Cordillera Region Research Articles

Grief Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of Surviving Family with Immediate Family Member Death: A Context Study in the Mountain Province, Cordillera Region

This study explored the grief experiences of surviving family with immediate family member death in Mountain Province, Cordillera Region, Philippines, focusing on differences in grief levels based on family roles, gender, cause of death of immediate family member, and ethnicity, as well as identifying coping strategies. Using an Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Method (ESMM) design, quantitative data were collected from 380 respondents through the Grief Experience Questionnaire, while qualitative data were gathered from 15 participants and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the overall level of grief of the participants was low, with significant differences in grief based on family roles, gender, and cause of death, but not ethnicity. Mothers exhibited higher levels of grief, including somatic reactions and a stronger search for explanations, compared to fathers and children. Females generally reported higher grief levels than males, and grief was more pronounced among those who experienced sudden death compared to lingering illnesses. Coping strategies were categorized into intrapersonal and socio-spiritual mechanisms. Intrapersonal strategies included pre-accepting the death to lessen the suffering, distracting oneself, employing self-care strategies, introspective questioning, recalling memories of the deceased, and appreciating the present and acceptance. Socio-spiritual mechanisms highlighted the role of practicing cultural rituals, receiving socio- emotional support, and praying and being faithful to God in fostering emotional resilience and spiritual healing. The study concludes that while grief is a universal experience, its intensity varies by demographic factors, and coping mechanisms are multifaceted, combining personal resilience with social and spiritual support. Recommendations include encouraging family- centered counseling and psychotherapy to address complex emotions, developing tailored grief support programs sensitive to demographic differences, and promoting community-based and socio-spiritual support systems through local government initiatives. These strategies aim to reduce isolation and foster collective and individual resilience among grieving families.

‘Tighten the knot of our blanket slings’: The Endurance of Babywearing Practice and the Visual Politics of Childhood in the Cordillera Region of North Luzon, Philippines

ABSTRACT While Indigenous communities in the Philippines have long used baby slings as essential childrearing tools, the last two decades have seen an upsurge in popularity for their use, now called babywearing. Yet, few studies have examined the practice’s history, how its use shaped ideas of childcare, and how these ideas came to play in the country’s colonial making. This paper studies colonial photographs and accounts of babywearing in the Cordillera region, Northern Luzon, exploring how these materials have figured in the larger agendas of Imperial power, which sought to control bodies through policy and public perception. Through critical analysis of these historical materials and immersion in contemporary babywearing communities, this study utilises Saukko’s contingent approach to resistance to investigate how, despite centuries of stigma, the practice’s survival – even revival – points to everyday acts of agency at a moment when traditional practices turn into trends decontextualised from their once-othered roots.

Climate Risk Profiles for a Climate-Resilient Agriculture on Selected Crops in the Cordillera Administrative Region

This research identified the climate change risks and responses along the rice, yellow corn, potato, and cabbage value chains and recommended Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) options as prioritized by stakeholders. The key climate hazards affecting agriculture in the Cordillera Region are tropical cyclones or typhoons and drought. Lowland rice farming communities are vulnerable to flooding caused by heavy rains while highland vegetable and upland corn farming communities are vulnerable to soil erosion, landslides, and strong winds. Farmers’ mitigating measures against soil erosion, landslides, and flooding include cleaning the drainage canals. Farmers with no access to water resources delay planting or adjust their cropping calendar to ensure crop survival during prolonged drought. They utilize rain-water harvesting tanks or dig deep wells and use water pumps to draw water for crops. Other mitigation measures include: construction of crop shelters or greenhouses to protect crops from strong winds and heavy rains, employing organic farming to reduce the undesirable effects of conventional farming to human health and the environment, using botanical attractants in controlling pests, and integrating livestock and crops to maximize land use and ensure food security for the household. Cost and low awareness on climate change are the major barriers to the adoption of climate resilient technologies. Most farmers have limited financial capacity and not aware of technical information on climate change. High cost of production, absence of policies to stabilize market price, non-observance of quality standards and good production practices, lack of coordination among farmers and lenient enforcement of standards by the government are prevailing concerns of stakeholders. Government programs are continually designed for farmers, but, the process and requirements hinder some farmers from availing of the programs.

Engaging Local Knowledge on Wild Honeybees Toward Sustainable Livelihood and Ecological Conservation in the Cordillera Region, Philippines

The local knowledge and practices pertaining to wild honeybees in the Philippines are underreported and barely harnessed for development initiatives. This study documents the system of knowledge and practices on wild honeybees of the Cordillera indigenous peoples in Northern Luzon, with the end-goal of tapping into their potentials for sustainable livelihood and ecological management. Based mainly on ethnographic data from wild honey gatherers and maintainers, the findings report on four types of honey-producing wild bees that are exploited in the region, including their physical characteristics, habitat, and nesting and foraging behaviors. Likewise discussed are the practices involved in the hunting or managing of wild honeybee colonies and the harnessing of their by-products. Finally, several issues as well as potential areas for development are identified. Attending to these holds promise for sustaining the traditional economic engagement with wild honeybees while abetting ecological conservation in the region.

Determinants for Increased Efficiency of Sitio Busngol Farmers Association Highland Vegetable Production in Puerto Princesa City

Highland vegetable farming is the cultivation of vegetables in high-altitude regions to take advantage of the unique climatic conditions found at higher elevations, such as cooler temperatures, greater rainfall, and more fertile soil. In 2020, a successful pilot production of highland vegetables in Puerto Princesa City was conducted by local government in partnership with the Sitio Busngol Farmers Association (SBFA). Recently, the farmers are able to produce significant amount of bell pepper, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, lettuce, chines cabbage, onion leaves, and snap beans. A good indication that the location has a potential of producing an ample amount of the commodity to sustain the demand of the city and to decrease its dependency in Cordillera region. Thus, this study examined the determinants for increased efficiency of the farmers in producing highland vegetables by assessing their profile and farming practices in relation to the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Fruits and Vegetable Farming – Code of Practice of the Philippines. Further, this study examined the relationship between their total harvest and farming practices. This study used descriptive correlational quantitative research design to attain the objectives and answer the research questions. A researcher-made questionnaire underwent content validation and reliability testing with an alpha coefficient of .917 (Excellent). Ten (10) member farmers of SBFA served as respondents of the study. Using Pearson Correlation Coefficient, there is a strong positive relationship between the Total Harvest of the farmers and their farming practices in terms of Source of Irrigation Water and Management, Post-Harvest Handling and Storage, and Transport and Marketing respectively as evidenced by their p-values.

Kasiyana as Religious Communication among the Kankanaeys in the Philippines

Indigenous cultures have their belief systems, including the recognition of a supreme being, and with such recognition comes their moral systems, which guide how they live their lives. As for the Kankanaeys in the Cordillera Region of the Philippines, Kasiyana is one of the practices that portrays their belief in the divine and serves as a moral guide in their relationship with other people and the environment. The pervasiveness of Kasiyana in the Kankanaey cultures makes it a viable source of reflection in religious communication. Thus, the paper aims to make explicit how Kasiyana expressions and manifestations are forms of religious communication. The paper started by extracting how the COVID-19 survivor participants perceived, expressed, and manifested the Kasiyana. With the participants’ extracted manifestations of Kasiyana, the paper discussed how the Kankanaey concept of Kasiyana qualifies in some pertinent areas of religious communication. The paper also presented how Kasiyana is intertwined with Christian teachings, making it more sensible to discuss as religious communication. Keywords: Indigenous, cultural identity, cultural preservation, Kankanaey spirituality, Cordillera

A Framework for Innovating the Technological Startup in the Cordillera Region through an E-commerce Mobile Platform

The technological startup community is beginning to be recognized in solving various needs in the Cordillera region. However, these technological startups have limited growth because they encounter challenges such as financial concerns, limited market reach, lack of awareness of intellectual property rights, and inadequate digital infrastructure. Thus, the researcher proposed the development of an e-commerce mobile application that addresses the needs of startups. Through the use of data gathering techniques, the researcher was able to determine the design considerations in terms of the architecture framework and features of the e-commerce mobile application that addressed the problems encountered by startups in the Cordillera region. The use of the 4+1 view model illustrated the architecture framework of the e-commerce mobile platform for intended stakeholders by providing a logical view, process view, physical view, development view, and scenario view. The architecture framework was used to determine the features to be integrated into the proposed e-commerce mobile application to address the challenges of the technological startups of the Cordillera region.

The Significance of Professionalism in Real Estate Practice: A Systematic Review

This explores the significance of professionalism in real estate practice, emphasizing its role in building trust with clients. This systematic review examined the five key themes that define professionalism across various regions in the globe. These themes include fostering trust, ethical conduct, market expertise, effective communication, and continuous learning. Cultural sensitivity and adaptation are important in a globalized real estate market. It then delves deeper into the case of the Philippines, focusing on the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). The paper explores the national requirements for professional conduct in the Philippines and the distinct challenges faced by real estate professionals in the Cordillera region. While acknowledging the positive aspects, this paper identifies areas for improvement, particularly regarding accessibility to continuing professional development (CPD) programs like culturally sensitive investing in online learning platforms to ensure wider accessibility for geographically dispersed professionals in the Cordillera region. The paper concludes with recommendations for the Philippines to address these challenges and empower Cordillera real estate professionals. By implementing these suggestions, the Philippines can contribute to a more professional and ethical real estate industry nationwide.

Direct Organogenesis and Regeneration of Arabica Coffee Cultivars

Arabica coffee is a very important crop in the Cordillera region and one of the promising industrial crops in the highlands. To develop a tissue culture protocol for ‘Typica’, ‘Mundo Novo’ and ‘Red Bourbon’ cultivars, different growth hormone combinations of Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP), Kinetin, (Kin), Indole Acetic Acid, (IAA), and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) with different concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 ppm/L and light conditions were tested on the somatic embryo as an explant grown in MS medium. Result showed that using somatic embryo of ‘Mundo Novo’ inoculated in 2ppm BAP and 2ppm Kinetin at 16 hours light, shoot emerged after 18.2 days and shoot proliferated with an average of 4 shoots at 91.75 days after inoculated in 2ppm BAP+ 2ppm Kin + 1ppm IAA at 24 hours light. However, 'Typica’ inoculated in 2ppm BAP, 2ppm Kin and 2ppm IAA at 24 hours light induced shoot emergence after 19 days and proliferated through direct organogenesis with an average of 5.43 shoots in 2ppm BAP +2ppm Kin + 2ppm IAA at 87.4 days after inoculation at 16 hours light condition. Subsequently, 'Red Bourbon' initiated shoot emergence after 35 days inoculated in 1ppm GA + 8ppm BA + 0.5ppm IAA in dark condition. Moreover, the regeneration of plantlets transferred to MS containing 2 ppm IBA, 2 ppm NAA and 2 ppm IAA were elongated and rooted 2-3 months after transplanting. Highest percentage of survival was recorded on 1 part of vermicompost: 1 part sand: 1 part of burnt rice hull on cultivar 'Red Bourbon' and 'Mundo Novo'. In addition, soil media with 1 part of BSU compost: 1 part sand: 1 part of burnt rice hull has a 100% survival rate on 'Typica' and 'Mundo Novo'.

Diagnosis and Management of Otosclerosis in a Filipino Population

OBJECTIVE : This case series aims to describe the diagnosis and management of otosclerosis in a series of Filipino patients encountered in a private, subspecialty otologic clinical practice. In particular, it elucidates the demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic exam findings, clinical intervention and hearing outcomes. METHODS : Study Design : Retrospective review of medical records of a case series Setting : Subspecialty otologic / neurotologic clinical practice Participants : Medical records of all patients diagnosed to have otosclerosis based on radiologic evidence of fenestral or retrofenestral otosclerosis and/or confirmed during surgical exploration of the middle ear, during the period 2004-2017. RESULTS : Nine patients with otosclerosis were identified. Most patients presented with bilateral, primarily conductive hearing loss in middle age. However, an adolescent patient was also identified. Most patients were from the component cities of the National Capital Region. However, patients from the Cordillera region and south-central Mindanao were also identified. Radiologic evidence of fenestral or retrofenestral otosclerosis was identified in the majority of patients. However, readings of normal temporal bone CT findings were also seen. Obliterative otosclerosis was identified in one patient. Both objective and subjective evidence of hearing improvement was documented after stapedectomy in patients undergoing surgery. CONCLUSIONS : This study documents the presence of clinical otosclerosis in a Filipino population. As in other populations, it typically presents in middle age as a bilateral, primarily conductive hearing loss. However, a younger age does not preclude its diagnosis, as juvenile otosclerosis has been identified. The presence of patients in regions of the Philippines other than the National Capital Region implies that it has to be considered even in regional populations without a racial predilection for otosclerosis. The identification of radiologic evidence of fenestral and retrofenestral otosclerosis on CT imaging of the temporal bone makes this is an essential part of the work-up of Filipino patients with conductive hearing loss and normal otologic examinations. Surgical treatment via stapes surgery is an effective and viable option in the management of Filipino patients with otosclerosis. The identification of less common variants such as obliterative otosclerosis indicates the need for specialized surgical equipment and appropriate surgical training in order to successfully deal with these situations.

Mapping Forest Vulnerability to Fire and Landslides in the Cordillera Region, Philippines

Forest fires and landslides pose significant threats to the Cordillera's forests. Despite their detrimental impact, the vulnerability of forests in this region has received limited attention in previous studies. To address this research gap, this study employs satellite imagery and remotely sensed datasets to identify forest areas in the region that are susceptible to fires and landslides. In 2021, the forest cover in the region spans approximately 1.35 million hectares, accounting for over 73% of its total land area. However, approximately 116 thousand hectares, or 8.5% of the forest in the region, are prone to fires. The study notes an increasing trend of fire incidents and burned areas observed in both natural and plantation forests in the region. This trend could be linked to the region's rising temperatures and extended drought. In the next four decades, a projected rise in temperature of 1.1 to 1.3°C and a decrease in precipitation (-8.8 mm) during the dry season could result in more severe forest fires, larger burned areas, and longer fire durations. Furthermore, nearly 73% of the region's forests are vulnerable to landslides at a high to extremely high level. This vulnerability is reflected in the 182 landslides that occurred in the region between 2007 and 2018. The output of this study could be used in the adaptation and mitigation plans, and risk reduction activities in the region. The findings of this study highlight the need for urgent action to prevent further forest degradation due to anthropogenic and natural hazards.

Small Differences in Diet Facilitate the Coexistence of Three Forage Fish Species in an Inshore Northern Patagonian Habitat

Forage fish play the crucial role of transferring energy from lower to upper trophic levels. These small pelagic fish feed on plankton and can compete with each other for food, leading to potentially complex interactions. Three forage fish species (Sprattus fuegensis, Strangomera bentincki, and Engraulis ringens) are commonly found in the inshore waters of Northern Chilean Patagonia, a region with large spatial variability in oceanographic conditions and in the zooplankton community. To better understand what factors may explain coexistence among these three forage fish species, we examined differences in resource availability (zooplankton community and abundances) in three locations (Chiloé, Cordillera, and Aysén regions) within Northern Patagonia. We compared the diet of the three fish species using both stable isotope and stomach content analyses, and we measured their gill rakers. S. fuegensis, the only species found in all three regions, had flexible diets which lent it greater success than the other two species at foraging in waters with fewer prey. We found little diet differentiation among the three species in the copepod-rich Cordillera region, but the diverging diets of S. bentincki and S. fuegensis in the copepod-poor Chiloé region suggest that diet partitioning in areas with fewer resources is due to competition. The small differences in diet facilitates coexistence among the three species, which may help explain the lack of correlation between the three species’ population abundances in the Cordillera region over the past 6 years. Finally, our results show that the high degree of oceanographic heterogeneity in Northern Patagonia may encourage species separation based on their specific environmental requirements.

Ecosystem services through the lens of indigenous people in the highlands of Cordillera Region, Northern Philippines

Understanding the perception, use, and prioritization of ecosystem services (ES) is important for shaping local environmental policies. This study assessed for the Cordillera Region, Philippines, Indigenous peoples (IPs) perception on the significance of ES for their well-being, influence of socio-economic factors attributing to these perceptions, and ranked the most valued ES. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaires with 922 households in 48 villages of the Region. We found that most frequently identified and valued ES are provisioning (food, income, and medicinal resources) followed by cultural and regulating ES. The study showed signficant influence (p-value 0.001) of ethnicity, occupation, gender, and age to affect local perceptions of ES provided by the landscapes. A remarkable differences appeared in prioritizing ES, e.g. younger local respondents value ES more than older ones; women have appreciated most ES; and ethnic groupings tend to have a different value of ES that are significantly connected with the landscape characteristics. Traditional rice farming systems was ranked as source providing the most valued ES followed by conventional farming systems and off-farming activities like collection of non-timber forest products. Furthermore, IPs involvement to local surveys are useful in ecosystem conservation strategies because the way society modifies an ecosystem is a function associated to perceptions, interest, and values. A relevant information to decision-makers that must be integrated into local development planning to maintain the flow of ES that support the livelihood in a community.

Fatek (Tattoo): An Ethnic Bontoc Marker in the Northern Philippines

The Bontok Igorots of Mountain Province, in the Cordillera Region, are one of the Philippine tribes that practiced traditional tattooing. The reasons and meanings of their tattoos could be better understood through the traditional context of Bontoc culture. To determine the cultural significance of tattoos to the Bontoks, the descriptive survey investigation was used to explore the tribe’s physical and socio-cultural practice of tattooing (fatek); discover the changes in the practice and perceptions of tattoo as well as its implication in the traditional and contemporary Bontoc society. The study’s primary informants included Bontoc elders with first-hand experiences and knowledge in the practice of traditional tattooing and young people with tattoos. The findings of the study showed that the traditional tattoo in traditional Bontoc society conveyed symbolic meanings, especially among the male members of the tribe. The chaklag is a symbol of status and at the same time a part of the rite of passage. On the other hand, women’s tattoos in Bontoc had no significant meaning but purely for decorative purposes and social acceptance. This study unfolds many unique and indigenous tattoo symbols which contribute to the development of local art. The changing attitudes and perceptions toward tattoos by the contemporary Bontoc community is a tug of war between the older and younger generation. The advancement of technology made tattooing more convenient thus, attracting many young people in Bontoc to have tattoos. Further, tattooing has become part of the health and beauty industry and many young professionals and teenagers are having positive attitudes and perceptions toward tattoos. Today, the impact of tattoos in the Bontoc society is closely felt in the loss of their cultural and symbolic meanings and thus ceased to be an ethnic marker for the Bontoc tribe. In the area of economy, it is beginning to draw clients from young professionals and teenagers. It has likewise become an established career and business causing the development of innovated creative art.

Atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of silver nanoparticles on bark fabric for bacterial growth inhibition

Plasma technology that operates at atmospheric pressure is increasingly used for surface modification of heat-sensitive materials to confer antibacterial properties. In this study, atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) system was used to deposit silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for antibacterial application into bark fabric used in the Cordillera Region, Philippines. Plasma was produced by applying 15 kV to silver electrodes while the argon and oxygen gases were allowed to flow at 15 and 5 liters per minute (LPM), respectively. Characterization of plasma by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) suggests the formation of active plasma species. The observed surface roughness which consequently enhanced the adsorption of AgNPs was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) analyses. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) results further revealed the removal of surface impurities as indicated by the production of carbon dioxide. Qualitative and quantitative antibacterial assays proved the efficiency of the samples in inhibiting the growth of bacteria namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial efficiency of the samples proportionally increased with longer plasma treatment time. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet could serve as a promising deposition technique with potential application in the production of antibacterial fabrics.

Knowledge and attitudes of future physicians in the Cordillera region of the Philippines towards climate change: A pre-pandemic cross-sectional study

Knowledge and attitudes of future physicians in the Cordillera region of the Philippines towards climate change: A pre-pandemic cross-sectional study

Ensuring vehicle safety

Snow avalanches, mudflows, landslides, rockfalls and other slope phenomena in mountain regions of the world have long been and are now considered powerful natural disasters. In the Caucasus, in the Cordillera, Alps and other mountainous regions of the world, slope phenomena in the form of glacial collapses are extremely catastrophic [1]. To ensure the safety of motor transport in these conditions, the North Caucasus state technical University has developed avalanche protection systems in order to radically reduce human casualties, environmental and socioeconomic damage [2]. In this work, the influence of the cross-section of the highway on the accident rate in mountain traffic conditions and the stability of the roadbed was studied [3, 4]. We offer to provide this goal with the help of the performance properties of the car itself. Keywords: provision, traffic safety, motor transport, natural disaster, mountain region, parameter, avalanche rotection system, vehicle handling and stability

Creating Paradise Through a Palimpsest of Textile Higher Education and Community-Based Research

The Cordillera region of the Northern Philippines features ethnolinguistic weaving traditions which are now moving towards extinction. A practitioner-led research project developed a weaving tool-kit to support the preservation of weaving traditions, but further questions regarding the status of women textile workers arose as a result. The habitus of the researcher as a part-time textile lecturer created an interweaving between the differing, yet connected project participant experiences. Discourse analysis of participant observation data, community workshop reflections and documentary photography enabled a methodology to evolve which articulates the raw understandings this research raised. A research question asked: How can craft generate economic opportunities and enhance livelihoods for women? The findings and end point of this article propose that Bourdieu’s theories of practice are a useful framework through which textile workers can understand more clearly the different forms of capital their roles embody.

Physiological Aspects of Cordillera Weaving in the Philippines

This novel study examined the physiological aspects of weaving among 20 female weavers from the Cordillera Region of Northern Luzon, Philippines. Demographic profile and anthropometric measures were gathered, heart rate (HR) and posture were continuously monitored while the weavers performed a 30-min weaving task. Data were analyzed using mean ± standard deviation and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to identify any relationship. Analysis was conducted using a commercial statistical package (SPSS version 25, IBM, Chicago, IL) with alpha set at 0.05 level. Data revealed that the weavers’ blood pressure is at the prehypertension stage, body fat percentage relative to age is average, BMI value is classified as overweight, and WHR value showed that they are at risk from metabolic disorders. Results also showed that the occupational demands of weaving presented low cardiovascular workload and increased task difficulty resulted to more forward lean among weavers. Additionally, there was a linear relationship between HR and posture. These findings suggest the potential for increased risk for musculoskeletal injuries with weaving.

Interventions in Addressing Gender Issues in the Classroom

Gender equality is the number five agenda of the Sustainable Development Goal, where its primary goal is providing women and girls with equal access to education. Up to this day, students experience gender issues, inequality, and bias inside the classroom. This research looked into the extent of observation on gender issues inside the classroom to eliminate bias, discrimination, and to achieve a comfortable classroom environment. More specifically, this research aimed to develop an intervention to address gender and development issues in the classroom. A Quantitative method of research was implemented using descriptive statistics to analyze data. Questionnaire was used to answer the specific problems; interview was conducted to validate the results of the study. Random sampling technique identified the respondents of the study from selected colleges and universities in the Cordillera Region. The extent of intervention programs, policies, and activities for teachers are moderately observed.