Beyond Longevity: The IKIGAI-BAYANIHAN Framework for Purposeful Aging



Author Information

Mariza Lendez, Philippine Women’s University, Philippines
Maria Victoria Rosas, Philippine Women’s University, Philippines

Abstract

The global aging crisis exposes the limitations of retirement models that emphasize financial security and medical care while overlooking purpose and social integration. This study developed and validated a purpose-driven retirement community framework grounded in the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai and localized through the Filipino ethos of Bayanihan. Using a convergent mixed-methods Design Science Research approach, quantitative survey data (n = 70) and qualitative focus group discussions were integrated to iteratively design and refine the model. Findings indicate that purpose-aligned roles are the strongest predictor of life satisfaction and psychological well-being, followed by cooperative economic participation and access to preventive healthcare, while social participation functions as an indirect reinforcing mechanism. Qualitative results further reveal that while Ikigai provides inner meaning in life, sustaining purpose in later adulthood requires collective support. Bayanihan functions as this social scaffold, enabling purpose to be lived communally. The resulting Ikigai-Bayanihan framework reframes aging from dependency to contribution within a scalable, culturally grounded system.


Paper Information

Conference: EGen2026
Stream: Entrepreneurship/Silver Economy

This paper is part of the EGen2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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Posted by James Alexander Gordon