EBP practice profile to their EBP knowledge and values; and 3) explore their views on their EBP education and how EBP education influenced their practice. A convergent parallel design was used to gather quantitative and qualitative data. The Evidence-based Practice Profile - 2 (EBP2) questionnaire was used for quantitative data. Focus group discussions and open-ended questions in the EBP2 were sources for qualitative data. Seventy-seven completed the questionnaire and eight participated in focus group discussions. Participants scored highest for Relevance domain (standardized mean = 75.3) and lowest for Practice (standardized mean = 45.5). Three themes, 'Positive impact of EBP education,' 'Realities of PT clinical practice, and 'Strategies to improve EBP education' were derived. Data integration confirmed findings that graduates have good knowledge, value for, and confidence in doing EBP Findings suggest that early EBP education led to adequate knowledge, confidence, and positive attitudes, but practice barriers hinder EBP uptake. The medical model of service delivery was identified as a factor that influences EBP use. There is a need to revisit the EBP education program to complement real-world demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical education (PE) develops students' motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for active living. As such, individuals need to participate in various physical activities (PA) which contribute to a healthy lifestyle. But many PE programs fail to bring the actual value of a lifetime PA and fitness. Therefore, there should be extended scientific research that promotes participation level as a health intervention that will promote health and wellness. Through this, an exploratory-sequential mixed method inquiry was utilized to gather insights of senior high school PE teachers towards the development of physical activity plan (PAP). Likewise, the remaining senior high school PE teachers in the province assessed the degree of alignment of the PAP in the most essential learning competencies in PE, and the degree of the practical application of the developed PAP in PE instruction. The qualitative results summarized the general ideas of PE teachers regarding the PAP. They have specific suggestions on what topics, PA, and classroom assessment tools should be included in the plan related to the competencies in PE 1, PE 2, PE 3, and PE 4. As such, a series of performance rubrics have been attached to the plan. Moreover, the quantitative results revealed that the developed PAP has a high degree of alignment with the current competencies in the senior high school PE curriculum. Likewise, the developed PAP has a high degree of practical application in PE instruction. Integrating the data in the two phases of the data collection, showed that the developed PAP can be implemented in the senior high school PE curriculum. As such, the PAP may be utilized as the baseline for PE teachers for implementation. Moreover, future researchers may address the limitations of the conducted study. [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]

Drought events in the Philippines have resulted in a significant loss in crop production. This study investigated the drought development during the 2019 weak El Niño using different drought indices at a country and local scale. Satellite data from MODIS were used to derive Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) anomaly, Vegetation Health Index (VHI), and Standardized Vegetation and Temperature Ratio (SVTR), while TRMM was used for the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). These indices were compared with crop production data at national scale and crop damage reports at local scale. The results showed consistency in the spatiotemporal variation of drought events, where drought peak occurred during March to April in most indices and indicators. Based on the values of SPI, the areas with rainfall deficit increased from January to April (25% to almost 100%), but looking at vegetation stress, around 50% was affected, as seen by SVTR and VHI. Yield loss during the first and second quarter after the El Niño peak increased up to 20%, especially in the western region in the Philippines. Overall findings demonstrate the relevance of utilizing multiple drought indices and indicators that characterize drought evolution, from drought onset to the peak of agricultural drought, which is essential in developing a robust drought metric for the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graduates' employability indicates the excellent education and relevant preparation they obtained from their respective degrees. Tracer studies have enabled higher education institutions to profile their graduates while also reflecting on the quality of education they provide. With the foregoing, a tracer study determined the demographic and academic profile of teacher education graduates from 2017 to 2020 in a state university in the West Philippines. It also ascertained the advanced studies they attended after college, their employment data, the relevance of college preparation with their current employment, difficulties they encountered while securing employment and in their present job, and recommendations to strengthen the teacher education program. The study utilized a descriptive survey research design with 80 non-random samples chosen based on availability. The survey was based on the Philippine Commission on Higher Education with modifications elucidated from previous studies. Results showed that graduates took the teacher education program with a strong passion for the teaching profession. More graduates received honors and awards, passed the licensure examinations for teachers, attended advanced studies for professional development, and are employable. Besides, the graduates' college preparation is relevant to their current employment. Further, difficulties and problems encountered and recommendations to strengthen the teacher education program were noted. These findings may serve as a baseline for curriculum review and give suggestions for future tracer studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterisation of hydromorphological attributes is crucial for effective river management. Such information is often overlooked in tropical regions such as the Philippines where river management strategies mainly focus on issues around water quality and quantity. We address this knowledge gap using the River Styles Framework as a template to identify the diversity of river morphodynamics. We identify eight distinct River Styles (river types) in the Bislak catchment (586 km2) in the Philippines, showing considerable geomorphic diversity within a relatively small catchment area. Three River Styles in a Confined valley setting occupy 57% of the catchment area, another three in a partly confined valley setting occupy 37%, and two in the remaining 6% are found in a laterally unconfined valley setting. Five characteristic downstream patterns of River Styles were identified across the catchment. We observe that variation in channel slope for a given catchment area (i.e., total stream power) is insufficient to differentiate between river types. Hence, topographic analyses should be complemented with broader framed, catchment-specific approaches to river characterisation. The outputs and understandings from the geomorphic analysis of rivers undertaken in this study can support river management applications by explicitly incorporating understandings of river diversity and dynamics. This has the potential to reshape how river management is undertaken, to shift from reactive, engineering-based approaches that dominate in the Philippines, to more sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]