Lyceum of the Philippines University

This study examined long-run HIV dynamics in the Philippines and ASEAN using official annual HIV indicator series from 1990 to 2024. Employing a quantitative longitudinal comparative design, the study drew on secondary data from World Bank HIV indicators sourced from UNAIDS estimates. The Philippines served as the anchor case, while ASEAN countries functioned as comparator units where sufficient annual observations were available. The analysis covered six core indicators: people living with HIV (PLHIV), new HIV infections, new HIV infection rate, HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49 years, AIDS-related deaths, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage. Because ART coverage had a shorter usable series, it was analyzed separately as a later-period treatment indicator. The official metadata identify the prevalence and incidence series as annual UNAIDS-based measures, with the prevalence series visibly spanning 1990–2024, while ART coverage is defined as the percentage of people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Results showed a pronounced long-run escalation of the Philippine HIV profile. From 1990 to 2024, PLHIV increased from 200 to 220,000, new HIV infections from 100 to 30,000, new HIV infection rate from 0.01 to 0.48 per 1,000 uninfected population, HIV prevalence from 0.1% to 0.3%, and AIDS-related deaths from 100 to 2,300. ART coverage rose from 0% in 2000 to 40% in 2024. Phase-based analysis indicated that the strongest acceleration occurred during 2000–2010, when annualized growth reached 31.8% for PLHIV, 24.8% for new infections, 25.9% for incidence, and 17.5% for AIDS-related deaths. In the latest-year ASEAN comparison, the Philippines ranked first in both new HIV infections and new HIV infection rate, but only fifth in PLHIV, joint seventh in prevalence, and last in ART coverage among comparison countries. These findings indicate that the Philippine HIV situation is best interpreted not as the region’s highest-prevalence case, but as a transmission-intensive and treatment-weak case within ASEAN. The study concludes that incidence-centered monitoring, treatment expansion, and longitudinal health analytics are essential for understanding and responding to the country’s HIV trajectory.

Abstract The growth of tourism in Bali, especially in Canggu, has led to increased visitor numbers and traffic problems. To address these issues, sea transport options like GoBoat have been suggested, but inadequate port infrastructure, particularly at Kedonganan Port, raises safety concerns. This study focuses on designing a breakwater using tetrapods to enhance safety and support both fisheries and tourism in the port. The methodology includes analyzing various environmental data, numerical modeling, and assessing stability and costs. Findings show that the main wind direction is from the west at 11.45 m/s, resulting in wave heights of 2.56 m. A comparison of manual and numerical wave transformation results was consistent. The breakwater is designed with 1-ton tetrapods and 100 kg of natural stone, ensuring stability. The optimal southeast layout reduces wave energy in the harbor to below 0.3 meters. The estimated cost for building the breakwater is IDR 257 billion. The study concludes that the breakwater is viable and suggests conducting ecological impact assessments and socio-economic evaluations in the future.

This thesis explored the perceptions, experiences, and health implications of consuming pagpag—salvaged food from fast-food establishments—among young adults in Barangay 105, Zone 8, Tondo, Manila. Despite its health risks, including foodborne diseases and nutritional deficiencies, pagpag serves as a low-cost and accessible food source for those facing economic hardship. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combined qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to assess the physio-psychological and nutritional impacts of pagpag consumption. Findings showed that financial constraints were the primary driver behind pagpag consumption, with affordability and availability outweighing health concerns. While key informants acknowledged the risks, the lack of affordable alternatives sustains the practice. The study revealed that pagpag consumption is normalized within families and communities, influenced by socio-economic conditions and cultural practices. It contributed to nutritional deficiencies and heightened vulnerability to foodborne illnesses, while also fostering stigma and anxiety. This research advocated for public health interventions to address the health risks of pagpag and improve food security in marginalized communities, advancing the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).

Reading is one of the macro skills in English that is a target for enhancement in the Purposive Communication English course in college. This is a fundamental skill for students’ academic success, personal development, and lifelong learning. To motivate more students to read, the Drop Everything and Read Program has been implemented by the English College professors of Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila. This study employed a descriptive correlational design to assess the reading habits and reading comprehension of 418 college students enrolled in a Purposive Communication course. This program increased the utilization of books in the library and incorporates a book report requirement. Students have been required to choose a book related to their course and submit a book report, accompanied by a corresponding template, in which they write about the insights gained and reflections. The Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy guided the comprehension assessment. Based on the results, students' reading engagement and library visitation increased because it is part of the school’s requirement. It was revealed that without the requirement, students are not captivated by reading lengthy materials because they read according to their interests. These findings indicated that the Drop Everything and Read program of the Department of Languages and Humanities increased the students’ value of reading habits and comprehension. This implies that students appreciated the program in expanding their knowledge to the degree they have taken, improving their vocabulary and reading skills, and reading not only in their interest but as an accomplishment for professional development.

Hong Kong's tourism industry has rebounded rapidly after a post-pandemic, reaffirming the city's role as a major regional gateway. This recovery highlights a critical reality: in dense global cities, destination competitiveness increasingly depends on the capacity, fluency, and governance of operational systems, rather than attraction-based or marketing interventions alone. Drawing on official statistics, sector reports, and policy documents, this study employs an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach to examine how operations shape destination value in Hong Kong. The analysis identifies four interlinked challenges: (1) system-wide pressure from renewed high-volume mobility and concentrated peak flows; (2) capacity constraints in transport terminals, accommodation, and dense urban districts; (3) multi-agency fragmentation leading to process discontinuities and reduced journey fluency; and (4) a policy–implementation gap within the Development blueprint for Hong Kong's tourism industry 2.0. (Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, 2024), which identifies operational priorities but lacks concrete governance and performance integration mechanisms. In response, the paper proposes the Hong Kong Operations-Excellence (HOE) Framework, integrating Total Quality Management (TQM) principles with Operations Management (OM) tools to establish destination-level governance for flow optimization and process fluency. The framework comprises three layers: TQM-based destination governance, OM integration, and experiential outcome metrics. Policy recommendations include establishing a Destination Operations Council, implementing shared data protocols and predictive analytics, introducing operational certification, and prioritizing process-level experience redesign. The study contributes theoretically by reframing destination value as an operational outcome in high-density contexts, and practically by offering implementable governance mechanisms aligned with Hong Kong’s strategic tourism objectives.

Abstract The rapid growth of tourism in Metro Manila exerts increasing pressure on transportation systems to meet the diverse and evolving needs of tourists. This study examines the role of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms in enhancing tourist experiences through flexible, efficient, and innovative transportation solutions. Platforms such as Grab, Angkas, and MoveIt integrate multiple transportation modes into a single app interface, enabling users to seamlessly plan, book, and pay for their journeys. Using purposive sampling, 385 tourists aged 20 and above were surveyed. Results showed high satisfaction, particularly in features like real-time trip tracking, customizable transport options, and unified booking and payment systems. Flexibility and multimodal integration were strongly valued, with real-time journey tracking receiving the highest ratings. However, challenges emerged, including limited internet access, digital literacy gaps, and inclusivity concerns. While these issues were statistically significant, they demonstrated only a weak negative correlation with user satisfaction. Addressing digital literacy gaps and improving infrastructure will be crucial to maximizing its benefits. By investing in inclusive digital systems and user education, MaaS can enhance tourist mobility, contribute to smarter urban planning, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of both the tourism and transport sectors. This study aligns with various Sustainable Development Goals such 3, 7, 9, 11, and 17, showcasing MaaS as a catalyst for cleaner energy making travelling healthier, digital innovation, and inclusive partnerships—directing the vision of smart, sustainable, and tourist-friendly cities.

Social media plays a significant role in influencing travel decisions in today’s digital landscape. This study examines how various aspects of social media specifically content types (videos, images), user feedback (comments), and engagement metrics (likes, shares) impact tourists’ decision-making processes, grounded by the AIDA model. A purposive sample of 200 tourists participated in an online survey via Google Forms across the Philippines Archipelago. Findings revealed that videos were the most influential feature across all decision-making stages: catching attention, generating interest, building desire, and prompting action. In contrast, likes received the lowest influence, although still impactful. The results highlight the significance of video content in travel marketing, suggesting that marketers should prioritise producing creative, authentic, and engaging travel videos to establish trust and effectively guide tourists through their decision-making process. This research underscores the growing value of user-generated video content as a powerful tool in driving tourist engagement and travel behaviour.

<title>Abstract</title> As a core growth driver of China’s digital economy, live commerce faces intergenerational trust gaps—Gen Z (18–24 years, digital natives) prioritizes interactive experiences, while older adults (55 + years, digital immigrants) rely on streamer professionalism and after-sales support, leading to low repurchase rates. This study constructs a moderated mediation model with service quality (streamer professionalism, interactive experience, after-sales support) as the independent variable, trust as the mediator, digital generations as the moderator, and repurchase intention as the dependent variable. Using 600 valid questionnaires (300 Gen Z, 300 older adults) from Chinese platforms (Douyin, Taobao), we tested hypotheses via SPSS 26.0 (reliability/validity) and Mplus 8.4 (SEM + multi-group analysis). Results show: (1) All three service quality dimensions positively predict trust (β = 0.22–0.31, p &lt; 0.001) and repurchase intention (β = 0.12–0.32, p &lt; 0.01); (2) Trust partially mediates these relationships (indirect effects = 0.033–0.057, 95% CI no zero); (3) Digital generations moderate: older adults are more sensitive to streamer professionalism (β = 0.37 vs. Gen Z’s 0.22) and after-sales support (β = 0.32 vs. Gen Z’s 0.15), while Gen Z responds stronger to interactive experiences (β = 0.43 vs. older adults’ 0.18). The study enriches intergenerational trust theory in Chinese live commerce and provides practical strategies (e.g., AR try-on for Gen Z, streamer certification for older adults).

This study developed a gamified plastic bottle detection and segregation system with IoT connectivity and solar power integration which was designed to promote sustainable waste management practices at Lyceum of the Philippines University - Cavite. The system relies on object detection using YOLOv11, servo-based sorting, and an arcadestyle interface with a point allocation system for participants who properly dispose of their plastic bottles. Users use a local web platform to join via a pairing code, and once they do, they engage in a timed session for proper plastic bottle detection and sorting that is performed automatically. The system achieved 94 % precision, 88.7 % recall, and 90.8 % overall detection accuracy during real-world testing. Questionnaire responses from 300 users showed high satisfaction across key areas: detection accuracy (mean <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$=3.40$</tex>), precision (3.44), website accessibility (3.61), and ease of use of the physical interface (3.65), with all scores falling under the “Strongly Agree” range. This whole study shows that combining gamification, IoT monitoring, and solar-powered automation can be a method to encourage better recycling behaviors in schools. It is a reproducible model for the promotion of responsible consumption within Schools, which aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 12.

BackgroundThe urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay has emerged as a promising tool for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and monitoring performance of LAM compared to Acid-fast bacilli (AFB), Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT), and GeneXpert, and to establish its clinical utility in a stratified TB population.MethodsA prospective cohort study included TB patients stratified by AFB/MGIT status into three groups. Diagnostic accuracy was tested against composite reference standard (CRS). Early monitoring performance was assessed via serial LAM measurements during 12-week treatment. ROC/KM/Cox analyses determined optimal thresholds and predictors of LAM conversion.ResultsAgainst CRS, LAM demonstrated a sensitivity of 58.75%, which was numerically higher than AFB smear (45.00%, p = 0.082) and comparable to MGIT culture (58.75%, p = 1.00), but numerically lower than GeneXpert (61.25%, p = 0.205). In the early monitoring phase, LAM showed sustained positivity in 11.54–51.72% at week 12, compared to <15% for other methods. The diagnostic-monitoring quadrant analysis revealed LAM’s optimal positioning for monitoring (mean conversion time 4.63–11.49 weeks), compared to 0–8.25 weeks for other methods. A combined model incorporating baseline PreLAM and week 4 change (ΔLAM) showed the highest predictive value for 12 weeks conversion (AUC = 0.871–0.943). Multivariate cox analysis identified ΔLAM as independent predictors in total cohort (HR = 0.013, p = 0.001) and double positive group (HR = 0.020, p = 0.002).ConclusionUrinary LAM serves as a dual-role biomarker, providing moderate diagnostic sensitivity and dynamic monitoring signals reflecting early bacillary response to therapy. The PreLAM+ΔLAM model enables early treatment response assessment for personalized therapy.