14/05/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก
Tarlac Agricultural Universityโs College of Arts and Sciences once again demonstrated its research excellence after students from the Department of Psychology and the Department of Development Communication secured the top two honors in the Search for the Best Undergraduate Thesis for Academic Year 2025โ2026.
Organized by the Department of Research and Development, the competition was held on May 14, 2026, and recognized outstanding undergraduate research that reflects scholarly rigor, innovation, and relevance to contemporary social issues.
Claiming First Place in the Social Sciences Category were Psychology students Maylene C. Fabros, Jackielyn L. Manggante, and Mica Lorraine S. Sicangco for their thesis titled, โBuhay sa Likod ng Lente: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Female Students Engaged in Online S*x Work in the Philippines.โ
Guided by their adviser, Dr. Benny S. Soliman, the study examined the hidden realities faced by female students engaged in online s*x work, shedding light on a sensitive issue often overlooked in academic and public discourse. Dr. Soliman added that the same paper was also named a finalist in the Best Undergraduate Thesis Search of the Psychological Association of the Philippines โ Junior Affiliates, highlighting its significance beyond the university level.
Securing Second Place was Kathlyn Joy and her research team from the Department of Development Communication for the thesis, โSounding Out Democracy: Co-creating an Audio-Based Votersโ Education Toolkit for Blind and Visually Impaired Youth.โ
Under the mentorship of Nelmar A. Mallari, LPT, MDC, the study addressed the need for inclusive civic education by developing an accessible audio-based toolkit designed to empower blind and visually impaired youth with the information they need to participate more fully in democratic processes.
The achievement of both departments highlights the breadth and depth of research being produced within the College of Arts and Sciences. From tackling complex social realities to promoting inclusive communication and civic participation, the winning theses demonstrated how undergraduate research can serve as a powerful tool for understanding and addressing real-world concerns.
More than a competition, the Search for the Best Undergraduate Thesis celebrates the dedication of students and advisers who transform academic inquiry into work that informs, inspires, and creates impact beyond the classroom.
For the College of Arts and Sciences, this yearโs results stand as a testament to its enduring commitment to research excellence and to nurturing young scholars whose ideas have the potential to contribute meaningfully to society.
Photo courtesy of the Department of Research and Development (DRD), Tarlac Agricultural University.