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PHILIPPINE QUARTERLY OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Guide for Authors and Contributors

About the Journal

The Philippine Quarterly of Culture & Society (PQCS) is a peer-reviewed international journal published by the University of San Carlos (USC) since 1973. It is released quarterly (March, June, September, and December), with occasional double issues as warranted. PQCS provides a forum for scholarly work that contributes to critical understanding of Philippine culture and society in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Aims and Scope

The journal primarily focuses on the Philippines but also welcomes articles that explore other regions—especially those offering comparative perspectives that shed light on Philippine realities. The Editors invite original, well-researched submissions across the humanities and social sciences, including anthropology, history, sociology, archaeology, linguistics, literature, religion, the arts, and other interdisciplinary approaches. Special thematic issues may be announced from time to time. All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. The Editors reserve the right to accept, reject, or request revisions. Authors whose manuscripts are accepted will receive a digital copy of the issue in which their article appears.

Submission and Review Process

Peer Review Procedure
PQCS upholds the highest standards of integrity in academic publishing and follows a two-stage peer review:

1. Editorial Review: The Editor-in-Chief or a designated editorial board member evaluates the manuscript for relevance and alignment with the journal's scope.
2.Double-Blind Review: Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least two independent, anonymous reviewers. The author’s identity, including self-identifying references, is removed to ensure impartiality. Reviewer identities remain confidential.

Reviewer feedback is typically provided within three weeks. If revisions are requested, the author is given up to one month to respond. Revised manuscripts may be resubmitted to the reviewers for final evaluation. In some cases, reviewers may recommend acceptance without revisions.

Throughout this process, authors will be updated on the status of their submission.

Ethical Requirements

PQCS adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct in research and publishing. Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to observe the following ethical guidelines:

1. Originality and Plagiarism

Submissions must be the author's original work and must not be under consideration elsewhere. Proper citation is required for all referenced material. Suspected plagiarism will result in immediate rejection and may be reported to the author's institution.

2. Multiple Submissions

Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal is not allowed. Authors must clearly identify and explain any overlap with previously published or concurrently submitted work.

3. Authorship and Acknowledgment

Only those who have made substantial contributions to the manuscript should be listed as authors. Others who contributed in a limited way should be acknowledged. All listed authors must have approved the submitted version.

4. Use of Human Subjects and Cultural Materials

Authors conducting research involving interviews, oral histories, or indigenous and cultural materials must:

Obtain informed consent where applicable.
Protect the anonymity and confidentiality of participants.
Properly credit communities, collaborators, and knowledge holders.
Use culturally sensitive approaches and secure permissions for sacred or restricted content.

5. Conflict of Interest

All potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed. These include financial relationships, personal affiliations, or any circumstances that could influence the objectivity of the work.

6. Reviewer Conduct

Peer reviewers must evaluate manuscripts fairly and confidentially and refrain from using unpublished material for personal gain.

7. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are committed to impartial, ethical handling of submissions and will act on any allegations of misconduct in line with best practices.

8. Corrections and Retractions

Authors must inform the Editor of any significant errors discovered post-publication. PQCS reserves the right to issue corrections or retractions in cases of proven misconduct or error.

Manuscript Preparation

File Format

Until the online submission portal is launched, manuscripts should be submitted as Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files. Use Letter or A4 size, single-spaced, with 2.54 cm (1 inch) margins on all sides.
Each manuscript must include:

An abstract of no more than 250 words
Seven keywords
Word count listed before the manuscript title

Language and Style

Use American English
Follow the ASA Style Guide
Ensure that submissions are in near-final draft quality

Length

Articles should not exceed 20,000 words.

Endnotes

Use endnotes only (not footnotes), and only when necessary. Number consecutively using superscript numerals. Endnotes should appear under the heading "End Notes" before the References section.

Measurements

Use metric (SI) units. If quoting non-metric units, provide a metric conversion.

Visual Materials and Supporting Files

Tables, Figures, and Images

Embed visual materials within the manuscript for review
Also submit each file separately in native format:

Tables: Word or Excel
Images: JPEG or TIFF (minimum 300 dpi resolution)

All visuals must be clearly titled/captioned

De-screen

Copyright and Permissions

Authors must secure all necessary permissions for third-party material before submission. This includes:

Images (original or redrawn)
Substantial text excerpts
Previously published tables or figures

Short quotations may be used under fair use for purposes of critique and review, provided they are properly cited. Authors must submit scanned or electronic copies of permissions with their manuscript. Failure to do so may result in rejection.

Author Information

Authors must include a one-sentence biographical note indicating:

Current position
Institutional affiliation
Preferred email address

All statements published are the sole responsibility of the author and do not reflect the views of the Editors or publisher.

Submission Instructions

Submit manuscripts via email to:

George Emmanuel R. Borrinaga, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society
✉ gerborrinaga@usc.edu.ph