The industry avengers: An analysis of contemporary comic book publishers in the Philippines

Author(s):  
Karryl Kim Abella Sagun ◽  
Brendan Luyt

This article provides a new perspective on comics publishing in the Philippines, particularly when compared to the cheap, mass-market image it used to carry. It also opens discussions on electronic publishing, piracy, exploring untapped markets both locally and internationally, among others. In-depth interviews were conducted in order to investigate the firsthand experiences of contemporary comic book publishers in the Philippines. We limited our study to independent publishers, noting that their experiences are also testament to the end of the monopoly of big, commercial presses in comics publishing. Findings reveal that comics publishers in the Philippines (1) belong to a close-knit community of creatives and academics; (2) benefit from comic conventions and cult followings; (3) manage to operate with insufficient support from local bookstores; and (4) use various coping strategies in the form of novel roles, products, and distribution systems.

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 479-490
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Adia ◽  
Michelle J. Ng ◽  
Ma Irene Quilantang ◽  
Arjee J. Restar ◽  
Laufred I. Hernandez ◽  
...  

Contextual factors, such as cultures of collectivism versus individualism, shape HIV coping strategies; despite this, little research regarding collective coping strategies applied to HIV exists. This may be important for the growing HIV epidemic in the Philippines, which has a collectivistic culture and where men who have sex with men (MSM) account for a majority of the cases. Fifteen semistructured, in-depth interviews with HIV-positive MSM and 6 interviews with community-based organization workers were conducted between June and August 2017. Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. Three strategies were identified: peer support, spirituality, and support from existing relationships. Each form of collective coping had unique mechanisms and benefits for dealing with HIV. Overall, helping MSM with HIV find a collective identity after an HIV diagnosis enables management of HIV-related challenges. Policies and research interventions that improve access to collective identities for MSM with HIV may improve management of HIV-related challenges.


Author(s):  
Charles R. Ortloff

Charles Ortloff provides a new perspective on archaeological studies of the urban and agricultural water supply and distribution systems of the major ancient civilizations of South America, the Middle East, and South-East Asia, by using modern computer analysis methods to extract the true hydraulic/hydrological knowledge base available to these peoples. His many new revelations about the capabilities and innovations of ancient water engineers force us to re-evaluate what was known and practised in the hydraulic sciences in ancient times. Given our current concerns about global warming and its effect on economic stability, it is fascinating to observe how some ancient civilizations successfully coped with major climate change events by devising defensive agricultural survival strategies, while others, which did not innovate, failed to survive.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Subasri Narasimhan ◽  
Jessica D. Gipson

Abstract Amidst persistently high unintended pregnancy rates and lags in contraceptive use, novel methodological approaches may prove useful in investigating sexual and reproductive health outcomes in the Philippines. Systematic Anomalous Case Analysis (SACA) – a mixed-methods technique – was employed to examine predictors of women’s lifetime contraceptive use. First, multivariable, longitudinal Poisson regression models predicted fertility and sexual debut using the 1998–2009 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Surveys (CLHNS), then regression outliers and normative cases were used to identify 48 participants for in-depth interviews (2013–2014) for further examination. Qualitative findings from 24 women highlighted ‘control over life circumstances’ was critical, prompting the addition of two items to the original quantitative models predicting any contraceptive use (n=532). Each of the items, ‘what happens to [them] is their own doing’ and ‘[I] do not [have] enough control over direction life is taking [me]’, significantly and independently predicted any contraceptive use (aOR: 2.37 (CI: 1.24–4.55) and aOR: 0.46 (CI: 0.28–0.77), respectively). The findings demonstrate the utility of SACA to improve the understanding and measurement of sexual and reproductive health outcomes and underscore the importance of integrating psychosocial constructs into existing models of fertility and reproductive behaviour in the Philippines to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 824-841
Author(s):  
Jennifer Loh ◽  
Alicia F. Estrellado

This study explored the day-to-day experiences of female Filipino domestic workers in Singapore, including their working conditions, employee–employer relationships, and psychological health. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women. Using grounded theory, the emergent themes revealed high levels of variation, both within and between women, suggesting that the quality of domestic workers’ lives depends largely on the personal characteristics of their employers or the workers themselves, rather than on any system of protection. More importantly, participants displayed positive and resilient coping strategies which enabled them to thrive despite restrictive circumstances. Implications pertaining to capabilities and empowerment development were discussed.


Resolution of the so-called “Bangsamoro Question” rests at the heart of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Southern Philippines, also known as the Bangsamoro homeland. Inspired by Allison and Zelikow’s conceptualization of Rational Actor Model (RAM), this paper analyzed how rational factor contributed to the conclusion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014 and eventually enshrined into the Philippine Constitution through the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on July 27, 2018. This paper argued that the success of the GPH-MILF peace process does not only depend on the sincerity of the administrations of both then President Aquino III and current President Duterte, international support or commitment, pressure from civil societies and community involvement as what many commentators provided. As shown in this paper, the rational factor and its dimension significantly affected actors’ strategic interactions and the GPH-MILF peace process per se. The findings offered a new perspective for conflict-resolution and shed light on how rational dimension impacted both actors’ strategic interactions, which led to the conclusion of the GPH-MILF peace agreement. This clearly indicated that rational dimension greatly influenced GPH and MILF’s strategic interactions and thereby took flexible attitudes to resolve outstanding issues between them which consequently led to the signing of the CAB and ultimately the ratification of the BOL in 2018.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Nageswara Rao Ambati

This study attempts to understand social and educational experiences of students with disabilities in institutions of higher education and is exploratory in nature. To understand the educational experiences of these students, it is not enough to know only the availability of services and resources. It is also necessary to understand the students personally, and the circumstances in which they live. To answer the research questions posed in this study, the researcher has used mixed methods and three universities were selected through purposive sampling in so as to gain maximum diverse variation. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with hundred students with disabilities in selected universities in Andhra Pradesh, India. In this study, quantitative and qualitative data analyses were used and in most cases quotes of real text for each theme were maintained and used extensively. The findings of the study show the students were very categorical about their special needs in order to achieve their goals. A greater understanding has been gained regarding coping strategies adopted by them to manage their higher education needs. Based on findings of the study the researcher has brought out the factors which influence the creation of an inclusive environment in institutions of higher education.


IZUMI ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-142
Author(s):  
Muhammad Reza Rustam

One of the reasons foreign workers are looking for jobs abroad is that there are not enough jobs in their home countries. Indonesia is one of the countries that send migrant workers to more developed Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The increasingly rapid flow of globalization in the world goes together with the need for new workers to fill the industry, especially in Japan. This condition has forced Japan to open doors for foreign workers from developing countries to satisfy demand. These workers usually come from developing countries, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and others. In general, they occupy the less desirable working positions over Japanese youth, the so-called 3D work (dirty, dangerous, and demanding). Therefore, the current dynamics of these migrant workers' life in Japan becomes an exciting subject to comprehend, especially for the Indonesian migrant workers. This study aims to determine the dynamics of Indonesian worker's life while working in the Japanese fisheries sector. In particular, the study looks at those who work in oyster cultivation in Hiroshima prefecture. This research was carried out using descriptive analysis methods and field study with in-depth interviews conducted from 2016-2018. The interviews performed in this study were structured to find answers for the following questions: What problems do the workers face while living in Japan? What kind of processes did they go through before coming to Japan? While working in the Japanese fishing industry, how was their life as a Muslim minority?


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 880
Author(s):  
Fery AM Mendrofa ◽  
Umi Hani ◽  
Yuni Nurhidayat

A pandemic of a novel coronavirus-infected disease is currently ongoing in the world. Most patients have to be isolated due to the treatments. This study aimed to make sense of how patients with coronavirus-infected disease understand and experience infectious isolation. The research used a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Data collection was conducted with in-depth interviews of nine patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) confirmed who had been in the isolation room. The analysis was conducted on interview transcripts by organizing keywords found into categories, sub-themes, and themes based on Colaizzi's approach. The results indicated that the participants experienced fright due to the isolation and attempted to integrate their isolation experiences. Isolation highlighted a sense of threat posed by cross-infection, a threat that participants experienced as originating from others and from themselves to others. Participants described feeling changes experienced after several days of treatment. Participants reported various symptoms of the disease and received careful care while in isolation. They still communicate with family. Isolated patients are able to deal with the treatment by improving their coping strategies. Participants reported the most support from their families, even from a distance. Future research could explore experiences of isolation from family and staff perspectives and identify the psychological aspect in caring for the COVID-19 patients.


1970 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Windy T. de la Cruz

In the Philippines, there is an increasing number of children with special needs, and parents' ability to cope has implications with the way they raise their child as well as in family relationships. This descriptive, comparative, and correlational study focused on determining the stress level of parents, their demographic characteristics, and coping strategies. Data were gathered using standardized instruments as well as profile sheets from the 57 parents who were chosen through the snowball sampling technique. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Findings showed a significant relationship between the stress level and educational attainment. Furthermore, parents utilized adaptive coping as their dominant coping strategy, but they were also at varying degrees and at different times of utilizing maladaptive coping strategies. The stress level was positively associated with maladaptive coping strategy suggesting that parents were prone to emotional problems. Results had implications for mental health practices in the country. 


BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Chuan Yu ◽  
Hsiao-Pei Hsu ◽  
Jong-Long Guo ◽  
Shu-Fen Chen ◽  
Shu-He Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The essence and workload of nursing can easily lead to burdens associated with female nurses’ menstrual symptoms, and consequently, result in decreased working performance. Without effective support this can lead to resignation due to maladaptation. This study adopted Q methodology to explore the experience of working stressors and coping strategies associated with menstrual symptoms among nurses with shifting schedules. Methods Data were collected in two stages. First, in-depth interviews were conducted to collect nurses’ experiences. Sentences that best fit the study’s purpose were extracted for the construction of Q statements. Second, nurses were allowed to subjectively rank these Q statements by using Q-sorts. A total of 90 participants ranked the designed Q statements. The Q factor analysis revealed a five-factor solution that accounted for 48.90% of the total variance. Results The five evident factors included: menstrual symptoms interfering in collaboration with colleagues, deficiency of professional function and stress due to symptoms burden, diverse experiences without a clear pattern, adapted self-management with and without medication use, and stress due to symptoms burden and using medication for self-management. Conclusions The identification of these five groups may facilitate the development of responsive strategies to meet nurses’ preferences. Furthermore, identifying workplace factors that are associated with the adverse effects of menstrual symptoms on nurses will be helpful for nursing supervisors and hospital managers. Additionally, strategies that can be implemented to create supportive work environments are discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document