Southeastern Philippines Journal of Research and Development

Editorial Preface

Sajed Ingilan — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Milk Culture in Insular Southeast Asia Recognized as a Non-milk Cultural Sphere

Masahiro Hirata, Takashi Tsuji — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The issues of milk processing techniques and milk use in areas considered outside the milk cultural sphere is an extremely significant case study for analyzing the transmission and transition of culture. The purpose of this paper is to (1) identify the areas where milk culture is practiced in Insular Southeast Asia, (2) analyze the characteristics of milk processing techniques and milk uses, and (3) examine the origins and transitions of milk culture based on the results of the authors’ fieldwork and literature surveys. Nakao’s model was used to categorize the milk processing techniques and to analyze those characteristics. The characteristics of milk products in the Philippines and Indonesia are that milk products are produced mainly as a source of cash income from sales and consumed as nutritional supplements and luxury foods, not as essential subsistence foods. When milk culture was transferred to both countries from the milk cultural sphere where milk products are essential for a dairy diet, the abundant availability of plant and marine foods may have caused the lack of most milk processing techniques and the transition of milk products from essential subsistence foods to supplementary luxury foods. The Philippines adopts additive coagulation processes, while Indonesia adopts fermentation, heat condensation, and additive coagulation processes. This localized mosaic of milk processing techniques is a characteristic of milk culture in Insular Southeast Asia. This paper discovered that milk culture has spread to Insular Southeast Asia, but identical milk processing techniques were not widely shared in areas where milk culture was not an essential cultural element in local livelihoods. It is concluded that milk culture in the Philippines started with the influence of Spain and was subsequently modified under the influence of India and China, while milk culture in Indonesia originated under the influence of India.

Valuation of Food Security and Cultural Landscape Services for Paddy Ecosystems in Developing Countries: A Case Study in Hongthai, Vietnam

Ngoc Trinh Phuong — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In recent times, the assessment of ecosystem services has gained increased importance, as the disappearance of numerous ecosystems worldwide directly impact human well-being and the quality of the living environment, especially in developing countries where many environmental issues are increasingly concerned. The study was conducted to evaluate eco-services in terms of food security and cultural landscape services in Hongthai, Vietnam, by using a questionnaire survey to collect the market price, travel cost, and willingness to pay from the travelers and farmers. The results of the evaluation show that the total value of paddy eco-services in Hongthai is about 579,585.1 USD, with a use-value of 94,50.5 USD (29,146.9 USD of food security value, 65,353.6 of tourist landscape value); the non-use value is 485,084.6 USD (46,223.9 USD of option value; 61,549.0 USD of value left; 377,311.7 USD of value exists). To effectively exploit and use these ecosystem services, local government needs to propagate and raise awareness in maintaining, preserving, and promoting cultural and traditional values inherent in farming, providing tourist services to meet market needs, and providing paddy ecosystem services. Based on the findings, this study proposes some policy implications for Vietnam and similar low-living provinces in developing countries, helping them promote poverty reduction methods and develop sustainable tourism based on paddy ecosystem services.

Insights from Insect Diversity and Functional Roles in Sorghum Pest Management: A Case Study from Northern Sumatera, Indonesia

Ameilia Zuliyanti Siregar, Tulus, Yunilas, Ravindra Joshi — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study, conducted in Lalang Village, Tebing Tinggi, Indonesia, from August to October 2021, aimed to investigate the insect diversity and functional roles relevant to Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) monoculture. Employing a purposive random sampling method, we utilized four trapping techniques (yellow sticky trap, pitfall trap, light trap, and sweep net) according to standard protocols. Analysis revealed insects recorded from S. bicolor, representing seven orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, Orthoptera), 28 families, 32 species, totaling 10,022 individuals. We identified 32 species, classified into four insect functional groups: parasitoids (3 families), pollinator (1 family), predators (12 families), and pests (12 families). The Importance Value Index (IVI) values were compared among the functional groups, collectively indicating that Apis mellifera (Order Hymenoptera Family Apidae) was the most prevalent pollinator, followed by parasitoids comprising three families (Ichneumonidae, Ceraphronidae, and Tachinidae). Pest species, including Agrotis ipsilon, Helicoverpa armigera, Mythimna separata, Eublemma silicula, and Spodoptera frugiperda, exhibited the highest IVI value of 27.14%. Predators were led by Podisus maculiventris (Family Pentatomidae) with an IVI value of 9.19%. Pests dominated with an abundance of 62.09%, followed by predators (31.49%), pollinators (5.98%), and parasitoids (0.44%). The t-test results were significant across day after sowing (DAS) and different traps with scores such as t-day after sowing (t-DAS)=22.051; t-yellow sticky trap (t-YST)=12.311; t-pit fall trap (t-PFT)=10.271; t-light trap (t-LT)=12.403; t-sweep net (tSN)=12.99, where h<0.01). Biological indices indicated a low species richness (R1=2.11), high species evenness (E=0.824), and moderate Shannon-Wiener diversity score (H’=2.27). Understanding the functional roles of these insects in S. bicolor cultivation emphasizes the necessity of integrated pest management for effective pest control strategies. Our findings stress the importance of biodiversity conservation and effective management practices for sustainable sorghum cultivation in Northern Sumatera, Indonesia.

Effects of Vermicast and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) on the Establishment of Cacao (Theobroma cacao Linn.) Seedlings Grown in Degraded Soil

Dernie Olguera, Jake Baga-an — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Declining soil fertility poses a significant challenge for cacao production, particularly for establishing seedlings. This study investigated the potential effects of vermicast and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance cacao seedling establishment in degraded soil conditions. The study was conducted in a low-cost protective structure established at the Abaca Project Experimental Area of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Mampising, Mabini, Davao de Oro, from December 2018 to April 2019. Furthermore, a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed with eight (8) treatments and three (3) replications with eight (8) sample plants per replicate. The following are the treatment combinations: No Application (T1), Recommended Rate (T2), Vermicast (T3), AMF (T4), Vermicast + AMF (T5), Recommended Rate + AMF (T6), Recommended Rate + Vermicast (T7), and Recommended Rate + AMF + Vermicast (T8). The results of the study reveal that the application of vermicast and AMF combined with inorganic fertilizer based on the recommended rate increased the growth and development of cacao seedlings in degraded soil in terms of plant height (16.40%), length of leaves (14.59%), the width of leaves (12.11%), number of leaves (1.26%), leaf color (41%), stem diameter, shoot weight (60%), dry matter yield (116%) and root:shoot ratio (63.16%) compared to control or no application. Thus, the judicious use of inorganic fertilizer, vermicast, and AMF improves the establishment of cacao seedlings in soils with degraded conditions.

Challenges, Capabilities, and Proposed Initiatives for Capacity-building among Shelter Beneficiaries in Davao City, Philippines: A Case Study

Francis Reginio, Aurelio Agcaoili — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Shelter programs stand out as powerful drivers of development, recognizing the rights of the urban beneficiaries in determining their well-being. This study emphasizes the Davao City Shelter Code as the nation’s pioneering local government-led shelter code initiative. The research utilizes a grounded theory approach, as it is well-suited for understanding complex, emerging phenomena within the shelter program and the challenges experienced by shelter beneficiaries. The study employed theoretical sampling and snowball sampling techniques to collect data while analyzing the challenges shelter beneficiaries face through an in-depth case study. For this purpose, 27 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted alongside 34 focus group discussions (FGDs) at four different resettlement sites. The findings underscore challenges linked to loss of livelihood due to displacement, skills training mismatch, and insufficient leadership skills experienced by the shelter beneficiaries. Despite these challenges, these shelter beneficiaries have illustrated their capabilities to start income-generating exercises with assurance to outlive, regularly with bolster from NGOs and private companies. Moreover, the inquiry recognizes proposed activities for capacity-building to improve protection conditions and advance the well-being of the recipients by and large. Finally, the researchers developed a theory for the shelter program that outlines the steps that link challenges, capacity-building social resources, and autonomous well-being, ultimately leading to the creation of the ‘shelter-space theory’. This theory emphasizes sustainable networks and community development initiatives to improve living conditions, prevent dependency, and ensure active involvement among the shelter beneficiaries in Davao City, Philippines.

A Narrative Inquiry into the Meaning of Smoking among Farmworkers in Southern Philippines

Reymark P. Malinda, Benjamina Paula G. Flor — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Cigarette smoking is recognized as a global health threat. By the same token, it remains highly prevalent in low and middle-income families like farmworkers, despite efforts by the government and private health agencies to prevent smoking. Thus, this study explored the meaning of smoking among farmworkers and how the meanings reproduced their tenets while living in a farming community. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that qualitatively investigated the smoking phenomenon among farmworkers in a rural area in Southern Philippines— a topic that has not been treated in much detail in the literature. The research framework used in this work is the socio-cultural tradition (SCT) of communication theory, which theorizes communication as the (re)production of the social order. Using narrative inquiry, the study delved into the seven narratives of farmworker participants about the meaning of smoking. Individual open interviews were conducted among the participants to elicit stories relative to their experience with smoking. The data were analyzed through re-storying and narrative thematic analysis, yielding five themes constituting their meaning of smoking that reproduced a new social order. Results showed that smoking is (1) a parent and peer influence, (2) a means to manage negative feelings and emotions, (3) a thought-provoker and organizer, (4) a culture among friends, and (5) an integral part of life. All these meanings consequently formed and reinforced a new social order, seemingly an indestructible barrier to smoking cessation. Anchored on SCT, it can be surmised that farmworkers’ tenets, while living in their community, were reproduced by these meanings of smoking that governed their lives.

Maligay: An Iconic Tausug Traditional Token for Pagtammat in the Sulu Archipelago

Eddie Ladja, Cherry Mae Ladja — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Tausug reside in Lupah Sug (Sulu) and even in Northeastern Borneo, including parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Historically, they were governed under the Sulu Sultanate. Today, the Tausug maintain a strong connection to their heritage, including the tradition of Pagtammat, using Maligay as an example of a valued cultural practice in rural communities in Sulu, Philippines. Maligay Pagtammat symbolizes the completion of Quranic studies by children, reflecting a strong attachment to traditional learning methods and the importance of Islamic education. It is largely unknown outside the Tausug community, particularly in Luzon and Visayas, due to limited available literature. Hence, this study explores Maligay Pagtammat among Tausug families in the municipalities of Parang, Panglima Estino, and Panamao in Sulu. Through participant observation and interviews with eight participants, all residents of the three localities with first-hand experience of the practice, descriptive thematic analysis of the data revealed the cultural significance, educational practices, and community values linked to Maligay Pagtammat among Tausug families. Despite challenges such as poverty and pastoral lifestyles, parents value Islamic education and express appreciation through this tradition. The ceremony involves extensive preparations, a procession, epic narratives, and a communal meal. Findings highlight the cultural and educational practices of Tausug families in rural Sulu, showcasing their resilience in preserving traditions amidst modernization. This study contributes to understanding Tausug identity and community cohesion through cultural practices.

Tabiat Kariasali: The Affiliative Leadership of the Informal Taumaas of the Suluk Communities on the East Coast of Sabah

Nurhasan Danial, Asmiaty Amat, Nelson Dino, Nagder Abdurahman — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The taumaas (headman), as the nakura’ (leader) and a sara’ (lawgiver) of the adat (customs) appointed by the udduk hula’ (permanent resident), is the informal leader following the customs and traditions to exercise traditional authority over the Suluk communities. This study explores the tabiat kariasali (instinctual role) of the informal taumaas leadership in the Sabah East Coast Suluk communities, which uses a unique form of community leadership that addresses different community needs, including emotional well-being, spiritual harmony, social vices, educational needs, and healthcare. Through interviews with the nine taumaas in Semporna, Lahad Datu, and Sandakan in Sabah, the study reveals the strengths of the taumaas system. Thematic analysis of the responses highlights these leadership strengths, promoting social harmony through traditional mediation methods and integrating nasihat (religion) and governance to address emotional and spiritual needs while utilizing flexible collaboration and transformative justice approaches to combat social vices. Additionally, the creativity of the taumaas system is demonstrated through community-based literacy programs and the integration of traditional healing and healthcare practices in the Suluk community. However, the study also finds that the challenges they face, particularly in securing funds to sustain essential programs and the responsibilities of the taumaas, encompassing conflict resolution, education, and healthcare, create tension given limited financial resources. The official acknowledgment and support from the authorities would significantly enhance the informal leader’s endeavors to uphold peace and order and advance human development and cultural preservation. It is hoped that this study could explore potential solutions to resource constraints and investigate how the system can adapt when challenges arise in the Suluk community.

Sulat Pasa: Its Implications to Local Divorce Practice among the Sama of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines

Alshadat Sabal — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates Tawi-Tawi’s sulat pasa (traditional divorce paper), particularly as it relates to Sama divorcees, and if it provides a workable way to end their marriage. Through qualitative-descriptive research, it reviews the characteristics of local divorce documents, the processes involved in getting them, and their effects and implications on local divorce practice. With the institutionalization of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, Muslim Filipinos should follow the divorce procedures laid in it. However, this legal hybridity is seen as inadequate because it looks insensitive to the long-standing customs and beliefs of the Muslims, jeopardizing their autonomy and self-instituting cultural traditions about divorce. Furthermore, because divorce conflicts and their resolution have been entirely integrated into the Philippine judicial system, the existing system does not provide speedy resolution to the satisfaction of the Muslim divorcee/s. Despite the implementation of the Muslim Code, the study found that Sama in Tawi-Tawi continued to present and bring their divorce cases to the traditional authority for enforcement. Given the Code’s lax implementation, local divorce cases outside Shari’ah court proceedings remain critical. The study proposes a measure through direct parliament action, such as adding a provision to the existing Bangsamoro Organic Law once the Muslim Code is upgraded, and, in the interim, this can be done through collaboration with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, local religious and elective officials, and women’s organizations to institutionalize the traditional divorce paper as also legal, and binding taking into account issues of accessibility, affordability, practicability, and feasibility.

Ethno-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (EthnoSTEM) Ideas in the Sama Mat-Weaving

Aljemedin Jaudinez, Ma. Nympha Joaquin — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Mat weaving has been culturally and economically significant among the Sama ethnolinguistic group since time immemorial. This study sought to find concepts and processes of ethnoscience, ethnotechnology, ethnoengineering, and ethnomathematics (ethnoSTEM) present in weaving tepo, a hand-woven mat of the Sama, made from indigenously processed leaves of pandan or screw pine (Pandanus tectorius). To determine ethnoSTEM ideas, concepts, and processes in tepo weaving, an ethnography was conducted involving five female mat weavers in a coastal village in Tawi-Tawi’s major producer of tepo, the Municipality of Tandubas. Data were gathered primarily through observations during a monthlong community immersion. Results revealed that Ethnotechnology tools were in the form of bolo, pandan-presser, pandan slitter, traditional stove, bamboo scalp scratcher, and other local cooking tools, with each tool exhibiting unique characteristics and functions needed for weaving. Ethnoengineering was evident in preparing pandan strips to create, bleach, and dye pandan strips for weaving and fastening the tepo. Ethnomathematics comprised primitive length measurement, arithmetic calculations, ratio and proportion, linear and quadratic equations, sinusoidal functions, basic geometric concepts, circles, symmetries, and isometries. Ethnoscience was observed in the processes determining the dyeability of pandan strips, as well as in the procedures employed in its softening and bleaching. It is concluded that the concepts and ideas of ethnoSTEM found in Sama weaving of tepo are loaded with scientific affluence that should be preserved to preclude them from fading to oblivion.

The Development of Kalagan and Isamal Linguistics: An Archival Research

Jessa Jane Iglesia, Sajed Ingilan, Saeed Al Qumairi — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Philippines is a linguistically rich archipelago, holding about 3% of the world’s languages. However, it is also considered a “language hotspot” due to the rapid disappearance of languages in the area. Amongst these languages are Kalagan and Isamal, with their language vitality classified as endangered. With this in mind, this paper looks into the status of Kalagan and Isamal linguistics. It examines the progress made from 1885 to the present day. It documents scholarly articles published by the Summer Institute of Linguistics and other academic journals, focusing on advancements in lexicography, phonology, morphology and syntax, grammar, discourse, and literacy materials within Kalagan and Isamal linguistics. The findings reveal that while significant research has been conducted on Kalagan linguistics, the trend is the opposite for Isamal linguistics. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of the study for the broader field of Philippine linguistics while providing directions for further research.

A Social Network Analysis on Abu Sayyaf Kidnappings

Brenz Gwynne Hababag, Laica Pearl Alcantara, Blessy Tale, Jamal Kay Rogers — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is a Philippine-based extremist organization globally known for engaging in terrorism, kidnappings, and various criminal activities. This study sought to comprehensively analyze Abu Sayyaf ’s kidnapping incidents using social network analysis to better understand their operational structures, patterns, and dynamics. The researchers applied centrality measurements to assess the significance of nodes in the network, along with the GirvanNewman algorithm for community detection to identify groups sharing similar characteristics and extract groups for various purposes. The findings revealed one kidnapping node to have the highest centrality score and holding the most significant influence and numerous incoming connections within the network. Another kidnapper node in the analysis of out-degree centrality displayed a proactive role, initiating multiple connections and shaping the network’s dynamic. The community detection uncovered seven distinct communities within the network, each demonstrating unique patterns and characteristics. The findings imply that kidnappings were conducted through groups rather than individuals. The majority of networks involving ASG members participating in multiple kidnapping events hold significant implications for national security strategies.