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U.P. Los Baños Journal

UP Los Baños Journal, Volume 23 - OIDHE Special Issue

Message from the Editors

With deep gratitude and renewed hope, we present the Second Special Issue of the UP Los Baños Journal, developed in partnership with the UPLB Office of Institutional Development in Higher Education (OIDHE). This volume is more than a collection of articles; it is a shared milestone in our continuing journey to nurture a vibrant research culture among higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country. It stands on the foundations laid by earlier training, mentoring, and publication initiatives, and now bears fruit in the form of published scholarship that honors local knowledge, strengthens institutions, and uplifts communities.

Building on the success of the 2023 UP Los Baños Journal OIDHE Special Issue, this volume continues the tradition of featuring research that is context-sensitive, practice-oriented, and grounded in public service. The works gathered here reflect how faculty and researchers are steadily growing in confidence and competence: asking more incisive questions, engaging communities more meaningfully, and writing with greater rigor and clarity. In this way, the Special Issue affirms the vital role of UPLB OIDHE in championing inter-institutional collaboration, cultivating a culture of inquiry, and strengthening the research capacities of HEIs in the Philippines. It is also a hopeful sign that when institutions walk together, sharing resources, expertise, and encouragement, they can co-create knowledge that is both excellent and socially responsive.

This year’s Special Issue showcases a diverse range ofresearch articles and institutional narratives from various regions and disciplines. The contributions span key areas of national and regional development, including Agriculture and Forestry, Human Ecology, Natural and Applied Sciences, Technology and Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Education. Collectively, they illustrate how HEIs, through research, instruction, and extension, help address community needs, inform policy, and enrich the learning experiences of students. Each article, in its own way, bears witness to the quiet yet steadfast work of educators, researchers, and community partners who believe that knowledge must serve the common good.

We are especially honored to feature contributions from partner institutions from across the country, including De La Salle University Dasmariñas; Occidental Mindoro State College; and the Palawan State University. Their participation reflects a shared commitment to inclusive, regionally grounded, and socially engaged scholarship. It is heartening to see how HEIs in different contexts, with diverse mandates and histories, are united by a common desire to contribute to human development and nation-building. We extend our deepest appreciation to the authors who entrusted their work to this Special Issue, as well as to the anonymous reviewers whose generosity, careful reading, and constructive feedback helped refine each manuscript. We likewise express our heartfelt thanks to our institutional partners and to the dedicated team behind this volume: Asst. Prof. Julie Aiza L. Mandap, Managing Editor and OIDHE Program Coordinator; Ms. Mary Joy C. Andal, OIDHE Administrative Assistant; Ms. Catherine Mae M. Sumangil, University Publications Office Administrative Aide; and Mr. John Glen Sarol, University Research Associate, Media and Communication Office. Their diligence, patience, and quiet leadership ensured that each paper was guided with care from submission to publication.

May this Special Issue strengthen our shared resolve to use research and publication as instruments of hope, justice, and human flourishing. We hope that the insights, evidence, and narratives contained in these pages will inspire more faculty, students, and institutions to ask courageous questions, to listen attentively to communities, and to translate knowledge into life-giving action. As we look ahead, may this volume encourage all of us in the higher education sector to see our work not only as academic achievement but also as a concrete expression of service to our people.

Together, let us continue to build a more just, compassionate, and responsive higher education landscape for the Philippines, one that forms minds, touches hearts, and transforms communities.

JENIELYN T. PADRONES
OIDHE Director
Special Issue Editor

MARIA DALISAY G. MALIGALIG
UPO Director
Editor-in-Chief, UP Los Baños Journal