ADZU School of Liberal Arts

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑO | Happy Birthday Sir Dats! Cheers to another year of wisdom, faith, and inspiration! Thank you for your unwavering dedication to guiding our students and inspiring our community with wisdom and grace. May this year bring you abundant joy, good health, and continued blessings. Have a wonderful day, Sir!

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒!
The School of Liberal Arts- Ateneo de Zamboanga University proudly celebrates the academic achievements of 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐀. 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥 𝐂. 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨.

Having successfully attained their 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 respectively, they stand as beacons of passion, resilience, and dedicated service. Thank you for your commitment to broadening horizons and nurturing critical thinking in the spirit of 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘴!

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑO | Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Ma'am Malou of the Social Sciences Department!
Thank you for bringing history, society, and critical thinking to life in the classroom. Your passion for teaching leaves a lasting impression on the entire School of Liberal Arts community.

Cheers to another year of wisdom, grace, and making a difference! Enjoy your special day, Ma'am! 🥳

𝐒𝐋𝐀 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 | 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐚

The School of Liberal Arts formally recognizes the outstanding achievements of 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨 at the 2026 10-Minute Dissertation Presentation. In a rigorous display of academic excellence held on May 8 at the College AVR, Mrs. Baluca was awarded First Best Presenter, and Ms. Baguio was named Second Best Presenter.

The forum served as a premier platform for graduate scholars to demonstrate innovation and academic inquiry within the framework of Ignatian formation. The competition challenged presenters to synthesize complex research into a concise, high-impact format, requiring exceptional clarity before a panel of peers and university leadership.

This recognition, endorsed by Dyana Maiana M. Saplan, PhD, and Fr. Rene C. Tacastacas, SJ, reflects the high standard of research currently being pursued by our faculty. The success of Mrs. Baluca and Ms. Baguio highlights the department's commitment to rigorous graduate scholarship and the advancement of academic discourse. The School of Liberal Arts congratulates both awardees for their dedication to excellence and their significant contributions to the university’s research community.

The School of Liberal Arts formally congratulates Avy Chryzle T. Pernito of the BA International Studies program for her exceptional achievement in being named the Most Outstanding Graduate. This distinction serves as a testament to her academic excellence and her dedicated contributions to the SLA community. As she embarks on her next chapter, we recognize the hard work and leadership that defined her journey at Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone, Avy!

Alongside this achievement, the School of Liberal Arts extends its warmest congratulations to all the candidates. This milestone marks the culmination of their perseverance, critical thinking, and growth within the halls of the university. We are eager to see the impact you will all make in your future endeavors!

The Liberal Arts Academic Organization proudly celebrates Avy Chryzle T. Pernito of the BA International Studies program for being recognized as the School of Liberal Arts' Most Outstanding Graduate for this school year's 72nd College Commencement Exercises. 💙🦅

More than an academic distinction, this recognition is a reflection of what it truly means to be a Liberalista. One who moves with purpose, leads with conviction, and chooses to see learning not only as achievement, but as service to others. Through every challenge weathered and every triumph earned, Avy has embodied the values of the Liberal Arts: intellect rooted in compassion, leadership shaped by integrity, and a heart open to the realities of the world.

And now, as she journeys beyond the halls of AdZU, may she continue to carry the spirit of Magis like a quiet light wherever she goes—ever seeking more, ever becoming more, not only for herself, but for the people and communities she will touch along the way. May the passion nurtured within these halls bloom into endeavors that inspire, transform, and leave meaning wherever life may lead her.

Congratulations, Avy. Your LAAO family celebrates this well-deserved honor with pride and joy. 💚🐉

𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

Registration is now open for the Freedom250 Lecture Series with the theme “Freedom@250: Tracing the Legacy of American Freedom". Interested participants may register through the QR code or the registration link provided below:

https://forms.gle/uMdRdrk4TMPk2CKfA
https://forms.gle/uMdRdrk4TMPk2CKfA
https://forms.gle/uMdRdrk4TMPk2CKfA

The registration is open to the Ateneo community and will run until May 12, 2026, with limited slots available.

So, what are you waiting for? Secure your spot and take part in the discussion of American history!

𝐁𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬’ 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐎: 𝐍𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨 (𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞)

The Bachelor of Arts in Communications (BA Comm) reignites the love of filmmaking with the revival of the Ateneo Communicators Film Festival or ACFF. The event was held on May 7, 2026, 1 to 5 PM, at the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago.

Short films created by the BA Comm students under the Multimedia Storytelling class led by Ms Bianca Ellice Luistro were put on center stage highlighting our young filmmakers’ passion and creativity leading them to becoming fully fledged story tellers in the future.

The movies featured are:

“Dito sa Kusina” by Panlantaw Productions, Directed by Phajad Hadjirul
“Si Desvia Kita” by Silakbo Productions, Directed by Marie France Fernandez
“Ta Ama Yo Contigo” by Filminism Productions, Directed by Leo Leireen Magpantay

Movies created by BA Comm alumni were also featured. These are:

“Entre Medio del Fin”, Directed by Ryanne Murcia
“Sari-Sari”, Directed by Yza Jimenez
“City of Flowers”, Directed by Xeph Suarez

To inspire this new generation of creators, special jurors were invited to evaluate and provide constructive criticism to their productions. These guests are veterans of the art of filmmaking and are also proud products of the AdZU BA Comm. They are: Ryanne Murcia (a multi-awarded Manila based Mindanaoan filmmaker), Dexter Dela Peña, LPS (Director of Photography for ABS-CBN), Xeph Suarez (President of the Guild of Assistant Directors and Script Supervisors of the Philippines), Bianca Ellice Luistro (Founder of Kamina PH), and Monalisa Ninia Knuttel (Tourism Operations Officer for the Department of Tourism).

A number of special recognitions were awarded to the featured productions with “Ta Ama Yo Contigo” emerging as the Best Film.

This event continues the tradition set by the past ACFF installments, the last of which was done in 2017. With its revival, may the students be inspired to create more films and tell more stories that resonate with today’s social issues and the realities of life both mundane and profound.

Let these stories bloom and bring color to life!

ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛꜱ: ꜱɪʀ ᴅᴏᴍɪɴɪᴄ ɪᴀɴ ᴄᴀʙᴀᴛɪᴛ

Join us for this Freedom250 Lecture Series as we delve into the roads that helped pave America as the nation it is today. 🇺🇸🦅

Under the theme, "Freedom@250: Tracing the Legacy of American Freedom", the session will serve as a final requirement for the United States History, Government, Society Course (HIST-US) course.

The first discussion titled, "The Roots of a Great Nation: The Origins of the First American Migrants" will feature Ms. Mavourneen Athena Maravilla. In this lecture, we learn about the people who built the foundation of the United States, delving into the challenges that they encountered along the way and how these challenges are seen in recent years.

The second discussion titled, "A Commonwealth of Liberty: The English Origins of American Republicanism" led by Mr. Jonas Ethan Dagalea, will focus on the upbringings of American Republicanism and its relevance to the contemporary period.

This lecture is also featured by Mr. Rovic John Eslao, who will conduct his discussion titled, "The Legacies of "American Freedom" in Philippine Politics". We look at the instances in Philippine history where American freedom has brought us to progress.

We invite everyone to this engaging discussion and tune in to what our resource persons have in store for us this May 13, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Tee King Hall, Sauras Extension Building. See you there! 👋✨