Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

27 Aug 2025

Despite centuries of stigma, babywearing survives as a marginalized practice turned into a trend

For centuries, Indigenous communities in the Philippines and around the world have used baby carriers and slings to help them...

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13 Aug 2025

Food safety risk assessment will help the Philippines manage shellfish-related hepatitis A virus health risks

This study gathered information to establish baseline data on the potential risks of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the...

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08 Jul 2025

UP Manila

Deep learning with convolutional neural networks to assess rice plant diseases performs very well

As with many Asian countries, rice is a principal food in the Philippines providing nearly half of the daily caloric...

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07 Jul 2025

Nurse-led eHealth cardiac rehabilitation helps patients transition to home life

This research looks at how people with coronary heart disease (CHD) view a nurse-led eHealth cardiac rehabilitation (NeCR) program. The...

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04 Jul 2025

Food safety risk assessment is a practical and effective way to evaluate the safety of locally consumed shellfish

This study gathered information to establish baseline information on the potential risks of the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in the...

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01 Jul 2025

Regional unity in ASEAN can grow through shared values like religiosity, humanitarianism and cultural expression

This paper explores how ASEAN identity among Southeast Asia countries can be realized by applying the concepts of “shared cultural...

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13 Jun 2025

UP Los Baños

Large language models offer many opportunities but also pose considerable challenges

With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the availability of data, and the advancement of hardware technologies, applications such...

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10 Jun 2025

UP

A virtual health and physical education program during COVID-19 struggled with low student engagement and ineffective online assessment

The study explored a virtual health and physical education program implemented during COVID-19 school closures. It centered on practices, teacher...

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09 Jun 2025

UP Diliman

There is a weak relationship between 3D mandibular shape and diet in extant primates

This is a study that uses 3D shape analyses to investigate if there is a relationship between mandible shape in...

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09 Jun 2025

UP Diliman

The presumed invisibility and “mute” voices of Pinay lesbian writers parallel the similar invisibility of nature in Philippine anthologies

In the introduction to Tingle: Anthology of Pinay Lesbian Writing (2021), the anthology’s editor, Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz, points to...

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03 Jun 2025

UP Diliman

AI can enhance conceptual understanding and boost self-confidence in mathematics

AI is increasingly integrated into educational settings, offering personalized learning experiences that adapt to individual needs. While AI has the...

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28 May 2025

UP Diliman

SPECIAL FEATURE: How did Filipino athletes cope with the Covid-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected social and economic life around the world. To protect public health, many countries enforced lockdowns...

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Research

Smoking is considered a serious health threat, particularly in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Several studies have demonstrated a strong association between smoking and the severity of COVID-19, which may lead to an increased risk of death. Smoking may also contribute to the spread of the virus through the gathering and sharing of tobacco among smokers.

As meaning is purely subjective and can vary from one person to another, this study aims to add new insights into the meaning of smoking as perceived by a new set of participants—farmworkers—whose age, educational, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds, and experiences may differ from those in previous studies. It explores why farmworkers in the Southern Philippines continue smoking despite known health risks and anti-smoking campaigns. The study focuses on how these workers perceive smoking as part of their daily lives.

Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, the researchers interviewed seven male farmworkers to understand their personal stories and experiences with smoking. The findings revealed that smoking, influenced by family and friends, holds deep meaning for these individuals. It plays a role in socializing and is ingrained as a part of their daily routine. Furthermore, it helps manage stress and negative emotions, and serves as a mental stimulant.

Despite health warnings and high cigarette prices, smoking remains a core part of the group’s identity and community life. This study shows that smoking is not just a habit but a deeply rooted cultural practice among farmworkers, strengthened by social norms and emotional connections. Understanding these personal and social meanings can help develop more culturally sensitive smoking cessation programs designed for specific communities. The insights from this study can guide policymakers and health professionals in creating more effective public health campaigns to reduce smoking among vulnerable groups, especially in rural farming areas.

Authors: Reymark P. Malinda (University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines-Jasaan) and Benjamina Paula G. Flor (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://journal.usep.edu.ph/index.php/Southeastern_Philippines_Journal/article/view/457