ACUP-Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines

25/03/2026

With profound gratitude, the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines (ACUP) expresses its appreciation to the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for its warm support and solidarity extended to us during the recently concluded 2026 ACUP National Conference. We welcome the strengthening of our partnership in upcoming initiatives and remain deeply committed to our shared mission for social transformation and quality Catholic education.

CEAP extends its warmest congratulations and prayerful wishes to the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines on the occasion of the ACUP National Conference 2026.

May this gathering at Ateneo de Naga University in Naga City inspire Catholic higher educational institutions to respond with wisdom, courage, and fidelity to the challenges facing Philippine education today.

We pray that this conference will strengthen collaboration among Catholic universities, deepen our shared mission of forming persons in truth and service, and renew our collective commitment to transform society through faith-driven education.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines stands in solidarity with ACUP as we continue working together in shaping a transformative future for Philippine Catholic education.

25/03/2026

In his long-term direction setting talk titled "The Future of Catholic Higher Education: New Maps, One Synodal Mission", the CBCP ECCE Chair Most Rev. Charlie Inzon, OMI, DD, highlighted what Catholic universities in the Philippines can uniquely share with the world. He reminded the community to build institutions where faith and reason would dovetail together.

24/03/2026

In his keynote address "Tracing and Building Educational Constellations", Fr. Wilmer Tria shared experiential reflections through the lens of the Apostolic Letter of Pope Leo XIV, “Drawing New Maps of Hope” and the Apostolic Exhortation “Dilexi Te” (I Have Loved You).

23/03/2026

In his keynote address "Tracing and Building Educational Constellations" for the 2026 ACUP National Conference, Fr. Wilmer Tria underscored that synodal collaboration must begin from the margins and that the poor are not obstacles, but rather, in Catholic Education, they are the reason for our being.

19/03/2026

Thank you for joining the 2026 ACUP National Conference! We are truly grateful for your active participation. We hope your experience was meaningful and inspiring!

See you at our coming programs! To stay updated on the latest ACUP activities, please follow this official page.

18/03/2026

ACUP is profoundly grateful to the Ateneo de Naga University led by its President Rev. Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, Ph.D, for their hosting of the 2026 ACUP National Conference! The academic gathering was held at the Pedro G. Arrupe SJ Convention Hall from the 12th to 14th of March 2026.

The ACUP Secretariat, led by its Secretary-General Ms. Michaella Lagniton, MA, was warmly welcomed by the AdNU Office of the President on March 10, 2026, by the Executive Assistant to the President Dr. Marshal Q. Murillo, and the Administrative Assistant to the President Mr. Aaron G. Infeliz. On the same day, coordination meetings were also held with the event hosts Mr. Jam Revilla and Ms. Jonafel Singson, and with the AdNU Center for Community Development team led by Mr. Elmer Sto. Domingo, Jr.

AdNU President Rev. Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, Ph.D., who received the Plaque of Appreciation on behalf of AdNU from ACUP President Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., and the administrators from the AdNU actively supported the three-day national conference.

16/03/2026

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑 | 𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The third and final day of the 2026 ACUP National Conference started with a Eucharistic Celebration with ACUP Vice President and San Beda University Rector-President Rev. Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB serving as presider, while the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (ECCE) Chair H.E. Most Rev. Charlie Inzon, OMI, DD, was among the concelebrants.

Participants then attended simultaneous workshops focusing on key areas of Catholic higher education. “Interdisciplinary Research in Catholic HEIs”, facilitated by Dr. Jonel P. Saludes (Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of San Agustin), explored ways to make research more responsive to the needs of local communities, particularly the underserved, while encouraging collaboration among research offices, ethics committees and funding units. The session also identified opportunities for ACUP member institutions to pool expertise and develop interdisciplinary research partnerships.

“Digital Transformation and Ethical AI Integration” facilitated by Dr. Cecilia Mercado (Chief Information Technology Officer, Saint Louis University), examined how institutions can responsibly integrate artificial intelligence while remaining faithful to their mission of forming competent, ethical, and socially responsible Filipino professionals. The discussion addressed ethical concerns such as environmental impact, energy consumption, algorithmic bias, data privacy, and overreliance on automated systems, and highlighted how Catholic moral and social teachings, including the document Antiqua et Nova, can guide governance and policy development in universities for AI use that uplifts human dignity and academic integrity.

“Educational Well-being” led by Dr. Renz Christian Argao (President and CEO of Argao Health Inc.), focused on strengthening the well-being of students, academic staff, and administrators through institutional policies and programs. The session also discussed methods for assessing the effectiveness of well-being initiatives and identifying strategies, resources, and support systems that promote mental health and overall wellness within the academic community.

Following the workshops, participants gathered for a long-term direction setting in light of the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033, marking the 2000th anniversary of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ titled “The Future of Catholic Higher Education in the Philippines: New Maps, One Synodal Mission” delivered by H.E. Most Rev. Charlie M. Inzon, OMI, D.D., Chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education and Archbishop of Cotabato.

The conference formally concluded with closing remarks by ACUP Vice President Rev. Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB.

In the afternoon, there was an optional guided tour of Naga City, which included visits to historic churches, a museum, and a local delicacy shop.

14/03/2026

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 | 𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

The second day of the conference continued the dialogue on strengthening Philippine higher education by focusing on the preparation of educators, the enhancement of institutional quality assurance, and the responsible and ethical integration of emerging technologies in the academe while putting priority on integrity, the relational presence in human interaction, and higher critical thinking. It emphasized the need for higher education institutions (HEIs) to remain responsive to evolving educational demands while upholding values of inclusivity, accountability, and innovation.

The morning session opened with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by the ACUP President and UST Rector Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, OP, followed by a presentation by Dr. Neil Vincent Sandoval, Deputy Executive Director III of the Teacher Education Council (TEC) Secretariat, on “Developing a Future-Ready Teaching Workforce: Teacher Education in the Philippines.”

Dr. Sandoval's talk highlighted the critical role of teacher education institutions in equipping educators with competencies that respond to both local and global challenges, and underscored opportunities for strengthening teacher preparation and continuous professional development, stressing that sustained capacity-building and aligning the EDCOM II with the National Education Plan are essential for educators to effectively contribute to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable educational outcomes in the country.

Prof. Rosemary Seva, Ph.D., Executive Director of the De La Salle University Quality Assurance Office, focused on “Enhancing the Quality Assurance of Philippine HEI Programs: Strategies and Best Practices.” The lecture examined the current landscape of quality assurance in Philippine higher education institutions, including recent developments in accreditation processes and compliance with both national and international standards. She discussed key challenges and common quality issues faced by institutions, particularly those operating in underserved areas where access to resources and accreditation support may be limited. Emphasizing that quality assurance should go beyond compliance, Prof. Seva advocated for cultivating a culture of continuous quality improvement within institutions, one that promotes proactive monitoring, reflective practices, and collaborative institutional learning.

Following the morning presentations was a talk on "AI and Ethics: Communion through Presence" delivered by Mr. Edwin Lopez, Executive Secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Senior Director for Asia-Pacific of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Mr. Lopez addressed the ethical implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, within the context of higher education and society. He emphasized that quality relational presence is the rarest form of communication and that universities carry a social responsibility not only to adopt technological innovations but also to guide students and educators toward ethical, responsible, and human-centered uses of technology that elevate human dignity.

This was followed by a panel discussion with Asst. Prof. Jerralyn T. Padua, MSCS, Assistant to the Rector for Information and Communications Technology at the University of Santo Tomas, joining Mr. Lopez. They examined the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education, including emerging trends in how both students and educators engage with AI-powered tools such as large language models. Panelists reflected on the opportunities and challenges presented by these technologies, particularly in relation to academic integrity, critical thinking, and meaningful learning. The discussion explored how institutions can foster responsible AI use while maintaining academic standards and integrity, and ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces deep learning and intellectual engagement.

A community engagement activity followed, where Mr. Dhan Cea of the Naga City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the AdNU Center for Community Development guided the participants in a tree planting activity at the "Forest in Our Midst" site. Two hundred saplings were planted, and these efforts supported the LGU and AdNU's joint city re-greening and water retention project at Brgy. Carolina, Naga.

Day 2 ended with a cultural presentation led by AdNU students, including members of the Ignacio Dance Company and musician Sean Axel Alcomendas.

14/03/2026

𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 Scuola 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲!

14/03/2026

𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲!

14/03/2026

𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 Rex Education 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲!

13/03/2026

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 | 𝐀𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The first day of the ACUP National Conference 2026 gathered leaders, educators, and partners from Catholic higher education institutions across the country to reflect on the mission of Catholic education in today’s rapidly changing social and educational landscape.

In his welcome remarks, ACUP President and UST Rector Rev. Fr. Richard Ang, OP, set the direction of the three-day gathering, saying that “The ACUP National Conference is a call to renewal. It invites us to rediscover our common vocation as educators who form minds and shape consciences in the light of Christ. If education is indeed an act of evangelization, then every lecture hall, research center, and community engagement site becomes a sacred space for encounter. With renewed conviction and shared responsibility, may this conference inspire a united commitment among Catholic higher educational institutions in the Philippines to become authentic bearers of truth, stewards of justice, and heralds of hope for the nation and the world."

Building on this call to renewal, keynote speaker Rev. Fr. Wilmer Joseph Tria, PhD, President of CEACAL and BACS, Vice President of CEAP, and Secretary-General of CLCNT, gave deep and experiential reflections on his experience as an educator-priest through the lens of the Apostolic Letter of Pope Leo XIV, “Drawing New Maps of Hope” and the Apostolic Exhortation “Dilexi Te”. He also discussed the transformative impact of Catholic education in communities.

Continuing the reflection on the social mission of Catholic education, CBCP Social Action, Justice, and Peace Chair Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaza, DD, underscored the urgent role of Catholic educators in forming socially conscious and morally grounded young leaders who can contribute to national transformation. He emphasized that education must shape students not only intellectually but also ethically and spiritually, cultivating compassion, justice-oriented leadership, and solidarity with marginalized communities. He also reflected on the pressing Philippine social realities that directly and indirectly affect the ongoing educational crisis.

Shifting to the broader policy and structural context of Philippine education, EDCOM II Advisory Council Member Dr. Cynthia Rose Bautista then presented key insights from the EDCOM II reports on the current landscape of Philippine higher education. She outlined progress made in identifying systemic gaps in the education sector, including challenges in quality assurance, teacher preparation, research productivity, and alignment between education and labor market needs.

The day concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Archbishop of Caceres Most Rev. Rex Andrew Alarcon, DD, at the Ateneo de Naga University's Christ the King Church and a fellowship dinner