Presenting the initial findings of her study “Integrating Multiperspectivity in Encouraging Students to Enter the Teaching Profession: Contexts, Challenges, and Causality,” Mirasol looked into the demographic characteristics of those enrolled in the academic track – humanities and social sciences strand of senior high school and in tertiary teacher education programs to determine factors that will predict their intent to consider teaching as a career and whether they feel this is the best career option.

Combining surveys and focus group discussions, the study uncovered low interest to teach among SHS students, who expressed uncertainty about job satisfaction and economic returns. Though they considered teachers to be crucial in society, concerns about salary and workload weighed heavily on SHS students.

In contrast, education students revealed long-held childhood aspirations to teach and find it fulfilling. They agree that teachers receive support and believe that teaching provides long-term career growth.

Mirasol recommended the engagement of the community, as well as mentoring and career guidance in basic education to help promote teaching as a career. School-industry partnerships as well as incentives and support for those pursuing teaching may also be explored. Finally, the promotion of diversity and inclusion is seen as a possible way of increasing the base of future teachers.

Mirasol teaches at the Department of English and is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education. The study is funded by the Ateneo de Manila University – EDCOM II partnership and was presented on March 12, 2025.

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The authors indicated that occupational therapy in the Philippine has usually revolved around the four previously mentioned areas. Using cases personally witnessed by the authors, the authors pointed out the “drivers that have influenced (and that continue to influence) the current state and future direction of occupational therapy practice in these practice areas.” The authors concluded with mitigation measures to address the threats.

Uy and Guerrero are among the early faculty members of the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy program in UST, which first offered it in the late 1990s. Her research interests include occupational therapy education and older adult patients. Meanwhile, Espino is among the early graduates of UST’s BS OT program in 2003. She is also among the first graduates of the new research-focused Doctor of Philosophy in Health Research program of the UST Graduate School. Her area of expertise is on child well-being, screen time, and play.

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With the recognition, the University joins the government “in developing a new system for recognizing and evaluating Teacher Education Centers of Excellence, as well as providing technical expertise in the review and enhancement of pre-service teacher education curricula.”

College of Education Assistant Dean Louie B. Dasas, PhD and Academic Programs Quality Assurance Office (APQAO) Director Marife V. Narcida, MS received the recognition from the TEC, chaired by Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, who was joined by the other officers and members of the TEC.

The Center of Excellence recognition, previously conferred solely by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), is now conferred as Teacher Education-Center of Excellence (TE-COE) by the TEC of which the CHED Chairperson is an ex-officio member by virtue of Republic Act 11713, also known as the Excellence in Teacher Education Act.

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With a transdisciplinary approach, the project will advance heritage research, education programs and tourism promotion that will dramatically impact the Samar Province’s holistic development. These forgotten fortifications are value-added to Spark Samar’s program by promoting historically significant tourist destinations that provide opportunities for community-driven conservation.

To jumpstart the project, the US Embassy in the Philippines, Deputy Director for Public Engagement Chad Kinnear, joined by Resource Coordination Specialist Mr. Edwin Raymund A. Vergara, conducted an ocular inspection last November 21-22, 2024 in three (3) fortification sites in Samar Province. They were accompanied by the university’s composite team from USTGS-CCCPET, UST College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and UST College of Architecture. Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan expressed her sincere gratitude to the US Embassy of the Philippines and to the ľĹÉ«.

Ms. Beverly M. Bautista, MAEd, Officer-in-Charge of USTGS-CCCPET and Project Director, emphasizes that this initiative aligns with the university’s vision of preserving cultural heritage that will inspire future generations as responsible stewards. Through the AFCP grant, USTGS-CCCPET gets to continue its role as a prime mover of cultural heritage preservation, advocating  heritage utilization toward community development.

The project is set to launch on December 4, 2024, in Sta. Rita, Samar, in partnership with Samar Provincial Government and the Local Government of Sta. Rita.

The AFCP, established by the US Department of State, supports projects worldwide that preserve cultural heritage, including historic buildings, archaeological sites, collections, and intangible heritage such as traditional crafts and languages.

UST Team, Sta. Rita LGU team and

US Embassy Officials Deputy Director for Public Engagement Chad Kinnear (middle, blue shirt) Resource Coordination Specialist Mr. Edwin Raymund A. Vergara (middle, red shirt)

Ms. Beverly Bautista lead the ocular visit in Tinago Ruins in Tarangan with US Embassy Officials Deputy Director for Public Engagement Chad Kinnear (blue shirt) Resource Coordination Specialist Mr. Edwin Raymund A. Vergara (red shirt)

UST Team, Gandara LGU Officials, Bangahon local community with

US Embassy Officials Deputy Director for Public Engagement Chad Kinnear (middle, blue shirt) Resource Coordination Specialist Mr. Edwin Raymund A. Vergara (middle, red shirt)

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The discussion, moderated by Professor Linfa Wang of Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School and Dr. Lee Fok Kay of Temasek Foundation, Singapore, delved into what it takes to be ready for the next pandemic. Bergantin and her co-panelists stressed the importance of convincing governments and leaders of the ASEAN groups that the knowledge base gained during the COVID-19 pandemic is a vital resource worth sharing to the general public. Bergantin recalled the collaboration between the government and professional associations during the pandemic. A case in point was the preparation of COVID-19 guidelines prepared by the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, whose inputs helped craft policies during the onslaught of the dreaded virus.

The panel included Indonesia’s Dr. Darmawali Handoko, Medical Services Deputy Director Prof. Derrick Heng, Thailand’s Mahidol University Prof. Prassert Auewarakul, and Malaysia’s Tropical Diseases Research and Education Center Executive Director Prof. Dr. Sazaly bin Abu Bakar.

Bergantin also added that a sound pandemic preparedness policy requires the participation of not just scientists and government leaders, but also economists, vulnerable groups, and community members. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Bergantin said that: “I am just thankful that aside from teaching, I have been included in various clinical practice guideline creation and health technology assessment thus I have first hand experience in policy-making (recommendation), which I have just realized when I was asked to join the panel. I may not hold a degree in public health but working for the Filipinos in my capacity from the academe, together with other specialists from UST who are regularly consulted by the government based on their expertise, the Thomasian spirit of competence, compassion and commitment truly burns bright.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bergantin joined fellow doctors and healthcare professionals in the UST Hospital to save lives amidst the strictest of mobility restrictions. Look at her COVID-19-focused interview with the Communications Bureau here: 

The congress drew over 300 onsite participants and was supported by Temasek Foundation, Singapore.

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The open-access article, entitled “Climate justice beliefs related to climate action and policy support around the world,” focused on the value of climate justice beliefs “as a motive for climate action across diverse geographical contexts.” 

Participants acknowledged the influence of capitalism and colonialism on the climate crisis and how it adversely impacts poor people.

The survey found that participants from countries with higher greenhouse gas emissions and politically salient social inequality associated climate justice beliefs with policy support and various indices of climate action.

The paper can be accessed here:  

Reyes, a renowned scholar and Psychological Association of the Philippines President from 2020-2022, also teaches at the Graduate School and is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education.

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Bennett delivered a lecture entitled “Oomycetes in Philippine freshwater ecosystems”, highlighting current research developments in taxonomy and potential utilization of oomycetes (aquatic fungi) for aquaculture as natural food source due to its potential for mass propagation and fatty acid content. Meanwhile, Papa updated the audience on “Methane Dynamics and Limnological Monitoring in Tropical East Asia: The Case of Lake Yambo”, which emphasized on the importance of routine limnological monitoring for water quality and methane concentrations in tropical lakes such as Lake Yambo as these are closely linked to eutrophication, especially in tropical lake ecosystems, especially those heavily utilized for aquaculture.

Papa and Bennett joined speakers from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkiye, and Vietnam in giving lectures on the ecology and life history of economically important aquatic organisms, aquaculture, and fisheries, including topics on conservation, management, climate change adaptation and sustainability.

Chonnam National University holds the distinction of having the first and oldest fisheries and marine educational institution in South Korea and is known for receiving the most research funding among Korean universities.

Its College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences maintains two research vessels, including the 96.45m ship Sae Dong Baek which was launched in 2019. Symposium speakers were given the opportunity to visit and inspect the research facilities of their two research vessels, which routinely conducts research cruises around the Korean peninsula.  A best research poster competition was also held during the symposium where graduate students and researchers of Chonnam National University showcased their latest research findings.

The event was organized by the CNU College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in cooperation with the Korea Fishery Resource Management Research Institute and the Institute of Fishing Village and Aquaculture.

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Guinto, who teaches Science, Technology, and Society as well as Environmental Science, shared her expertise and knowledge regarding the basic concepts of climate change and the role of humans in speeding up its processes and effects. The Islamic Principles of Environmental Stewardship include: (1) Oneness with Allah, (2) Humans as Stewards, (3) Balance in Nature, and (4) Public Interest, while Muslim perceptions on climate change include: (1) that it is caused by humans, (2) it is spiritual in nature, (3) there is skepticism caused by conspiracies, (4) that priorities are focused on economic issues instead of environmental concerns, and (5) that there are regional variations in the understanding of climate change. Guinto shared the science behind these perceptions and helped clarify some misconceptions by providing science-based support to current activities toward climate change adaptations that were raised during event. 

The participation of Guinto was made possible through the invitation of Dr. Dimapuno A. Datu-Ramos, Jr. Director of the NCMF-NCR Regional Office to the UST College of Science to participate in this event. This highlights and recognizes the need for inter-religious and multi-sectoral efforts for effective climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Philippines.

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BS-SLP students Mariela Anya Soriño, Kathleen Megan Torres, Emilia Andrea Coronel, Robert Anthony Bertumen, and Vinz Adrian Chan were under the supervision of Inst. John Arden Romanillos, MHPEd, RSLP, who together showcased how UST runs its BS-SLP program. 

First offered in 2009, the four-year bachelor’s degree program involves at least 1,200 hours of supervised clinical training in various settings, such as the community and hospital. Such training endeavors allow students to screen, evaluate, and assess patients and help in individual and group therapy sessions. Apart from equipping students to handle concerns on speech, language, and swallowing disorders, aural habilitation and rehabilitation and augmentative and alternative communication are integrated in the curriculum.

Graduates of the program may proceed to take advanced studies in the fields of health professions education, clinical audiology, and medicine (all offered in UST), bringing with them sound training in practice and research. The Department of Speech-Language Pathology includes as part of its thrusts the conduct of research that will adapt and make culturally relevant SLP interventions, develop evidence-based practices, and promote professional growth and continuing education.

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In a memorandum from the Office of Information and Communications Technology, the tools offer “invaluable benefits across diverse fields” and encouraged the educational use of the said softwares. Among the expected benefits to the entire community are the improvement of digital skills, assistance in the creation of compelling projects, and enhancement of visual and graphic design skills.

The rollout marks a significant milestone in UST’s provision of software applications, particlarly Adobe, to Thomasians. In the past, those in design programs were prioritized. However, with graphic design now an important skill across all fields due to the ubiquity of online media, the University makes the softwares accessible to the entire community.

Thomasians can access their Adobe All Apps using their Google for Education suite accounts.

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