The Research Center for Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics (RCTRSE), in collaboration with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), presented in the Metropolitan Synodal Research Validation and Discernment Sessions of the Catholic Christianity in the Philippines Study (CCPS), hosted by the Archdiocese of Davao on October 3, 2025 at the conference hall of the Archbishop’s Residence.
The research team presented the national and DaDiTaMa (Davao, Digos, Tagum, Mati) findings on the study of the state of Catholic Christianity in the Philippines. Using the Talab, Tasa, and Tanon framework, the delegates engaged in deep listening and reflective and prayerful conversation in their collective synodal discernment.
In his closing remarks, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles described the event as fruitful. According to him, the study affirms the DaDiTaMa’s situation while providing data as “mirrors” to further enrich their discernment toward a more synodal church.
The research team members who were present in this session included Prof. Pablito Baybado Jr., Prof. Florence Navidad, Prof. Marites Redoña, and Lorenzo Reyes (project assistant) of the UST Research Center for Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics, and the Research Center for
Social Sciences and Education.
All the bishops with their diocesan delegates and research teams were present in the event, led by Archbishop Valles and Auxiliary Bishop George B. Rimando of the Archdiocese of Davao, Bishop Guillermo DV Afable of the Diocese of Digos, Bishop Medel S. Aseo of the Diocese of Tagum, and Bishop Abel C. Apigo of the Diocese of Mati.