A hundred educators and American English program alumni from across the Philippines, including Saint Louis University (SLU) educators, gathered in Manila from 8 to 9 February 2025 for the second American English Alumni Association of the Philippines, Inc. (AEAAP), which is also known as AE Alumni PH.
Among the participants joining the collective were professors from Saint Louis University (SLU): Stephenie Busbus, PhD, Director of the Office of Global Relations and Alumni Affairs (OGRAA) and AE Alumni PH Secretary; Geraldine Wakat, PhD, Graduate Program Coordinator for Teacher Education at SLU’s School of Advanced Studies (SAS); and Kaye Leah Sitchon, a professor in the Languages and Communication Department of the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA).
Held with the support of the Regional English Language Office (RELO) of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, the two-day gathering provided a platform for AE Alumni to collaborate within their established Communities of Practice and interest groups. Participants shared best practices, mentored fellow educators, and discussed innovative teaching strategies to enhance access to quality English education.
The event featured a comprehensive program designed to foster professional development and collaboration among educators. The first day included research presentations from scholars, such as Aurelio Vilbar, PhD of the University of the Philippines Cebu, who shared insights on the implementation of higher education service-learning in standardized testing. Marco D. Meduranda from DepEd Navotas City explored the impact of Work Application Projects (WAP) on teacher professional development. A plenary session by Dr. Juan Robertino Macalde of SEAMEO INNOTECH examined the role of generative AI policies in schools, followed by an interactive World Café session facilitated by Dr. Busbus, which encouraged dynamic discussions among participants.
The second day sessions delved into professional development strategies, including a talk by Rebecca Sagot, PhD of DepEd Davao City on transforming CPD programs through face-to-face and virtual Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) camps. Presentations also included discussions on MOOCs as a tool for upscaling teacher professional development, led by Melda M. Uychoco, PhD of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and a systematic review of MOOCs in academia by Christine Inez A. Padlan of Pangasinan State University.
The event concluded with the Conchita Chico Award Ceremony won by Dr. Jason V. Chavez of Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University and research paper presentations, including studies on enhancing grammar skills in purposive communication by Kay Tepait Juanillo of Visayas State University, contextualizing English modules for public schools through service-learning in higher education, presented by Ericka Mae Encabo Melendres of UP Cebu; and the use of graffiti as multimodal texts in AI-driven classrooms by Wilzen D. Bermoy of Ateneo de Manila University.
Established in September 2023, AEAAP Inc serves as a network for alumni of U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)-funded exchanges, Access teacher training programs, and the AE Online Professional English Network (#OPEN) courses. Aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the association fosters continuous professional development, peer support, and leadership growth among English language educators in the country. Through mentorship, collaboration, and shared expertise, the association empowers educators to elevate the standards of English language teaching nationwide. (Photos from the official AE Alumni PH Facebook Group)
