Philippine Social Science Journal

Tourism Potential, Opportunities, and Challenges of a Congressional District in Negros Island Region, Philippines

Alme Rhummyla G. Nicor-Mangilimutan — 2026-06-02

This multi-method study assessed the tourism potential, challenges, and opportunities of a congressional district in Negros Island Region, Philippines amid post-pandemic recovery and environmental vulnerabilities. Utilizing a multi-method research design, data were gathered from 734 mixed stakeholders across one city and five municipalities. Quantitatively, the district demonstrated a "very high" overall tourism potential, led significantly by agri-tourism over nature-based and sun-and-beach sectors. Interestingly, stakeholders in areas with lower local government fund allocations perceived significantly higher tourism potential than those in high-allocation areas, highlighting a localized "resourcefulness gap" . Qualitatively, content analysis revealed that the district sits in a "foundational" developmental stage, severely hindered by poor road access, weak policy enforcement, and insufficient basic utilities. Conversely, eco-tourism and infrastructure development emerged as premier growth opportunities. These findings provide vital baseline data for crafting a strategic plan to bridge local structural deficiencies.

School Climate and Job Satisfaction of College Teachers in a Private Higher Education Institution: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method

Mark Joseph C. Cruz — 2026-06-02

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study assessed school climate and job satisfaction of college teachers in a private Catholic institution in Negros Island Region. The quantitative phase surveyed 136 teachers, revealing high job satisfaction and a very positive school climate with a strong positive relationship between them. School safety, staff connections, and physical environment significantly predicted job satisfaction, while demographic variables showed no significant relationships. The qualitative phase interviewed eight teachers, uncovering two major themes: demographic characteristics do not diminish shared satisfaction due to the unifying "community of friends" spirit, and a positive school climate directly fuels job satisfaction through staff connections as family, school safety as a foundation, spiritual formation as a unique asset, and recognition as a powerful booster. The integrated findings served as the basis for formulating evidence-based faculty development initiatives for continuous quality improvement.

Research Fatigue and Scientific Writing Difficulty among Thesis and Dissertation Writers in a Catholic University: A Qualitative Inquiry

Marisa B. Petalla — 2026-06-02

Graduate education places rigorous pressure on students to produce high-quality research, which can trigger research fatigue. This academic exhaustion often leads to substantial scientific writing difficulties, leaving students feeling unequipped in knowledge, skills, and attitude. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative research design, this study explored the experiences of research fatigue and scientific writing difficulties among eleven (11) purposively selected thesis and dissertation writers enrolled in a Catholic university for the academic year 2025-2026. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, and qualitative insights were analyzed using Lichtman’s 3Cs (coding, categorizing, and conceptualizing). Qualitative analysis revealed three core themes for research fatigue, which include physiological and psychosomatic manifestations, cognitive and psychological exhaustion, and functional disruption and role strain. In addition, three themes of writing difficulties emerged which include structural and logical organization hurdles, technical and methodological barriers, and information literacy and pedagogical gaps. The findings of the study promote awareness of the critical challenges faced by thesis and dissertation writers especially regarding research fatigue and scientific writing difficulties during the writing process.

Reading Comprehension Level of Grade 3 Learners in Public Elementary Schools in Southern Negros Occidental, Philippines

Ma. Liezyl D. Toog — 2026-06-02

Reading comprehension is a foundational skills critical for academic success and lifelong learning. This quantitative study investigated the reading comprehension levels of 208 Grade 3 pupils across twelve public elementary schools in Southern Negros Occidental, Philippines during the 2024–2025 school year. Utilizing a descriptive-comparative design, the researcher employed a validated, contextualized questionnaire to measure literal, inferential, and critical comprehension. Participants were selected via stratified random sampling and categorized by Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) classifications and parental education levels. Results revealed significant performance gaps: pupils classified as "At Grade Level" consistently outperformed those in lower CRLA categories across all domains. Furthermore, statistical analysis identified a significant correlation between a parent’s highest educational attainment and a child’s literal and total reading proficiency. These findings suggest that parental education is a key predictor of literacy success and underscore the urgent need for targeted instructional interventions for students in lower CRLA brackets to bridge foundational reading gaps.

Graduate Outcomes and Mental Health: A Tracer Study of Alumni of the Psychology and Guidance and Counseling Graduate Programs (2018–2025) in a Catholic University

Celo I. Magallanes — 2026-06-02

Graduate tracer studies are essential for evaluating how higher education translates into professional competence and psychosocial well-being. This study assessed program contribution, service delivery satisfaction, graduate attribute practice, and mental health outcomes among 56 alumni (2018–2025) of a Catholic university’s postgraduate programs in Psychology and Guidance and Counseling. Using a descriptive-comparative design, a tracer composite questionnaire, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, results showed that graduates rated the programs' contribution to professional growth and service delivery satisfaction as very high. Results indicated favorable mental health outcomes overall, with higher well-being scores reported by males, doctoral graduates, public sector employees, and those in aligned careers. These findings affirm that these programs effectively address the shortage of mental health professionals while fostering human capital and resilience. Ultimately, the university’s postgraduate offerings play a critical role in advancing employability and holistic development, ensuring graduates meet rigorous accreditation standards while maintaining positive psychosocial health.

Buying Trends in Firearms and Ammunition among Sports Shooter in Negros Occidental Province

Beljun Ray O. Tulod — 2026-06-05

This study analyzed the buying trends of firearms and ammunition among sport shooters in Negros Province, Philippines, during 2024-2025. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed, surveying 109 shooters from 14 gun clubs via stratified random sampling. Results revealed that buying trends, brand preferences, and expenditure patterns were consistently strong across all demographic groups, with motivational drivers being the most influential factor. However, purchasing channel usage was limited. Correlation analysis showed a weak negative relationship between buying trends and lawman designation, while age, sex, firearm type, ammunition preference, and shooter category exhibited no significant association. The study concludes that purchasing behavior is predominantly driven by intrinsic motivation and brand loyalty rather than demographic factors, with a preference for traditional procurement channels. Limitations include a predominantly male, civilian sample and reliance on self-reported data. Practically, the findings offer valuable insights for stakeholders to align marketing, inventory, and policy with actual consumer behavior.

Research Fatigue and Scientific Writing Difficulties among Thesis and Dissertation Writers in a Catholic University: A Qualitative Inquiry

Marisa B. Petalla — 2026-07-01

Graduate education places rigorous pressure on students to produce high-quality research, which can trigger research fatigue. This academic exhaustion often leads to substantial difficulties with scientific writing, leaving students feeling unequipped in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitude. This study explored the presence of research fatigue and scientific writing difficulties among thesis and dissertation writers. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative design, the researcher gathered data through semi-structured interviews. Moreover, qualitative insights were analyzed using Lichtman’s 3Cs (coding, categorizing, and conceptualizing). Qualitative analysis revealed three core themes for research fatigue, which include physiological and psychosomatic manifestations, cognitive and psychological exhaustion, and functional disruption and role strain. In addition, three themes of writing difficulties include structural and logical organization hurdles, technical and methodological barriers, and information literacy and pedagogical gaps.