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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ARTDEC’s membership includes faculty affiliates from Visual Art & Design academic institutions in the Philippines namely -University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, University of San Carlos, University of the East, Bulacan State University, St. Scholastica’s College, CIIT College of Arts & Technology De La Salle Lipa, Adventist University of the Philippines, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science & Technology and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Council of Visual Arts & Design Educators, Inc. (ArtDEC) was initiated in October 2012 by representatives of higher educational institutions (HEIs) that offer programs in visual arts and design in the Philippines. ArtDEC was organized primarily to provide art and design educators with opportunities for professional development and networking with fellow academicians as well as with practitioners in the creative Industry. Some of the founding members and current officers/board of trustees of ArtDEC also serve as CHED Technical Committee for Fine Arts.

ArtDEC’s major activity for the year 2024 was held during the three-day conference (July 4-6, 2024) at School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design (SAFAD) Theater, University of San Carlos (USC) Talamban Campus, Cebu City with the theme “REDESIGN: Explore the Ways Design Practice is being Re-considered, Re-defined and Re-formed”.

The said conference was hosted by both academic institutions – University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design, Manila and University of San Carlos School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design, Cebu in partnership with National Bookstore.

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In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Caliwan said the recognition was “very fulfilling” as it recognizes “accounting teachers with outstanding achievement and distinguished performance as an educator, and whose outstanding contribution has a national impact.” Caliwan said the distinction is “a very big honor that I will treasure forever.”

Caliwan thanks the University community, particularly Accountancy Dean Patricia M. Empleo, PhD, Accountancy Regent fr. Franklin F. Beltran, O.P., PhD, and the college community, for their support. “UST allowed me to be actively involved in my professional organizations. A lot of activities for accounting teachers that we co-organized are held in UST. We showed the accounting education profession the Thomasian brand of service.”

Caliwan credits parts of his award to his recent stint as president of the National Association of CPAs in Education (NACPAE), during which time he championed the capacity-building of CPAs in education through a multi-part nationwide caravan of workshops on Outcomes-Based Education and updating on the CPA Licensure Exams based on recent pronouncements of the Professional Regulation Commission. The one-year term also gave a chance to broach the idea of a Magna Carts for Accounting Teachers, which is envisioned to “will answer the many concerns of accounting teachers.” Among these are the stringent and expensive continuing professional development unit requirements that make some CPAs shy away from teaching.

The awarding ceremonies will take place on November 21, 2024.

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Pavia, the immediate past Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, has worked on non-native aquatic organisms and non-native freshwater fish species. In 2023, he published an article warning about the risk of non-native fishes invading due to climate change, with Lake Taal as the study site. Recently, he co-authored the article “Development and application of a second-generation multilingual tool for invasion risk screening of non-native terrestrial plants.”

First chartered in 1968, FIFMS now has over twenty-three members comprised of both public and private higher education institutions. The federation provides an avenue for greater collaboration among members through collaborative research undertakings and the sharing of expertise and resources.

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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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Elected alongside Ramos is Dr. Jessamyn Marie Yazon of the Philippine Science High School – Main Campus. Both of them served as Presidents of the Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines (BIOTA-Phils).

An allergology expert, Ramos is a decorated researcher who has received various national and international accolades. As a leader, he served as the immediate past Dean of the College of Science and under his term, the College secured international accreditation from the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance for its BS Biology program. Ramos also teaches at the Graduate School.

AABE gathers educators from across Asia and Australia and holds a biennial conference, which this year was held from October 12-14, 2024 in Ehime University, Japan. The association likewise publishes the Asian Journal of Biology Education to provide a venue for latest research from the field. The association also capacitates teachers through professional development interventions.

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With the award, Bernardo is slated to deliver a research-based lecture in February 2025. A scholar on World Englishes, particularly Philippine English and its pedagogy, Bernardo will discourse about: “Teaching, Teaching about, and Teaching in World Englishes: Twenty-First Century Perspectives for Diversity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability.”

Among Bernardo’s recent works are entitled “Teaching Philippine English through schoolscapes” (2024), “Philippine English and Global Englishes-inspired grammar teaching” (2024), and “Knowledge construction in World Englishes” (2021, with Ruanni Tupas).

Bernardo earned his doctoral degree in English Language Studies from the UST Graduate School, where he later served as Faculty Secretary. He is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education. Bernardo also served as Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Established in 1996, the Distinguished Professorial Chair honors former Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (now the Department of Education) Secretary and former De La Salle University President Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC. According to the Linguistic Society of the Philippines, the honor is meant to remember Br. Gonzalez as “an intellectual giant, a distinguished linguist, teacher, scholar, humanist, writer, administrator, a builder of persons and institutions, a man of vision and mission, a doer, a Christian brother, and a Filipino patriot.”

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The paper focuses on AI’s potential to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency but emphasizes the challenges related to disparities in AI healthcare access. The authors propose that AI-driven healthcare solutions risk exacerbating existing inequalities, benefiting primarily those in urban and high-income areas while leaving marginalized communities behind. Their research suggests an equitable AI implementation framework, drawing from key principles of CST such as human dignity, the common good, and preferential options for the poor. These teachings, rooted in justice, align closely with the ethical concerns surrounding AI and healthcare.

Using the Church’s commitment to social justice as a guide, Gozum and Flake argue for systemic changes to ensure that AI healthcare technology benefits all communities, particularly the underserved. Their proposal is timely as AI revolutionizes medical fields, from early diagnosis to treatment customization. The authors emphasize that AI must complement healthcare professionals rather than replace them, and call for inclusive healthcare systems that prioritize equitable distribution of AI resources. They also draw attention to the ethical implications of AI algorithm biases, which could disproportionately affect marginalized groups.

This study represents a novel intersection of religion, ethics, and technology, urging both policymakers and healthcare professionals to consider the social impacts of AI and its role in global health equity.

For further details, readers can access the full paper via this link:

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GSL Dean Jacqueline O. Lopez-Kaw, DCL, said that this collaboration will ramp up academic growth between the two universities, as well as bolster their students with advance education: “This partnership represents an exciting new chapter in our shared commitment to enhancing the future of legal education and to fostering collaborative academic growth.”  

“We reinforce our commitment to provide advance education that equips our students, who are already skilled and knowledgable practitioners with the tools to meet the ever evolving challenges of the legal profession,” she added. 

Expressing his gratitude, USA-Law Dean Jose Mair Benjamin Francisco Tirol, LLM noted that this collaboration with UST is a homecoming for him, who earned his Master of Laws degree in UST in 2004. Tirol mentioned that his colleagues, who were products of various law schools, were interested in “obtaining a UST LLM degree.” 

USA President Rev. fr. Arnel S. Dizon, OSA said that the consortium will revamp their shared vision and commitment to provide quality education and services especially in the legal education program. “It is a mutual sharing of knowledge, expertise, experiences, and resources as well. Specifically it caters to the advancement of academic programs and professional growth of our faculty and personnel,” fr. Dizon shared.

In the MoA signing ceremonies, Dean Kaw, Regent fr. Dexter A. Austria, O.P., SThD, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta DrPH, and Faculty Secretary Ms. Leidy May G. Alnajes, LPT, MA, represented the University, while Dizon and Tirol represented the USA-College of Law.

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Peñamante, who is currently at the final stages of her Master of Science in Global Health Delivery at the Harvard Medical School, teaches psychology and clinical epidemiology courses in the College of Science and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. For her second masteral degree, she is a Global Health Research Scholar at Harvard Medical School’s Program in Global Primary Care and Social Change and a Graduate Student Researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry. Her research, according to the BCPH website, “spans mental health, climate change, and healthcare workforce development.” Among her advocacies are reducing stigma and ultimately saving lives through mental health interventions. Peñamante previously earned her B.Sc. Psychology, M.A. Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Medicine degrees at the University of Santo Tomas.

The Boston Congress of Public Health Inc., which bestows the award, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to democratize public health through the lens of social justice and envisions itself to transcending the traditional boundaries of academia and medicine by supporting emerging and established thought leaders, researchers and advocates committed to social justice and health equity and democratizes access to evidence-based public health thought. It was established in August 2021 by Drs. Candice Carpenter and Circe Gray Le Compte and conducts educational and policy trainings, television series and a Fellowship program. It also publishes the HPHR Journal, which promotes evidence-based discourse on health equity ().

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