After a year-long hiatus, the Department of Psychology of Saint Louis University’s (SLU) School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) marked a powerful return to the Psychological Association of the Philippines Junior Affiliates (PAPJA) Convention 2026, held on 27 April 2026 at the SMX Convention Center and 28 April at De La Salle University, Manila. The comeback was both symbolic and significant, as the department re-established its presence on the national stage with a series of strong performances across major competitions and events.
Quiz Bee: Top 7 Finish Nationwide
In the Interschool Psychology Quiz Bee, the SLU team delivered an outstanding performance, securing 7th place out of 95 schools and universities nationwide. The team was composed of Trisha Gail Bagne, Sean Patrick Villanueva, and Mark Dave Naungayan, with Candace Aila Timbreza serving as understudy and Yvette Anne Camantiles, faculty member of the Department, as coach. Their placement reflects strong academic preparation and competitiveness at a national level, positioning SLU among the top-performing institutions in the country for the event.
Trans & Dance: First-Ever Finals Appearance
A historic milestone was achieved by Trans & Dance, the department’s Transcendance dance team, which reached the finals of the national dance competition for the first time in SLU Psychology history. The team—Kent Lou Agdawa, Diane Desiaree Apigo, Kate Buting, Zyril Gen Cruz, Barbara De Jesus, John Carlo Diaz, Mark Estigoy, John Carlo Guancia, Mae Anne Samson, and Carmela Jane Villanueva—coached by faculty member Lovan Estepa Flores and BS Psych student Breanna Jamela Emas, delivered a compelling performance on the SMX Convention Center stage before an audience of approximately 7,300 students. Their finals appearance marked a breakthrough moment for the department’s engagement in creative and performative psychology spaces.
Psyclips: 2nd Place National Finish
In the filmmaking competition Psyclips, the department’s entry Namnama earned 2nd place among dozens of submissions nationwide. The film was produced by Laiza Angulo, Joaquin Apro, Justine Cardinez, Kathrine Cervantes, Mark Daquipil, Heartney Martinez, Jvie Matbagan, Carl Nasog, Lerden Oballes, Zyrhyll Perez, Shible Roque, and Gabrielle Santiago. The recognition highlights the department’s strength in translating psychological themes into meaningful visual storytelling, merging academic insight with creative expression.
Faculty Workshops: Largest Delegation to Date
On the second day of the convention at De La Salle University, Manila, four faculty members, Asher Escano Bayot, Sigrid Lianne Taccayan, Loraine C. Cerezo, and Lovan Estepa Flores, conducted simultaneous workshops—marking the largest faculty representation the department has ever sent to facilitate sessions at PAPJA. The faculty team contributed to professional development and academic discourse in psychology education, reinforcing the department’s growing role in national academic engagement.
The department’s participation and achievements at PAPJA 2026 strongly align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. Through active engagement in academic competitions, creative outputs, and faculty-led workshops, the Department of Psychology demonstrates its commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable, and high-quality learning opportunities, as well as fostering excellence in psychology education and practice. (Article and Photos by the SLU Psychology Department)
