Editorial Preface
The Southeastern Philippines Journal of Research and Development has, over the years, provided an important niche for the works of scholars on aspects of Mindanao region’s socio-economic development. The current edition continues and develops this significant role of the journal in responding to the needs of Mindanao, Philippines. The articles in this edition deal with issues from humanities, and biology.
In the first article in this edition, Dr. Rodney C. Jubilado, Chair of the Humanities Division of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, United States of America, provides a comparative analysis of the ergative and accusative structures of Philippine languages, namely, Isamal, Cebuano, and Filipino. The varieties of these languages are the ones used in the Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines. The findings of the study of Dr. Jubilado have a significant contribution to the preservation of Philippine indigenous languages.
Staying with the scholarship on socio-cultural studies, Dr. Takashi Tsuji of Saga University, Japan, contributes to the discourse on Philippine literature and research as he investigates Philippine folklore of saltwater crocodiles. Based on the eight types of crocodile folklore, Dr. Tsuji specifically examines how Filipinos, particularly from Palawan and Mindanao, have recognized crocodiles in the past and coexisted with them for hundreds of years.
This issue also highlights the articles from the field of biology: Dr. Samuel Herbert T. Mamora of the University of Southeastern Philippines analyzes the floristic composition and diversity of weeds in organic rice fields in Langkong, Mlang, North Cotabato, Philippines that could lead to a better understanding of the rice agroecosystem and improvement in weed management; Glenn Vallespin of the University of the Philippines Mindanao and his counterparts from Caraga State University, Butuan City, Philippines examine an in-depth relational analysis of human-induced stress and habitat contraction with bat species in the neighboring roosting sites in Caraga State University in Butuan City; and Lawrence P. Deligero of Davao Medical School Foundation and Hilario L. Wong, Jr. of the University of Southeastern Philippines explore the alternative morphometric characters that could be used to estimate the larval age of red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.
Reviewed by international scholars, the collection of articles in this issue will not only facilitate and enlarge our consciousness of the region’s uniquely rich culture, but more importantly, will contribute to the creation of projects geared towards the socio-economic development of Mindanao.
Sajed S. Ingilan
Editor-in-Chief
