Asst. Prof. Abigail T. Pagalilauan, MHist, MTS and doctoral candidate at the Universidad de Salamanca, presented her pioneering work titled “Comunicación profesional en español para asistentes virtuales filipinos: una propuesta didáctica en el marco del ELE con fines específicos” during the Jornadas ELE de Manila 2025.
Her presentation highlighted the growing relevance of Spanish for Specific Purposes (ELE con fines específicos) in the context of virtual assistance and global remote work, an emerging professional niche for many Filipinos.
Pagalilauan’s study proposes a task-based and communicative teaching model designed to develop the linguistic and intercultural competencies required for Filipino virtual assistants serving Spanish-speaking clients worldwide.
The presentation detailed her didactic design for an ELE course focused on professional communication, incorporating authentic materials such as emails, online meetings, and customer service dialogues.
Pagalilauan’s participation was warmly received by educators and researchers attending the Jornadas, who recognized the project’s innovative approach and its potential contribution to both language education and employability among Filipino learners. It also reflects the continuing collaboration between Spain and the Philippines in promoting Spanish education while adapting it to contemporary professional contexts and the demands of the digital global workforce.
The VII Jornadas de ELE Manila 2025 was organized by Asst. Prof. Royce Randall G. Lim, Chair of
the UST Department of Modern Languages, together with UP Diliman’s Department of European Languages, Ateneo de Manila University’s Modern Languages Department, Instituto Cervantes Manila, and the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines.
The VII Jornadas de ELE Manila was a two-day academic conference held on October 24 and 25,
2025, at the UST Central Laboratory Auditorium, which fostered exchange and collaboration among Spanish language educators in the Philippines. The event brought together teachers, students, and advocates to share insights, best practices, and innovative approaches in teaching
Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE).