APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY APPROACH ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ON THE ISSUES OF THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA: A TOOL FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

1. APPRECIATIVE
INQUIRY APPROACH
ON ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP
ON THE ISSUES
OF THE WEST
PHILIPPINE SEA
Presentor:
Prof. Sheryl R. Morales
Correspondence: Dr. Rosalie A. Corpus &
Mr. Ryan B. Oliver
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
National Youth Congress 2013 of the
Philippines

2. BACKGROUND
The issue of our claims on the West Philippine Sea is a
matter of state concern. However, the role of the youth, as
future inheritors and stewards of our countries natural
heritage is important. Spreading awareness and civic
consciousness on the inevitable effect on the marine
environment and marine life in Kalayaan Island Group
(KIG) is vital. Other claimants and their actions on
reclaiming the islands and allegedly constructing buildings
within will have great impact on our security and economic
survival in the coming years.

3. INTRODUCTION
Stewardship is principally based on a moral principle of
having solicitously mindful acts with being accountable on
the planning, managing and protecting of a finite resources
entrusted to one's care. Since stewardship is a position
and a duty being hold to an entrusted steward, one can
narrate the challenging experiences it entails.
In contextualizing the concept of stewardship, which
can be correlated to the environment and nature.
Environmental stewardship is a responsibility for caring
God's creations.

4. INTRODUCTION
The researchers wish the youth participants to be engaging
and responding positively and affirmatively on the current
situation within the WPS. The researchers believed that
sharing the positive stories and identify the life giving forces
of our government, their actions on the situation would
provide our youth to participate and collaborate in creating
the most desired future for the community.

5. Theoretical Framework
In order to give shape to the study, the researchers used
Appreciative inquiry (AI). Appreciation —Kolb (1984) states,
"Appreciation is a process of affirmation. Unlike criticism, which
is based on skepticism and doubts, appreciation is based on
belief, trust, and conviction. And from this affirmative embrace
flows a deeper fullness and richness of experience."
Appreciative inquiry (AI) is both a process and a philosophy. As
a process, AI has a number of steps, phases, or cycles that an AI
practitioner follows in working through the process with an
organization. As a philosophy, AI emphasizes collaboration and
participation of all voices in the organization and approaches
change as a journey rather than an event. It has a systems
orientation that focuses on changing the organization rather
than the people (Martinez, 2002).

6. Theoretical Framework
Stewardship theory (Donaldson & Davis, 1989, 1991) has its
roots in psychology and sociology and was designed for
researchers to examine situations in which executives (like the
government officials) as stewards are motivated to act in the best
interests of their principals (the people).

7. Theoretical Framework
For this study, stewardship theory will be contextualized on
the Environmental Stewardship which refers to responsible use
and protection of the natural environment through
conservation and sustainable practices. Aldo Leopold (1949)
championed environmental stewardship based on a land ethic
"dealing with man's relation to land and to the animals and
plants which grow upon it.
In Islam, humankind’s stewardship (khalifatul ardh) of the
earth is not a privilege but a profound responsibility. Other
living species are also considered by the Qur’an to be “peoples
or communities” (ummas; Sura 6:38) and is an amanah
(responsibility) entrusted to man.

9. Research Questions
• Research Question one
(RQ1): What might be the
youth's role (individual or
collective effort) in helping
the West Philippine Sea?
• Proposition one (P1): The
youth's role is to informed
the general public on the
WPS issue using social
media.
Research Question two (RQ2):
What collaborative efforts can the
youth and government work
together for the WPS?
Proposition two (P2): The
collaborative efforts among
stakeholders (youth to
government) that can be done is
by institutional or organization
environmental projects/
programs/ activities.

10. Methodology
Design: Action Research (time
frame June-September 2014).
According to Lewin, action
research is a process that
“give credence to the
development of powers of
reflective thought, discussion,
decision and action by ordinary
people participating in
collective research (Adelman,
1993; Berg 2004). groups
interested in improving their
social situation or condition.
Today's action research
represents a viable,
practical strategy for social
science studies requiring
systematic, organized, and
reflective investigations
(Stringer, 1999; Berg,
2004). In present use,
action research is one of
the few approaches that
embraces principles of
participation, reflection,
empowerment, and
emancipation of people and

11. Action research targets mainly two primary tasks. First, it
is intended to uncover or produce information and
knowledge that will be directly useful to a group of
people. Second, it is meant to enlighten and empower the
average person in the group, motivating each one to take
up and use the information gathered in the research
(Fals­Borda & Rahman, 1991; Reason, 1994; Berg, 2004).

12. Methodology
Setting:
-Brgy. Sauyo, QC (OSY)
-PUP Quezon City (ISY)
-PLMar, Markina (ISY)
-Brgy. Putatan,
Muntinlupa City (OSY)
-Kapitan Moy, Marikina
(Affirmation of the Action
points)
Population: 57.60% or
530 youth participants,
voluntary participation
Procedure: AI process using
the 5D
-Define
-Discover
-Dream
-Design (see step by step procedure on
the next slide)
-Deliver

13. 1.First meeting with the students and out­of­school youth participants is the
output #1.
2.Based on output # 1, facilitator will come up with themes towards provocative
proposition # 1
3.On day itself, facilitator summarizes output # 1 and shows to participants
and panel proposition # 1
4.Gave the participants 20 minutes to answer or write their reflections
(thoughts) on provocative proposition #1
5.Gave the key resource speakers 20 minutes to present their views on
provocative proposition #1. Beforehand instruct key resource speakers to
give the AI facilitator their answers in 5 statements. Take note (type these) as
the speakers are talking. At the end the AI facilitators had the responses of
the participants in 4 columns on the board 2 students­academe, 2
community­based,
6.Ask the key resource speakers (as panels) of their reactions to provocative
proposition #1.
7.While they are speaking, again cluster their replies as per # 5
8.facilitator summarizes provocative proposition #1 and opens the floor for
provocative proposition #2 and gives the audience 20 minutes and repeats
the process.
Design Phase

14. Results
Themes Definition Action Points
Theme 1.
SUPPORT ACTION
Promotion of sustained
institutional and organizational
projects; hence, support on human
and economic activities and
development in West Philippine
Sea.
a. join organization helping WPS.
b. conduct meetings/ consultation
involving the youth in the
community.
c. conduct seminars/ discussion/
forum regarding WPS.
d. actively participate on programs
concerning WPS.

15. Results
Themes Definition Action Points
Theme 2.
PROTECTION OF
THE NATURAL
RESOURCES AND
THE MARINE LIFE
Promotion of sustainable
utilization and conservation of
natural resources and marine life
in the West Philippine Sea.
a. strengthen the maritime security
to ensure equal economic
productivity in the region

16. Results
Themes Definition Action Points
Theme 3.
PEACE AND
CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
ADVOCACY
Promotion of equal shares of
economic resources in the West
Philippine Sea.
a. create comprehensive and
strategic approaches to policy
making on WPS.

17. Results
Themes Definition Action Points
Theme 4.
SOCIAL
AWARENESS AND
PEOPLE'S
INITIATIVE.
Promotion of equal observance
and protection of people's right
within the community in the West
Philippine Sea through Social
Media and Citizen' charter.
a. create website that will help
spread information on WPS.
b. post facts on WPS in social
networking sites and government
websites.
c. share news on WPS through
social media sites.
d. increase awareness by reading
and sharing information on WPS.
e. moral and spiritual support
through prayers and vigils.

18. Conclusion
An Appreciative Inquiry approach with full engagement and
participation of youth within their schools and communities,
can be mutually beneficial to decision­making bodies in the
government. The Youth feel appreciated and valued for their
opinion and can participate in visioning exercises and in new
initiatives to improve their environment within an organization
or a wider community initiative, for mutual benefit. (Barrett &
Fry, 2002; Barrett & Peterson, 2000; Cooperrider, Barrett &
Srivastva, 1995; Ludema,Wilmot, & Srivastva, 1997; Morsillo &
Fisher, 2007).
The issue of the West Philippine Sea provided positive
opportunity to the youth participants and to contribute to the
real world as active citizens.

19. Conclusion
As a conclusion, a final provocative statement as final
output. Participating individual and youth organizations
believed that youth can play a significant role in decision
making in the community; provided they are given
opportunities to come together, share and learn from
each other. The youth can help identify points of
engagement and develop projects that support and
encourage good practices on environmental stewardship
such as the West Philippine Sea.

20. Actual Foras

25. To end my discussion, I was challenged with Dr. Giron's question...allow me to share
my thoughts and answer it:
“As we are recipients of knowledge (where
only mankind are entitled) which the
Almighty Creator bestowed to us, we
are to create knowledge in preserving,
stewarding God's creation.”

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