Thu, 20 Nov, 2025
UA&P Full Professor and University Research Office Executive Director Dr. Veronica Esposo Ramirez delivered the keynote address at the Couples for Christ (CFC) Missio Amare Migranti (MAM) 2026 Annual Planning held on November 15, 2025, in Pasay City.
Speaking before MAM leaders and delegates, Dr. Ramirez honored the sacrifices of the Filipino diaspora, inviting the audience to recognize the impact of migration on countless families. She traced the long and complex history of Filipino migration—its roots, challenges, and contributions—emphasizing that today’s Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have significant contributions to host countries while also uplifting their families and communities in their home country.
Despite the challenges that OFWs face overseas, Dr. Ramirez underscored their resilience and success, saying, “Filipino migrant workers are vital agents of global development.”
Her keynote called for a shift in perspective — one that views migration not merely as an economic necessity but as a driver of human development and social transformation. She emphasized that migration, when treated with dignity and holistic care, can be “a powerful social force—capable of reshaping communities, relationships, and national identity.”
The keynote address formed part of a two-day planning workshop attended by 60 CFC MAM participants from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In the planning workshop, the participants set an agenda on how MAM’s initiative can further strengthen formation programs and reintegration efforts for migrant families. Missio Amare Migranti is the rebranded migrants program of CFC.
Dr. Ramirez (seated, center aisle) with the Couples for Christ Missio Amare Migranti participants.
Mon, 17 Nov, 2025
Dr. Guillermo Reyes Dionisio, Chairperson of the Philosophy Department of the College of Arts and Sciences, presented his paper “To Forgive or Not to Forgive: Self-respect, Justice, and the Supererogatory” at the IX World Conference on Metaphysics from November 3-7, 2025, hosted by the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. The international philosophy conference was organized by the Fondazione Idente di Studi e di Ricerca.
Dr. Guillermo Dionisio.
Dr. Dionisio (in the middle) presenting his paper. On his right is the session’s moderator Dr. Benito Marin of the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. On his left is the technical support for the session.
Dr. Dionisio also participated in the formal closing of the celebrations of the Jubilee of Educators and the declaration of St. John Henry Newman as one of the Doctors of the Church, presided by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on 1 November 2025 at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Thu, 13 Nov, 2025
All incoming interns for the 2nd semester of SY 2025-2026 are required to attend the Pre-Internship Orientation on November 19 (Wednesday) from 9:30 am to 11:00 am at the PLDT Hall. Please pre-register here.
For questions or concerns, please send an email to CSA-OCS at [email protected].
Wed, 12 Nov, 2025
The UA&P Credit Cooperative invites the entire university community to its pre-Christmas bazaar from November 24 to 28 (Monday–Friday) at the DCB Plaza.
Drop by anytime from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, shop local, and share the Christmas cheer with your fellow Dragons!
Wed, 12 Nov, 2025
The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) hosted a three-hour workshop titled “Understanding Palliative Care” on November 5, 2025, at the Telengtan Hall. The session aimed to raise awareness and deepen understanding of palliative care—an approach that enhances the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses through the prevention and relief of suffering.
The workshop provided participants with insights into the philosophy and principles of palliative care, emphasizing the importance of addressing not only physical needs but also emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual well-being. Through interactive discussions and reflection activities, the facilitators guided attendees in exploring how empathy, teamwork, and ethical decision-making contribute to compassionate and dignified caregiving.
The session concluded with an engaging open forum, allowing participants to reflect on how palliative care principles can be applied not only in medical settings but also in everyday interactions with those experiencing pain, loss, or hardship.
Overall, the “Understanding Palliative Care” workshop provided an enlightening and meaningful learning experience that reinforced the value of compassion-centered care and the importance of the human touch in both healthcare and education. A Health Humanities student, Maria Annika Castillo, reflects on this:
In our Health Humanities class on Bodiliness, we learn how people change throughout life and how we care for them must adapt to their needs along the way. From childhood to old age, every stage brings different needs, both physical and emotional. Palliative care reminds us that those with chronic or life-limiting illnesses are still very much alive, facing not only physical pain but also psychological and spiritual suffering, or what's called “total pain.”
In sterile hospital settings, it’s easy for patients to feel unseen. That’s why palliative care isn’t just the job of professionals; it takes a village. This is where our role begins—not just as future healthcare professionals, but as humans among humans. We need to meet people early, offer support, and be present. Death, after all, is a universal equalizer; it shouldn’t be a taboo topic we walk on eggshells around, and that calls for honesty and compassion.
Organizations like Kythe show how care can be intentional and human-centered. Pain and suffering aren’t simply emotions or bodily responses to stimuli. Our whole realities are involved and impacted. This implies that suffering can compound or be alleviated depending on how we perceive what we’re going through. Thus, it’s important to look at the world we live in today. We have the technology and the biotechnical aspect down, but what about our humanity? If healthcare is for human beings, we should use human-centered solutions to treat their ailments. What we really need is presence, not just cures. Even as undergrads, we have a role in making that kind of care real.#
(L-R) Dr. Joem Antonio, UA&P Humanities Program Director; Dr. Rhea Jayma, Palliative Care Specialist; Ms. Carolyn Tongco, Kythe, Child Life Program Coordinator; Dr. Agnes Bausa-Claudio, Palliative Care Specialist; Dr. Liza Naranjo, Pedia-Hema Onco Palliative Care Specialist; and Dr. Marion Magsino, Assistant Professor of Philosophy.
