Emotional labor in the legal profession remains underexplored, with existing research focusing predominantly on other service professionals. Despite the common portrayal of lawyers as detached and rational, litigation lawyers regularly engage in emotional labor as they navigate high-stakes client interactions, emotionally charged cases, and adversarial courtroom proceedings, particularly within the underexplored context of legal practice in the Philippines. This study examines how private litigation lawyers in Pampanga perceive, experience, and manage emotional labor in their professional practice, focusing on its meanings and influence on their professional identity, well-being, and coping strategies. Through a qualitatively driven mixed-methods design, this study utilized the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach alongside a quantitative scale. The sample consisted of twelve (12) private litigation lawyers with at least three (3) years of litigation experience drawn from the province’s four (4) legislative districts. This study reveals that emotional labor for private litigation lawyers functions as a career-long demand where situational factors reshape both professional identity and personal well-being, requiring continuous adaptation through individual, relational, and institutional coping strategies. These findings underscore the urgent need for legal institutions, law schools, and mental health professionals to dismantle the culture of normalized emotional suppression and develop responsive and culturally grounded interventions. This study aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 16 by addressing the mental health and well-being of litigation lawyers while also contributing to the improvement of institutional practices within the legal profession and justice system.

This study investigated the production and marketing of rabbit meat in Baliwag and Bustos, Bulacan. Rabbit meat was identified as a viable alternative to other meats; however, studies on its financial performance in the Philippines remain limited. Thus, the study aimed to: (1) determine whether rabbit farming was profitable; (2) identify the participants involved in the production and marketing process and the utilities they created; (3) determine whether rabbit farming contributed to food security and nutrition; and (4) discuss the problems faced by rabbit farmers. The study applied the theory of the firm and the institutional approach to the study marketing as its analytical framework. It used a survey design and a mixed-methods approach, gathering data through face-to-face interviews with rabbit farmers and asynchronous online interview with Department of Agriculture representative. Financial performance was evaluated through Return on Investment (ROI) and Cost and Return Analysis. The study found that rabbit farming in Bulacan was highly profitable, required low capital, had high feed-conversion efficiency, yielded an ROI of at least 98 percent, and generated an average monthly income of at least ₱30,000. The marketing chain involved farmers, wholesalers, and retailers who enhanced form and place utility. Furthermore, the study found that rabbit meat is a sustainable protein source that significantly contributed to local food security and household nutrition. Despite its potential, the industry faced challenges, including the high cost of specialized equipment, limited consumer awareness, and lack of standardized slaughter facilities. The study concluded that while rabbit meat production is economically profitable and vital for food security, further government support in infrastructure and marketing was essential for industry scaling.

This study investigated the long-run tendency of income levels to converge among the eight regions of Luzon. It aimed to empirically test Convergence Theory using regional PcGDP data for the years 2000 to 2023 and to identify the factors affecting dynamic convergence patterns by analyzing the Solow Model Growth determinants—capital, labor, technology, and investment — for the years 2004 to 2023. The study found that the Luzon region experienced PcGDP disparities across the covered years. In these economies, rapid growth was largely due to the difference in their economic trajectories, ranging from agricultural to service to industrial. Regardless, analysis of Convergence Theory revealed a decline in regional per capita income, allowing lagging regions (Region V, Region IV-B, Region I, Region II, Region III) to catch up to leading regions (NCR, Region IV-A, and CAR) at an annual convergence speed of 1.45%. The regression results also indicated that Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Government Financial Consumption Expenditure, and College Graduates statistically contributed to regional income. On the other hand, the findings further suggested that employment was not significant at the aggregate Luzon level, indicating the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks to maximize potential benefits. In this sense, the study recommended: (1) Agro-industrial Development, (2) Improve Labor Market Quality; (3) Resilient Economic Environment; (4) Extending Time Horizons; and (5) Broader Geographic Coverage, Variables, and other Model Considerations, as a basis for further research.

This study investigated the phenomenon of the denomination effect and its presence in the coin usage of consumers from San Simon, Pampanga. Specifically, it aimed to validate whether the denomination effect manifests in the spending behavior and to identify the demographic characteristics that influence the occurrence of the denomination effect. Guided by the Consumer Choice Theory and the Sidrauski Model, and supplemented by behavioral insights on the pain of holding money, the study examined deviations from standard economic rationale through an observational quasi-experimental design conducted in two barangays in San Simon. Data were collected from 96 participants and analyzed using chi- square test, independent samples t-test, and binomial test to assess the relationship among spending behavior, denomination composition, and consumer characteristics. Results indicated clear evidence of the denomination effect: participants were more inclined to spend when holding lower denominations, and coin‑heavy spending patterns were consistently observed. Additionally, participants tended to spend coins before notes, reflecting the pain‑of‑holding mechanism. In general, lower denominations increased the likelihood of spending in small-scale, real-world transactions. Age also showed that younger participants were more likely to demonstrate the denomination effect. Gender results indicated that women tended to spend more in total than men when given a fixed budget, while men tended to spend a greater number of coins. The study benefits behavioral economists, consumers, retailers, financial institutions, the central bank, and future researchers by showing how denomination structures influence spending behavior. The findings also support responsible consumption under SDG 12, indicating that greater circulation of lower denominations may increase consumption of goods and services.

This study investigated the production and marketing practices of the chicharon industry in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and the challenges faced by local producers and sellers. The study aimed to: (1) identify the key participants in the industry and the utilities they create; (2) assess the profitability of chicharon production; and (3) explore the problems affecting the stability of chicharon enterprises. The study utilized the Theory of the Firm (Pindyck & Rubinfeld, 2013) and the Institutional Approach to Marketing as its conceptual framework. Data were collected through face–to-face interviews with 13 registered chicharon producers and sellers conducted from February 13 to 27. Quantitative analysis included cost and return analysis, while qualitative analysis applied modal response techniques to identify emerging patterns and trends. The study found that: (1) the chicharon market involves suppliers, producers (manufacturer-retailers), wholesalers or resellers, and retailers creating form, place, and possession utilities; (2) chicharon production is profitable and sustainable, with gross profit ranging from 31.03% to 44.81% depending on production volume; (3) the challenges faced by producers and sellers include fluctuating raw material costs, seasonal demand, perishable products, and limited formal marketing support. The findings also suggest that the chicharon industry is benefiting from economies of scale. By increasing production, businesses can distribute fixed costs across a greater output, reducing the cost per unit and improving profitability. The study recommends strengthening production planning and expanding marketing efforts to enhance business stability and market reach.