“I have Loans”: A Communicative Study of Teachers Living with Loans

The study looks at the life of teachers at the public school living with loans through the Phenomenological Tradition of Communication that conceives communication as a dialogue or experience of otherness. The study, a phenomenological approach, sought to answer the overarching question: how is the life of teachers who have loans? Specifically, it sought to answer (1) what are their reasons for resorting to loan?; and (2) what are their coping mechanisms to provide their daily needs? The study assumed that teacher's motives and actions towards loans could only understand through their experience. The study designed qualitatively wherein teachers from public a public elementary school at the Schools Division of Puerto Princesa City, Philippines were intentionally chosen (non-probability) and interviewed based on their common experience.

Four public elementary teachers with loans and take-home pay of four thousand pesos participated in the study. A semi-structured interview was done and recorded with their permission. The data were transcribed and analyzed by coding and constructing themes. Teachers have loans because of their (1) perceived personal needs such as (a) expenses for their wedding; (2) and perceived family needs such as (a) expenses for baby's needs, (b) tuition of family members, (3) housing for the family, (5) and to pay the debt of the family. Their perceived needs direct them to resort to loans, which led them to have a take-home pay of four thousand pesos, wherein for them, it is not enough to sustain their daily needs. Thus, it urges them to have various coping mechanisms to maintain their everyday living that include (1) re-loan and "bunggo," (2) seeking financial help from other members of the family, (3) and becoming a wise spender. It further revealed that to sustain the authentic relationship between teacher (self) and loan (other) both must have a continuous perceived needs and benefits. The study recommended some recommendations wherein teachers and school heads may consider.