Isabela State University Linker: Journal of Education, Social Sciences and Allied Health

The Dual Journey: A Qualitative Analysis of the Lived Experiences of Single Fathers in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija

Dane Jei Casco — 2025-06-30

Research has been published around the globe on how challenging it is to be a single parent. However, most of the research available is focused on single mothers, leaving a gap in studies about single fathers. This study aimed to explore and understand the lives of single fathers, the challenges they face, and the coping mechanisms they employ. A qualitative research design was used with the aid of Social Role Theory as its framework. In-depth interviews guided by a semi-structured questionnaire were used to gather data involving eight single fathers residing in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. Thematic analysis was used to analyze and interpret the data. Results showed that single fathers experience a variety of challenges from the burden of working alone, balancing their roles and obligations, financial difficulties, conflicts with their children, emotional challenges, and future concerns. This study concluded that single fathers acknowledge their responsibility, navigate conflict, and nurture bonds with their children, drawing upon their strengths and support system, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for their families. Single fathers utilized various support systems to navigate the challenges of parenting alone and address their needs effectively. Parenting classes, support groups, and counseling services are essential to strengthen solo parenthood. The researchers suggest that further research on additional factors influencing life quality and comparing single mothers and fathers can be conducted in the future.

Real-Time CNN-Based Generic Medicine Name Classification for Prescription Recognition

Era Espinas — 2025-06-30

Illegible handwriting in prescriptions remains a prevalent issue in fast-paced healthcare environments, contributing to misinterpretation and medication errors. Recognizing the importance of prescription readability, this study developed and deployed a real-time web application that classifies 20 generic medicine names using a Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) model, making the system more accessible for real-world use. A dataset of 2,100 images was collected from public and private hospitals in Quezon City, and expanded to 6,720 images using data augmentation techniques such as brightening, blurring, and noise reduction. Some medicines, such as Chlorpromazine and Hydroxyzine, showed slightly lower performance, suggesting the need for more diverse data. The results demonstrate the model’s reliability and potential for integration into hospital systems or pharmacy management software, offering a practical solution to reduce errors in medication dispensing. Future work could involve expanding the dataset and integrating the model with OCR or electronic health record (EHR) systems to support broader handwriting variations and real-time clinical workflows.

IbanagLingo: An Online Ibanag–English Dictionary Platform for the Preservation and Promotion of the Ibanag Language

Rosemary Buraga — 2025-06-30

Ibanag is a prominent language spoken in the northern part of Isabela and various areas of Cagayan. However, it is currently classified as endangered due to the growing dominance of Tagalog and English in homes, schools, and media. The absence of technological tools, such as mobile applications or software, further accelerates its decline. In response to this linguistic threat, the IbanagLingo, as a web-based application, was developed to aid in the preservation and revitalization of the Ibanag language. The platform functions as a digital Ibanag-English dictionary, offering a comprehensive word database, intuitive search capabilities, audio pronunciation guides, mobile browser compatibility, as well as user-friendly features like bookmarks and search history. It serves as a vital digital repository, accessible anytime and anywhere, helping bridge communication gaps between native and non-native speakers. The project adopted a descriptive research methodology, involving interviews with 50 native speakers and five Ibanag language experts, along with user surveys to assess the system’s performance. The application was evaluated using the ISO/IEC 25010:2011 standards, focusing on functional suitability and usability. Field testing in Cabagan, Isabela ensured cultural and linguistic relevance. Results revealed high user satisfaction, particularly in terms of functionality and usability, affirming the system’s effectiveness, efficiency, and potential as a tool for preserving and promoting the Ibanag language.

eAssist DILG: Development of a Framework for Web-Based Technical Assistance Request System with AI-Driven Analytics

Edward Bacalso — 2025-06-30

Requesting technical assistance within the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), particularly for securing resource persons, is often delayed by manual workflows, fragmented communication, and a lack of transparency. This study presents the development of eAssist DILG, a framework for a web-based Technical Assistance Request System, designed as part of a Business Process Reengineering (BPR) initiative in DILG Laguna. Anchored on Agile Software Development principles, the framework integrates features such as centralized request tracking, automated workflow routing, and secure role-based access. Key system modules were iteratively designed and validated through stakeholder consultations and requirement analysis, addressing core bottlenecks in the current manual process. While full system deployment is recommended for future phases, the proposed framework demonstrates the potential to reduce processing steps, improve coordination, and enhance accountability in public service delivery. Additionally, the study outlines future integration of AI-driven analytics for predictive resource allocation and performance insights, reflecting a forward-looking approach to digital governance in local government units.

Predictive Role of Classroom Learning Environment on the Academic Performance of Students in Mathematics in the Modern World in Isabela State University-Echague

Randy Acoba — 2025-06-30

A supportive and positive Classroom Learning Environment (CLE) creates the conditions for students to feel secure, motivated, and capable of achieving academic success. When a positive CLE is cultivated, mathematics learning thrives effectively. This study explored the predictive role of CLE on the mathematics performance of the freshman students in Isabela State University – Main Campus. The perception of the respondents on CLE was described using the instrument devised by Fraser et al. (1996). Using Pearson’s r correlation, the findings indicated that students perceived the classroom environment as positive, which correlated with improved mathematics performance, specifically in terms of student cohesion, investigation, task orientation, and cooperation. Regardless of sex, the respondents perceived a positive CLE to be evident inside the classroom. Finally, stepwise regression analysis revealed that instructor’s support and student involvement are the best predictors of performance in mathematics. It is recommended that the teachers provide mathematics learning tasks through group activities to allow students to learn from their peers and eventually promote a positive learning environment.

Lived Experiences of Filipino Psychologists Using Telehealth: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Nixon Agaser — 2025-06-30

Telehealth, the use of digital communication technologies to deliver mental health services remotely, has become increasingly vital, especially in contexts where access to in-person care is limited. Despite its growing relevance, little is known about how Filipino mental health professionals experience this mode of service delivery. This study explored Filipino mental health professionals’ experiences with telehealth, addressing a notable gap in existing literature. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four purposively selected Filipino psychologists over a month. Data were analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings revealed a unified narrative of adaptation, professional identity, and perspectives on telehealth, captured in three interconnected themes: “All for my Clients,” “Me as a Telehealth Psychologist,” and “Perspectives on Telehealth.” Participants described navigating new technologies, balancing professional and personal roles, and reassessing therapeutic boundaries in the digital space. While telehealth enhanced accessibility and continuity of care, challenges such as limited government support, confidentiality concerns, and client resistance emerged, threatening service quality and ethical standards. The study highlights the need for strengthened legal and institutional support, as well as ongoing training for telehealth providers. Its insights offer actionable implications for improving mental health service delivery, professional training, and policymaking in the Philippine context.

Efficiency and Effectiveness of Utility Billing Management System (UBMS) in the Collection of Electric Services

Roselyn Resurreccion — 2025-06-30

This study aimed to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Utility Billing Management System (UBMS) in supporting billing and collection processes in a rural electric cooperative. Motivated by the growing demand for digital solutions in utility operations and the challenges faced in billing accuracy and resource management, the research addressed the need for evaluating system performance in a real-world context. Employing a descriptive-correlational design, data were collected using structured questionnaires distributed to employees involved in UBMS operations. Statistical tools such as frequency and percentage, weighted mean, Kruskal-Wallis test, and One-Way ANOVA were utilized to analyze the responses. The study identified functional strengths of the UBMS in terms of usability, portability, efficiency, and reliability, as well as its positive impact on resource utilization and operational management. However, issues such as billing statement errors and limited user training emerged as key implementation challenges. The findings support the development of targeted training programs and continued system investment. Future research may explore the potential contributions of the UBMS in improving collection efficiency and strategic planning.

Profanity and Sentiment Detection in Filipino Social Media Comments Using Transformer-Based NLP Models

Marc Laureta — 2025-06-30

Filipino is considered a low-resource language, which makes it challenging to process due to the limited availability of annotated datasets and linguistic tools. These challenges are further complicated by code switching, regional variations, and the evolving nature of slang in online conversations. To address these issues, the study used a developmental research design and applied three transformer-based models: BERT, DistilBERT, and XLNet. A total of 13,565 Reddit comments were collected using web scraping techniques and the Reddit PRAW API. The dataset underwent preprocessing, including annotation, cleaning, and augmentation. The models were trained and evaluated on their ability to classify profanity into four categories: Non-Profane, Mild, Moderate, and High. Among the models, BERT achieved the highest accuracy of 99.53%, followed by XLNet and DistilBERT. A web application and a Reddit bot were created to demonstrate real-time detection, filtering, and severity-based masking of profane content. Sentiment analysis was also performed to assess the emotional tone and intent behind each comment. The results highlight the system’s effectiveness in improving online content moderation through accurate and context-aware detection of profanity and sentiment in Filipino social media posts, and further suggest that handling profanity detection and sentiment analysis as separate but complementary tasks shows better performance and interpretability.

Factors Influencing the Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs)

Kesiah Soriano — 2025-06-30

Caring for children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs), specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), presents unique challenges that impact the quality of life (QoL) of family caregivers. Thus, this study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) and associated factors among family caregivers (FGCs) of children with NDDs in Isabela. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 111 respondents. QoL was measured using the Adult Caregiver Quality of Life Questionnaire (AC-QoL). The data gathered was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Inferential analysis indicated that caregivers generally experienced a mid-range quality of life (64.86%), with a notable minority reporting high QoL (20.72%). While high scores were observed in personal growth and career satisfaction, reduced QoL was found in the dimensions of caring choice, money matters, caring stress, and support for caring. The study also confirmed statistically significant differences in QoL based on age, occupation, length of caregiving, and diagnosis of the child. These findings underscore the complex interplay of factors influencing caregiver well-being and highlight the need for tailored interventions to enhance caregiver support programs and ultimately improve the quality of life for both caregivers and their children.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Financial Management and the Level of Satisfaction with the Investment Decision of Family Medicine Physicians

Nezer Soriano — 2025-06-30

Professionals use their knowledge, attitude, and practices to make decisions that help them achieve their financial goals. This study determined the levels of financial knowledge, attitude, and practice, and satisfaction level in the investment decision among family medicine physicians. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using structured questionnaires distributed to respondents selected by purposive sampling. The findings revealed that family medicine physicians lack financial knowledge, but they have a moderate financial management attitude and typical financial practices in cash management and general management. The study also revealed that these family medicine physicians are satisfied with their investment decisions. In conclusion, the lack of financial knowledge, moderate financial management attitudes, and typical financial practices in cash and general management of physicians still made them satisfied with their investment decisions. Despite their lack of knowledge, satisfaction of family medicine physicians in their investment can mean that they can achieve their financial goals. Future research may explore the correlation between financial education on decision-making and long-term financial stability.