The 2026 Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines – Cordillera Administrative Region (CEAP-CAR) held its regional assembly with the theme ‘Newness in Catholic Education: Charting a Constellation of Hope’ at Prince Bernhard Gym, Saint Louis University, on 03-04 September 2026. The two-day event was attended by the Catholic educational community, represented by guests, school leaders, administrators, teachers, parents, alumni, students, and members across the region.
The Assembly began with a Eucharistic celebration officiated by the Most Rev. Valentin C. Dimoc, DD, Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe, and his concelebrants, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD and Rev. Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ. The mass was also a celebration of the memorial of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, known for humility, wisdom, and commitment to his pastoral service to the church, leading to the emphasis on building the spirituality of students to prepare them for social transformation and the formation of holiness, guided by constellations and networks of good things, which was the theme of this year’s regional assembly.
Right after the mass, SLU President Fr. Sales, Regional Trustee of CEAP-CAR, welcomed the delegates with a message focused on the functional interrelationship among educators, schools, and families, serving as vital points of light within a grand constellation of hope in the CAR and the country.
Meanwhile, CEAP President Fr. San Juan focused his inspirational message on the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire, being the spirit in CEAP where schools become fellow stewards of Catholic education in the Philippines, serving as oases of hope, and places of comfort for students advocating for a better educational system that sustains its society, all centered in Jesus Christ as the morning star, pastor, and prophet.
CEAP-CAR Day 1: Where Hope Takes Root – Renewing the Mission of Catholic Education
The first day of the assembly highlighted CEAP’s continuing mission to strengthen Catholic education through social responsibility, policy engagement, and collective transformation.
In his accomplishment report, CEAP Executive Director Narcy F. Ador Dionisio highlighted the organization’s active participation in EDSA, its voice in the educational policy environment, and the impact of Institutional Mission Partnerships for Advancement, Capacity-building and Transformation (IMPACT). These initiatives, he explained, reflect a vision of Catholic schools sharing in communion, mutual responsibility, and collective transformation. He also underscored how CEAP’s digital presence and engagement among Catholic educational institutions across the Philippines continue to strengthen its mission.
To end the morning session, Rev. Fr. Ian Anthony Espartero, OAR, Director of the Recoletos School of Theology and the keynote speaker of the assembly, focused on Catholic Education’s five points of ‘newness’: as creative fidelity, as integral formation, as contextual and inclusive education, as human-centered education, and as communion, thus leading to the Catholic Education’s mission of being a bearer of hope that remains faithful to God, the community, and one’s self over and over again.
The afternoon session began with a dance energizer from students of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Montessori and Northern Luzon School for the Visually Impaired, Inc., followed by three plenary speakers with the topics: The encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, classrooms as the most important spaces in education, and Catholic School as sanctuaries of grace: Building spaces for mental health and emotional safety.
CEAP Region 2 Trustee Rev. Fr. Romulo C. Felix highlighted the three dangers of AI according to Pope Leo XIV: the danger of easy answers, the illusion of objectivity where discernment is a must, and the simulation of relationships where AI can already imitate humans therefore emphasizing on digital formation as moral formation, with Catholic education safeguarding human freedom, leading to truth literacy, necessary for trust and communication.
University of Santo Tomas- School of Teacher Education Dean Pilar Romero, PhD, focused on the classroom as a space in education, elevating learning spaces into sacred spaces for better learner-character formation because an intentionally-designed school architecture that values aesthetics and gives a sense of tranquility stimulates spiritual experiences and a sense of awe, eureka moment among students, leading to her final takeaway ‘Ang hamon: Munting espasyo, gawing sagrado!’.
SLU Prof. Ylona Veronica A. Bayod led the talk on the Catholic Schools as sanctuaries of grace, where students treat them as sacred spaces, places where they feel safe, and have access to a community of adults who consistently communicate ‘You matter’ because they need a constellation of hope through their teachers and the school environment, since teachers may be the closest experience of God’s love that they encounter that day.
After a full day of learning, reflection, and fellowship, Day 1 of the 2026 CEAP-CAR Regional Assembly, with the guidance of the programs’ masters of ceremony Mr. Raniel Bayasen, Academic Coordinator of SLSI ( Center) and Mrs. CJ Bulawe – Donggayao, Teacher from SLU Basic Education School, concluded with the presentations from the host schools: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Montessori Inc duet, Saint Louis School, Inc., dance production, San Pablo Seminary, and Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary song and dance production. (Written by: Niza Rodillas)
Day 2: Where Hope Becomes Action – Forming Communities of Excellence and Care
The second day of the 2026 CEAP-CAR Regional Assembly moved from reflection to responsibility with conversations centered on how Catholic schools can translate their mission into concrete practices of academic excellence, compassionate leadership, and holistic care.
The day opened with morning prayer led with the participation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary School and the Little Flower Children’s Home Foundation, Inc., setting a tone of gratitude and service before the assembly turned to the work ahead.
Following this, the assembly turned to the pursuit of excellence, which is another dimension of its mission. In her plenary talk, “The Architecture of Excellence: Elevating Academics Through Rigor, Grace, and Renewal,” Ms. Anna Hernandez, Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) Commissioner, stated that excellence is realized by building collective efficacy, engaging stakeholders, sustaining best practices, and taking courage, which specifically means to keep tradition but keep moving forward. “True excellence is built over time. Faith is the foundation, Formation is the scaffold, Rigor is the standard, and Grace is the atmosphere,” Ms. Hernandez said in conclusion.
A series of breakout sessions were then held in four groups, namely, administrators, teachers, parents and alumni, and students. In the first set, administrators and teachers explored approaches to learning improvement, while parents, alumni, and students were invited to consider their own roles in protecting learner well-being and human dignity. The second set of sessions was more human-centered, with discussions on the school as a community of care, and the shared responsibility for creating an environment of support. The assembly’s institutional dimension also continued through the Concurrent Council Meeting.
The following were the sessions and the speakers for Breakout Session 1:
- Administrators: “Remediation and Enrichment within and Across Three Learning Terms in Basic Education”, Mr. Rafael Patrick Pecjo, PAASCU Commissioner
- Teachers: “Cost-Effective Interventions for Learning Improvement”, Anna Hernandez, PAASCU Commissioner
- Parents/Alumni: “Safe at Home: Recognizing and Responding to Your Child’s Emotional Distress”, Dr. Bryce Fabro, CEO and Founder, Emotional Reset Center
- Students: “A New Humanism: The Student Voice in Guarding Human Dignity”, Dr. Monina M. Manalang, PAASCU Commissioners
For Breakout Session 2, the following were the key talks and speakers:
- Administrators: “Lifting the Weight: Breaking the Silence and Building a Culture of Care”, Dr. Fabro
- Teachers: “Leading from Fullness: Guarding Your Own Peace While Serving Others”, Dr. Manalang
- Parents/Alumni: “Partners in the Mission: Empowering Parents as Co-Educators in Faith and Excellence”, Ms. Hernandez
- Students: “Guardians of the Heart: How Student Leaders Can Anchor Peer Well-Being”, Mr. Pecjo
These sessions were facilitated Ms. Dona Digna S. Rosario, Ms. Rian I. Dela Trinidad, Mr. Alejandro P. Pablico, and Mrs. Ruby C. Alterado.
Opening the afternoon session was a special message from Department of Education- Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd CAR) Director Nicolas T. Capulong, PhD, CESO III, who reflected, “As we gather for this 2026 CEAP CAR, we do not merely convene as institutions of learning. We gather as a community of faith, bound by a sacred duty…Newness does not mean abandoning our roots or throwing away the rich heritage of faith, moral integrity, and character formation that Catholic schools have built over centuries. True newness is not novelty for the sake of novelty. Rather, as Pope Francis reminds us, ‘Newness is the spirit of the Gospel; it is renewal.’…In DepEd CAR, we recognize something fundamental: knowledge without values is incomplete; competence without character is dangerous. This is where Catholic education has always held its unique and indispensable strength. You do not prepare students just for a career; you prepare them for eternity. You prepare them to lead with purpose. The newness we are called to embrace today is a fresh dynamism in how we deliver this mission.”
Further, Dr. Capulong offered three points of alignment as he called on Catholic educators to “chart a constellation of hope” rooted in excellence, compassion, and cultural identity. First, schools must pursue academic and moral excellence, recognizing that holiness and excellence are inseparable; in a Catholic framework, excellence encompasses not only intellectual achievement but also emotional intelligence, empathy, civic responsibility, and spiritual maturity, ensuring that new curricula and evolving learning modes always honor the dignity of the human person and keep technology as a servant to learning rather than a substitute for human connection and pastoral care. Second, just as a constellation leaves no corner of the sky in darkness, schools are urged to embody radical compassion and inclusive access by asking who the most vulnerable learners are and by transforming schools into sanctuaries of healing, safety, and unwavering support for every child. Third, educators in the Cordillera are reminded of their distinct grace and responsibility as custodians of both faith and cultural heritage so that newness remains grounded in local identity, giving youth strong roots from which to grow wide wings.
PEAC updates from its Executive Director Rhodora Angela F. Ferrer, PhD, then commenced, providing delegates with an opportunity to connect the assembly’s reflections with the continuing work of private education. Among the key developments shared was the Bicameral Conference Committee’s approval of the Kindergarten to Grade 6 (K to 6) Basic Education Voucher Program. In connection with this, PEAC is working with the Local Government of Taguig to pilot the K to 6 Voucher Program to gather sufficient data and findings before drafting the implementing rules and regulations. Other updates included ongoing developments on the salient provisions of the Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) Program, specifically the Education Service Contracting (ESC) and Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) Guidelines, as well as the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) Program. These updates centered on eligibility requirements and advocacy for increased support for private school teachers through a higher TSS allocation.
“All educators are advocates. When we have good private schools we are setting an example. If all of K12 vouchers are successful, then other forms of assistance and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) may be explored,” Dr. Ferrer emphasized.
Following this was the Regional Trustees’ Report by SLU President Fr. Sales that offered a forward-looking reflection on the continuing mission of Catholic education through the implementation of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plans rooted in the Key Performance Indicators of Academic Excellence, Faith and Spiritual Formation and Integration, and Compassion and Community Engagement. “These concerted efforts directly reflect the high quality of Catholic education, the vitality of faith-based initiatives, and the compassionate engagement of our diverse stakeholders across the region. As one cohesive region, we regularly implement the CEAP-CAR region-wide Laudato Si’ program every September and the rosary devotion every 13th of October.” To celebrate these milestones and visualize a collective journey, a video summary was shared showcasing the CEAP-CAR activities of 2025-2026.
As a community reflection of the two-day learnings and exchanges, each member-school had a dialogue and gave a report on how to improve the services of their respective schools.
The 2026 CEAP-CAR General Assembly was then put to a close with a Eucharistic Celebration with Rev. Fr. Anthony P. Irineo, OAR as celebrant and CEAP-CAR fathers as concelebrants.
More than a gathering of school leaders and educators, the CEAP-CAR General Assembly became a reminder that the “Constellation of Hope,” named in its theme, is sustained through communion, shared responsibility, and the dedicated work and passion for forming Catholic learners who are competent and compassionate in their calling and professions in the future. (Article by Niza Rodillas and UIO | Photos by N. Rodillas, Marion Nicole Rodillas-Bernardino, and UIO)
