A TEAM of alumni from the University of East Caloocan recently had their group research published in an international refereed journal.

The research titled “P-Pop Rise: Cultural Hybridization and Participatory Culture of Filipino Gen Z P-Pop Fans on the Recognition of New Generation P-Pop Groups,” was featured in the NIDA Case Research Journal of the National Institute of Development Administration in Bangkok, Thailand.

The study was conducted by Mark Jhon A. Villanueva, Hazel Grace M. Juaton, Joan Nicole R. Lazaro, Regine Mae L. Tubera, and Luis Isaias Z. Dela Cruz.

Originally their undergraduate thesis, the research was co-authored with their adviser, Dr. Efren C. Gimoto Jr., and was officially published earlier this year.

The study explores the rise of new-generation Pinoy pop groups and the role of Gen Z fans in participatory culture and cultural hybridization.

It highlights how idol star-making systems influence P-pop’s global recognition and how social media engagement plays a role in its growing popularity.

“This achievement underscores the global competitiveness of UE BA Communication students, proving that their research skills are not just for a local audience but can extend to the international stage,” UE said.