Covering the theme “The Response of Catholic Higher Educational Institutions to the Philippine Educational Crisis,” the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines, Inc. (ACUP) held this year’s National Conference at Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU), Naga City, on 12 to 14 March 2026.
With the objectives of identifying current realities of the Philippine educational system, intensifying quality assurance and research culture within Catholic institutions, integrating Catholic social teaching and evangelization into institutional responses, and inspiring synodal collaboration and solidarity, delegates from member-universities, including Saint Louis University (SLU), participated in a series of discussions to help elucidate and encourage institutional reforms.
The three-day conference commenced with the keynote address delivered by Rev. Fr. Wilmer Joseph Tria, PhD, President of the Catholic Educational Association of Caceres and Libmanan (CEACAL) and Bicol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS), Vice President of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), and Secretary-General of the Church Leaders Council for National Transformation (CLCNT), who focused on the topic, “Drawing New Maps of Hope: The Role of Philippine Catholic Higher Education as Beacons of Hope and Ethical Clarity.”
This was followed by a reflection on the “Philippine Church Directions on Social Justice and Catholic Education” by His Excellency Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaza, D.D., Chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, and Bishop of San Carlos.
Later in the afternoon, Cynthia Rose Bautista, PhD member of the Advisory Council on Higher Education and Teacher Education and Development of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), discussed the current status of the country’s educational system with “Turning the Tide: The State of Philippine Higher Education after EDCOM II.”
The participants wrapped up the first day with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by His Excellency Most Rev. Rex Andrew Clement Alarcon, D.D., Archbishop of Caceres and Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications.
For the second day, Neil Vincent Sandoval, PhD Deputy Executive Director III of the Teacher Education Council (TEC), and Rosemary Seva, PhD Executive Director of De La Salle University’s (DLSU) Quality Assurance Office, engaged the participants in an open forum following their discussions on “Developing a Future-ready Teaching Workforce: Teacher Education in the Philippines” and “Enhancing The Quality Assurance of the Philippine HEI Programs: Strategies and Best Practices,” respectively.
Subsequently, a panel discussion took place with Mr. Edwin Lopez, Executive Secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Senior Director for Asia-Pacific, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Asst. Prof. Jerralyn Padua, MSCS, Assistant to the Rector for Information and Communications Technology of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on “Innovation and Integrity in the AI Era.”
The ACUP community then gathered for the engagement activity at the Ateneo Laudato Si Tree Planting Site located in Kilometer 10, Brgy. Carolina, Naga City, where administrators, academic members, and student leaders planted pili seedlings.
Finally, on the third and last day of the conference, workshops on “Interdisciplinary Research in Catholic HEIs,” “Digital Transformation and Ethical AI Integration,” and “Educational Well-being” were held simultaneously, facilitated by Jonel Saludes, PhD University of San Agustin’s (USA) Vice President for Research and Innovation; Cecilia Mercado, PhD SLU’s Chief Information Technology Officer and Data Protection Officer; and Renz Christian Argao, PhD from the UST Graduate School and President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Argao Health, Inc., respectively.
In his closing remarks, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB, ACUP Vice President and Rector – President of San Beda University, encouraged the participants that they must uphold the spirit of hope so that they can address the concerns of the community.
“I am certain that all of us are about to leave this conference full of hope… A hope that believes our Catholic institutions can renew the culture of learning in our nation. A hope that trusts that if we move together as a synodal community, we can respond creatively and faithfully to the needs of the poor, and most especially, to the needs of our time,” Rev. Fr. Maranan said.
“May this conference not be the end of conversation, but the beginning of a renewed commitment. Let us return to our Catholic campuses with assured vision, a renewed mission, and a hopeful spirit, ready to shape the future between Catholic education in the light of the Gospel,” he added.
The SLU delegates included University President Rev. Fr. Gilbert Sales, CICM, PhD; Rev. Fr. Emery Mwako Ebumea, CICM, Vice President for Mission and Identity (VPMI); Mrs. Mary Catherine Quintos, RGC, Director of the Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS); Mr. Jeremy Dela Cruz, Director of the Human Resource (HR) Department; Mrs. Faridah Kristi Cabbigat-Wetherick, PhD, Dean of the School of Advanced Studies (SAS); Mrs. Mary Pauline Namoca, PhD, Dean of the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA); Mr. Marlon Palbusa, PhD, Head of the Professional Education Department; Mr. Ramonchito Lucas, PhD, Head of the Religion Department; and Louisian student representatives Ryan Neil De Guzman and Faith Revaño.
The ACUP National Conference is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals). (Article by F. Revaño | Photos by SLU ACUP delegates)
