Central Luzon State University (CLSU; Filipino: Pamantasang Pampamahalaan ng Gitnang Luzon) is a state university on a 658-hectare campus in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the lead agency of the Muñoz Science Community and the seat of the Regional Research and Development Center in Central Luzon. To date, CLSU is one of the premiere institutions for agriculture in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia known for its research in aquaculture, ruminants, crops, orchard, and water management. It has also been placed between the sixth and the twenty-first spot for the most academically-excellent university in the country for various years, surpassing most schools in Metro Manila. It has been placed in the 100 most significant schools in Asia multiple times as well.CLSU is the first comprehensive state university to undergo institutional accreditation. It is a declared Cultural Property of the Philippines with the code of PH-03-0027 due to its high historical, cultural, academical, and agricultural importance to the nation. It is one of the four prominent universities in Nueva Ecija and the most academically-excellent in all of Central Luzon. It is also listed as one of the most beautiful school campuses in the Philippines due to its expansive and rural-inspired forest and rice field landscapes and architectures, which focus on sustainability and ecological balance with rural and modern architectures.
This article explores qualitative data collection methods based on researchers' experiences, integrating established techniques with culturally situated innovations. It explores core methods—interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and self-reflection—featuring their applications, strengths, and challenges in capturing nuanced human experiences. Moving beyond conventional frameworks, the article introduces and elaborates on innovative, context-sensitive data collection approaches such as Kurakani (informal conversational inquiry), Pandheri Guff (contemplative dialogue among women), and Chautari Guff (public participatory dialogue). Grounded in the authors' critical reflections from their own research journeys, the discussion offers practical insights for both novice and experienced researchers. It advocates methodological creativity and epistemic diversity, arguing that thoughtful adaptation and the generation of methods aligned with local contexts enhance rigor, authenticity, and the ethical co-construction of knowledge in qualitative research.
The growing number of mental health problems globally and in the Philippines, particularly among young adults, demands not just low-cost but effective and science-based interventions. This was especially needed in places where traditional mental health interventions were not easily accessible. This study reported the conceptualization, expert validation, and piloting feasibility and usability of a digital mental health literacy program for Filipino college students. The development of the program was composed of three distinct but connected phases using the methodological framework of the Theory of Change model. Phase 1involved the development of program through the collaboration of university-based mental health professionals. The program was grounded in a causal model of the relationship between mental health literacy, help-seeking behavior, and psychological well-being among Filipino college students, and the mental health literacy framework of Anthony Jorm [1]. In phase 2, experts in the field validated the program’s content using a researcher-made survey questionnaire. Phase 3 is pilot testing of the program to 10 participants; a focus group discussion was conducted to document user experiences, feasibility and usability of the program. The program was a 12-module program with a 6-week duration and integrated three key digital components: psychoeducational videos, online group forums, and self-help modules. Thematic analysis was used in focus group discussions with 10 participants of the pilot study. Expert validation indicated high levels of content relevance and clarity, suggesting strong alignment with the objectives of the program. Three themes emerged in the thematic analysis of the focus group discussion: enhanced self-awareness, perceived program efficacy, usability, and barriers to engagement. Participants reported improved awareness and vocabulary regarding mental and emotional health due to its structured design. Participants also described the platform of the program as user-friendly, particularly appreciating its web-based and mobile app availability. On the other hand, recommendations for improvements were also identified, such as increasing the duration of the program, adding more personalized and interactive features, and ensuring the availability of peer support. The findings provided preliminary evidence on the feasibility and usability of the digital mental health literacy program for Filipino college students. The pilot results indicated strong potential for implementation and further testing. Future studies with larger samples and more rigorous research designs were needed to examine the effectiveness of the program on mental health outcomes such as help-seeking behavior and psychological well-being.
Waste is increasingly recognized as misplaced biomass, underscoring its potential for reintegration into sustainable environmental management strategies. Biomass pyrolysis has emerged as a promising value-adding process capable of enhancing material properties for diverse applications. In this study, discarded Pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) nutshells (PS) were utilized as a pyrolysis feedstock to upgrade their fuel characteristics. Pyrolysis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD) to maximize fixed-carbon content and higher heating value (HHV). The optimized biochar achieved a maximum fixed-carbon content of 86.15% and an HHV of 32.10 MJ/kg at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 degrees C and a residence time of 60 min, values comparable to those of conventional coal. Under these optimized conditions, the fixed-carbon content and HHV of the precursor biomass were enhanced by up to 254.7% and 58.4%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that pyrolysis temperature was the most significant factor influencing both fixed-carbon content and HHV (p < 0.05). The optimized biochar exhibited low volatile matter (8.88%), low ash content (4.97%), and low atomic ratios (H:C = 0.291; O:C = 0.077), indicating a high degree of carbonization and thermal stability. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis identified alkali and alkaline earth metals (Ca, Mg, Na), which contributed to the ash fraction, with minor heavy metals present, predominantly Pb. Hence, these findings enhance understanding of how pyrolysis conditions affect PS-biochar properties, improving fuel quality indicators.
The growing demand for sustainable energy has intensified interest in converting abundant agricultural residues into renewable fuels. Among these feedstocks, corn stover represents a promising biomass for thermochemical conversion due to its high volatile matter content and widespread availability. This study investigates syngas production and product distribution from corn stover via pyrolysis and steam gasification in an atmospheric fixed-bed tubular furnace at temperatures of 650-850 degrees C. Furthermore, the effects of steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio and nickel aluminate (NiAl2O4) catalyst loading at 650 degrees C were also investigated to determine their influence on product distribution and syngas composition. Increasing temperature significantly enhanced gas production in both processes, while steam gasification consistently produced higher gas yields than pyrolysis. At an S/C ratio of 3, the gas yield increased from 37% to 58.6%, with a 55.1% increase in H2 production after 60 min compared with the pyrolysis baseline. Furthermore, incorporation of NiAl2O4 improved the H2 yield and H2/CO molar ratio while suppressing CO2 and CH4 formation, indicating enhanced catalytic reforming and secondary cracking of pyrolysis vapors. These findings demonstrate that optimizing steam addition and nickel aluminate catalyst loading effectively promotes hydrogen-rich syngas from corn stover and provides valuable insight for the development of efficient biomass-to-fuel conversion technologies.
Numerous curricular and policy changes aim to enhance mathematics educa-tion in the Philippines; however, the country continues to perform poorly in international assessments like PISA and TIMSS. This study investigates the mathematical error patterns and problem-solving strategies among junior high students with mathematical learning difficulties (MLD) in Palawan, using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis identified common errors, including comprehension (75.32%), transformation (81.23%), and presentation (94.03%), with rural students showing significantly higher trans-formation errors (= 9.48, SD = 1.377) than urban students (= 8.35, SD = 2.418), t 75 =−2.479, p = 0.016, Cohen’s d=−0.577. Qualitative focus group discussions revealed challenges in understanding basic math concepts and word problems, often exacerbated by limited instructional support. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, such as professional development for teachers, equitable resource distribution, and enhanced instructional strategies to improve foundational math skills and problem-solving abilities among students with MLD in Palawan.
