Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business, and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of its first president, Nicanor Reyes Sr. The first accountancy and business school for Filipinos, the university, through the years, has expanded its course offerings to the arts and sciences, architecture, fine arts, education, engineering, computer studies, graduate studies, tourism and hotel management, law, nursing, and medicine. FEU has seven campuses located in Metro Manila, Cavite and Rizal. It offers programs from elementary, secondary, tertiary, to graduate school.FEU Manila comprises several Institutes that offer specific programs. The accountancy program, along with its other undergraduate programs, have received the highest Level IV accreditation from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has also granted it as a Center of Development in Business Administration and a Center of Excellence for Teacher Education.Since its establishment in 1928, FEU has produced national artists, business tycoons, ambassadors, justices of the Supreme Court and other judicial bodies, technocrats in private and government sectors, finance wizards, acclaimed physicians, nurses, educators, theater and media luminaries and so many others in different fields of expertise.
Background: Health-promoting schools (HPS) are a key strategy for improving student health and supporting national education policy. Despite its importance, evidence on the implementation of global HPS standards (GSHPS) in diverse school settings in Thailand remains limited. Method: A quantitative-dominant, two-phase design was used. Quantitative data were obtained from 498 school administrators using validated assessment tools (S-CVI = 4.62–5.00; α = 0.935–0.967). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups with nine administrators and experts to contextualize quantitative patterns and provide practice-oriented insights regarding implementation feasibility. Results: HPS implementation across the ten GSHPS components was rated at a high level, with the “Safe and Disease-Free Environment” component receiving the highest mean score (M = 4.56). Significant differences of HPS implementation, outcomes, and problems appeared for school level, school size, presence of guidance/school psychologists, and administrators' HPS knowledge. Five management and implementation-related predictors significantly explained 51% of the variance in HPS outcomes, with participatory leadership, team capacity development, and data-driven monitoring showing the strongest effects. Conclusion: This study provides empirical insights into the status and determinants of HPS implementation in Thailand. The findings highlight organizational and leadership factors essential for strengthening health-promoting practices in schools. These results can inform targeted interventions and policy planning aimed at fostering a more sustainable health-promoting school environment. Keywords: Data-driven decision-making, Educational management, Global standards, Health-promoting schools, Health culture, School leadership
Oropouche fever is an increasingly significant health concern in tropical and subtropical areas of South and Central America, and is primarily spread by midge vectors. The Oropouche virus (OROV) was first identified in 1955 and has been responsible for numerous outbreaks, particularly in urban environments. Despite its prevalence, the disease is often under-reported, making it difficult to fully understand its impact. OROV typically causes febrile illness characterized by symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, and, occasionally, neurological issues such as meningitis. The ability of the virus to thrive in both forested and urban areas has raised concerns regarding its potential spread to new regions, particularly in the context of climate change. This paper delves into the epidemiology, clinical features, and transmission patterns of OROV, shedding light on the difficulties in diagnosing and managing the disease. The absence of specific treatments and vaccines highlights the urgent need for continued research and development of targeted public health strategies. Advancements in molecular diagnostics and vector control strategies can mitigate Oropouche fever’s impact. However, a comprehensive public health approach involving increased surveillance, public education, and cross-border collaboration is needed, especially as the global climate crisis may expand vector habitats, posing risks to previously unaffected regions.
School counsellors with a strong professional identity have a stronger sense of purpose, better role clarity, and greater job satisfaction. However, the factors that shape professional identity, particularly the role played by school leaders, remain underexplored. In this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study, we investigated the relationship between supportive leadership practices and the professional identity of school counsellors. Using Self-Determination Theory as the theoretical framework, we surveyed 168 counsellors and interviewed 13 counsellors in the Philippines. Quantitative results revealed that autonomy-supportive leadership was significantly associated with a stronger professional identity. Qualitative findings showed the potential underlying mechanisms: counsellors with autonomy-supportive principals felt understood, had a voice in decision-making, and felt empowered to take on leadership roles. Competence support showed no significant impact, while relatedness support had mixed associations with professional identity. This study is novel in applying Self-Determination Theory as a framework to understand the role of leadership practices in school counsellors' professional identity. The findings hold implications for leadership practices that promote professional growth among counsellors and the effectiveness of school counselling.
School counselling is an effective means of providing school-based support for young people's wellbeing. However, the wellbeing of school counsellors themselves and the factors that shape it are relatively underexplored. Such research is particularly sparse in Southeast Asia, where school counselling is an emerging, though quickly developing field. Using Self-Determination Theory as a framework, we investigated the association between need supportive leadership and the wellbeing and engagement of school counsellors in the Philippines. We surveyed 168 in-service school counsellors on need supportive leadership, basic psychological need satisfaction, work engagement, and wellbeing. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed model. Results showed that, when counsellors perceived their school leaders as supportive of their autonomy, competence, and relatedness, they experienced higher levels of engagement and wellbeing. These associations were mediated by basic psychological needs satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of providing work environments that support counsellors' basic psychological needs.
OBJECTIVE:This study investigated perinatal depressive symptoms among pregnant and postpartum Filipino women. DESIGN:Cross-sectional survey. SETTING:The Philippines. PARTICIPANTS:Participants were recruited online and face-to-face from maternal care facilities. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE:Perinatal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score, with prevalence calculated based on ≥13 cut-off, indicating clinically significant symptoms of depression. Patterns of depressive symptoms were examined by demographics, perinatal time period and other obstetric information using adjusted regression coefficients (ab) and risk ratios (aRR). RESULTS:A total of 856 women participated in the study, comprising 356 pregnant and 500 postpartum women. EPDS scores were, on average, similar between pregnant (14.4) and postpartum women (14.1). Using the locally validated cut-off of ≥13 revealed that 69.1% of pregnant and 62.0% of postpartum women reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. Consistent EPDS scores and prevalence were observed across pregnancy trimesters and within 12 months postpartum and beyond. Women who received adequate prenatal care were less likely to experience antenatal (ab=-1.59, 95% CI -3.13 to -0.05) and postpartum (ab=-1.30, 95% CI -2.48 to -0.12) depressive symptoms. Postpartum EPDS scores and depressive symptom prevalence (EPDS score ≥13) were higher among 18-24-year olds (ab=1.96, 95% CI 0.30 to 3.61; aRR=1.23, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.47) and single mothers (ab=3.46, 95% CI 0.22 to 6.71; aRR=1.42, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.90), compared with older and married mothers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:At least 60% Filipino mothers experienced clinically significant perinatal depressive symptoms, which exceeds the established global average of 25%. Younger and single postpartum women were at greater risk, while pregnant and postpartum women who attended adequate prenatal visits were less likely to report depressive symptoms. Our study underscores the need for further research to uncover the true burden of poor perinatal mental health and calls for targeted early interventions and integrative public health strategies to support at-risk mothers, particularly those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
