As an institution of higher learning, the University encourages the advancement of knowlegdge through scientfic studies. The PLM academic community is well-represented by several professors whose research abstracts are cited below.


Career Preparation Plans of Selected Tourism Students: Towards A Proposed Center for Job Opportunities
Prof. Argel Dela Cruz

The College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of the City of Manila has been in existence for more than a decade now. Since its inception and operation ten (10) years ago there was never an attempt to look into the student's readiness in entering the world of work. Realizing how important it is for program managers and providers to know the student's level of preparedness on the challenges they may face in the world of work, this paper will look into the career preparation plans being made by the students to better equip themselves of the requirements and possible encounters in the workplace. This paper will particularly look into self-directed initiatives being made by the students. The purpose of this work is for the College or the University to be able to propose a program for career services to appropriately assist students to explore potential career options under the guidance of professionals.



Mass Media and ICT Use, Non-sexual Risk Behavior and Early Sexual Initiation of the Youth in Central Luzon Region
Prof. Felix R. Deocampo, Jr. and Prof. Elma P. Laguna

Traditional mass media and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use, as well as non-sexual risk behaviour have been positively associated with the youth's early sexual initiation. Data from the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study 4 (YAFS4) are subjected to a secondary analysis to determine the links of these variables under the local setting, particularly in the Central Luzon region, for the purpose of coming up with a sound a solid youth-oriented policies and programs. The study revealed that while traditional mass media ultimately lose their links to the youth's early sexual initiation, ICT use and non-sexual risk behaviour variables on the other hand displayed statistically significant pattern. Bivariate logistic regressions show that age at first internet use, age at first regular smoking, and age at regular drinking, are significant predictor variables in estimating the youth's likelihood of early sexual initiation.



Randomized Controlled Trial using Piroxicam Transderm Patch for Postoperative Pain in Open Hernia Surgery
Lucas Riel B. Bersamin Jr., MD; John M. Cruz, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES; Marlow T. Esguerra, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES; and Hazel Z. Turingan, MD, FPCS, FPATACSI, FPSGS, DMCC

Acute pain following hernia surgery prolongs hospital stay and increases hospital cost. The objective of the study is to compare Piroxicam transderm patch vs placebo in combination with intravenous (IV) and oral pain medication in patients who underwent open hernia surgery from May-October 2013. Patient were randomized to piroxicam transderm patch (group A) and placebo control (group B). Both groups were given IV ketorolac every 6 hours and oral celecoxib every 12 hours. Postoperative frequency and intensity of pain was assessed with double-blinded visual analogue pain score (VAS). Significance was assessed using One-tailed p value. Group A showed decreased frequency and requirement for IV and oral pain medication (mean 1.22; SD 0.7 and mean 0.89; SD 0.6573 respectively) and lower total hospitalization cost. Post-operative pain, IV/oral medication requirement and total hospitalization cost were decreased significantly with transderm patch application.



College Students' Knowledge and Practices On Sexuality: Framework for Adolescent Reproductive Health Program
Prof. Marilyn S. Agravante, Prof. Vina Grace C. Belaya, Dr. Marilyn R. Coladilla, Prof. Benjamin T. Tablizo and Prof. Ma Teresa S. Abila

There is a large unmet demand for Reproductive health (RH) services in the Philippines. As a result, one out often-young women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother and many of the pregnancies among teenagers are unwanted. As such, there is a need for a solid and reliable basis for taking on the challenge of addressing unmet RH needs of adolescents thus, this research was conducted to assess college students' knowledge and practices on sexuality.

Using descriptive method, twenty percent (20%) or 1,378 respondents from 6,889 students of PLM selected through proportionate stratified sampling and modified tool adapted from WHO Reproductive Health Questionnaire and Save the Children Foundation as data gathering tool.

Majority considered their mothers and friends are the most important source of information on relationship. However, they did not communicate sex related matters with their fathers and mothers. They have high knowledge on sexuality issues like pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and contraception, and still they had very low extent of sexual practice on intercourse, homosexuality, contraception, and STIs.

Therefore, issue of adolescent sexual health thus calls for holistic interventions at different level: the transnational, national community and individual level through seminar for parents and peer-to-peer approach program for students, e.g. Usapang Sis and Bro Program, E-mail A Friend Approach.



Characterizing Intestinal Parasitism among Children in Intramuros, Manila
Dr. Gilmore G. Solidum, Dr. Raymond M. Fernandez and Prof. Joan M. Oyangoren

Survey on the prevalence of helminthes infestations among children aged 0-12 in Brgy 364 Zone 69 Intramuros, Maynila was done as a basis for a helminthes prevention program. The aim of the present study was to determine the intestinal parasitic infestation among children in a semi-urban area and factors that may be related to it.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted for 3 months to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitism among the children aged 0 – 12. A total of 135 stool samples were collected, processed, and microscopically examined for intestinal parasites.

Seventy percent (n=94) of the subject-children belonged to the 0 to 5 age group and more than half (59%; n=79) were female. Forty five percent (n=61) of the respondents source their water from a communal faucet while 40% (n=54) got their water from water works; seventy five percent (75%) store their left-over food in non-refrigerated but covered containers. Prevailing method of excreta disposal among the respondents of Brgy 654 is pour flush toilet method (70%) with other methods of excreta disposal being wrap and throw (19%), pit latrine (5%), flush toilet (4%) and use of public toilet (2%). The prevalence of helminthiasis among children aged 0 – 12 of Barangay 654 Zone 69 was 36% (n=49). Potential risk with helminthiasis was explored using a univariate analysis. Living conditions like water source, food storage and excreta disposal method are not significantly associated with the prevalence of IPIs.



Histopathological Detection of Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease in Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon in the Philippines
Prof. Irma M. Dabu and Mary Beth B. Maningas

One of the emerging diseases threatening the shrimp industry is caused by a bacterial pathogen which harbors a plasmid, containing a deadly toxin that triggers high mortality in shrimps. The disease has been identified as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or commonly known as early mortality syndrome (EMS). To help in the efforts of sustaining the shrimp industry, this study is focused on detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing AHPND/EMS affecting Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone,1931), (Pacific white shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798,(Black Tiger shrimp) in the Philippines. Histopathological technique was applied to confirm the presence of AHPND/EMS. Recognizing the presence and effect of this emerging disease in the shrimp industry in the Philippines is essential in identifying and strategizing ways to combat the disease.



Critical Thinking Skills and Emotional Intelligence of Tourism Students in Manila Philippines
Prof. Jefferson De Roxas and Prof. Lotus N. Joson

The paper is aimed at knowing the critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence of selected tourism students in Manila, Philippines. The findings of the study revealed that the respondents generally have high critical thinking skills (CTS) and high level of emotional quotient (EQ). Based on the findings, it can be inferred that the students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) could be highly employable given the results of high critical thinking skills and good level of emotional quotient.



Teachers' Competence and Learners' Performance in the Alternative Learning System Towards an Enriched Instructional Program
Prof. Raymond M. Fernandez

This study focused on the implementation of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Program in selected cities such as Pasay City, Dasmariňas in Cavite and Rio Tuba in Palawan. It focused on the teachers' competence and learners' performance. Among the learners, gender and distance of residence from the community learning center had a significant relationship to their performance. Furthermore, there is no significant relationship between the teachers' competence and learners' performance. As regards teachers' competence, the following weaknesses were identified: Manifest a thorough knowledge of the subject matter; formulate questions to clarify a lesson; usage of various aids to make the subject matter in the module more interesting to learners; make use of a variety of teaching strategies to make the lessons in the module more interesting; and provide challenging task applicable to real life situations.