Profile of the Lifestyle of
Female Public
Executives in Regional
Offices in Cebu City
Definition

“Lifestyle is a person’s pattern of
living as expressed in his or her
activities, interests and opinions”
(www.prenhall.com,2004).
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On a more behavioral tone, lifestyle
is “how people live, how they spend
their money, and how they allocate
their time. It is concerned with
consumers’ overt actions and
behavior”
Theoretical Framework

The American Society for Public
Administration exists to advance the
science, processes, and art of public
administration. The Society affirms
its responsibility to develop the spirit
of professionalism within its
membership, and to increase public
awareness of moral standards in
public service by its example. To this
end the members of the Society,
commit themselves to the following
principles (ASPA.com, 2004):
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(1) service to the public is beyond service;
(2) the people are sovereign and those in
public;
(3) laws govern all actions of the public
service. Where laws or regulations are
ambiguous, leave discretion, or require
change, we will seek to serve the best
interests of the public;
(4) efficient and effective management is basic
to public administration. Subversion through
misuse of influence, fraud, waste, or abuse is
intolerable. Employees who responsibly call
attention to wrongdoing will be encouraged;
(5) the merit system, equal opportunity, and
affirmative action principles will be supported,
implemented, and promoted;
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(6) safeguarding the public trust is paramount.
Conflicts of interest, bribes, gifts, of favors that
subordinate public positions to private gains are
unacceptable;
(7) service to the public creates demands for
special sensitivity to the qualities of justice,
courage, honesty, equity, competence and
compassion. We esteem these qualities, and we
will actively promote them;
(8) conscience performs a critical role in
choosing among courses of action. It takes into
account the moral ambiguities of life, and the
necessity to examine value priorities: good ends
never justify immoral means; and
(9) public administrators are not engaged
merely in preventing wrong, but in pursuing right
through timely and energetic execution of their
responsibilities.
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Similarly, Philippine government is not remiss
in installing safeguard mechanisms to protect
the government’s coffer and resources. These
mechanisms include pertinent laws and
issuance such as:
R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act;
Executive Order No. 317 presenting a Code of
Conduct for Relatives and Close Relations of
the President, Vice President and Members of
Cabinet; the Ombudsman Act of 1989;
R.A. 6713 known as the Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officers and
Employees,
Republic Act No 6713 or the Code of Ethics for
Government Officials and Employees upholds
the time-honored principle of public office being
a public trust, granting incentives and rewards
for exemplary service, enumerating prohibited
acts and transactions and providing penalties
for violations thereof and for other purposes.
Sec. 4. Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and
Employees.
Every public official and employee shall
observe the following as standards of
personal conduct in the discharge and
execution of official duties:
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Commitment to public
interest
Professionalism
Justness and sincerity
Political neutrality
Responsiveness to the
public
Nationalism and patriotism
Commitment to democracy
Simple living

Extravagant lifestyles are one of
the most obvious indicators of
corruption and among the
easiest to document. They are
also a violation of the law, if an
official is unable to prove where
she or he got the wherewithal to
support such a lifestyle.
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The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices
Act (Republic Act 3019) says that a
public official can be dismissed if he or
she "has been found to have acquired
during his incumbency, whether in his
name or in the name of other persons,
an amount of property and/or money
manifestly out of proportion to his
salary and to his other lawful income."
Among the things mentioned in R.A.
3019 as indicators of unexplained
wealth are unexplained bank deposits,
“manifestly excessive expenditures,”
and ostentatious display of wealth,
including frequent travel abroad.
PCIJ suggest documents to look for in
“backgrounding” government officials. These are:
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(1) official biodata,
(2) newspapers, magazines, and newsletters,
(3) biographies, family histories, genealogies, and
Who's Who Directories yearbooks,
(4) listings of trade and professional
organizations,
(5) statements of assets,
(6) land records,
(7) corporate records,
(8) vehicle registration records,
(9) licenses and permits (for firearms, business,
etc.),
(10) school records, civil registry records (birth,
marriage, etc.),
(11) voter registration records,
(12) record of campaign expenditures,
(13) speeches and papers, and
(14) immigration (arrival and departure) records
Theoretical Framework
Simple
Living
Commitment
to
Democracy
Justness
&
Sincerity
Professionalism
Nationalism
&
Patriotism
R.A. 6713
Norms of
Conduct of Public
Officials and
Employees
Responsivenes
s
to the
Public
Political
Neutrality
Commitment
to Public
Interest
Profile on the Lifestyle of
Female Public
Executives in Cebu City
Conceptual Framework
SURVEY
Income from salary and
benefits
Other sources of income
Trust Funds
Real Properties
Other Properties Owned
Accounts and Deposits
Cars and other vehicles
Sets of Jewelry
Shopping and Marketing
habits
Personal and Beauty
Care Habits
Recreational Activities
Vacation Preferences
Loans and Credit
Other Possessions
Using the
Philippine
Center for
Investigativ
e
Journalism
(PCIJ)
Lifestyle
Check
Guide
Questions
R
E
C
O
M
M
E
N
D
A
T
I
O
N
S
Statement of the Problem

This study aims to assess the profile
of the lifestyle of public female
executives of the regional offices in
Cebu City for CY 2004 so that
appropriate recommendations can
be made.
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Specifically, the study attempted to
answer the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the
female public executives of
the different regional offices in
Cebu City as to:
1.1 Income from salary and benefits
1.2 Other sources of income
1.3 Trust Funds
1.4 Real Properties
1.5 Other Properties Owned
1.6 Accounts and Deposits
1.7 Cars and other vehicles
1.8 Sets of Jewelry
1.9 Shopping and Marketing Habits
1.10 Personal and Beauty Care Habits
1.11 Recreational Activities
1.12 Vacation Preferences
1.13 Loans and Credit
1.14 Other Possessions
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2. What are the implications that
can be derived from getting
better and deeper insights into
the lifestyle of female public
executives?
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3. What recommendations can
be made to better improve the
PCIJ lifestyle check instrument?
Importance of the Study
The study is significantly important to
individuals and entities who are concerned
with governance and citizens who are mindful
of the everyday affairs and future of this
nation.
Specifically, this study will benefit the following:
1. Civil Service Commission.
2. Philippine Center for Investigative
Journalism
(PCIJ)
3. Department of Interior and Local
Government
4. Lifestyle Check Coalition/Civil Society
5. Church
6. Local Government Units
7. Academe
8. Community
Methodology
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The study is a descriptive normative type of
research which is used to explore how
female public executives in regional offices
in Cebu City conduct their daily personal
and professional lives.
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There were two sets of lifestyle check
survey questionnaire. The first set is a selfadministered type of survey questionnaires
intended to be accomplished by the female
public executives themselves. The second
set is also a self-administered survey
questionnaire for the staff of the female
public executive to accomplish. The
reason for involving the staff is for
validation and cross-checking purposed.
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The questionnaires were
distributed to the different
regional offices in Cebu City
headed or managed by female
public executives and will be
retrieved according to the
convenient time of the
respondents. The data will be
collated and interpreted using
simple statistical tools.
Research Environment

The environment of this study is
the City of Cebu where most of
the regional offices of national
government agencies are
located.
Research Subject
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Because of the sensitive nature of this
research and upholding the principle of
confidentiality, the researchers took great
pains in withholding the identity of the persons
who accomplished the survey forms including
naming the respective offices where they are
connected.
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The total number of respondents surveyed
was fifty-five (55). Of the 55, thirteen (13)
were female public executives while forty-two
(42) were staff. They were chosen because
of their experiences and reliability in
answering the questionnaires.
Respondents of the Study
Respondents
Frequency
Percentage
Regional Director
10
19%
Assistant Regional
Director
3
5%
Staff/employee
42
76%
55
100%
TOTAL
Data Gathering Procedure
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The data gathering procedure
consisted of deliberate and
coordinated steps that maximized
time and efforts without sacrificing
validity and reliability of data
gathered. Since the questionnaire
was based on the recommended
guide being used by the PCIJ, there
was not need of conducting a pretest. The researchers assumed that
the questionnaire had undergone
validation and appropriate
modifications.
The data-gathering steps
included the following:
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(1) acquisition of the masterlist of female
public executives of regional offices in
Cebu City from the Civil Service
Commission;
(2) sending of communications to identified
respondents regarding the research;
(3) distribution of survey questionnaires to
the female public executives and their staff;
(4) retrieval of questionnaires and
subjecting them to quality assurance
measures;
(5) analysis and Interpretation of data.
Data Analysis
Data were analyzed using the Simple
Percentage methodology. The
formula is:

P = ____ x 100
n
Where:
P = is the percentage
 = is the frequency of responses
n = is the number of respondents
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
P
E
R
C
E
N
T
A
G
E
Of
E
X
E
C
U
T
I
V
E
s
45.3% (24)
13.2 %
(7)
13.2 %
(7)
20.8 % (11)
7.5 % (6)
0.0
50-59
40-49
30-39
20-29
10-29
less
than 10
Salary (in thousands)
Income of Female Public Executives
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Income of Female Public Executives
illustrates that 45.3% or majority of the
female public executives were receiving a
salary range of from thirty thousand to thirtynine thousand (P30,000 - P39,000) per
month. This was consistent with the
average salaries being received by middle
management executives in government
service.
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The female public executives’ income is way
above the poverty line of Region VII which is
P11,900.00 (Y2003) which means that they
have relatively high purchasing power
compared to the average consumer.
Other Sources of Income
Others
19%
Relatives
24%
Services
0%
Business
5%
Consultancy
19%
Pension
33%
Relatives
Business
Pension
Consultancy
Services
Others
This indicated that the female public executives’
incomes are augmented by other sources other than
that derived from government. They do not rely
solely on their salaries because they have other
competencies and well-to-do relatives.
Possession of Trust Funds
Do you have trust funds?
yes
37%
no
63%
yes
no
Trust funds are usually either invested upon or
inherited. Purposes for trust funds ranges from
security for children and old age to capital build-up
for future business investment during retirement
years.
Many of our female public executives can afford to buy
or construct their own houses. They might have availed
themselves of housing loans or received assistance
from their well-off relatives.
House Property
5%
8%
Owned/bought
rented
87%
Owned/inherited
Lot Property
0%
14%
Owned/bought
rented
86%
Owned/inherited
Other Properties Owned
18%
4%
39%
39%
0%
Farm Land
Commercial Lot
Residential
Building/apartment
Memorial
This further reinforced the fact that the female public
executives have more that ample resources to invest
in real properties and can very well afford to meet
more than their basic needs for daily living. They can
have even afford to indulge themselves in luxurious
items and practices.
Accounts and Deposits Owned
Time
Deposits
19%
Checking/
current
14%
Savings
Savings
67%
Checking/current
Time Deposits
Do you own a vehicle?
no
10%
yes
no
yes
90%
Brand of Vehicle Owned
Others
16%
Assembled
8%
Honda
5%
Ford
0%
Mitsubishi
13%
Kia/hundai
8%
Chevrolet
0%
Toyota
29%
Isuzo
5%
Nissan
16%
Honda
Ford
Mitsubishi
Kia/hundai
Chevrolet
Nissan
Isuzo
Toyota
Assembled
Others
% of Pieces
Owned
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Type of Jewelry
Others
Pendants
Anklets
Watches
Brooches/pins
Bracelet
Necklace
Earrings
Rings
Jewelry Ownership
Worth of Jewelries Owned
30
25
20
15
10
Type of Jewelry
Others
Pendants
Anklets
Watches
Brooches/pins
Bracelet
Necklace
0
Earrings
5
Rings
Average
Amount in
Thousand
Pesos
0
Establishment
others
Ukay-ukay
Ayala
Made to Order
Tailor/dressmaker
Downtown
Gaisano
SM
Percent
Share
Rustans
Where They Buy Clothes
25
20
15
10
5
Clothes
Frequency
once a
year
twice a
year
quarterly
Shoes
every
two
months
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
monthly
Percentage
Frequency of Buying Clothes and Shoes
Where They Buy Food
others
18%
Carbon
7%
Ramos
0%
Robinsons
16%
Taboan
4%
Rustans
4%
SM
42%
Foodarama
9%
Carbon
Ramos
Taboan
Rustans
SM
Foodarama
Robinsons
others
Cosmetics Type
Others
Sara Lee
Cotty
Max Factor
Clinique
Percent of
Executives
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Avon
Cosmetics Used
Perfume Brand
Others
Chloe
Calvin Klien
Chanel
Victoria's Secret
Este Luader
Percent of
Executives
Using
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Avon
Perfume Used
Type of Activity
Others
Socio-civic
Religious
Gardening
Movies
Mahjong
Walking
Tennis
Percent of
Executives
Doing
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Golf
Recreational Activity
Where They Spend Vacation
abroad
14%
Baguio
0%
province
33%
home
home
46%
resort
7%
resort
province
Baguio
abroad
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Loans
others
calamity
policy
salary
car
Percent of
Executives
housing
Percent
Loan Type and Payment
Ave Monthly
Payment (in
Thousands
Pesos)
Credit Card Used
Visa
44%
Mastercard
56%
Visa
Mastercard
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Majority of the female public
executives are receiving a
compensation package ranging
from P30,000 to P39,000 per
month. This is consistent with the
salary and benefit range of middle
management in government
service. This is way above the
Region VII income poverty line
which can give them considerable
purchasing power and options.
They female public executives have
other sources of income from pension,
assistance received from relatives,
consultancy and businesses. These
somehow augment their salaries and
increase their consumer purchasing
power.
Most of the female public executives do
not have trust funds nor have they
invested in any. This may have
something to do with our cultural belief in
fate. We do not have to fuss over the
future because fate will take care of it.
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Majority of the female public
executives own the house and lot
where they are residing. These
where usually bought using their own
resources. However, some inherited
their house and lot while a few are
renting. Their ability to own a house
and lot may be due to the fact that
aside from salaries received from
government, they have other
sources of income or support.
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A greater number of the female public
executives have real properties other
than the one they are residing in. Most
of these are residential and farmlands.
This fact further confirmed that they
have enough disposable income to
own other properties aside from their
house and lot.
Majority have savings deposits in the
bank and only a few have current
accounts and time deposits. The
female public executives recognize the
value of saving and are show
confidence in our banking system to
safeguard and augment their hardearned money.
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At least one vehicle is owned by
majority of the female public
executives. A car or a vehicle is a
need rather than a luxury for them
considering their position. They are
often very busy and had to attend
several meetings and functions in a
day or week. The most popular
brand of vehicle is Toyota, generally
owned by people belonging to the
middle-class bracket. No one owns
a luxury or high-end vehicle.
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The female public executives
own pieces of jewelry. The most
common are rings, earrings and
watches. The worth of these
pieces of jewelry range from
P10,000.00 to P25,000.00.
These are modest possession of
jewelries for everyday use.
Moreover, the amount of
jewelries are not exorbitant.
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SM Department Store is the most
popular establishment where the
female public executives buy their
clothes. It is also at SM where most
of them buy their groceries. They do
not patronize high-end shopping
malls or establishments. Rather, they
prefer the stores popular to the
“masa” or middle class. Most of them
buy their groceries at SM
supermarket as they do not have
the luxury of time to buy food from
the wet markets.
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Most of the female public executives
buy new clothes and pair of shoes
on a quarterly basis or every three
months. The average number of
pairs of shoes per executive is eight
(8) while the average number of
clothes possessed is nineteen (19).
It is not surprising that the female
public executives invest on clothes
and shoes. The nature of their job
and position requires them to be
well-groomed, presentable and
formal. Again, they generally spend
modestly on clothes and shoes
which are bought from middle class
establishments.
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The locally manufactured Avon is the most
popular brand of cosmetics used by the
executives while the most popular perfume
used is the imported Este Lauder brand.
This is usually the most popular brand of
scent sent by relatives abroad to their
Filipino families. This further confirmed that
they do not spend so much in beauty
products.
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The female public executive’s recreational
activities are inexpensive. The most popular
is walking, participating in religious activities
and gardening. The Filipino religiosity
emerges in most activities of the of the
female public executive.
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A greater number of them spend their
vacation at home or in the provinces.
This is typical of a Filipino because of
our close family ties cultural value.
There are always occasions for family
reunions either at home or in the
provinces.
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Being government employees, the
most popular loans acquired by the
female public executives are the
salary and policy loans from the GSIS.
Their average monthly payment for
loans is P7,500.00. This is a
manageable amount to pay
considering their above average
salaries and other sources of income.
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All of them are credit card owners.
This indicates that the credit card
companies have confidence in their
ability to pay. This also shows that
the female public executives are
secure about their capacity to
recompense expenses incurred
through credit.
The average female public
executive owns two sets of
television, air-conditioning units and
mobile phones. These are
possessions one can find in an
average or upper middle class
family.
CONCLUSION

The female public executives in
Cebu City belong to the upper
middle class. They are in the peak
of their careers and businesses.
They have hectic work and business
schedules. They are the pressured
ones, as well, in ensuring that their
family will have good food on the
table, high quality education for their
children, and take care of oneself in
terms of health and grooming.
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It is very apparent that the
female public executives in the
regional offices in Cebu City are
living modest and simple lives.
They are devoid of opulence
and spend their hard earned
peso on things they really need.
Their spending practices are
based on their means and
capacity to earn.
RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the conclusions of the study, the
following recommendations are suggested:
1. The PCIJ guidelines on lifestyle check is
very useful but can be subject to bias and
error when translated into a survey form.
To make it more empirically sound, other
forms of research gathering tools can be
used to complement the existing one such
as the conduct of focus group discussions,
review of secondary data, observation and
key informant interview. In this way, the
triangulation of data principle in research
can be used to ensure validity and
reliability of data.
2. The results of the study may have
pointed out that there are no corrupt
and anomalous practices being done
by the female public executives but
this should not make the public
compliant and less concerned. There
is still a need to help government
monitor the local public officials. As
the public become more vigilant and
involved, this will ultimately redound
to more improved and sustained
public services as government
resources are saved form wastage
and selfish intents.
3. The organization of communitybased multi-sectoral “graft-busters”
can be helpful to keep an eye on
our local government officials
especially at the barangay levels.
This can be composed of
community leaders, sectoral
representatives, the church, NGOs,
academe, media and other
concerned citizens. The creation of
a government body commissioned
to conduct lifestyle checks and
other corruption determining
mechanism can be beneficial to
give focus on the government’s antigraft and corruption campaign.
4. To reinforce the practice of
modest and decent living for
government employees, the
Civil Service Commission can
initiate a reward system that will
give recognition to government
officials and servants who are
found to be industrious, honest
and living within their means.
5. 0rganizations concerned with
lifestyle checks and monitoring
public officials should form a
coalition or network to become a
more potent force to reckon with.
They can also meet regularly to
share good practices and
experiences and to help each other
out.
6. The never ending clamor for the
political will to prosecute the bigtime grafters and corrupters should
be realized in a transparent and fair
manner so that the government
can get back the public’s
cooperation and trust.
THANK YOU