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Article History

Received: 15 April 2025

Accepted: 13 February 2026

First Online: 12 March 2026

Change Date: 1 April 2026

Change Type: Update

Change Details: Acknowledgementsand Funding section has been updated

Declarations

:

: The School of Media Studies Ethics Committee, including panel members Assistant Professor Maria Elena Fulo and Assistant Professor Martin Junner Cosmer, reviewed and approved the research protocol at Mapúa University. Dr. Jonah Lim, Assistant Professor Myrthelle Karen Rey, and Assistant Professor Andrea Peralejo conducted further review. The study was conducted under the ethical guidelines and regulations set forth by the School of Media Studies at Mapúa University. The study also followed ethical research guidelines, safeguarding participant privacy and confidentiality. Following the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) of the Philippines, all personal data, including names, addresses, and identifiable information, was anonymized.

: The data utilized in the manuscript and the pertinent raw data will be made readily accessible to any researcher interested in using them for non-commercial purposes while maintaining the participants' confidentiality.

: All participants involved in this study were informed about the nature and purpose of the research. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained before their involvement. This study did not involve procedures or data requiring medical or sensitive personal information. In addition, all identifiable information was anonymized.

: This study does not include any identifiable data, figures, tables, or text passages requiring consent for publication. All participants were informed about the purpose of the study, their role in it, and their right to withdraw at any time without penalty. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in the study.

: This research employed a descriptive research design and did not qualify as a clinical trial. The World Health Organization (WHO [ ] defines clinical trials as studies investigating new tests and treatments and assessing their impact on human health. These trials involve volunteers who evaluate various medical interventions, such as drugs, biological products, surgical procedures, devices, behavioral therapies, and preventive care (World Health Organization: WHO [ ]. In contrast, the participants in this phenomenological study were not assigned to any specific intervention beforehand,consequently, clinical trial registration was unnecessary.

: The authors declare no competing interests.