Intro:

Counterfeiting defined as illegally copying of authentic goods with a brand name. (Grossman &
Shapiro, 1998). It is called pirated copyright goods which are copies made without the consent
of the right holder of production. (Vithlani, 1998). Counterfeit products are unauthorized
brands that intent to deceive someone into believing that it is the same or better than the real
thing. The quality of counterfeits varies according to products. Some counterfeit products are
so good that even the brand owners are not able to distinguish them from genuine products
while others are very poor and easily distinguished. (Zaichkowsky, 1999).

In today’s market, counterfeit products can easily be seen in a lot of places, particularly in
online markets. Moreover, Asia is famously considered as the most awful violator of intellectual
property rights and marked as the “home of piracy” including the country of China, India,
Thailand, and Malaysia. (Muhammad and Ghani, 2016). According to (Garret, 2012)
Counterfeiting is a big issue that many countries are facing over the decades. It damages brand
industries such as clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, cosmetics, appliances, perfume,
electronics, software, and spare parts. In 2018, counterfeit products caused roughly $323 billion
of damage to the global economy. (Desjardins, 2019). According to an article International
AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) the growth is driven by consumers' demand that trigger
companies to produce more counterfeit products that are as sophisticated as the original.
Moreover, the technological advancement paved the way for increase international trade
which causes its continuing spread nationwide.

Relatively, few studies examined consumers' attitude towards purchase of counterfeit products
to identify the factors that urge them. The findings (Bhardwaj, 2010; Wee et al., 1995) stated that
price is the reason why consumers become interested in purchasing counterfeit products.
Similarly, a professor of fashion and apparel, Jaehee Jung at the University of Delaware
investigated consumer behavior regarding genuine vs. counterfeit luxury goods. It (Jung, 2015),
revealed that consumers patronize counterfeit products because of concerned about social
perceptions and making a good impression on others. Likewise, Martial Art Fraud article stated
that consumers who purchase counterfeit products are those trying to improve their self-
image.

According to (Lancer, 2019), self-esteem is what we think of ourselves. When it’s positive, we
have confidence and self-respect. We are content with ourselves and our abilities, in who we
are and our competence. Self-esteem is relatively stable and enduring, though it can fluctuate.
It affects not only what we think, but also how we feel and behave. Also, self-esteem has a
significant ramification for our happiness and enjoyment of life.
To them, fashion is a way to have an identity, social status, and group in society. Furthermore,
teenagers use fashion to express themselves.
Influenced by celebrities why teens nowadays are more self-conscious than adults (re-write, u
can use the idea of self-consciousness of teens). The desire to be like a celebrity is the reason
why teens are obsessed with clothing, shoes, accessories, and bags. As a result, teenagers
spend most of their time on social media to look for upcoming trends.

People who consume counterfeit products are willing to fulfill their wants or desire for social
acceptance, especially for fashion and trends that drive’s people desire to keep on buying.
(Nanidigiblog, 2017). In other words, consumers who purchase counterfeit products are those
people who want to fulfill desires to be admired just like teenager’s obsession with fashion. In
this case, this study is conducted to identify the significant relationship between counterfeit
products and self-esteem among senior high school students.

This study took place at Baliuag University, it established in 1925. Baliuag University is a for-
profit private higher-education institution located in the suburban setting of the small city of
Baliuag (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Central Luzon. Officially recognized
by the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines, Baliuag University (BU) is a small
(uniRank enrollment range: 5,000-5,999 students) coeducational Philippine higher education
institution. Baliuag University (BU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized
higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in
several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for
further details. This 95 years old Philippine higher-education institution has a selective
admission policy based on students' past academic record and grades. BU also provides several
academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, sports
facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as
administrative services.

The general objective of the study is to determine the connectivity of purchasing counterfeit
products towards self-esteem of a student. Hence, this study is conducted to also know the
advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a counterfeit product and self-esteem of a
student. But the connectivity of purchasing counterfeit product and self-esteem is our priority.

The main purpose of this study is to forecast on how the purchasing of counterfeit products can
affect the self-esteem of a student such as they only purchase counterfeit products in order to
save more money. This study is conducted to have its own clear understand in purchasing a
counterfeit product and in self esteem
The study will use the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) to measure the relationship between
two variables and to predict the self-esteem of students in purchasing counterfeit products.

Significance of the Study

The results of the study will be benefit to the following:

Consumers. The result of this study could serve as a baseline data for the consumers
who want to further their knowledge about the impact of counterfeit products. Counterfeit
products are danger to their health and safety which can put them at tremendous risk of harm,
it can cause harmful and bad results, and even death. Through this knowledge, it can help them
to build their self-esteem by making a right decision.

This study will help them to have more confidence in choosing or purchasing what is
better for them even if its counterfeit or authentic product.

Entrepreneurs. This study could serve as guide and reference for the entrepreneurs as
an inventor and first creator of product therefore entrepreneurs will be aware of purchasing
the behavior of customers, which they can consider in marketing their products to the
customers. Their self-esteem will boost via making a strategy on how they attract the
customers to choose their products.

Producers. This study will help them to realize that making a counterfeit product will
put them in a big danger instead they can innovate a product that has a good quality that can
help people in their everyday life.

Through this study it will help to have the knowledge about the possible impact of
counterfeiting such as lose some sales, the reputation is also under threat, it can harm a
brand’s value, and it can cause long-lasting damage. Therefore, producers can create and
supplies products that will satisfy the needs, desires and wants of consumer that will be useful
in everyone’s life.

Students. Through the help with this study, students will able to know the reasons why
some of them don’t usually purchase counterfeit products maybe because it seems to be the
reason of decreasing their self-esteem.

Future Researchers. The results and outcome of this study is beneficial to the future
researchers. This study can serve as basis for further study and it will be useful reference for the
researchers who would plan to make a related study.

Statement of the Problem

The study was designed to measure the relationship between purchasing counterfeit products
and self-esteem of Senior High School students of Baliuag University during the school year
2020-2021. It aims to find out if whether there is a positive or negative relationship between
two variables.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following sub-problems:

1.What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

a. sex

b. strand

c. age

2.how may the purchasing of counterfeit products of respondents be describe?

3. how may the self-esteem of respondents be described?

4. Is there a significant relationship between the student’s self-esteem and purchase of

counterfeit products?

Hypothesis

Ho: There is no significant relationship between purchasing counterfeit products and self-
esteem.

Scope and delimitation (replace na lng cguro sa sample ng kay mam na sinned? pero based sa
study natin)

The coverage of this study is about student purchasing counterfeit products and self-esteem. It
consists of problem and results on how the Senior High school students of Baliuag University
will react to the given situations. The Senior High School students of Baliuag University for the
school year 2020-2021 (include also sem..) are the primary source of data for this study. Every
development has its pros and cons. Throughout history, researchers have found that the
various Trend equipment today can pose a risk because nowadays not everyone has the
ability to buy or invest in a detailed thing. In addition, some students use counterfeit
products to solve or to keep up with what is trending ?. It is a must to know why do they need
to buy that certain product. The researchers decided to pick respondents across all strand.