San Beda University

The primary purpose of this descriptive qualitative design study is to understand how Bedan pupils perceive Benedictine life and its influence on their faith formation. This study gathered insights from fifty (50) pupils (Grades 4-6) at San Beda University - IBED using an open-ended questionnaire, with data processed through thematic analysis. Findings indicated that pupils mostly view Benedictine monks as "prayerful," "disciplined," and "faithful," often using terms like “holy” and “devoted.” While pupils recognized the sacrifice and conversion required, they also expressed curiosity about the monks' daily routines and vocational discernment. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhancing the Benedictine Spirituality curriculum, increasing the visibility of monks on campus, expanding the range of respondents, and organizing experiential activities, such as abbey tours and vocational talks. These insights may guide classroom strategies and resources to enhance pupils’ understanding of Benedictine spirituality.

This non-systematic, empirical integrative review presents a synthesis of studies authored by Filipino scholars between 2020 and 2025 on the self-reported cognitive effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in Philippine classrooms. Key insights derived from the review highlight that AI tools can (a) foster critical thinking skills and boost self-efficacy, (b) adapt to create a personalized learning experience, and (c) enhance academic writing skills, primarily through large language models and adaptive learning systems. However, concerns arise regarding students' (a) over-dependence on AI, (b) altered fundamental cognitive processes, and (c) adverse effects on physical and mental health. These findings illustrate the paradox of AI-enhanced learning, where the advantages of technology in teaching and learning coexist with its limitations, potentially compromising deep and reflective engagement. To address this issue, it is recommended that AI tools be integrated into the curriculum with extreme caution while prioritizing ethics. Precautionary measures should include a critical assessment of AI-generated content, promoting mental health resources concerning AI use, and employing a context-aware implementation that considers local classroom environments. Further research is necessary to thoroughly examine its long-term cognitive and socio-emotional effects. This synthesis can guide educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in making informed, evidence-based decisions that harness the potential of AI while mitigating its risks.

The ecological crisis is a pressing global challenge, manifesting in climate disasters, environmental degradation, and rising inequality. Frameworks like the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals highlight the urgency of action, supported by religious leaders such as Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. While these calls for change are crucial, this study explores a deeper aspect: the human inner ecology. It posits that lasting ecological solutions must begin within the individual. Grounded in biblical Christian anthropology, Pope Francis’s vision of integral ecology, and Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory, the research presents ecological preservation as an internal, transformative process. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, the study examines personal stories from diverse spiritual traditions of individuals who have undergone significant transformation in their relationship with nature. These narratives highlight shared practices such as mindfulness, soul purification, non-violence, and earth-centered rituals that fostered reconnection with both self and environment. The research also led to the development of a conscious ecological workshop program, aimed at cultivating self-awareness, emotional resilience, spiritual renewal, and ecological responsibility within youth and community groups. By emphasizing practical application, the study offers a model for ecological conversion, asserting that meaningful change begins not just in policy but in the healing of the self.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) goal in financial inclusion was not only to provide universal access to financial services but to use these financial services to improve the financial health of each Filipino. Based on its study, only a few Filipinos can be considered financially literate. Financial literacy results in a person's good financial well-being. Investment in the stock exchange is part of the financial ecosystem and considered one of its aggressive investments. There was scant literature specifically on the relationship between PSEi and its selected macro indicators, which measured the performance of the Philippine stock market. Hence, this study significantly addresses this gap. The study's main goal was to probe the impact of the macroeconomic indicators, namely gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate, exchange rate, and interest rates, on the performance of the stock market. Employing secondary data, these indicators were processed and measured using the Granger causality analysis. Results showed that the trend on each indicator reflected a significant relationship to PSEi. As the country promotes more investment, this study provides valuable insights into the potential cause-and-effect benefits of the changes in the macro-indicators. Further, the PSE index served as a significant means to measure the performance of the stock market. It provided guidance for investors in making sound decisions. A stable and growing PSEi enhances the market trust, thereby optimizing productivity. A robust PSEi attracts local and international investments, leading to economic growth. Hence, BSP and DOF may adopt the use of PSEi using the selected macro indicators as part of their financial inclusion program on financial literacy and investment.

Nature connectedness is linked with a low level of anxiety, decreased psychological distress, and a negative relationship with stress and burnout. However, few studies explored the eco-caring dimension of eco-spirituality in the context of the workplace. Thus, this study explored the moderating effects of eco-caring on workplace stress and burnout among female employees. This quantitative study employed a moderation research design, utilizing a cross-sectional survey of 574 female employees across various industries in Metro Manila. The researcher selected the participants through convenience sampling. They completely answered eco-caring items on the eco-spirituality scale, the workplace stress scale, and the burnout assessment test. Based on the results, it was found out that female employees have a high level of eco-caring, which means that they express a high level of concern for and involvement with ecologically conscious actions and viewpoints; a low average level of perceived stress related to the workplace, which means that they report fewer occurrences of absenteeism, improved productivity, improved job satisfaction, and fewer mental and physical health problems; and a low level of burnout, which means that working women feel empowered, in control of their work, and have higher rates of personal fulfillment. The results also showed a strong correlation between workplace stress and burnout. The findings indicated that higher levels of workplace stress are significantly associated with higher levels of burnout. Moreover, the direct effect of eco-caring on burnout was small and not significant. This suggests that when considered independently of workplace stress and the interaction, eco-caring does not significantly predict burnout. Based on the findings, future research may explore potential moderators or mediators of the workplace stress-burnout relationship.

Notwithstanding the establishment of a notable road safety strategy, the implementation of other traffic-related policies in the Philippines remains a problematic issue. In response to the increasing incidence of traffic-related problems, a select number of local government units – most were city governments – implemented the No-Contact Apprehension Policy in major thoroughfares and crossings of the National Capital Region. The implementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy initially went well until it was questioned by a lawyer and several transportation groups before the Supreme Court. The basic contention of the petition that was filed before the Supreme Court was that the No-Contact Apprehension Policy violated the rights of those who were caught and penalized. To date, the Supreme Court has yet to decide on the fate of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy, as the general public patiently awaits its landmark decision. This policy paper aims to examine the No-Contact Apprehension Policy through the important observations made by various stakeholders during its implementation stage. Similarly, this paper aimed to analyze which among the identified alternatives gave the government institutions concerned the most feasible solution to break or overcome their current impasse. Based on the analysis and comparison of the three alternatives, the modified version of the policy appears to be the most feasible among them.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of death globally for both men and women, yet women remain historically underrepresented in CV clinical trials, despite facing a disproportionately high burden of morbidity and mortality in many forms of CV disease. To determine the representation of women across a broad range of CV trials. The participation of women in CV trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov from 2017 to 2023 was systematically determined through the extraction of publicly available information. Data were extracted to identify the country of study, disease type, trial size, clinical intervention, and age of the participants. The proportion of women and the ratio of number of female to male participants (F:M ratio) were calculated for each trial. The women's participation:prevalence ratio (PPR) was estimated for each trial based on the relative prevalence of the disease by sex in the specified region. A total of 1079 registered CV trials were identified, including 1 396 104 participants, of whom 571 641 (41.0%) were women. The F:M ratio was significantly lower for studies on arrhythmia (median [IQR], 0.5), coronary heart disease (median [IQR], 0.39 [0.33-0.70]), acute coronary syndrome (median [IQR], 0.32 [0.24-0.51]), and heart failure (median [IQR], 0.51 [0.32-0.87]) but higher for obesity (median [IQR], 1.44 [1.08-4.50]) and pulmonary hypertension (median [IQR], 2.86 [1.50-3.97]) trials. The F:M ratio was higher for trials on lifestyle interventions (median [IQR], 1.51 [0.77-3.24]) than for drug trials. PPRs were low for clinical trials on coronary heart disease (median [IQR], 0.66 [0.50-0.86]), acute coronary syndrome (median [IQR], 0.79 [0.51-0.87]), and stroke (median [IQR], 0.74 [0.61-0.95]). Representation of women in CV trials varied by disease state, region, intervention, and sponsor type. These findings highlight both progress and persistent challenges in representation of women within CV trials. These gaps not only limit the generalizability of trial outcomes but also perpetuate inequities in evidence-based care for women with CV conditions.

ABSTRACTPhase change material (PCM)‐based thermal energy storage systems offer high energy density but are often limited by low thermal conductivity, leading to inefficient heat transfer and extended melting times. This study presents a hybrid thermal enhancement strategy combining 10% graphene nanoparticle (GNP)‐doped PCM with advanced fin geometries in a fixed 5000 mm2 rectangular enclosure, subjected to both lateral and vertical heat flux inputs. Using a validated enthalpy‐porosity numerical model, four fin configurations plain— wall, square, curved, and tree‐shaped were— investigated to evaluate melting time, thermal uniformity, and enthalpy gain. The inclusion of 10% GNPs increased the effective thermal conductivity from 0.15 to 0.45 W/m·K, which accelerated the melting process and improved energy storage capacity. Among all configurations, the square fin combined with GNP‐PCM demonstrated the highest thermal efficiency, reducing the melting time to 4900 s (a 34.7% decrease compared to the baseline) and achieving an enthalpy gain of 7.2 × 105 J, representing a 36% increase. The square fins facilitated strong convective loops and uniform thermal gradients, while GNPs enhanced conductive heat transfer throughout the domain. Furthermore, simulations revealed that vertical heat input, while often neglected, significantly impacts system performance causing—up to a 32% delay in melting and a 28% reduction in energy storage. These findings underscore the importance of directional heating and hybrid enhancement techniques. The results provide critical insights for designing high‐performance thermal management systems in renewable energy, electronic cooling, and electric vehicle battery applications.

This research fills a critical void in the empirical literature on intercultural education in Philippine HEIs by attending to the lived experiences of faculty, staff, and students immersed in intercultural learning spaces. Although there is an extant literature focused on the value and struggles of intercultural education, very little of this work examines the intersubjective realities of the people within the institutions. A significant portion of the existing literature adopts a top-down approach, focusing on institutional policies and programmatic evaluations without giving voice to the experiences of the individuals who are most directly impacted by these programs. This lacuna was addressed through the use of a qualitative research design employing the mixed-methods of data gathering to tap the richness and complexity of what intercultural education means in Philippine HEIs and to provide us with more holistic insights into the nature of its transformative promise. Since the Philippine context is also marked by the presence of diverse ethical and linguistic groups, more studies are needed to understand the particular issues involved in engendering intercultural understanding within such a context. It is also critical to comprehend the attitudes held by international academic staff members regarding institutional practices and structures for campus internationalization.