ST.

JOSEPH SEMINARY i

COPING WITH LIFE DURING COVID-19 AMONG

ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY PERSONNEL

A Research Presented to
the Faculty and Formators of Saint Joseph Seminary
Bangued, Abra

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

in the Subject Practical Research 1

By
PHILIP NERI R. SEARES
ZENDREX KYLE J. RODRIGUEZ
December 2020
 ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY ii

Acknowledgement

This study was made possible with the assistance and support of some people who

have been with the researchers from the beginning of this undertaking up to the very end.

Hence, the researchers would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the following:

To their parents, for being their inspiration to study harder and for providing them

the moral, emotional, and financial support;

To the St. Joseph Seminary community for their moral support as they conduct

their study;

To the St. Joseph Seminary personnel for being the respondents, for lending their

time, and for contributing meaningful responses to make this study successful;

To Very Rev. Sanny John B. Paguio, the rector of St. Joseph Seminary and to Frt.

Mark Louie V. Martes, the OIC Principal of St. Joseph Seminary, for allowing the

researchers to proceed in their study.

To Dr. Leticia P. Madriaga, the research adviser, for her patience in going through

the details to make this study a reality and for directing and supervising the researchers

during the process.

To Dr. Alda Bringas, the guidance counselor of St. Joseph Seminary and Ms.

Joycelyn B. Alvarez, a faculty member of St. Joseph Seminary, for validating the

interview schedule of the researchers.

Most of all, to the Almighty God, the provider of knowledge, for giving them

strength and endurance to finish their research.

 ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY iii

Research Abstract

Title: Coping with Life during COVID-19 among

St. Joseph Seminary Personnel

Authors: PHILIP NERI R. SEARES

ZENDREX KYLE J. RODRIGUEZ

Type of Documentation: Research

Total Number of Pages: 48

Type of Publication: Unpublished

Accrediting Institution: St. Joseph Seminary

Keywords: Coping, SJS Personnel, COVID-19 Pandemic

The study aimed to determine the ways on how the St. Joseph Seminary (SJS)

Personnel coped with life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents were the

personnel of SJS.

The study is a qualitative research. It covered all the personnel of SJS. Due to the

ongoing pandemic, the researchers used purposive sampling in choosing the respondents.

The researchers used an interview schedule for data gathering. The questions were

formulated by the researchers and validated by experts before it was finalized for the actual

interview.
 ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY iv

The findings of the study revealed that when the COVID-19 pandemic came, the

lives of the SJS workers were affected both in their workplace and at home. All of the

respondents said that they were affected financially in their place of work because of the

shortened workdays, which resulted to lesser pay. At home, their bonding with their

families was also reduced. They did not have outings nor reunions because of this

pandemic. However, they were able to strengthen the relationship inside their families due

to the realization that when problems come around, their family members are always there

to support them.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title ....................................................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................ ii
Research Abstract ................................................................................................................ iii
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. v

Chapter 1 - THE PROBLEM

Background of the Study ......................................................................................... 1

Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................ 6

Scope and Delimitation ........................................................................................... 6

Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 6

Definition of Terms ................................................................................................. 8

Chapter 2 - METHODOLOGY

Research Design ..................................................................................................... 9

Population and Sampling ....................................................................................... 9

Data Gathering Instrument .................................................................................... 10

Data Gathering Procedure ..................................................................................... 10

Chapter 3 - PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND

INTERPRETATION OF DATA ............................................................... 13

Chapter 4 - SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Findings ........................................................................................... 19

Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 21

Recommendations ................................................................................................ 22
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REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 23

APPENDICES

Letter to the Rector ............................................................................................ 25

Letter to the Respondents and Letter of Consent .............................................. 26

Interview Schedule …........................................................................................ 32

Interview Schedule (Ilocano Translation) ………...…………………………... 34

Photo Documentation ........................................................................................ 36

CURRICULUM VITAE ............................................................................................. 40

 ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY 1

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM

Background of the Study

Work is one of the purposes in life. According to Oxford Dictionary of English,

work is the period of time one spends to be paid for living. People work to have something

to eat. People work to have something to pay for their day-to-day expenses. People work to

survive. The second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians says, “Whoever refuses to work

shall not eat.” This is somewhat similar to a Filipino proverb, “Kung may tiyaga, may

nilaga.” Those who work hard shall have something to eat. Those who are lazy shall not

have something to eat. Those who do hard work, which includes patience, can lead to a

successful life. In the context of working for living, a man cannot earn something that he

may use for his daily living when he does not strive.

There are some instances where people who are working may have finished

education and some may not. Probably, most of the people who completed education are

already successful. They have good and stable jobs like lawyers, teachers, businessmen,

and the like. There are also some who graduated college and have jobs that do not match

their education like tricycle drivers, janitors, personnel, etc. But what can we do? The world

now has an increasing number of population. Sometimes, these people do not have a choice

but to take jobs that are not really within the course that they finished. For them, all they

need is something that may help them earn for a living. How about the people with no

degree or no education at all? Do they have jobs? Probably, most of them may have jobs or

worst, they do not have one at all.

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When the novel Corona Virus Disease 2019 otherwise known as COVID-19 came,

many lives were affected. Due to the pandemic and the rate of its spread, most of the

facilities closed. Lots of jobs were suspended. Workers were affected in their living. Job

loss is financial loss for all the workers. To overcome this problem, they had to do some

options. Some had their sideline jobs or look for any work.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 is a pandemic that started in Wuhan China.

This is a virus that mainly affects the respiratory system, particularly, the lungs. COVID-19

pandemic has affected day to day life and slowed down the global economy. This pandemic

has affected all people worldwide, who are either sick or dead due to the spread of this

disease. The most common symptoms of this viral infection are fever, cold, cough, bone

pain and breathing problems, and ultimately leading to pneumonia. Experts had already

made vaccines for this but unfortunately, not all of the countries are able to have them yet

especially poor countries. Thus, the emphasis is on taking extensive precautions such as

social distancing, and wearing of masks and handwashing. Countries are banning

gatherings of people because these are known to spread the virus exponentially. Many

countries have locked down populations and enforced strict quarantine to control the spread

of this highly communicable disease

COVID-19 has rapidly affected day to day life, businesses, disrupted world trade and

movements. Identification of the disease at an early stage is vital to control the spread of

the virus because it very rapidly spreads from person to person. Most of the countries have

slowed down the manufacture of their products. Some industries, businesses and sectors
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were affected because of this disease like pharmaceuticals industry, solar power sector,

tourism, information and electronics industry. This virus creates significant knock-on

effects on the daily life of citizens, as well as about the global economies (International

Labour Organization, 2020).

Because of the nature of COVID-19, workers all over the world are not only affected

financially but also psychologically. During the pandemic, they show high levels of stress

which includes pressure, sadness, depression, lack of control and emotional distress

(Mimoun, Margalit, Ari, 2020).

Presently the effects of COVID-19 in daily life are extensive and have far reaching

consequences. First is in healthcare. This includes the challenges in the diagnosis,

quarantine and treatment of suspected or confirmed cases, high burden of the functioning of

the existing medical system, patients with other disease and health problems are getting

neglected, overloading of medical shops, requirement for high protection, and disruption of

medical supply chain (International Labour Organization, 2020).

Second is in economics. This refers to the slowing of the manufacturing of essential

goods, disrupt the supply chain of products, losses in national and international business,

poor cash flow in the market, and significant slowing down in the revenue growth.

And the last is in social service sector which is not able to provide their service which

resulted in the avoidance of national and international travel or even cancellation of

services. There was disruption of celebration of cultural, religious and festive events which

includes social distancing with peers and family members leading to the closure of hotels,

restaurants, workplaces, and religious places (International Labour Organization, 2020).

 ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY 4

The pandemic really impacted the people, especially to workers around the world.

Most of the countries imposed lockdowns. All companies and facilities were closed. What

happened to the workers? No choice, but to stay at home without work. Lucky for those

who can still do their works at home. But how about the people who do not have? One of

these are the domestic workers. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO),

approximately 55 million domestic workers were impacted significantly by the pandemic as

of June 4, 2020. One of the main consequences of COVID-19 has been a reduction of

working hours or in some instances, loss of jobs. As these things happen, the pay of the

workers will also be reduced. Many domestic workers lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

Lucky for those whose working hours were only reduced or even for those whose works

were not affected for they still have their salary. Unlike the others, like domestic workers

who were in lockdown and were not registered to social security they are at higher risk of

losing their jobs and income. (International Labour Organization, 2020) In fact, due to the

pandemic, people became poorer.

According to ILO, in Africa, 34.6 percent of domestic workers were significantly

impacted on 15 March, but rose to 78.7 percent last April 15. In America, where the

number of new cases per day remains high, around 74 percent of domestic workers were

still significantly impacted by June 4. Here in Asia and the Pacific, 79.4 percent of

domestic workers were significantly impacted by May 15, but a higher part were impacted

in the South Asia subregion. And in Northern, Southern and Western Europe, the impact

went from 36.6 percent on March 15, before peaking at 50.1 percent on April 15. How did
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this happen? As the number of COVID-19 cases increased, the number of job loss

increased as well.

Like many countries in the world, the Philippines is also suffering from the

pandemic. Last March 4, 2020, the Department of Labor and Employment released the

Labor Advisory No. 9, Series of 2020, regarding the guidelines on the implementation of

flexible work arrangements as remedial measure due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-

19. Like them, infrastructures also closed due to the Enhance Community Quarantine or

ECQ. It is stated in the advisory that in order to reduce the number of positive cases,

flexible work arrangements must be implemented. This includes the reduction of work-

hours and/or workdays, rotation of workers, and force leave. A lot of workers were

affected; tricycle drivers, bus drivers, jeepney drivers, carinderia owners and other small

and even big businesses. Moreover, the rate of poverty increased.

When the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was declared in the whole

Philippines, Abra was locked down. No one can go in or out from Abra. On the first month

of ECQ, only one member of a family is allowed to go out to buy the needs of the family

and other basic neccesities.. The next month, no one is allowed to go out from their houses.

At that time, work was suspended. Workers began to look for something that they can

spend for living. Some borrowed money from their relatives and neighbors just for them to

have something to eat.

In some barangays, for the reason that no one is allowed to go out from their homes,

the barangay officials and some volunteers took charge of buying the needs of every

household . Every morning they collect the orders of every household and deliver them
 ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY 6

directly. Sometimes, the government also gave some food donations which is very helpful

to the people whose works were interrupted.

The St. Joseph Seminary workers were also affected by this pandemic. Because of

this, the researchers would want to know how were the SJS personnel affected, hence, this

study.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to know how the personnel of St. Joseph Seminary coped with life

during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study attempted to answer the following

questions:

1. What are the changes that happened in the life of the seminary personnel during

the COVID-19 pandemic?

2. What is the greatest challenge of the seminary personnel during the COVID-19

pandemic?

3. How did the St. Joseph Seminary personnel cope with the challenges during the

COVID-19 pandemic?

Scope and Delimitation

The research was conducted from October 2020 up to December 2020. The

information was gathered through personal interviews with the six respondents who are the

non-academic workers of St. Joseph Seminary. The researchers took all six personnel of St.

Joseph Seminary as their respondents.

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Significance of the Study

This study meant to understand and to know the challenges encountered by the St.

Joseph Seminary personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they coped with these

challenges.

This study may be significant to the following:

The Personnel. The direct respondents of this research are the personnel. Since, the

personnel are the respondents of this study, the research is a record of their experiences

during the COVID-19 pandemic. And whenever the same event comes, they may go back

to this study and know what they did before.

All Workers in general. Since the respondents of this study are the personnel,

personnel or workers from different organizations or sectors may have the same

experiences or challenges and may get some ideas from this research on how to cope with

these challenges in life.

The Seminary Administration. The seminary administration as the employer of

the respondents may know what is happening in the lives of the personnel during the

COVID-19 pandemic. Through this study, they may know the different challenges that the

personnel experienced and how they coped with them.

The Future Researchers. The findings of this study will serve as a good source of

useful information for them. They may use it as reference for similar studies.
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Definition of Terms

Coping- refers to the activities done by the personnel of St. Joseph Seminary to

resolve the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19- the pandemic that affected the lives of people all over the world.

It originated in Wuhan, China. According to some scientists, it started with the

transmission of the virus from an initial animal host, likely a bat, to an intermediate host,

possibly a pangolin, before infecting humans.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses, several of which cause

respiratory diseases in humans, from the common cold to more rare and serious disease

such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

It led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents unprecedented

challenge to public health, food systems, and the world of work.

Personnel- They are the non-academic workers of St. Joseph Seminary which

include the cooks, maintenance crew, driver, and watchman.

ECQ - Enhanced Community Quarantine. It is a mandatory order from President

Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, because of the increasing number of

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines that affected the lives of the workers.