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#OUT OF PLACE: EXPLORING THE DIFFERENT WORLD OF

NON-CATHOLIC STUDENTS IN A CATHOLIC SCHOOL

A Qualitative Research
Presented to the
Faculty of Cor Jesu College
Basic Education Department
Digos City

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for
Practical Research I
Accountancy, Business and Management

by

ACE LAWRENCE B. RAŇISES

APRIL JOY P. MABAGA
MARY GRACE TERO
JUSTIN ADRIAN F. SIAO
KEA RICA P. FLORES
DAVE C. REDUCTO

MARCH 2017
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COR JESU COLLEGE

Sacred Heart Avenue, Digos City
Province of Davao del Sur
Philippines

APPROVAL SHEET

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Practical Research I class, this study
entitled:

#OUT OF PLACE: EXPLORING THE DIFFERENT WORLD OF

NON-CATHOLIC STUDENTS IN A CATHOLIC SCHOOL

has been prepared and submitted by ACE LAWRENCE B. RAÑISES, APRIL JOY P.
MABAGA, MARY GRACE TERO, JUSTIN ADRIAN F. SIAOKEA RICA P. FLORES
and DAVE C. REDUCTO

APPROVED by the Oral Examination Committee:

ROGELIO P. BAYOD, Ph. D. RANDY A. TUDY, Ph. D.

Panelist Panelist

IDA G. TUDY, Ph. D.

Research Adviser

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the subject Research I.

KIRT ANTHONY R. DIAZ, Ph. D.

Basic Education Department
Principal
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APRIL 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to show gratitude to the people who have been there since the

conceptualization of our study.This research would not have been accomplished without

the presence and boost of these people. We dedicate this study to these individuals who

have supported us in every aspect.

First and foremost, we would like to thank our parents for the assistance and

understanding in every requirement of the study. They have showed us guidance,

financial sustenance and support in whatever the situation might be.

We would also like to give gratitude to IDA G. TUDY, PH.D., our Research I

teacher who had trained us about conducting and making a qualitative research study. We

would not get this far without her guidance and expertise.

To the panel members,ROGELIO P. BAYOD, PH.D., and RANDY A. TUDY

PH.D., we would like to show our sincerest appreciation for guiding us in the conduct of

our study and giving us knowledge to further develop our research paper. Once more, we

deeply valued your judgments and commentswhich have given us enlightenment to

improve the quality of our study.

To our participants, we are very thankful for your eager participation and presence

in our research. Every statement and experience you have shared to us is deeply

treasured. Without you and your testimonies, our study would have failed to stand and

would run out of meaning.

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Finally, to God who has blest and guided us every day and in the duration of the

study, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the blessings and opportunities

that lavished upon us. Furthermore, we dedicated and conducted this study for you.

ABSTRACT

Religious discrimination is prevalent worldwide, and may it be adults and even students

are affected by this. The phenomenon of non-Catholic students in religious institutions is

gaining significance to experts with the aim to further strengthen multicultural and inter-

religious dialogue in education. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences,

coping mechanisms and learnings of non-Catholic students in a Catholic school. This

study employed a phenomenological approach. Fifteen Senior High School, non-

Catholic students responded to the Key Informant Interviews (KII). Based on the

findings, the following themes for lived experiences had emerged; out of place,

conformity, religious discrimination, disagreement, diversity immersion, and mutual

respect. As to the coping mechanisms; adapting and embracing diversity, confidence, and

loyalty to religion were found. For learnings; unity in diversity, loyalty to religion, and

opportunities to learn were showed. The findings of the study were sources of

information for the awareness of diversity in order to reach out to school administrators

to take a part in multicultural and inter-religious education. Additionally, the coping

mechanisms of the participants may deem useful to other non-Catholic students when

dealing with the same struggles. The implication of the study is to encourage harmony

through the cooperation of both the students and the school authorities. Non-Catholic

students should realize the coping mechanisms of the participants, and school
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administrations must comprehend this phenomenon to create programs to promote unity

in diversity.

Keywords: Social Science, Education, Religious differences, Religious diversity, Inter-

religious dialogue, Phenomenology, Philippines

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
TITLE PAGE………………………………………………………………… i
APPROVAL SHEET………………………………………………………….. ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…..………………………………………………… iii
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………… v

CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION.……………………………………………….. 1
Theoretical Lens .………………………………………... 6
Purpose of the Study…….……………………………….. 7
Research Questions…….………………………………… 7
Significance of the Study………………..………………... 8
Scope and Limitation……………………………………... 9
Definition of Terms………….……………………………. 9
Review of Related Literature...…………...……..………... 10
Multicultural and Interreligious Education…………... 10
Religion on Campus Environments………………….. 13
Religious Discrimination in a
Global Perspective………………………….………… 15
Religious Discrimination in a
South-East Asian Perspective………………….……... 16
Religious Discrimination in a
National Perspective……………………………..….... 17
Religion and Medical State,
Morality, and Well-being……………….…...…..…… 18
Religion and Mental Health…...…....………………… 20
Religion and Social Behavior……………..…..……… 21
Negative Effects of Religion ….…...…....…….……… 23
Growth Projections of World Religion……………….. 24

II METHODOLOGY………………………………………………... 25
Research Design………………….………………………... 25
Sampling Procedure………………………………………... 26
Study Participants……………………………...…………… 26
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Data Sources…………………………………………...…… 27
Data Collection………………………………………..……. 27
Data Analysis….……………………………………...……. 29
Role of the Researchers…………………………………… 30
Trustworthiness……………...……...……………………… 31
Ethical Considerations…………………………………….. 32

III RESULTS …………………….……………………………………. 34

Experiences of non-Catholic students
in a Catholic school..…………………………….…………. 34
Out of Place ……………….………………………. 34
Conformity …….…………....…………………….. 35
Religious Discrimination ………........……………. 36
Disagreement …………...…………………………. 37
Diversity Immersion………………………………. 38
Mutual Respect…………………………………….. 39
The coping mechanisms of informants to the
encountered experiences on campus……………….……… 39
Adapting and Embracing Diversity …………..…… 40
Confidence ……...…………………………………. 41
Loyalty to Religion …..……………...…………….. 41
Learnings from being in a Catholic school………………... 42
Unity in Diversity………………………………….. 42
Loyalty to Religion………………………………… 43
Opportunity to Learn………………………………. 45

IV DISCUSSION…………..…………………………………………. 46
Implications of the Study…………………….…….……..… 50
Concluding Remarks……………….……………...………… 53

REFERENCES.………………………………………………………………... 55
APPENDICES...……………………………………………………………….. 62
A Letter Asking Permission to Conduct the Study………………... 63
B Letter of Request for Research Instrument Validation………….. 65
C Validation Sheet………………………………………………… 67
D Interview Protocol………………………………………………. 69
E Letter to the Parents of Participants……………………………... 70
F Parental Consent Form………..….…………………………….. 86
G Letter to Participants…………………………………………….. 117
H Informed Consent Form…………………………………………. 133
I Letter for Member Checking..…...……………………………… 164
J Participant’s Verification…….....………..……………………… 180
K Profile of KII Informants…….………………………………….. 196
L Key Informant Interview Worksheet..…………………………… 197
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M Thematic Analysis.………………………………………………. 216

N Editor’s Certification.……………………………………………. 229

CURRICULUM VITAE...……..……………………………………………… 230