University of St. La Salle

This study investigated the perceived influence of accessibility, drink options, service quality, and price on consumer preferences and patronage intentions toward mobile bar services. It focused on the rapidly growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, where mobile bars are becoming increasingly vital. By identifying key factors shaping consumer preferences, the study aimed at providing insights for developing more responsive and competitive mobile bar operations. Using a quantitative, descriptive-comparative design, data were collected from 200 participants via a structured survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were employed for analysis. The findings revealed that service quality exerted the strongest perceived influence on consumer preferences for mobile bar services. Overall, participants rated all factors highly, indicating generally positive perceptions of mobile bar offerings. In addition, patronage intention was notably high, with the majority of participants expressing willingness to patronize mobile bar services. The results also indicated significant differences in consumer preferences across marital status, occupation, and income, suggesting that life circumstances and socioeconomic conditions play an important role in shaping consumer behavior and expectations. These findings highlight the importance of service reliability, affordability, and overall customer experience in guiding consumer decision-making. Mobile bar operators are, therefore, encouraged to adopt segmented marketing strategies, offering affordable and flexible packages for younger and budget-conscious consumers, while also providing premium, experience-oriented services for higher-income clients. Aligning service offerings with the specific preferences of different market segments can enhance customer satisfaction, strengthen loyalty, and provide a competitive advantage in the evolving event and hospitality industry. Keywords: mobile bar services, consumer preference, service quality, patronage intention, demographic factors

This study investigated how Expressive Writing Therapy influences workrelated stress, job satisfaction, and both positive and negative emotions among senior high school teachers. Forty-five teachers volunteered and were matched on demographic characteristics before being randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. Participants completed the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ), Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) at pretest and at a twoweek post-intervention. Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests for within-group comparisons and independent-samples t-tests for betweengroup posttest comparisons, with Cohen’s d used to estimate effect sizes. Within the experimental group, Expressive Writing Therapy was associated with a significant reduction in work-related stress (t(24) = 2.22, p = 0.036, d = 0.44), indicating a moderate effect. Positive Affect increased significantly from pretest to posttest (t(24) = 3.31, p = 0.003, d = 0.66), while Negative Affect significantly decreased (t(24) = 2.98, p = 0.007, d = 0.60), reflecting meaningful improvements in affective well-being. Although job satisfaction showed a slight increase following the intervention, the change did not reach statistical significance (t(24) = 1.60, p = 0.123, d = 0.32). The control group showed no significant pretest–posttest changes across all variables. Between-group comparisons of posttest scores revealed a significant difference in Positive Affect, favoring the experimental group (t(43) = 3.83, p < .001). Differences in negative affect, job satisfaction, and work-related stress were not statistically significant. Findings suggest that Expressive Writing Therapy is effective in enhancing teachers’ emotional well-being, particularly by increasing positive affect and reducing negative affect, while producing modest improvements in work-related stress. These results support the use of Expressive Writing Therapy as a cost-effective, accessible, and evidence-based psychological intervention that may promote emotional resilience and well-being among senior high school teachers in educational settings. Keywords: Emotional Well-Being, Expressive Writing Therapy, Job Satisfaction, Work-Related Stress, Teachers’ Resiliency

Abstract Plastic waste leakage poses a major environmental challenge in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited waste management infrastructure contributes to environmental contamination. This study applies the Waste Flow Diagram (WFD) tool to map municipal solid waste (MSW) flows, quantify plastic leakage, and identify systemic inefficiencies in Bacolod City, Philippines. Secondary data from the Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS), conducted by the Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) in collaboration with the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP), were integrated with field observations across selected barangays, collection routes, recovery facilities, and disposal sites. Field observations were used to validate waste flow pathways, assess operational practices, and identify leakage hotspots within the municipal solid waste system. The results indicate substantial inefficiencies across the waste management chain. Approximately 3,700 tonnes of plastic waste remained uncollected annually, while total unmanaged plastic waste was estimated at 6,684 tonnes in 2023. Uncollected plastics represented the largest source of unmanaged waste, accounting for approximately 55% of total unmanaged plastics. Overall, an estimated 2,678 tonnes of plastic waste leaked into water bodies annually, equivalent to 4.25 kg/person/year. Leakage hotspots were identified across collection, transport, recovery, and disposal stages, driven by limited infrastructure capacity, inconsistent collection coverage, and informal handling of recyclable materials. The findings demonstrate that the WFD is a practical and data-efficient tool for quantifying plastic leakage and identifying priority intervention points in data-constrained urban contexts. Strengthening collection systems, improving recovery infrastructure, and enhancing disposal site management are critical to reducing environmental leakage and improving urban waste management performance.

Background and Objective:The Philippines has significant potential as a clinical trial hub but faces a shortage of skilled clinical research professionals (CRPs). In 2022, a cross-sectional study assessed the self-assessed competencies of CRPs in four countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Congo, Philippines) using the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency (JTF) framework. This paper presents findings on the self-assessed competency and training needs of Filipino CRPs. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among Filipino clinical research professionals from March to April 2022. We asked for their self-assessed competency, relevance to their roles, and training needs in the competency domains according to the JTF framework. We also asked for the skills in community engagement and research grant application of the investigators. Results were summarized and analyzed according to their primary roles. Results:One hundred seventy-five (175) Filipino CRPs participated in the survey. They described themselves as "skilled" across all competency domains in conducting clinical research but did not rate themselves at an advanced level. They reported the lowest confidence in their skills related to study management, investigational product development and regulation, and data management. They exhibited greater confidence in competencies such as ethical considerations, professionalism, and communication. Notably, surveyed investigators had the lowest ratings in research design. Conclusion:This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the self-perceived competencies of a sample of Filipino CRPs using the JTF Clinical Research Competency Framework. It highlights key areas for capacity building, particularly in operational and regulatory competencies. However, due to the non-probability sampling and reliance on self-assessment, findings should be interpreted with caution.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2025.1535018.].