Silliman Journal

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Women Engaged in Sex Work: An Evaluation of Source of Interventions

Mark Anthony Salve — 2024-02-27

This study sampled 30 FSWs who have been involved with the intervention activities of the Silliman University Extension Office. Data were collected through personal interviews with the women using a questionnaire guide. With regards to the KAP variables and source of intervention, the results revealed no significant relationship between the source of intervention and knowledge (p = .41). Similarly, no significant relationship was established between the source of intervention and attitude (p = .91), as well as between the source of intervention and practice (p = .76). Meanwhile, the research outcome between the KAP variables showed significant relationships, as follows: knowledge and attitude (p < .001), attitude and practice (p = .01), and knowledge and practice (p < .001). For the relationship between demographic variables and practice, a significant difference was exhibited between the age categories of the sex workers (U = 32.0, p = .04) and years of engagement (U = 53.0, p = .02). In contrast, no significant difference was manifested between marital status (U = 99.5, p =.84) and educational attainment (U = 103.0, p = .84) categories. The results of this study can guide the formulation of efficient strategies for improving the health and well-being of FSWs.

The Mistress is the Mastermind: Framing Women Involved in a Government Fund Scam by a Social News Network in the Philippines

Mary Joie Cruz — 2024-02-27

The study investigated the framing of how women involved in the Philippine ‘pork barrel’ scam or misuse of discretionary funds given to members of Congress are framed. These discretionary funds were supposedly for development projects and were officially called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). First exposed by Philippine media in 2013, the alleged scam implicated five senators and 23 members of Congress. Informed by framing and feminist theories, this study content analyzed 107 stories and the framing of 33 major stories reported by Rappler, a social news network in the Philippines. The labels used for women in the 107 stories were “mastermind” (49.44%), Mrs. Napoles” (14.61%), “Brains behind the pork barrel scam” (12.36%), and “Pork barrel queen” (8.98%). Only two stories labeled her as the “scapegoat of corrupt lawmakers.” The three-level codings of the 33 stories revealed five primary frames, namely: 1) consumerist women, 2) social climbers, 3) bad mother, 4) woman vs. woman, and 5) woman vs. herself, while the secondary frames included 1) personalization and suspicion, and 2) minor men. The “minor men” frame showed that the male counterparts of the women (Mrs. Napoles’ General husband and son) were glossed over in the stories, hence ‘pushing’ Janet Napoles further in the limelight as the ‘mastermind’ of the complex Philippine ‘pork barrel’ scam.

Salin-dilang Pamana: Mga Pagpapahalaga at Kulturang Mamamalas sa Piling Kuwentong-Bayan sa Isla ng Olango

Arnel T. Noval — 2024-02-27

Nilalayon ng pag-aaral na maisalin at masuri ang kultura at pagpapahalaga ng piling kuwentong-bayang nakalap upang makabuo ng isang antolohiya ng mga lokal na kuwentong-bayan sa Isla ng Olango. Deskriptibong pananaliksik ang ginamit sa pag-aaral na isinagawa sa pamamagitan ng pakikipanayam upang makalikom ng mga kinakailangang datos. Matapos ang ginawang pagsusuri, natuklasan na ang pagpapahalagang nakapaloob sa mga ito ay pagmamahal sa kaibigan at sa kalikasan, pananampalataya sa Maykapal, pagiging masunurin, at pagtutulungan. Lutang na lutang naman sa sampung akda ang kulturang may temang matatag na paniniwala sa kanilang mahal na Patron, katapangan sa pagsuong sa anomang hamon ng buhay, paniniwala hinggil sa mga nilalang na hindi nakikita at mga masasamang espiritu, pagiging matulungin sa kapwa, matibay na paniniwala sa mahal na Patron bilang tagapagtanggol, tagapagpanatili ng kaayusan at tagapaglunas ng mga karamdaman, pagkahilig sa pag-inom ng tuba, pagprosisyon sa mahal na Patron sa dagat, at pagiging palakaibigan ng mga taga-Olango. Batay sa natuklasan, naisakongklusyon na ang mga kuwentong-bayan sa Isla ng Olango ay hitik sa pagpapahalaga at natatanging kulturang Cebuano. Ang mga kuwentong-bayan ay nararapat maidokumento at maisalin upang makabuo ng isang materyal na magagamit sa pagtuturo ng panitikang lokal sa pamamaraang lokalisado at kontekstuwalisado.

Surviving and Overcoming Poverty: Experiences of Quondam Poor Individuals in a Philippine City

John Wayne V. Jacinto — 2024-02-27

This paper explored the processes undertaken by quondam poor individuals to survive and overcome poverty in Dapitan City, Philippines. Dapitan City is one of the third-class cities and, unlike other cities in the Philippines, is not highly urbanized. Hence, surviving and overcoming poverty in this economic condition yields a different reality. This pilot study employed the grounded theory approach, which generated a paradigm based on the experiences of quondam poor individuals. Central to the participants’ experiences in surviving and overcoming poverty were the realization and acceptance of their conditions and their determination to succeed and achieve their goals. The choice and use of means of overcoming poverty were relative to the participants’ contexts and personal-social conditions. Surviving and overcoming poverty is a conglomeration of internal and external factors in the lives of individuals.

Isolation of Phytochemical Components Present in Philippine Morinda citrifolia Variety (PhilNONI)

Florita S. Maslog — 2024-02-27

Various modern techniques currently determine phytochemicals, but conventional qualitative tests are still popular for preliminary phytochemical screening of plants. This study was patterned on a previous work of Nagalingam et al. from India, who extracted and did preliminary phytochemical screening of active components in their Indian noni fruit variety. We aimed to isolate the phytochemical components present in our local Morinda citrifolia variety (called PhilNONI by our company). It is a fact that different noni varieties from different countries may differ in phytochemical contents. Recent scientific studies have established a relationship between phytochemicals and health benefits, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases, in boosting immunity and as powerful antioxidants. Phytochemicals, moreover, fulfill the action of cell regeneration in wound healing. There are about 65-200 phytochemicals that can fight diseases, boost energy, and revitalize health. They are powerful innovators, as discussed by Rita Elkins in her book on the Noni Revolution. Using three extracts from noni powder, ethanol, methanol, and water, we isolated qualitatively in appreciable amounts from the three extracts of PhilNONI the following groups of phytochemicals: steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and saponin. Gallic catechol tannin, acidic compounds, and reducing sugar are also in appreciable amounts but only in water extracts. Both ethanol and methanol PhilNONI extracts gave appreciable amounts of phenolic compounds. Protein came out in large amounts from methanol and water extracts and large amounts in ethanol extract, but only for asparagine amino acids. We isolated anthraquinone in medium amounts from methanol extract but in appreciable amounts from ethanol and water extracts. There was no lipid or fat isolated from the three extracts.