“Angking Galing” receives 2024 ASCEND Excellence Award for Senior Research

This year’s ASCEND Excellence Award for Senior Research was given to an exceptional group of 4th year BS Health Sciences students composed of Cyrus Jehu R. Barrera, Juan Miguel C. Magno, Shawn Kendrick L. Ramos, Gio Anthony P. Rañoa, Amanda Luisa M. Roque, Willy A. Santos, and Lara Jessica O. Tan, for their research work entitled “Angking Galing: Utilizing Ethnographic Methods to Conduct a Narrative Inquiry on the Indigenous Maternal Practices of the Tagbanua in Aborlan, Palawan”.

They were mentored throughout the entire process by their faculty advisers, Dr. Ma. Henrietta De la Cruz and Dr. Genejane Adarlo from the Health Sciences Program, and they proceeded with their study in collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and the local government unit of Aborlan, Palawan.

Their group was duly recognized for their inspiring and hopeful work during the annual awarding ceremony referred to as “PAGHAHANDOG 2024: Pinuno ng Misyon” which was held last 10 June 2024 at the Leong Hall Auditorium.

Their group documented various maternal health practices in the pre-natal, birthing, and post-partum period among the Tagbanua Tribe in Aborlan, Palawan. They conducted an ethnographic study to gain a deeper understanding of indigenous practices among the Tagbanua community, hoping to aid in the identification of existing practices and beliefs that could provide valuable context and insights for the development of more inclusive maternal health programs from the local health unit.

Their findings have led to a module on primary maternal health services adopting locally available nutrition, and facilitating experiential discussions on pre-natal and post-natal care programs. Their group brought forth a model for the local health unit to adapt their programs to the context of the Tagbanuas.

Every year, the Ateneo Socio-Civic Engagement for National Development (ASCEND) Awards honors undergraduate, senior, and graduate students for projects and research work that demonstrate mastery of subject matter while engaging communities and institutions outside the Ateneo in contributing to national development. Projects are development interventions that have been implemented with observable impact while research work contributes to knowledge creation with the potential for social impact.

The ASCEND Excellence award is given to a particular project or research work that is the most outstanding at the undergraduate, senior, or graduate level and manifests in an extraordinary manner, all three of the following criteria:

1. Extraordinary mastery of subject matter and application of synthetic thinking.
2. Deep and extensive engagement with partner communities and institutions.
3. Addresses a national development concern in a strongly strategic and creative manner with very significant short-term impact on target beneficiaries and/or the potential for significant longer term impact in promoting the well-being of the greatest number.

It is through ASCEND that the Ateneo continuously nurtures and motivates its students to be compassionate leaders and effective change-makers, keeping the spirit of "persons for and with others" alive and fostering a culture of service and leadership in the realm of national development.

Photos courtesy of the following:

• Monica Isabel Jose from The Guidon
• The recipients of the 2024 ASCEND Excellence Award for Senior Research