Wesleyan University-Philippines

24/09/2026

FEATURE | Where Home Begins: The Filipino Family in Everyday Life

There are things a Filipino family does that rarely make it into photographs.

A mother leaving food on the table before heading to work. A father asking if everyone has arrived home safely. Siblings arguing over the remote before laughing about the same joke minutes later. A grandparent telling a story for the third time, while everyone listens as though hearing it for the first time.

These moments may seem ordinary, but they are often where family is built.

For many Filipinos, family is more than a household bound by blood. It is a source of comfort, responsibility, identity, and belonging. It is where children first learn how to speak, share, forgive, and care for others – and where adults often find people who remind them that they do not have to face life’s difficulties alone.

More Than a Place to Come Home to

The Filipino family has long been shaped by togetherness. Meals are shared when schedules allow. Birthdays and holidays became occasions for relatives to gather. Decisions are often discussed with the family in mind, from a child’s education to a parent’s work and the future of the household.

Even when family members live far from one another, the connection often remains.

A message asking “kumain ka na ba?” can carry concerns across distance. A video call can bring grandparents closer to grandchildren. A package sent home can become a quiet expression of love. In these simple gestures, affection does not always need grand words – it can be seen in the effort to remain connected.

Yet being a family does not mean always agreeing.

Families experience misunderstandings, disagreements, financial difficulties, changing priorities, and moments when members struggle to understand one another. What keeps relationships together is not the absence of conflict, but the willingness to listen, communicate, forgive, and make room for one another.

Growing Together

As life changes, so do families.

Children grow into adults. Parents become older. Siblings pursue different careers and build lives of their own. Some family members move to other cities or countries in search of opportunities. Technology has also changed how families communicate, allowing loved ones separated by distance to remain part of one another’s daily lives.

Through these changes, the meaning of family continues to evolve.

For young people, family can be a place where dreams are encouraged, and challenges are shared. For parents, it can be a responsibility that goes beyond providing material needs – it can also mean creating an environment where children feel heard, guided, and valued.

For older family members, it can mean passing on stories, traditions, values, and lessons that might otherwise disappear with time.

Every generation contributes something to the family story.

The Gift of Being Present

In a time when work, school, responsibilities, and digital distractions can easily fill a person’s day, spending meaningful time with family can sometimes become an afterthought.

But family does not always need an elaborate celebration.

Sometimes, it is sitting for dinner.

Sometimes, it is listening without reaching for a phone.

Sometimes, it is asking how someone’s day went – and genuinely waiting for an answer.

The value of family can be found in these pauses.

The observance of the 34th National Family Week serves as an opportunity to return to something that can be easily overlooked amid everyday responsibilities: the importance of being present for the people we call home.

At Wesleyan University-Philippines, the observance also encourages members of the community to use the time not simply as a break from classes and office work, but as an opportunity to spend meaningful time with their families, reconnect, strengthen family bonds, and cherish the gift of being together.

Because in the end, family is not measured only by how often everyone is together. It is also measured by the memories created when they are. And sometimes, the most meaningful moments are the ones that appear ordinary – the meal shared after a long day, the conversation before bedtime, the laughter around the table, or simply knowing that there is someone waiting when you come home.

For many Filipinos, that is where family begins: not in a perfect household, but in the everyday choice to care, stay connected, and be there for one another.

Article by Emily G. Agumbay (PIO)
Graphics generated using ChatGPT
Flipbook generated using Heyzine Flipbooks https://heyzine.com/flip-book/6a5fd95799.html /1

Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker

24/09/2026

WUP Executives Showcase Globally Recognized Innovations at WURI Conference in Germany

DEGGENDORF, Germany — Executives of Wesleyan University–Philippines (WU-P) brought the university’s innovative programs to the international stage as they participated in the 2026 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) Global Conference, currently being held September 23–25 at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany.

The conference gathered university leaders, educators, researchers, and innovators from around the world to exchange ideas and showcase initiatives that translate academic knowledge into practical solutions for society. It reflects WURI’s emphasis on innovation, implementability, and impact, recognizing universities not merely for traditional academic achievements but for their ability to respond creatively to real-world challenges.

For the Wesleyan delegation, the gathering provided an opportunity to present the university’s globally recognized innovations while discovering how institutions across different countries are transforming ideas into meaningful and sustainable action.

Eleven WUP Innovations Earn Global Recognition

WU-P’s participation followed the announcement of its 11 recognized innovative programs in the 2026 WURI Global Rankings, which highlight university initiatives demonstrating innovation and contributions to society.

The university’s recognized entries span research ethics, environmental sustainability, leadership development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, renewable energy, student learning, community welfare, and entrepreneurship.

The recognized programs and their corresponding WURI ranking entries are:

WURI Entry and Recognized Innovative Program

A6_045 - Guardians of Integrity: The University Research Ethics Committee (UREC)

A7_096 - Plastic Use Reduction and Waste Management

B2_091 - Project L.A.K.A.D. (Leadership Advancement, Knowledge and Development)

B3_094 - Project P.R.A.I.S.E. (Performance Review using Artificial Intelligence for Strategy Evaluation)

B5_099 - Sustaining Futures, Igniting Enterprise: The Wesleyan Spirit

B6_032 - Project C.L.O.S.E.D. (Cybersecurity Laboratory using Open-Source Equipment for Defense)

B7_085 - The BAC Advantage: Turning Ethical Procurement into Financial Efficiency

C1_017 - Project AQUASUN: A Solar-Powered Desalination Unit Incorporating Reverse Osmosis and Multi-Filter System

C2_054 - HAVENLINK: A Comprehensive System for Home for Girls Residential Treatment Facility

C4_064 - Project A.I.S.L.E. (Artificial Intelligence for Student Learning Empowerment)

C8_046 - E-HUB (Electronic Hub Start-Up Company from CECT, WU-P)

These initiatives reflect the breadth of innovation taking place within the university, from strengthening institutional governance and ethical practices to developing technological solutions and addressing the needs of communities.

Beyond the recognition, the conference reinforced a shared realization among WU-P executives: innovation becomes meaningful when it moves beyond institutional accomplishments and creates lasting improvements in people’s lives.

Innovation Begins with Real Needs

For Eufemia Ayro, Director of Community Outreach, who attended the WURI Conference for the first time, the experience provided a fresh perspective on the university’s existing programs and their potential to contribute to the global conversation on innovation.

“Successful and sustainable WURI programs are designed in response to the needs of the institution, the community, the country, and the global community. Their success requires collective effort, careful planning, strong collaboration, and a shared commitment to transforming innovative ideas into meaningful and lasting actions,” Ayro said.

“More importantly, we must learn to ‘walk the talk’ by putting our plans and commitments into practice to ensure that these programs remain relevant, impactful, and sustainable.”

As she listened to presentations from other universities, Ayro realized that many of WU-P’s ongoing initiatives already possess the qualities of innovations worthy of international recognition.

“This is my first time attending the WURI Conference, and the experience has given me a deeper appreciation of what we are already doing at Wesleyan University–Philippines. As I listened to the presentations and learned from the innovative practices of other institutions, I realized that there are also many programs, initiatives, and accomplishments at WU-P that we can proudly showcase to the world.”

“We already have many good practices; what we need is to recognize their value, strengthen them through collaboration, document their impact, and continue improving them so that they can become sustainable innovations worthy of global recognition,” she added.

Ayro’s reflection was echoed by Vice President for Academic Affairs Wilfredo Ramos, who emphasized that innovation is neither confined by an institution’s resources nor measured by the scale of its projects.

“Innovation is the name of the game. We should never feel limited by where we come from or by what we have. True innovation is measured by the positive change it creates in people’s lives. We simply need to start with what we have, make the most of it, and let its impact create a ripple of transformation,” Ramos said.

The same understanding resonated with Ryan John De Lara, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Technology, who observed that meaningful innovation often begins with seemingly modest initiatives.

“WURI 2026 has made us realize that innovation need not be a grand feat—it lies in the simplest initiatives and creative actions that bring significant impact to their beneficiaries. This affirms that WU-P’s innovation initiatives have substantial effects that profoundly shape our community and the rest of the world,” De Lara said.

Together, their reflections underscored a central message of the conference: the significance of innovation rests not simply in its originality but in its capacity to address actual needs and create positive change.

Transforming Education Through Purposeful Innovation

As universities increasingly explore the possibilities of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, the WURI conference also provided an opportunity to examine how innovation can strengthen the teaching and learning process without diminishing the human dimensions of education.

Juanito Leabres Jr., Director of the Office of Instruction and Lifelong Learning, emphasized the importance of preserving teachers’ roles while harnessing technology to enrich educational experiences.

“AI in instruction is not about choosing between technology and teachers, but empowering teachers to use technology with purpose, wisdom, and heart. This forum reinforced my conviction that meaningful experiences and shared ideas can become a harvest of creative possibilities for the future of education,” Leabres said.

His reflection highlighted the need for educational innovation to remain grounded in thoughtful teaching, human relationships, and purposeful learning.

For Jaziel Naomi Reyes, Director of Gender and Development, the international gathering also revealed that universities, despite differences in culture, context, and resources, share a fundamental commitment to making education more meaningful.

“WURI presentations amazed me because, despite our differences, we share a common purpose, that is, to make education more responsive, relevant, inclusive, and meaningful. As a presenter, I felt proud to share what we are doing in our institution and realized that our work also has a place in the global conversation on educational innovation,” Reyes said.

Her experience affirmed that innovation is not the exclusive domain of large or heavily resourced institutions. Universities serving their own communities can contribute valuable insights and practices to the international educational community.

When Innovation Touches Lives

While technology and academic transformation formed important dimensions of the conference, WU-P executives repeatedly returned to the human purpose of innovation.

Carissa Juliana Balaria, Dean of the College of Nursing, reflected on how a single idea, when developed in response to the needs of others, can create changes far greater than its apparent simplicity.

“We often talk about innovation in terms of advanced systems, but true innovation is really about the community you belong to. All it takes is a single idea to spark something new and make a tangible difference in someone’s life. That is what makes WURI so powerful: it takes an idea that feels simple, yet creates an impact that means a whole lot to someone else,” Balaria said.

Her observation found a parallel in the reflection of Kay Ann Tongol, Dean of the College of Allied Medical Sciences, who emphasized that recognition should follow meaningful service rather than become the ultimate objective of institutional innovation.

“Putting our university on the map is not the ultimate goal—prestige and accolades will follow when we genuinely live out our Vision, Mission, and core values through meaningful service. Our research, innovations, and academic achievements should never sleep on shelves; they must reach the community, address real needs, and create lasting impact in the lives of the people we serve,” Tongol said.

For both academic leaders, the value of innovation is ultimately demonstrated in the lives it touches, the communities it strengthens, and the opportunities it creates for those whom the university is called to serve.

Recognition as a Responsibility to Serve

As the Wesleyan delegation engaged with innovative institutions from around the world, the conference also opened opportunities to reflect on internationalization as a means of strengthening institutional responsibility.

Rio Anne Dizon, Director of Internationalization and Linkages, emphasized that university rankings must not become ends in themselves but should inspire institutions to deepen their commitment to society.

“University ranking should not merely be a measure of prestige or cyclical institutional achievements. It should be a reminder of our responsibility to create meaningful change. True excellence is demonstrated when our innovations move beyond the campus and intentionally respond to the needs of our immediate communities,” Dizon said.

“When innovation is guided by integrity and moral purpose, recognition becomes more than an achievement; it becomes an accountability badge signifying our commitment to serve and transform.”

Her reflection brought together the recurring themes expressed by the Wesleyan executives: collaboration, integrity, purposeful education, community responsiveness, and sustainable transformation.

The recognition of WU-P’s 11 innovative programs illustrates how the university’s work in governance, instruction, research, technology, sustainability, and community engagement can contribute to wider conversations on the future of higher education.

More importantly, the conference served as a reminder that the university’s vision and mission find their fullest expression not in the number of recognitions received, but in the continued translation of knowledge, values, and innovation into service.

From Deggendorf, Germany, the Wesleyan delegation carries home more than international recognition. It brings renewed perspectives, emerging possibilities for collaboration, and a strengthened commitment to ensuring that innovations developed within the university continue to respond to the needs of the institution, the country, and the global community.

For Wesleyan University–Philippines, the enduring significance of innovation lies not merely in being recognized by the world, but in making a meaningful difference in the world it seeks to serve.

Article by Gladys P Mangiduyos
Photos courtesy of WUP WURI Global Conference 2026 Team

24/09/2026

In observance of the 34th National Family Week and pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 136, s. 2026, issued by Malacañang, classes and office work at Wesleyan University-Philippines (Cushman Campus, Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City) are suspended starting at 12:00 PM on September 28, 2026.

Let's cherish quality time with our families!

24/09/2026

WUP President challenges Higher Ed leaders to become strategic intrapreneurs

Wesleyan University–Philippines (WUP) President Irineo G. Alvaro Jr. challenged State Universities and Colleges (SUC) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUC) leaders to move beyond simply responding to change and begin creating the futures their institutions need.

Speaking last September 8, 2026, during the Leadership Development Program under the Commission on Higher Education and the Development Academy of the Philippines, Alvaro introduced “The Strategic Intrapreneur: Designing Preferred Futures Through Innovation and Impact.”

The program aimed to develop leaders of SUCs and LUCs through four learning areas, including Strategic Vision and Global Thinking, Higher Education Governance, Quality Assurance and Performance Excellence, and Personal Leadership and Innovation.

Alvaro presented a simple framework called STAR:

S — Select the preferred future
T — Transform possibilities into reality
A — Amplify impact
R — Rally people around a preferred future

He said the role of a strategic intrapreneur is to find possibilities within an institution and turn them into initiatives that create public value. “The future is not a destination waiting to be discovered. It is a possibility waiting to be created,” Alvaro underscored.

He cited two initiatives from WUP as examples: Wespresso, which transformed an underused campus space into a coffee shop and learning hub, and Wholy Water, which turned an everyday institutional need for drinking water into an internal enterprise.

Alvaro noted, however, that innovation is not simply about creating something new; what matters is the difference it makes. “Whose future becomes positively different because this exists?” he inquired.

CHED Commissioner Michelle Ong emphasized the relevance of the conversation, saying, “It’s time for us to talk about this.” The remark highlighted the need for higher education leaders to engage more directly with questions of innovation, institutional transformation, and the future of Philippine higher education.

The session was part of Learning Area 1: Strategic Vision and Global Thinking, which examines emerging developments in Philippine and global higher education and how SUCs and LUCs can respond to social, economic, and technological change.

Alvaro ended up reminding leaders that universities should be remembered not only for the plans they made, but for the people they developed, the communities they transformed, and the futures they made possible.

Alvaro brought to the conversation a perspective shaped by experience in business. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of BB International Leisure and Resort Development Corporation, a major Taiwanese real estate and tourism developer in Clark, whose projects included Midori Clark Hotel and Casino and Aqua Planet. In 2018, he was elected Chairman of the Clark Investors and Locators Association. His experience in leading a major private-sector enterprise and working with investors and business locators brings to the conversation a perspective beyond academic administration—one grounded in entrepreneurship, innovation, and turning opportunities into sustainable ventures.

Article by Emmanuel John R. Pangan (OP)
Photos and videos courtesy of the Office of the President

24/09/2026

WUP celebrates 35 new psychometricians, Top 9 finisher in September 2026 licensure examination

Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP) marked another milestone in psychology education as 35 of its graduates passed the September 2026 Psychometrician Licensure Examination (PmLE), with one placing among the country’s topnotchers.

Elorah Ivy Gayle Moral Ong of WUP-Cabanatuan City placed ninth with a rating of 92.60 percent, joining the highest-performing examinees in the said licensure examination. The Professional Regulation Commission released the examination results on September 23.

Based on the PRC’s performance report, 33 of WUP’s 40 first-time takers and two repeat takers passed.

From psychology education to professional opportunities

The results also highlight the professional pathways available to students pursuing a psychology program at WUP.

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology program, which maintains a Level IV Accreditation Status (the highest accreditation level granted to a college or graduate program) by the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities - Accrediting Council, Inc. (ACSCU-ACI), may now be completed in 3.5 years at WUP. It provides training in areas including psychological assessment, abnormal psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and theories of personality. The program also includes practicum or on-the-job training in educational, industrial, and clinical settings and is designed to prepare students for the psychometrician licensure examination.

According to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), BS in Psychology graduates may pursue careers as psychometricians, psychologists, human resource staff, and college professors, and the degree can also prepare them for further studies and careers in medicine, law, and business management. Graduates may likewise pursue specializations in clinical, counseling, developmental, educational, social, and industrial/organizational psychology.

Source: https://www.prcboard.com/a-f-passers-september-2026-psychometrician-board-exam-pmle-results

Article by Emily G. Agumbay (PIO)
Poster by John Carlo Dauz (PIO)

24/09/2026

A language doesn't need sound to be heard.

In observance of the International Day of Sign Languages, with this year's theme, "Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights," the SHARE Program faculty of Wesleyan University-Philippines shares basic sign language to promote awareness and inclusivity!

Pioneered in 1983, WUP’s Support for the Handicapped and Their Rehabilitation through Education (SHARE) Program continues its more than four decades of legacy of championing accessible, quality education for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

True inclusion is built through access, understanding, and respect.

Because at WUP, everyone is welcome!

24/09/2026

FOR LIFE’S SAKE

A Statement of Conscience and a Call to Action

We gather today not simply to sing, but to stand with families in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and other affected provinces whose lives continue to be disrupted by devastating floods.

Behind every submerged house is a family. Behind every evacuation is a child, a parent, an elderly person, a worker, or a farmer trying to save what remains. Flooding destroys more than property. It disrupts education, livelihood, health, food security, shelter, and the dignity of entire communities.

When flooding becomes recurrent, families are forced into a painful cycle of evacuation, recovery, rebuilding, and loss.

For this reason, we respectfully but firmly call upon our government to act with greater urgency, transparency, competence, and accountability.

Relief is necessary, but relief alone is not enough.

Our people deserve protection before disaster strikes. They deserve effective flood-control systems, properly maintained waterways, responsible land-use planning, environmental protection, resilient infrastructure, early-warning systems, humane evacuation facilities, and honest use of public funds.

We must ask difficult but necessary questions:

What has been done?
What has failed?
Who is accountable?
And what must be done now so that our people will not continue to suffer the same devastation year after year?

These are not merely political questions.

They are questions of conscience.

Public office is a public trust. When suffering is repeatedly seen but insufficiently addressed, trust is weakened. When preventable devastation becomes something people are simply expected to endure, inequality deepens, and human suffering becomes dangerously normalized.

We must not allow this to happen.

As a Wesleyan community, we remember that faith must be expressed through works of mercy and service to those who suffer. We return to the words of Jesus in John 10:10:

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Life abundant must mean life with dignity, safety, food, shelter, education, livelihood, and hope. It must mean a society where every Filipino is regarded not as a statistic or merely another evacuee, but as a human being worthy of protection.

And so we implore our leaders:

Listen to the people.
Investigate failures.
Correct what must be corrected.
Hold accountable those who must be accountable.
Use public resources faithfully.
Listen to science.
Protect the environment.
Build lasting solutions.

Let us also stop romanticizing resilience.

Yes, Filipinos are resilient. We rise, rebuild, share, pray, and begin again.

But resilience must never become an excuse for institutional neglect.

Our people deserve more than praise for surviving.

They deserve systems that protect them.

To our brothers and sisters affected by these floods: we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.

Our songs are for you.
Our prayers are for you.
Our voices are raised with you.

Today, we raise them not for applause, but for life.

Not merely to lament, but to awaken conscience.

Not merely to remember what has happened, but to insist that something must change.

For every home submerged,
for every livelihood lost,
for every child displaced,
for every family beginning again—

we call for action.
We call for accountability.
We call for leadership that protects life.

For our people.
For our communities.
For our shared humanity.
For life abundant.

For Life’s Sake.

23/09/2026

FEATURE | When Hands Speak: Stories of Language and Inclusion

A language does not always have to be spoken to be heard.

For the deaf and hard-of-hearing people around the world, sign languages provide a vital means of expressing thoughts, sharing ideas, building relationships, and participating in everyday life. More than a form of communication, sign language helps open pathways to education, information, and social participation.

Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP) joins the global observance of the International Day of Sign Languages on September 23, highlighting the importance of recognizing sign languages and creating environments where deaf people can communicate, learn, and participate without unnecessary barriers.

The United Nations established the International Day of Sign Languages in recognition of the importance of sign languages in the full realization of the human rights of deaf people. The observance is an opportunity to promote awareness of sign languages and the linguistic and cultural diversity of the deaf communities.

For 2026, the observance carries the theme “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights,” placing emphasis on the rights of deaf people and the importance of ensuring their full and equal participation in society.

Communication as inclusion

Access to communication can influence how people experience education and their communities. When communication barriers are addressed, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are better positioned to access information, express themselves, build connections, and participate in decisions that affect them.

Sign languages are recognized as fully developed natural languages, with their own linguistic structures and cultural significance. Recognizing them therefore goes beyond learning signs—it means acknowledging the language, identity, and experiences of the people who use them.

In educational settings, this recognition becomes particularly important. Inclusive education means creating learning environments that accommodate different ways of communicating and ensure that students have meaningful opportunities to participate.

WUP’s continuing commitment

WUP’s recognition of inclusive education is rooted in a commitment that dates back decades. In 1983, the University established the Support for the Handicapped and Their Rehabilitation through Education (SHARE) Program, which sought to provide access to quality education for persons with disabilities, particularly the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

The program forms part of WUP’s broader history of creating educational opportunities for learners with disabilities. Its establishment more than four decades ago reflects the University’s continuing effort to make education more accessible to members of the community with diverse needs.

While the International Day of Sign Languages places the spotlight on sign language and the rights of deaf people, it also invites institutions and communities to examine how they can remove barriers to communication and participation.

For WUP, the observance serves as a reminder that inclusion is built through access, understanding, and respect for different ways of communicating.

On this day, celebrating sign languages means recognizing the voices they carry—voices expressed through movement, gesture, and shared understanding—and reaffirming the importance of ensuring that every person has the opportunity to be heard, understood, and included.

References:
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/72/161
https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day
https://nad.org/knowledge-hub/position-statements/guidelines-for-media-portrayal-of-the-deaf-community/

Article by Emily G. Agumbay (PIO)
Poster by John Carlo S. Dauz (PIO)