Academic staff and students virtually presented a panel paper on Service-Learning in the Philippines at the 5th Philippine Studies Conference in Japan (PSCJ) 2022 hosted by the University of Tokyo, Komaba, Campus from November 26 to 27, 2022. The panel was composed of Asst. Prof. Froilan Alipao, Assoc. Prof. Evalyn Abiog, Ms. Micah Estrologo, Mr. Adrian Romero, and Assoc. Prof. Melanie Turingan.
The panel discussed Service-Learning in the context of a Catholic higher education institution in the Philippines as depicted in the studies “Service-Learning linking with communities for development: Exploring the Service-Learning praxis framework of the University of Santo Tomas vis-à-vis Salamanca Process” by Alipao; “Praxis of Salamanca: Process and politics of Service-Learning in the University of Santo Tomas Lumad Bakwit School by Romero; Catholic social teachings in Service-Learning: A multiple-case study in a Philippine Catholic higher education institution” by Abiog; “Service-Learning: The University of Santo Tomas experience” by Turingan; and “A phenomenological study of Service-Learning experiences in the National Service Training Program of University of Santo Tomas (UST) selected college students in the time of COVID-19 Pandemic” by Estrologo.
These studies emphasized the vital role of Catholic Higher Education institutions, like UST, in promoting Service-Learning inspired by the Salamanca process tradition, Catholic Social Teachings, and service engagements within and outside the university amidst the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s PSCJ centered on the theme, “The Philippines in the 21st Century Asia: Retrospect and Prospect,” underscoring studies on the post-COVID-19 pandemic and other Philippine-oriented studies.
