Preface
Authors: Limjuco Renan P. , Aleria John Rey A. 
Published: February 2016

<p>Responding to the changing needs of the society and to the sign oftimes, the University of the Immaculate Conception Research and Publication Center presents Volume 19 Number 1 of the UIC Research Journal. This edition includes 15 research reports which delve into various disciplines subdividedin four sections: Education, Engineering and Technology, Higher Education Research, and Health, Pharmacy &amp; Chemistry and Environment.</p><p>This journal imparts findings and discussion that shed light to differentperspectives not only in the academic realm but also to society at large.</p><p>Section One is composed of three studies in the field of education.The study entitled Campus Journalism Related Factors and Journalistic Meritsof Student Publications in Selected Tertiary Schools in Davao City by Dr. MonaLaya, Prof. Jan Vincent Laroya and Prof. John Rey Aleria explores the campusrelated factors and how they affect the proficiency of campus journalists. Also,Dr. Charlie Dayon and Ms. Joan Natad sought to find the learning styles and proficiency in communication of the students in their Study Learning Styles andBasic Communication Skills while Prof. Armando Parantar attempted to explore the relevance and importance of note-taking to students in his investigation entitled The Essence of Note-taking.</p><p> </p><p>Dealing with the current trends on climate and environment vis-à-vis government economic thrusts and development, Section Two is comprised of studies dealing with issues on engineering and technology. Researchers Engr. Aylmer Ronnel Sombilla, Mr. Aaaron Paul Paciente, Ms. Cristy Marie Masalta,Mr. Martin Sorolla, Mr. Carlwen Jave Pausta and Mr. Manuel Rey Villanueva unveil the effects of aviation noise to the lives of the people living near the airport in their investigation entitled Level of Aviation Noise: Their Effects on the Inhabitants near Francisco Bangoy International Airport. Professors Ma. Teresa Gravino, Princy Luga, and Lucila Lupo deal on measures to prepare the communities to future disasters by measuring the climate literacy of the people in near the shores in their paper entitled Climate Literacy of Davao City Residents in Coastal Areas and there is also collaboration of Engr. Ruben Ruiz and Dr. Renan Limjuco who suggest a faster way to travel from Toril to the city proper in their study A Coastal Road as an Alternate Route for the Decongestion of Traffic from Toril to Downtown of Davao City.</p><p>Aiming for greater heights in the research track, the Section Three includes articles from the graduate and post-graduate programs. To supplement the need to better the communication skills of students, Prof. Wilvena Pernia in her study Communication Skills Needs of Technical English I Students: Basis for the Development of Instructional Materials aimed to make an effective instructional tool for students enrolled in English 1. Unveiling the power of print media to persuade people to buy beauty products, Prof. Edroslyn Fernandez analyzed the use of persuasive language in advertising in her paper Discourse Analysis of Persuasive Language in Philippine Print Advertising. Ms. Joan Natad in her study entitled Exposure to the English Linguistic Environment, Affective Filters and the Writing Competence of Students examined the influence of exposure to the English linguistic environment and affective filters on the writing competence of students enrolled in an English Proficiency Program while Dr. Rhodora Ranalan using thematic analysis in her article Trends and Themes in Graduate Research Papers in UIC: Towards a Compendium of Research Outputs from 2007 to 2012 ventured on unveiling the trends and themes of researches in the graduate school. Bridging the gaps and strengthening the bonds with fellow researchers in other institutions, this section also features two studies from a neighboring school in Davao region. Dr. Nelia Pacaña in her study entitled Professional Image, Anger Management and Instructional Leadership of Non-Sectarian School Administrators determined whether professional image and anger management influence leadership of the administrators in non-sectarian schools in Region XI while Dr. Prescila Baquerfo in her paper Competing Standpoints of Code-Switching in Classroom Instruction of the Pre-Secondary Teachers discussed the standpoints of teachers in code-switching in classroom instructions.</p><p>Section Four displays the unfolding of new insights in the field of health. Prof. Kenny James Merin assessed the toxicity of a mangosteen xanthone capsule available in the market in his investigation entitled Preliminary Acute Toxicological Analysis and Profiling of a Commercially Available Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) Xanthone Capsule while Ms. Ma. Azeneth Josol-Jagape compared the heavy metal loads of both locally and imported manufactured food supplement capsules. Ms. Regina Joy Malonzo, Dr. Thelma Alderite and Ms. Maribeth Galindo measured the level of awareness, attitude and openness of the students of UIC as well as their parents on the issue of HIV/AIDS.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Renan P. Limjuco </strong></p><p>Editor in Chief</p><p><strong>John Rey A. Aleria </strong></p><p>Associate Editor</p>