Quality of Life of Indigenous People in Villa Espina Lopez, Quezon: Input for Sustainable Intervention Program

Authors

  • Veronica Almase Polytechnic University of the Philippines image/svg+xml Author
  • Elenita R. Portez Author
  • Altagracia Antolin Silaya Author
  • Dionysius A. Velasquez Author
  • Ronaldo G. Bulfa Author
  • Rizalina A. Quincina Author
  • Leilidyn Yumul-Zurbano Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70922/8cq68d72

Keywords:

Indigenous people, intervention program, mixed method, needs assessment, WHOQol-BREF

Abstract

The government has begun prioritizing the welfare of Indigenous communities, aiming to integrate them more fully into society. Considering this, it becomes crucial to assess the Quality of Life (QoL) of these communities to tailor appropriate support and assistance provided by different organizations. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, involving 40 members of the Aeta community, and utilizing the WHOQoL-BREF tool. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore relationships among different domains, while structured interviews delved into participants’ experiences, challenges, and aspirations.  Among  the various domains examined, environmental health scored the lowest, yet still indicating a good quality of life, consistent with other domains. Moreover,  while six pairs of domains showed statistical correlation, the strength of association was found to be minimal. Financial struggles were identified  among participants, leading to challenges such as insufficient livelihoods, food insecurity, unstable housing, and limited access to education.  Overall, the study highlighted the community’s desire for sustainable support across various areas, including livelihood, education, healthcare, social assistance, infrastructure, and community development and empowerment. As a response, the study proposed a three-year extension plan titled “Accessible Education Transforming Aetas Lives” (AETA Lives), aimed at addressing these identified needs.

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Author Biographies

  • Veronica Almase, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

    Dr. Veronica Sarcino-Almase is the Campus Director of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Ragay, Camarines Sur. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration and a Master’s in Educational Management from PUP, with additional training in Basic Project Management from the Development Academy of the Philippines. Previously,  she served as Faculty Extensionist at PUP-Lopez, Quezon, and Assistant Coordinator at PUP Open University-Lopez Center. She was the Biennium (2022-2024) President of Soroptimist  International of the Americas, Philippines Region (SIAPR), Lopez, Quezon, where she led various community development programs. An active researcher, Dr. Almase has presented and published studies on indigenous communities, socio-economic development, microfinance, and marketing strategies in both national and international conferences. Her dedication to  education, research, and community service has earned her numerous accolades, including Outstanding Marketing Educator and Best Presenter awards.

  • Elenita R. Portez

    Asst. Prof. Elenita R. Portez is the program coordinator for Bachelor of Science in Office Administration with 35 years of teaching experience, she also served as an  admission officer for two years. She holds 33 units in both Master in Business Education and Public Administration. Passionate about office management, she is committed to enhancing administrative education and professional development in the field. In addition, she actively participates in research workshops and conventions to expand her knowledge and skills.

  • Altagracia Antolin Silaya

    Altagracia Antolin Silaya is an Associate Professor I at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), where she has taught since 2008. She earned her Master in Business Administration from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation and her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from PUP.  Her research focuses on business analytics, finance, and educational innovation. She is actively involved in extension projects in financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Assoc. Prof. Silaya has received several awards, including the Gawad Katapatan Award (2022) and the National Excellence Award as College Professor (2020). She is a licensed real estate appraiser and broker and a professional teacher. She is committed to advancing education and community development and continues to make a significant impact in her field.

  • Dionysius A. Velasquez

    Asst. Prof. Dionysius A. Velasquez is a seasoned educator with a background in Physical Education. He is currently the Trainor of Kayumanggi Dance Artist and Designated as Sports Coordinator at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Lopez, Quezon Campus, he served as Program Coordinator for the Diploma in Office Management Technology  Program from 2010 to present. He has earned different recognition/awards, including  the Service Awardee for 30 years and Outstanding Faculty 2023 awards from PUP. He has presented her work in the Research Colloquium. He also has attended various conferences on research. His contributions extend beyond the classroom, as evidenced by his role as faculty member and community programs in Lopez, Quezon.

  • Ronaldo G. Bulfa

    Ronaldo G. Bulfa is an Associate Professor III at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).  He is currently the campus director of PUP Lopez, Quezon.  Prior to his  present position, he was the Commandant of PUP ROTC Unit and Head of the Office of the Student Affairs.  While teaching in PUP, he had the time of serving the Armed Forces of the Philippines either on a full-time or part-time basis necessitating his military service leave from the university. As a reserve officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and battalion  commander of a ready reserve unit, he is very much focused on providing humanitarian assistance, rescue, & relief operation whenever called for.  His research focuses on business operation & management, its significance to the economy, community, government, and other stakeholders.  A recipient of numerous awards both from the academe, Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units, and civic organizations.

  • Rizalina A. Quincina

    Ar. Riza Rizalina A. Quincina is a passionate educator, architect and environmental advocate based in Lopez, Quezon. With a background in construction management, she dedicated her career in advancing sustainable practices and innovative solutions in construction. She holds a doctoral unit in Engineering Management from the Polytechnic University of Philippines and currently a Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Lopez, Quezon campus from 2018 to present. She has earned various recognition/awards from different organizations including the service awardee for 10 years in PUP and in the United Architects of the Philippines Quezon Province. She presented her research work in Research Colloquium both local and international. Also, she attended various seminars and conferences on research.  In addition to her professional achievements, she is an active member and volunteer lead architect in the construction committee for the Finance Council of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Lopez, Quezon. Her commitment to making a positive impact on the community is evident in both her professional and personal endeavors.

  • Leilidyn Yumul-Zurbano

    Dr. Leilidyn Yumul-Zurbano is a seasoned educator and researcher with a background in agriculture. She is currently the Head of the Office of Student Affairs and Services at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Lopez, Quezon Campus, where she previously served as Program Coordinator for the BS Agribusiness Management Program from 2006 to 2023. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture and is pursuing a Master’s in Agribusiness Management at Central Luzon State  University. Throughout her career, she has earned multiple accolades, including the Gawad Tuklas and Gawad Lathala awards from PUP, as well as recognition for her outstanding research and instructional materials. She has presented her work internationally and contributed to numerous publications focusing on agricultural science, with research interests in plant parasitic nematodes, organic fertilization, and mushroom production. She also has extensive experience as a resource speaker and paper presenter at various conferences. A  dedicated faculty member, she is committed to enhancing sustainable agriculture through both her teaching and research, influencing the field of agriculture education and policy. Her contributions extend beyond the classroom, as evidenced by her role in numerous research  projects and community programs in Lopez, Quezon.

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Published

2026-07-30

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2026): Social Sciences and Development Review

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Veronica Almase, Elenita R. Portez, Altagracia Antolin Silaya, Dionysius A. Velasquez, Ronaldo G. Bulfa, Rizalina A. Quincina, Leilidyn Yumul-Zurbano (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Articles published in the SOCIAL SCIENCES AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW will be Open-Access articles distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). This allows for immediate free access to the work and permits any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any other lawful purpose.

How to Cite

Almase, V., Portez, E., Silaya, A., Velasquez, D., Bulfa, R., Quincina, R., & Yumul-Zurbano, L. (2026). Quality of Life of Indigenous People in Villa Espina Lopez, Quezon: Input for Sustainable Intervention Program. Social Sciences and Development Review, 18(1), 255-276. https://doi.org/10.70922/8cq68d72