Navigating Culinary Stewardship: A Phenomenological Inquiry to (TVL) Technology Vocational Livelihood Cookery Personnel

This qualitative narrative inquiry examined the lived experiences of Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL) Cookery personnel managing cookery laboratories in public senior high schools, with emphasis on how they navigate stewardship roles amid the evolving demands of technical-vocational education. Drawing on in-depth narrative interviews and narrative analysis, the study identified three central threads: stewardship under resource constraints, the balancing of instructional and safety responsibilities, and resilience demonstrated through adaptive and collaborative practices. Despite persistent limitations, TVL cookery personnel exhibited strong professional commitment through improvisation, collegial collaboration, continuous learning, and values-driven leadership, reflecting a deep sense of responsibility that extends beyond technical skill development to learner discipline, safety awareness, and character formation. This study foregrounds the often-invisible labor of TVL cookery personnel and underscores the need for strengthened institutional support, clearer role recognition, and sustainable policies to ensure safe, meaningful, and industry-aligned learning experiences for senior high school learners.