Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease (HD) has afflicted the lives of people since time immemorial. Dr. Gerhard Armauer Hansen, a Norwegian physician, discovered the causative agent of leprosy as Mycobacterium leprae in 1873. M. leprae is an acidfast, rod-shaped bacillus, with a slow growth rate. Symptoms of the disease are generally manifested through the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.

Conclusions derived from an earlier report entitled “Developing Evidence-based Leprosy Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Materials for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): A Formative Research Report” were the basis of crafted IEC materials for this current manuscript. It is hoped that these IEC materials will convey the truth about leprosy, and set constituents in the Cordilleras free from the stigmatic prison created by misconceptions about leprosy.Two posters, one leaflet, and one sticker were initially crafted in August 2012.

Further analysis however, prompted the improvement of the initial IEC materials.Improving the materials required pretesting to determine if it was generally understood and acceptable by the public. This report thus presents the methods and results obtained from pretesting the materials in CAR.

The study aimed to establish a status profile of the travel agencies operating in Baguio city, their problems, and prospects. Using descriptive-survey with informal interview and the questionnaire as means of data gathering, it was revealed that most of the travel agencies are owned by sole proprietors, have few staff members, with passport processing, reservation and ticketing the primary services offered and traveling businessmen as their main clients. Their most common problem relate to the inadequacy of the papers or documents of their clients and the confirmation of bookings from their suppliers. The travel agents agree that to be able to gain competitive advantage, continuous tourism-related skill training and investing on technology are necessary.

The study dealt on the stress responses of the non-teaching staff of the University of the Cordilleras. The respondents of the study were 102 or 80% of the non-teaching employees in the different offices and departments of the university. Using descriptive-comparative method, it was revealed that the employees' most prevalent stress responses relate to the physical or physiological functioning of the body. Also, it was shown that age and length of service made a significant difference on their stress responses. It was recommended that the stress management program developed by the researchers be implemented by the school administration to minimize the negative impact of stress to the employees.

The research focused on establishing the profile of accredited hotels in Baguio city, the basic concerns of their front offices, and the strategies that they employ to ensure the delivery of quality service. With descriptive-survey as a research design, the researchers administered a questionnaire to the front office supervisors of 11 accredited hotels in the city by the Department of Tourism (DOT). Based on the gathered data, it was revealed that 64% of the hotels are corporations, with 8-60 employees, 34-71 rooms, 3-8 front office staff and had been engaged in the business for 3 to 28 years. Majority of the front office supervisors are young female professionals. Although minimal, problems encountered by the front offices relate to reservation, check-ins/registration, settling of bills and check-outs. To ensure quality service, the hotels design orientation and training programs for their front office staff.

The study dealt on the performance of BS Architecture students of the University of the Cordilleras in the different architecture design courses or subjects offered during the 3rd Trimester, S.Y. 2004-2005 to the 3rd Trimester, S.Y. 2006-2007. Performance was measured in terms of frequency and percentage of students passing, failing, and dropping the subject as well as those who obtained incomplete grades. Using descriptive method with questionnaire and documentary analysis as means of data gathering, it was revealed that Site Development, Planning and Landscaping (AR 321) was the course failed most by the students while Creative Design in Architectural Interiors (AR 221) was the subject mostly dropped by the students. Also, it was shown in the findings that it is in the subjects Design of Complex Structures (AR 411) and Thesis Research Writing (AR 421) that the students obtained incomplete grades the most.

The main aim of the study is to determine the health practices and beliefs among some ethnic groups in the province of Benguet; considering some aspects of health, such as health practices, health conditions as well as health remedies, causes of human discomforts and health needs. Descriptive-survey was the research. There were 255 respondents of the study who belong to the Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Kalinga, and other tribes. Findings revealed that the respondents rarely consult doctors, nurses, and other health workers concerning health practices and conditions. They believe that the causes of human discomforts are natural and climactic factors, spirits, and even modern scientific findings on the harmful effects of virus and bacteria. There is a felt need for more doctors, nurses, and other health workers in the communities inhabited by the ethnic groups.

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that one of the fields of specialization preferred by the high school students who are planning to enroll in Teacher Education is special education. It is then recommended that the university offers special education (SPED) as one of the major fields under the BEED program of the College of Teacher Education. Moreover, the university should continue to improve its human and physical resources related to SPED in order to attract more high school students to enroll in the program.