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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM

Background of The Study

Gossiping is one of the biggest problems in society where people are

making stories behind the back of others. Gossip is usually adding or lacking

information on what will share with others. Gossip is a phenomenon like the

elephant in the room: Everyone knows it is there, but no one talks about it

(Beersma et al.,2018).

According to Pain (2018), Gossip is a serious issue since it’s the individuals

who comprise that groups or community indulge in Gossip, not the groups or

society itself. He finally contended that to comprehend gossip truly.

It is a human nature to Gossip every day as people are introduced to

news about celebrities, movie stars, and colleagues. Some of this information

might be important, most of what people hear from others is baseless

information which is meant to create a perception about them. Most instances,

Gossip is not to be harmful. Gossip also has an adverse effect, especially in cases

where is being used to taint the image and reputation of someone else. There

are several causes and negative impacts of gossip. People gossip to feel superior.

As stated by Izougu (2009), gossip is any form of derogator

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and unconstrained conversation about others. Most individuals that talk

about other do not feel good about themselves and they choose to talk about

others as a wat of making others appears worse than them. This can be done

through spreading sensitive information or making harmful judgments about

others. Gossipers rarely think about the feelings of those they talk about, which

makes it easier for them to talk ill about those they consider friends (Baron &

Richardson, 2011).

The only way through which such individuals can feel good about

themselves is if they paint others in a negative light. Gossip also stems out of

boredom. When people are in social gathering. They tend to look for interesting

topics to talk about. However, there are instances when it becomes impossible

for such individuals to generate captivating conversation topics that are based on

shared knowledge and ideas. This often gives rise to gossip as it is considered as

one of the best ways through of rousing their interest (Cole & Scrivener, 2013).

Scriver 2013, states that Divulging a certain piece of information about

others often makes one the center of attraction for a period of time. This is

despite the fact that giving out this type of information only allows one to gai the

attention of others for a short span of time before they turn their attention to

other news. Furthermore, divulging information about others allows the

gossipers to feel as if they belong to a certain group. However, it is very

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unfortunate that most social groups tend to avoid individuals that are very quick

to divulge private information about others, as they are also likely divulge private

information with others.

Gossip as an Interpersonal Communication Phenomenon that

communication about social topics comprises a vast amount of an individual’s

interpersonal interactions. In fact, they estimate that approximately 65% of

communication centers around social topics, which also is referred to as gossip.

Because gossip is so prevalent within communication, it would seem to be an

inevitable area for communication scholars to research. However, the existing

body of literature conducted on gossip within the field of Communication is

sparse, possibly due to the lack of validated instruments measuring the gossip

concept (Dunbar et al., 2017)

Gossip has not been widely researched. From 1935 to present, many

studies were completed on the phenomenon and process of rumor. Rumor has

been considered in terms of oral communication only. A rumor is a "proposition

for the belief of topical reference disseminated without official verification. Since

rumor is usually transmitted by word of mouth, it is subject to inaccuracy and

distortion. Rumor provides "information" about a particular person, happening, or

condition. Knapp states that rumor expresses and gratifies the emotional needs
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of a community, just as daydreams and fantasies fulfill the needs of an individual

(Knapp, 2018).

Gossip is ubiquitous in organizations. Recently, it has been defined as “a

sender communicating to a receiver about a target who is absent or unaware of.

Typical gossip can either be positive or negative. Compared with positive gossip,

within an organization, negative gossip is generally considered to have a greater

impact on the targets. After all, “good news travels slowly and bad news has

wings.” In the workplace, negative gossip can provide performance-related

information, such as poor performance and/or disapproval of the behavior of the

targets, which is highly detrimental to the reputation of the targets, as reputation

is necessary for their career advancement and development in the organization.

In addition, negative gossip can be used as a tool to reshape organizational

norms. For example, through negative gossip, gossipers could emphasize to the

audience the legitimacy of their own norms and make them widely accepted in

the group, which helps maintain their images in the position (Shaw et al., 2011).

Despite its prevalence, gossip has acquired a negative reputation. The

moral codes of almost all societies, across time and cultures, condemn gossip
(Goodman, 1994). Gossip is often seen as exclusively self-serving behavior
aimed at manipulating others and influencing them in some malicious way.
Recent reviews, however, argue for a more positive view on gossip (Baumeis-
ter, Zhang, & Vohs, 2004; Dunbar, 2004; Foster, 2004), claiming that gossip
is purposeful and important to social functioning.
Despite its prevalence, gossip has acquired a negative reputation. The
moral codes of almost all societies, across time and cultures, condemn gossip
(Goodman, 1994). Gossip is often seen as exclusively self-serving behavior
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aimed at manipulating others and influencing them in some malicious way.

Recent reviews, however, argue for a more positive view on gossip (Baumeis-
ter, Zhang, & Vohs, 2004; Dunbar, 2004; Foster, 2004), claiming that gossip
is purposeful and important to social functioning.
Despite its prevalence, gossip has acquired a negative reputation. The
moral codes of almost all societies, across time and cultures, condemn gossip
(Goodman, 1994). Gossip is often seen as exclusively self-serving behavior
aimed at manipulating others and influencing them in some malicious way.
Recent reviews, however, argue for a more positive view on gossip (Baumeis-
ter, Zhang, & Vohs, 2004; Dunbar, 2004; Foster, 2004), claiming that gossip
is purposeful and important to social functioning.
According to Schacter, a gossip is an untrustworthy, grossly skewed type

of communication that travels fast and strangely to practically all accessible

individuals of a population. Being the subject of gossip is not only embarrassing

in the short term, but it may also have a long-term detrimental influence on a

person's self-confidence and self-esteem. In certain situations, this influence may

lead to the development of despair, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and eating

disorders (Shaw et al., 2011).

A major problem gossip can start is violent fights. Someone can spread

around that they want to fight you to other people. Gossip can hurt others badly,

inside and outside. Despite its prevalence, gossip has acquired a negative

reputation. The moral codes of almost all societies, across time and culture,

condemn gossip. Gossip is often seen as exclusively self-serving behavior aimed

at manipulating others and influencing them in some malicious way. Recent

reviews, however, argue for a more positive view on gossip claiming that gossip

is purposeful and important to social functioning (Baumeister et al., 2004).

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According to Shibutani, if a rumor is shown to be accurate, it is frequently

attributed to some obscure source. If the story is untrue, it is referred to as "only

a rumor." A rumor is thought to become incorrect due to distortions induced

during serial transmission when the message is conveyed from person to person,

typically through oral communication. A rumor is also defined as a "recurrent

type of communication in which men trapped together in an unclear

circumstance strive to generate a coherent interpretation by pooling their

intellectual resources." According to Shibutani's definition, rumor can be positive.

Rumor, according to the other meanings, is a bad, damaging kind of

communication. Because of the discrepancies in definitions of rumor, it is

possible that some of the above-mentioned writers are addressing another kind

of communication linked to rumor, namely gossip (Shibutani, 2016).

On the other hand, Gossip is restricted to small local groups in which

members are bound by personal contacts and concerns. People gossip about the

private and intimate details of the traits and conduct of specific individuals. The

most interesting topics for gossip deal with violations of moral codes. Gossip

helps define status relations which are important for those persons who are in

constant association with each other. Gossip seems trivial to outsiders but it is

important in its context of ordering interpersonal relations within the group.

Thus, it is a means of social control in the community. If the details of a person's

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private life have consequences beyond the local group, for example, a person in

authority, such information concerns a larger public (Shibutani, 2016).

Gossip or tsimis is defined as "the oral communication about private and

intimate details of the traits and conduct of specific individuals within small local

groups in which members are bound by personal contacts and concerns". Gossip

is not necessarily an unverified or unreliable report and the situation prompting

the gossip may or may not be ambiguous. Gossip may define status relations

within the group for both the teller, the hearer, and the person being gossiped

about (Firth, 2015).

Humans live in a complicated world and one of the most important tasks

is to create and use networks of relationships. Humans needs knowledge about

individuals around them in order to perform properly in a dynamic and

complicated social context. As a result, both social curiosity and the proclivity to

gossip are central to social and cultural life. Gossip is defined as the exchange of

information with evaluative content about absent of third parties and activity in

which many people frequently engage (Foster, 2004).

Dunbar, argued that gossip may have been selected for because it

strengthens the intimacy of social bonds. It has also been argued to have been

selected for because it helps to control against norm violations in groups. During

the course of evolution, humans became more and more social because this
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offered certain benefits, such as safety and the possibility to share resources

(Dunbar, 2019).

Gluckman developed a similar argument, and even proposed that the

threat alone group members may gossip if one does not behave in accordance

with the norms is enough to keep group members behavior consistent with the

group’s norms. Gossip serves as mechanism to keep the behavior of (powerful)

individuals in check by pressuring them to adhere to social norms. In this way,

gossip promotes common good (Gluckman, 2018).

Gossip has been roughly described as social and personal talk, and it has

been suggested that it is a key component in the evolution of human intelligence

and social life. Gossip is evaluative (positive or bad) conversation about third

parties who are not present. In dyadic interchanges, “friendship/intimacy”

reflects gossiping as a bonding mechanism. Through the sharing of norms, the

exposure of trustworthy information, and the exclusion of outsiders, gossip is a

technique to socialize and develop connections. People often explain their

involvement in gossip with the immediacy of entertainment and pleasure (Kagan,

et al., 2013).

Gossip defined as the idle talk or rumor especially about the personal or

private affairs of others the act is also known as dishing or tattling some see

gossip as trivial hurtful and socially and or intellectually unproductive some

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people view gossip as light hearted way of spreading information a feminist

definition of gossip present it as a way talking between women intimate in style

personal and domestic in scope and setting a female culture even which spring

from and perpetuates the restriction of the female role but also give the comfort

of validation. Gossip may result in the mutilation or humiliation of a person’s

personality, affecting not only the people involved but also their families by

extension (Nicholson, 2001).

Wilson et.al. (2000) states that gossiping or spreading rumors is a favorite

pastime for some people and are often second-hand information that are usually

heard from someone who got it from someone and so on. Gossiping within the

barangays sometimes lead to conflicts within the neighborhood. Lies can cause

real damage. If someone spreads lie about you, your reputation might be

harmed within your community. Some individuals are of the mistaken belief that

disseminating hearsay information that can tarnish the reputation of persons is

harmless and cannot give rise to a lawsuit. The Filipinos have so-called

“nakasanayan na” mentality, which has been developed into a negative habit or

practice (Wilson et al., (2000).

Empirical investigations to categorize the reasons why individuals gossip.

The sparse amount of literature on the functions of gossip has primarily centered

on four social functions that are based in social exchange theories. These
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functions are information, friendship, influence, and entertainment and are

rooted in the assumption that gossip is a means of communicating information

and strengthening in-group control sanctions, all of which increase solidarity of

the group (Foster, 2004).

Information. The first function of gossip is simply when the sender

disseminates information to the receiver. The interaction occurs when there is

unequal knowledge between the participants and the sender spreads the

information to the receiver(s) who were uninformed (Bergmann, 2003). This type

of informational communication should not be confused with rumor. As explained

above, this type of informational communication is not composed of information

concerning events. The informational function of gossip concerns the spreading

of information concerning absent third parties (Bergmann, 2003).

Entertainment. The second function of gossip explains how pleasure can

be derived from gossip not only after the interaction takes place, but also as the

actual function of gossip. Many communicators simply pass time gossiping or

storytelling (Foster, 2004). However, the entertainment function does not apply

to all situations. Because gossip is situational, it is hard to explain why each

separate situation is considered "fun" or "rewarding" (Foster, 2004).

Friendship. The third function of gossip explains how sharing gossip is a

way to build friendship by bringing groups or dyads together and establishing

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boundaries to distinguish insiders from outsiders (Foster, 2004). Groups often

use gossip to deliberately exclude outsiders and to build their own inner network

of shared information (Dunbar, 2004), which may explain why gossip is more

likely to happen between already established friends than between Gossip 7

acquaintances (Bergmann, 2003).

Influence. The final function of gossip is also used as a function to

maintain social interaction. It is an influential control of social norms within each

context. With the occurrence of gossip comes an inevitable interference with the

receiver’s impression management; the receivers are forced to change their

impression of the target person of the gossip. Again, groups use this function of

gossip as a type of maintenance within the group. Because groups will always

internally generate some type of leader, gossip is used as a function to produce

this leader, restrict freedom and eccentricities, and maintain leadership and

conformity. Although gossip can be positive, this function of gossip certainly

contributes to the criticism of this type of communication (Foster, 2004).

In the Philippines, we are aware that issues created by gossipers or

intriguers cause fight among friends, relatives or neighbors,” (Winslow, 2008).

Filipinos are fond of talking about others business. Regrettable, this does

not benefit the topics. Secrets are revealed, weaknesses and shortcomings are

highlighted, and relationships are shattered. Worse, when gossip spreads, it

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tends to be distorted until the final version diverges too far from the original,

inflecting even more harm. The difficulty with gossiping is that it wrecks other

people’s lives while also making the self-appear inauthentic (Winslow, 2008).

Upper Rock Quarry in Baguio City implements an anti-tsimis ordinance

under Section 511, a barangay code against illegal, rumor mongering, and

propagating false information known as the Anti-Tsimis Ordinance of Upper Rock

Quarry in Baguio City. The Ijuander TV programs conducted an interview to the

Brgy. Capt. Joey David, stated their place is not the cradle of gossipers, and the

objective of this ordinance is to reduce, punish, and preserve peace and order in

their society. This barangay still has an ordinance; however, it still imposes civil

penalties on offenders who are found guilty of violating the stated law, which is

slander by deed, which is a crime against honor committed by executing any act

that throws shame, disgrace, or contempt on another person.

The province of La Union, the municipality of Balaoan pass a Resolution

No. 183 S. 2019 a barangay ordinance no. 4 of barangay Camiling pass an

Ordinance in 2019 enacting an anti-chismis law a presidential decree no. 90

dated January 6, 1973 declaring Unlawful rumor-mongering and spreading false

information intended to prohibit the spreading of rumors against someone in the

community and punish those who do so.

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According to Sunstar (2019), The Barangay Handumanan Council in

Bacolod City submitted its approved ordinance to the city council, which intends

to punish a person or group of people who engage in Tsismis or gossip in the

community. Ricardo Danoy Sr., village chief of Barangay Handumanan said they

are still reviewing its approved ordinance and will submit it again to the City

Council for its implementation. The anti-tsismis law was already implemented in

several cities in other areas. The Barangay Handumanan Council adopted the law

on September 10, 2018 stating that the Filipino practice of talking is one of the

biggest reasons of misunderstanding and disputes in a community. Gossip may

result in the mutilation or humiliation of a person’s personality, affecting not only

the people involved but also their families by extension. He said that the violators

will be fined to do a community service which is different from the national law

(Sunstar, 2019).

According to the news published by the Philippines Star on September

25, 2017, one Barangay Captain Danilo Tabucol Sr., stated that infidelity and

allegations of witchcraft or being a “mangkukulam” are among the most popular

themes of gossip in the barangay. The ordinance was initially enforced in the

fourth quarter of 2016 in the said barangay, which has a population of roughly

4,000 people.

Nowadays, a rumor will easily spread in just one snap whether it is right

or not. The ordinance that was implemented is anti-tsismis ordinance in the

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Philippines. Every violator of this ordinance has an imposed fine or penalizes,

community service or it depends on the Municipality actions. This is to prevent

conflicts. Destroying someone’s reputation and malicious stories within the

neighborhood. We are all aware that there are so many people who created

issues and eventually spread by gossipers.

Anti-’tsismis’ ordinance launched in Pangasinan. In an attempt to shut up

gossipers from spreading malicious stories and wild speculations in the

community, a barangay in Pangasinan has implemented an “anti-tsismis”

ordinance.

The ordinance, bans and penalizes residents of Barangay Capas in

Binalonan, Pangasinan who engage in spreading rumors against someone in the

community.

The anti-gossip ordinance was passed by the Binalonan Mayor, Ramon

Guico III, after several disputes fueled by gossip had got “so severe”, with

multiple parties involved, that the local council had to intervene. For those

caught fueling the rumor mill or peddling salacious stories in Binalonan, the

punishment for a first-time offender is a fine of 200 pesos and three hours of

community service, picking up rubbish. Repeat offenders will face a fine of up to

and eight hours community service. The mayor confirmed that some residents

had already been caught and punished under the new law and it had succeeded
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in reducing local disputes. The ban was first imposed on the Capas neighborhood

of the municipality of Binalonan, but proved so successful it has been extended

to seven villages in the district. As part of his plan to keep Binalonan civilized, the

mayor also outlawed karaoke after 10pm. Across southeast Asia, the introduction

of laws against fake news has become increasingly common, but has also been

linked to a suppression of freedom of speech. However, Guico denied that his

law would prevent the residents of Binalonan being able to express themselves

freely and without fear of legal retribution. “People in Binalonan have been very

supportive of our cause for a town free of such activities,” he said. “This

ordinance does not infringe on freedom of speech nor expression but is a

protection from slander and the like” (Guardian, 2019).

According to ABS-CBN news, in September 2019, the ordinance was

forwarded to the City Council but was not approved due to some clarifications

from the councilors. In Province of Pangasinan, (7) seven villages in the town of

Binalonan, Pangasinan are now strictly implementing an anti-tsismis and anti-

ingay (noise) policy. Barangay Capas, one of the barangays implementing the

unusual ordinance, will impose fines on violators. Those who violate the

ordinance will be fined P300 for the first offense, P500 for the second offense,

and P1000 the third offense. All violators are also required to render community

service (ABS-CBN, 2019).

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Atty. Geraldine Baniqued , Province Legal Officer of Pangasinan, states

that the residents have rights to freedom of expression and speech, but these

rights are not absolute, especially if it leads to harm. May Freedom of speech,

expression but sometimes the right of one’s person dignity and the right to

expression and also if right will be violated, she said. This encourage officials to

implement the law because rumors start conflicts.

Therefore, the researchers caught its interest to study the ordinance and

researchers aims to determine the level of awareness, level of implementation,

and the problems encountered in the implementation of anti-tsismis ordinance in

Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Theoretical Framework

This section presents the theories or concepts on which the study is

anchored. The present study theoretically employed namely, Social Exchange

theory, behavioral theory negative gossip theory and theory of the evolution of

language.

Social Exchange Theory, the tenets of Social Exchange theory are derived

from many social theories such as equity theory, interdependence theory, and

resource theory under the pretext of acquiring resources. It posits that for

humans to survive in his world, he/she needs to acquire and exchange resources

with other people through interaction which is guided by the norms or rules of
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reciprocity. Its explanation value is being used in various social research areas

(e.g., interpersonal and organizational communication). In the context of the

study, Social Exchange theory’s communicative tenet, the development of

language is mainly for social grooming which involves facilitation of information

exchange (Littejohn & Foss, 2009).

The theory regards interaction as “as means of exchanging symbolic

resources” (e.g., love, status, information, services, goods, and money), “means

of negotiating the exchange of resources” and as “a means by which individuals

maintain and repair their exchange relationships and networks (Littlejohn & Foss,

p. 895, 2009).

Watson 2018, Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a result of

interaction between the individual and the environment. According to Allport and

Postman (2006), formulated the "theory on basic law of rumor": importance X

ambiguity = rumor (i X a = r). They state that rumor is spread when events have

importance in the lives of individuals and when the news received about such

events is either lacking or is ambiguous. Ambiguity is defined by the authors as a

situation in which conflicting versions of news are presented or in which the

person is incapable of comprehending the news received. Since the relationship

between importance and ambiguity is multiplicative, if either factor is zero then

there is no rumor.
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Expands Allport and Postman's theory. The rumor, or the situation, may

cause the individual to take a critical set, an uncritical set, or a transmission set

toward it. Briefly stated, if the individual takes a critical set it means that he is

capable of using "critical ability" to separate the true from the false in rumors he

hears (Chorus, 2008).

Negative gossip theory it refers to informal communications with other

members about a negative behavior or characteristics of a third party who is

absent at work. Most people in an organization, it is inevitable to become the

target of negative gossip. This theory clearly explains why do gossip” There’s an

intimacy” to sharing experiences and feeling like you're on the same page about

others, she points out. Torres' 2018, research has found that gossip can stave off

loneliness, while other studies have found it can facilitate bonding and closeness

and serve as a form of entertainment. Also added, that gossiping for survival is

as old as humanity itself. Every prehistoric human relied on other members of

their tribe for things like food, shelter, and protection. If the member who

usually hunts for your food suddenly gets sick and can't hunt, you might starve if

no one tells you that person is sick. If gossip of their illness spreads, you know

you need to search for another food source and spreading malicious rumors or

embarrassing stories, just sharing information (Brady et al., 2017).

This theory shows a growing number of studies have suggested that

negative gossip can have a detrimental effect on the targets. For example,
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recent empirical studies have shown that negative gossip can have destructive

effects on emotional well-being, e.g., emotional exhaustion, other-directed

emotional responses cognitions organization-based self-esteem behaviors,

proactive behavior, and creative behavior of targeted individuals. Clearly, how

these targets deal with negative gossip about them is a subject worth

addressing. However, although previous studies have demonstrated the

behavioral consequences of being the targets of gossip very little attention has

been paid to the counterattack of the targets in order to reduce the detrimental

effects of negative gossip within organizations (Martinescu et al., 2021).

To fill this gap, this study combines face research with affective events

theory in an attempt to reveal the emotional consequences of negative gossip in

the workplace and corresponding behavioral responses. “Face” refers to “an

image of self, delineated in terms of approved social attributes. To a large

extent, face, on which people depend to survive in their positions, is built on a

variety of foundations, such as reputation, competence, and performance.

Therefore, people are generally worried about losing face in the workplace.

Based on this, this study links negative workplace gossip with face and resulting

behavioral responses for the following reasons: first, negative workplace gossip

contains information that denigrates the performance and ability in the role of

the targets, which could exacerbate their fear of losing. Second, face research

has shown that people worry about their external images related to their
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positions if threatened, and that these face concerns can prompt them to engage

in face-saving behaviors. As a result, that negative gossip may cause the targets

to feel fear of losing face and react accordingly (Harrison et al., 2018).

Specifically, fear of losing face as a mediating mechanism in the

relationship between negative workplace and environment gossip and engaging

in negative gossip. This theory explain that negative gossip can arouse fear of

losing face in the targets and then trigger the targets to participate in negative

gossip to ease their worries (Zhang et al., 2011).

Personality traits can influence the process of emotional response.

Additionally, some studies on this theory have shown that individuals respond

differently to face their threats, because personality characteristics play an

important role in this process. Self-monitoring as a trait may play this role, that

is, it may affect how the targets react to the gossip about them. Self-monitoring

is defined as the extent to which individuals are willing and able to control their

public expression and shape their public appearances under the guidance of

social appropriateness. Thus, given the importance of self-monitoring in making

sense of and dealing with information related to humiliation or embarrassment

and external image, identify it as a construct that refers to the extent to which

individuals are willing and able to control their public expression and shape their

public images. Predict that self-monitoring moderates the relationship between

negative workplace gossip and fear of losing face (Weiss and Cropanzano, 2006).
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Theory of the evolution of language, it does: Gossip, he claims, is what

allows humans to maintain social coherence in very large groups, and the

selective pressure to do so is what drove us to evolve language in the first place.

According to this theory, before humans learned to gossip, something else must

have kept our groups together. According to the argument of language evolution

as a gradual adaption in human society from genetic assimilation and

culturalization, the underlying genetic substrate of language enables a Universal

Grammar, which is a set of grammatical principles that applies across all human

languages (Robin Dunbar's, 2007).

Conceptual Framework

The importance of Anti-Tsismis Ordinance “is to be able to stop this

practice of spreading of news about other people, regardless

of account, this Barangay Ordinance has the legal basis to impose fines and

punishment to any person or group of people who committed and is directly

involved in said act; or this ordinance is enacted to regulate gossiping or

proliferation of malicious information against a person, thus, maligning his or her

dignity, character and disposition in the community.

The Municipality of Binalonan and Barangay Officials shall impose the

appropriate penalties for acts described in Ordinance no. 1 series of 2012 of

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these implementing rules and regulations this ordinance shall be known as

simply as “ANTI-TSISMIS” ordinance.

According to Article 26, Chapter 2: of Human Relations of the Civil

Code of the Philippines states that: “Every person shall respect the dignity,

personality, privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and other persons.” Said

article also describes several acts and similar to it deemed as intrusive

and offensive and states that “though they may not constitute a criminal offense,

said actions may produce a cause of action for damages, prevention and other

relief.” Said article further states” A civil action may be instituted even if no crime

is involved and moral damages may be obtained. An Ordinance Penalizing a person or

Group of people who s involved in rumor mongering or Gossipping(Tsismis).

The researchers aimed to determine the level of awareness of respondents

to the Implementation of Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the Municipality of Binalonan,

Pangasinan.

Moreover, the study seeks to determine the level of awareness in the

implementation of Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the Municipality of Binalonan,

Pangasinan.

The conceptual framework of this study is to find out how effective is the

implementation of anti-tsismis ordinance in the Municipality of Binalonan

Pangasinan. The analysis of the study is focuses on the measurement and

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determine the psychological effect of gossip to individual, and how the ordinance

serves or makes a solution. The researchers believed that the intention of any

plan will only be realized through action and the quality of action rendered to

achieve its goal. In this end the researchers would like to evaluate whether the

stated activities in the stated anti-tsismis ordinance is effective in the of

Municipality of Binalonan as campaign are implemented, and whether the degree

of effectiveness have been attained to further reduce the problem on gossip n

the Municipality of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Figure 1 showed the study paradigm, which includes input, process and

output. The first box is the input showing the level of awareness of the anti-

Thismis ordinance in the municipality of Binalonan, Pangasinan, the level of

implementation of the anti-Tsismis ordinance in the Municipality of Malasiqui

Pangasinan and the problems encountered in the implementation of the

ordinance in the Municipality of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the level of awareness of “Anti-Tsismis

Ordinance in Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan”.

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Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of awareness of Anti-Tsismis Ordinance of Barangay Capas,

Binalonan, Pangasinan?

2. Is there any significant difference between the perception of the respondents in the

level of awareness of anti-tsismis ordinance in Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan?

3. What is the level of implementation of Anti-Tsismis in Barangay Capas, Binalonan,

Pangasinan?

4. Is there any significant difference between the respondent’s perception in

anti-tsismis ordinance of the implementation in Barangay Capas, Binalonan,

Pangasinan?

5. What problems encountered in the implementation of anti-tsismis in Barangay

Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Research Hypothesis

The research created and formulated the hypotheses of the study in its null

form as:
 25

1. There is no significant different between the perception of the

respondents in the level of awareness of anti-tsismis ordinance in Barangay

Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

2. There is no significant difference between the respondents’ perception in

the implementation of anti-tsismis ordinance in Barangay Capas, Binalonan,

Pangasinan.

Scope and Delimitation

The study aims to determine the level of awareness, level of

implementation, and the problems encountered in the implementation of anti-

tsismis ordinance in Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

The subjects of the study were the barangay officials and community

members of Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan in the year 2021-2022

Significance of the Study

The study focuses on the implementation of anti-Tsismis ordinances in

Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan. This study will serve as a tool in the

information drive towards multi–sectoral understanding and awareness about the

Anti-Tsismis Ordinance Campaign as adopted and implemented in the Barangay

Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan. Thus, this study has a deemed importance to the

different entities in the society.

 26

LGU Officials. The findings of this study can be used as a data source by

the Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan and serves as the basis to improve

the programs, policy and efforts behind the implementation of the said

ordinance.

The Philippine National Police (PNP). The findings of the study can

serve as an opener to the PNP leadership such as that the departmental

programs and management styles be rectified. The officer’s attitude and

supervising philosophy which can bring forth greater citizen support, shared

responsibility, greater job satisfaction, better internal relationship and support for

organizational change can be sustained if not enhance.

Community Folks. This study is important to the community folks in

terms of their assessment of what the implementation of the said ordinances and

serves also as awareness campaign to municipality concerns. The study can

generate to public commitment to crime prevention, public scrutiny of police

operations, accountability, customized police service and community

organization. It can also lead to the improvement of the quality of life in the

neighborhood throughout the country.

Criminology Practitioners. The concept of anti-tsimis serves as

reference and basis to study, this study is therefore beneficial to criminology

practitioners or professionals.
 27

Future Researchers. This will be a great help to future researchers for it

will serve as reference in taking the same concept of study. The result of the

study is of great help and significance to the researchers in general for it will tell

us or give us first-hand information about the relationship of police force with the

community. That one of these days, whether we like it or not, hopefully we will

be the proud members of the police force in the real world.

Definition of Terms

The following terms have been defined according to how they were used

in the study.

Tsimis. casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other

people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. a person

who repeats stories about other people, talk or rumors involving the personal

lives of other people. scandal apply to idle talk and news mongering about the

affairs of others. Gossip is light chat or talk: to trade gossip about the neighbors.

Gossip. to talk about the personal lives of others that can cause trouble

Anti-Tsismis Ordinance. In an attempt to shut up gossipers from

spreading malicious stories and wild speculations in the community, a barangay

in Pangasinan has implemented an “anti-tsismis” ordinance. 

 28

Ordinance. an authoritative decree or direction: order on that day the king

signed three ordinances, a law set forth by a governmental authority specifically

Law. the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes

as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the

imposition of penalties

Gossipers. someone who talks eagerly and casually about other people. If

you like to spread rumors and hear the latest news about your friends, you might

be a gossiper. When you gossip, you talk enthusiastically about other people's

news or business.

Rumors. a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.

Doubtful truth. Dubious, problematic, questionable mean not affording

assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something. Doubtful implies

little more than a lack of conviction or certainty. Doubtful about whether I said

the right thing dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.

Chapter 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 29

This chapter deals with the methods and procedures used in the study.

Specifically, it discussed the research design, population and locale of the study,

data gathering instrument, data gathering procedure and, statistical treatment of

data.

Research Design

This study used the descriptive survey for investigation in gathering

information about the present condition, concurrently it is the at-finding study

with an adequate interpretation and which is intended to describe the nature of

situation cited by Traverse (2008).

The researchers used the descriptive method on the stated research study in

order to determine the level of awareness, level of implementation, and the

problems encountered in the implementation of anti-tsismis ordinance in

Barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Population and Local of the Study

The respondents of the study will be composed of barangay officials and

community residents of barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan. A total of 15

barangay officials and 358 community members will serve as respondents of the

study. This study limits those residents of barangay Capas, Binalonan,

Pangasinan.
 30

Data Gathering Instrument

This study included only one (1) data gathering instrument namely:

survey questioner.

The researchers asked first the consent of the respondents of the study

before administering the survey questioner. This was the primary tool to

gathered the necessary data of the study. These are designed to collect and

record information from the respondents,

Data Gathering Procedures

Prior to the gathering of data and to ensure administrative support, the

researchers formally asked permission from Dean of College of Criminal Justice

Education, Urdaneta City University and from their research adviser in the

conduct of the study. Further, consent from the Head of Barangay or Brgy.

Captain to get the necessary information needed in the study.

The questionnaires were distributed to Barangay Officials, and community

members of the said barangay.

The researchers, personally, were involved in the distribution of

questionnaires to the target respondents. Furthermore, researchers advised the

respondents that their involvement will be critical to the study and that their

responses will be kept private so that accurate data could be acquired.

 31

Statistical Treatment of the Data

Appropriate statistical tools were used to arrive at a precise interpretation of

the data collected in this study. To answer the problems number 1 ,3 and 5 the

slovens formula was used as shown;

The problem of the study deals with the 1. The level of awareness of Anti-

Tsismis Ordinance in barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan 3. The level of

implementation of Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in barangay Capas, Binalonan,

Pangasinan and the 5. Problems encountered in the implementation of the Anti-

Tsismis Ordinance in barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

To achieve the objective of problem number 1,3 and 5, the researchers

utilized a five-point Liker scale to classify the responses of the students.

The scale used is as follows;

Σfx
The weight formula was: WM =
η

Where: WM - mean equivalent of each category

f - number of respondents falling in each category

x - point value classification of the respondents

n - total number of respondents

Point value Classification for Problem 1

 32

Point Value Classification Mean Rating Descriptive Equivalent

Five 4.50-5.00 Very Much Aware (VMA)

Four 3.50-4.49 Much Aware (MA)

Three 2.50- 3.49 Aware (A)

Two 1.50-2.49 Slightly Aware (SA)

One 1.00-1.49 Not Aware (NA)

Point value Classification for Problem 2

Point Value Classification Mean Rating Descriptive Equivalent

Five 4.50-5.00 Very Much Implemented (VMI)

Four 3.50-4.49 Much Implemented (MI)

Three 2.50- 3.49 Implemented (I)

Two 1.50-2.49 Slightly Implemented (SI)

One 1.00-1.49 Not Implemented (NI)

Point value Classification for Problem 3

Point Value Classification Mean Rating Descriptive Equivalent

 33

Five 4.50-5.00 Extremely Serious (ES)

Four 3.50-4.49 Moderately Serious (MS)

Three 2.50- 3.49 Serious (S)

Two 1.50-2.49 Slightly Serious (SS)

One 1.00-1.49 Not Serious (NS)

To answer problems 2 and 4 T-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were

used to the significant difference between the perception of the respondents’

level of awareness of Anti-Tsismis and the significant difference between the

respondents’ perception in the implementation of Anti-Tsismis in barangay

Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

The formula used is as follows:

t=
n 2s 21+ n 1 s 22 1 1

√ ( n + n -2 1
2 1 )(
x−x 2 n 1 n2 )

where: t - compound significance value

x - average of each area

n - number of respondents in each area

2
s - variance of each area

means¿
f=
means¿
 34

Where: f – computed significance value

CHAPTER 3
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
 35

This chapter presents the relevant data gathered, the result of the

statistical analysis done, and illustration of the findings. Further, this chapter

demonstrates the tabulation and the related examinations and understanding

from the study of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance.

Table 1
 36

Level of Awareness of the Respondents towards the Anti-Tsismis

Ordinance
(N=400)
Table 1 shown the barangay authorities always advise the people to stop

spreading rumors and to respect the ordinance with 4.97 interpreted as very

much aware. The ordinance has been appropriately and explicitly disseminated

by barangays officials or authorities and has been implemented properly and

effectively. The people should start observing and respecting it with 4.97 as

interpreted as very much aware. The anti-tsismis ordinance is being

implemented in a barangay Capas, Binalonan, Pangasinan with a total average

weighted mean of 4.82 interpreted as very much aware this implied that the

barangay officials were properly disseminating the ordinance as lower level of

awareness. It will be implemented in the Barangay of the same name in this

case. The ordinance will not apply in other barangays, however.

This was supported by the study of MA. ARIELLE LUSABIA ESTRAÑERO

Entitled “E-Tsismis: facebook Gossiping Motives, propensity, Comfortability, and

Behavior of Bacolod Youth, The study examine the “self” of the gossiper and

other factors (i.e., level of online disinhibition, level of comfortability of using a

particular Facebook feature, and level of prosperity to gossip) describing the

Facebook gossiping of youth aged 18-20 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. And

the data was quantified analyzed according to the study’s framework that is
 37

anchored on the concepts of Social Exchange Theory and online Disinhibition

Effect (Suler, 2004).

Table 1 revealed the overall weighted mean of community as group

number 1 is 4.93 as very much aware it implied that the barangay officials were

very dedicated to their mandate to enforce the ordinance of barangay. Moreover,

the Citizens as group number 2 were interpreted as very much aware with an

overall weighed mean of 4.86 this will also be implied that the barangay officials

are doing their responsibility to enforce the tsismis ordinance of the said

barangay. It was cited that the overall average mean of the respondents was

very much aware it implied that the overall performance of barangay was very

Table 2
Significant Difference between the Perceptions of the Respondents on
the Level of Awareness on the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance
The following data is the calculated average of the whole respondents.

Hence, we utilized the One-Way ANOVA to test the difference of the two groups.

ANOVA

DATA SUMMARY
Table 2 presents the significant differences between the perceptions of the

respondents on the level of awareness of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the

Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

 38

The p−value>¿ f −statistic value , which is more than the standard .05 alpha

level. This means that statistically there is no significant difference between the

perceptions of the respondents on the level of awareness on the Anti-Tsismis

Ordinance in the Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Table 3
Level of the Implementation of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance
(N=400)
Table 3 presents the level of the implementation of the anti-tsismis

ordinance that is being enforced in the barangay.

It can be derived from the table that the level of implementation of the

anti-tsismis ordinance is “very much implemented.” This is evidenced by the

overall average weighted mean of 4.90, which attained a descriptive equivalent

of very much implemented. This means that the respondents recognize that the

anti-tsismis ordinance has been known by the constituents and that they are

experiencing the consequences accompanied with the implementation of the said

ordinance.

It can be drawn out from the table in the perception of the respondents

from the barangay in indicator letters A “The anti-tsismis ordinance is being

implemented in a barangay,” B “The barangay authorities undertake an

information education and communication campaign - The barangay promotes

 39

the ordinance on a constant basis by conducting a major information education

and communication campaign through the use of media (print, radio, television,

and internet, and seminar,” C “The Ordinance's enactment is based on the rights

of the covered barangay or community to preserve both dignity and self-

preservation,” D “the ordinance will encompass offenses against people caused

by the spread of bad information,” and indicators E, G, H, I, and J got the

highest level of awareness. Also, it can be gleaned in the perception of the

respondents from the community in indicator letter A “the anti-tsismis ordinance

is being implemented in a barangay,” F “violations of the anti-tsismis ordinance

are penalized with severe sanctions or strict impositions of punishments,” and I

“the ordinance has been appropriately and explicitly disseminated by barangay

officials or authorities,” got the highest level of awareness, gaining a descriptive

equivalent of “very much implemented.”

Furthermore, the table presents that the lowest among the indicators as

perceived by the respondents from the barangay officials’ letters C “The

Ordinance’s enactment is based on the rights of the covered barangay or

community to preserve both dignity and self-preservation,” with an average

weighted mean of 4.93, attaining a descriptive equivalent of “very much

implemented.”

The result of the table implies that the local government’s enforcement

of the ordinance is very implemented. Further, this also implies that the
 40

ordinance is functional and accessible to the respondents and the community

commends the comprehensiveness of the ordinance within the municipality.

As stated by UN-Habitat, “Legislation should provide comprehensive

procedural guidelines to facilitate effective implementation of ordinances.” In

mediating the persisting problems in a community, it is important to have

established means of effectively implying the implementation of ordinances.

Simply put, it needs to undergo an assessment to check its sustainability and

usefulness in addressing specific community concerns. This idea is strengthened

by the idea that “Ordinances must contain implementation and enforcement

provisions to ensure that residents and businesses comply with the law. Without

any enforcement provision, a community would have to rely on voluntary

compliance.” Thus, to ensure its functionality, there must be a coherent

assessment with the constituents. This fact indicates the need for the joint effort

of the constituents and the enforcers to assess the ordinance’s efficacy.

Table 4
Significant Difference between the Perceptions of the Respondents on
the Level of Implementation of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance

The following data is the calculated average of the whole respondents.

Hence, we utilized the One-Way ANOVA to test the difference of the two groups.

ANOVA
 41

DATA SUMMARY
Table 4 presents the significant differences between the perceptions of the

respondents on the level of implementation of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the

Capas of Binalonan Pangasinan.

The p−value>¿ f −statistic value , which is more than the standard .05

alpha level. This means that statistically there is no significant difference

between the perceptions of the respondents on the level of the implementation

of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

 42

Table 5
Problems Encountered in the Implementation of the Anti-Tsismis
Ordinance
(N=400)
Table 5 presents the problems encountered in the implementation of the

anti-tsismis ordinance that are being enforced in the barangay of Capas.

From the table, it can be gleaned that the frequency of the problems

related to the implementation of the anti-tsismis ordinance is “extremely

serious.” This is supported by the overall average weighted mean of 4.90, which

has a descriptive equivalent of “extremely serious.” This means that despite the

effective mediation of the ordinance to the constituents of the barangay, there

are still discrepancies that are highly observed and prevailing.

Furthermore, it can be drawn out from the table in the problems

encountered in the implementation of the anti-tsismis ordinance, as perceived by

the barangay officials in indicator letters respondents from the community, in

indicator letters A “the community is unwilling/disinterested and uncooperative in

implementing the ordinance,” B “the community has a lack of understanding and

awareness of the ordinance,” D “some members of the barangay lacked the

necessary expertise, knowledge, and skill to carry out the ordinance's

provisions,” E “Ordinance offenders are only selected and punished by the

barangay authorities,” F “the barangay officials or personnel are arrogant in their

 43

implementation of the ordinance,” and G “Inconsistency and laxity in barangay's

authorities' supervision of ordinance implementation,” as well as indicators H, I,

and J got the highest average weighted mean, with descriptive equivalent of

extremely serious.” Also, in the perception of the respondents from the

community indicators A, G, and H got the highest tally, garnering an average

weighted mean of 5, attaining a descriptive equivalent of “extremely serious.”

Also, the table presents that the lowest among the indicators as

perceived by the barangay officials letter C, “Inadequate personnel to regularly

monitor all entities subject to the ordinance’s provision,” with an average mean

of 4.86, attaining a descriptive equivalent of “extremely serious.” However, in the

perception of the respondents from community in indicator letter C “Inadequate

personnel to regularly monitor all entities subject to the ordinance's provisions,”

with an average weighted mean of 4.85 and attained a descriptive equivalent of

“extremely serious.”

The result implies that there are still concerning problems accompanied

with the implementation of the anti-tsismis ordinance. Further, this also means

that there are needs assess the ordinance and provide necessary legislative

restriction to ensure that the ordinance is truly effective.

The problems implied in the table are supported by the study of

Satterlund, Lee, Moore, and Antin, “Among various salient challenges

 44

accompanied with the implementation of an ordinance were: 1.) an ineffective

administrative structure, 2.) problems with complaint-driven system used to

enforce the law, 3.) lack of funding for enforcement, 4.) low prioritization of

enforcement, and 5.) the minimal deterrence effect of the sanctioning penalties.”

Thus, to effectively implement the ordinance, there is a need to revise its

mechanisms to diminish the problems related to the ordinance. This indicates the

need to amend the ordinance to ensure that is being implemented coherently,

properly, and accordingly.

 45

CHAPTER 4

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter includes the restatement of the problems and research

methods used, findings, conclusions drawn, and recommendations in the

Implementation of Anti-Tsismis, as well as its effectiveness and related problems.

Summary
The study tackled with: (1) The level of awareness of the respondents

residing in the municipality in relation to the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance; (2) The

significant difference between the perceptions of the respondents on the level of

awareness on the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the barangay of Capas; (3) The level

of implementation of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the barangay of Capas; (4)

The significant difference between the perceptions of the respondents on the

level of implementation on the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the barangay of Capas;

(5) The problems encountered in the implementation of the Anti-Tsismis

Ordinance; (6) and (6) proposed measures to enhance the effectiveness and

sustainability of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance among constituents in the barangay

of Capas.
 46

The researchers used descriptive method of research in this study. The

subjects of this study are the barangay officials and constituents of barangay

Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan. It covers selected 400 respondents.

Salient Findings
Based on the data collected, the following findings at this moment are

presented:

1.The awareness of the community in the Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan

toward the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance that is being enforced is “very much aware”

and it is supported by an Overall Average Weighted Mean of 4.93 and portrayed

as very much aware.

2. There is no significant difference between the perceptions of the

respondents on the level of awareness of the Anti-Tsimis Ordinance in the Capas

of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

3. The level of the implementation of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the

Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan is “very much implemented.” The perception of

the respondents is bolstered by an Overall Average Weighted Mean of 4.90 and

portrayed as very much implemented.

4. There is no significant difference between the perceptions of the

respondents on the level of implementation of the Anti-Tsimis Ordinance in the

Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

 47

5. The frequency of the problems encountered in the implementation of

the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance is “extremely serious.” This is evidenced by its Overall

Average Weighted Mean of 4.90 and portrayed as extremely serious.

Conclusions
In light of the foregoing findings of the study, the preceding conclusions

appeared at:

1. The awareness of the respondents in the Capas of Binalonan,

Pangasinan toward the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance that are being implemented is

very much aware. This implies that the community is very much knowledgeable

regarding the mentioned ordinance. Therefore, it is well implemented in the

community.

2. There is no significant difference between the perceptions on the level

of awareness regarding the Anti-Tsismis ordinance in the Capas of Binalonan,

Pangasinan. This means that the perception of the respondents doesn’t

significantly differ in each other. Therefore, the community is aware of the Anti-

Tsimis ordinance that is implemented.

3. The level of the implementation of the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance in the

Capas of Binalonan, Pangasinan is very much implemented. This means that the

law enforcers and community are familiar and satisfied with the implemented

ordinance. Moreover, the community feels the impact of the policy delivered
 48

coming from the local government. Therefore, the Anti-Tsismis Ordinance that is

being implemented is working and useful to the constituents of the barangay.

4. There is no significant difference between the perceptions on the level

of implementation regarding the Anti-Tsismis ordinance in the Capas of

Binalonan, Pangasinan.

5. The frequency of the problems encountered in the implementation of

the aforementioned ordinance is extremely serious. This infers that there are still

relevant aspects to address or amend. Therefore, the ordinance that is being

implemented has gaps that are highly observable in the community.

Recommendations
Based on the conclusion, the following are recommended

1. The local government must maintain this ordinance for promoting a

healthy and peaceful community.

2. The law enforcers must encourage the barangay officials and

community to take part in the information drive, specifically about the ordinance.

3. To attain sustainability of the ordinance, the law enforcers must

coordinate with locally-based institutions and Non-Government Organizations

(NGOs).

4. The law enforcers must entertain and address the comments, queries,

and suggestions coming from the community.

 49

5. The community must adhere to the ordinance that is being

implemented.

6. Conduct regular sessions of assessments to obtain relevant data about

the implementation of the ordinance in each barangay so that the persisting

gaps or problems related to the ordinance will be addressed.