Dan Jerome L. Malapira is an educator, researcher, and Instructor I at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) – College of Industrial Technology in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Studies and a Master of Arts in Education major in Social Studies from MMSU. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Education major in Social Studies Education at the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Education. He is also a licensed professional teacher in the Philippines.
Before joining MMSU in 2020, Malapira served as a secondary school teacher, bringing experience from both basic and higher education. At MMSU, he has been involved in academic and institutional activities, including faculty accreditation, university admission testing, and student organization advising.
His research interests are grounded in the Social Sciences and Humanities, with particular emphasis on phenomenology, education, curriculum studies, instructional material development, and Social Studies Education. His scholarly work explores lived experiences, historical and social phenomena, educational practices, and the development of context-responsive instructional resources. His research interests also extend to interdisciplinary inquiries that connect education with culture, history, society, and human experiences.
Malapira has published research on the post-war and pre-migration experiences of Ilokano sakadas bound for Hawaii, as well as studies on street games in Filipino society and self-efficacy and work-related quality of life among workers in technology-based industries in Ilocos Norte. His work has also received academic recognition, including Second Place – Best Presenter in Track 1: Education and Humanities at the 2026 International Conference on Building Academic Capital and the Career and Self-Development Award under the 2024 MMSU PRAISE Awards.
Through his teaching and research, Malapira seeks to contribute to the advancement of Social Studies Education, humanities and social science scholarship, curriculum and instruction, and meaningful, context-based learning in Philippine education.
