Unfolding the Sociocultural Significance of Panginhas in Coastal Cebuano Lives

Abstract

Intending to draw out the sociocultural significance of panginhas, this study employed a qualitative inquiry method using an inter-mix approach of classical ethnography and grounded theory. It foregrounds panginhas as a culturally mediated activity through which meaning-making, identity, and psychological processes are constructed within coastal life. Perspectives of the participants across age groups–the Old Dependents, Working Independents, and Young Dependents—were codified, revealing sociocultural significance. The study reveals panginhas as a nexus of community members’ varied experiences. Panginhas operates not only as an economic activity but as a shared practice where meanings are internalized and negotiated. It functions as a conduit for the internalization of a sociocultural identity, transforming a subsistence activity into a psychological foundation for the self. The theory further details that panginhas; (a) reinforces an empowered coastal community, (b) nurtures collective precocity, and (c) fosters social identity and cultural continuity through collective efficacy. These dimensions illustrate how repeated participation mediates affective meaning, agency, relational identity, and shared understanding. A framework from the theory entitled “K. I. N. H. A. S (Knowledge Idealizing Nature, Harnessing Harmony, and Amplifying Sustainability) with a Heart'' is developed to address issues surrounding panginhas, positioning it as an expression of enduring heritage and psychological resilience.