VOLUNTEERISM IN THE PHILIPPINES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

This study presents a PRISMA-guided systematic review of literature on volunteerism in the Philippines
published between 2015 and 2025. Anchored on Lidivina V. Cariño’s conceptualization of voluntarism as a
civic institution, the review synthesizes peer-reviewed journal articles, institutional studies, and policy
documents. Searches of Google Scholar, EJournals Philippines, institutional repositories, and government
publications yielded 56 records, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified four
dominant themes: motivations for volunteering, skill and civic development outcomes, volunteerism in crisis
contexts, and institutional and policy influences. Findings indicate that Filipino volunteerism remains valuesdriven and culturally grounded in bayanihan, while also increasingly incorporating professional and
instrumental motivations, particularly among young people. Volunteering contributes to leadership
development, employability, and civic consciousness but is constrained by uneven policy implementation,
coordination challenges, and limited psychosocial support during crises. The study affirms the continuing
relevance of Cariño’s framework while highlighting the need for longitudinal, community-based, and nationally
representative research to inform evidence-based volunteer policies.