This comprehensive study, commissioned by the CBCP, seeks to assess the current landscape of Catholic Christianity in the country and serve as a foundation for fostering a more synodal Church. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the CBCP and the UST Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics (CTRSE). Following the presentation, the bishops instructed the research team to coordinate with the CBCP Committee for the National Synodal Transformation to facilitate the implementation of the final document of the Synod on Synodality at the national level.

Although the Synod on Synodality officially concluded in October 2024, its application remains ongoing. In an Accompanying Note to the Synod’s Final Document, Pope Francis urged local churches and ecclesiastical groups to adapt and execute the document’s recommendations within their respective contexts, utilizing the processes of discernment and decision-making outlined by Church law and the Synodal Document itself.

The preliminary findings of the research are set to be unveiled at the National Synodal Discernment Conference in June 2025. This conference will play a critical role in shaping the national synodal implementation framework.

The CBCP-UST research team includes Assoc. Prof. Allan Basas, SThD, Assistant Director of the UST Institute of Religion; Prof. Pablito Baybado, Jr., Theology Program Lead at the UST Graduate School; Dr. Marites Redoña, PhD; and Assoc. Prof. Philip Fuentes. All are faculty members of the UST Institute of Religion and researchers at CTRSE. Serving as consultants for the project are Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel, OP, EHL, UST Secretary General, and Dr. Joel Sagut, CTRSE Director. Additionally, Fr. Echalas and Dr. Baybado are part of both the UST-CBCP Research Team and the Committee for the National Synodal Transformation.

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Twelve faculty members of the College of Nursing were accredited by TESDA after recognition of their prior learning and review of evidence of community engagement. They were certified as trainers for the caregiving program.

In an interview with College of Nursing Dean Rowena L. Escolar Chua, PhD, she underscored “people empowerment and resilence” as core values of the program. Escolar Chua said the program “program provided the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be competent care providers despite their financial and social status. The caregiving program fosters resilience in the face of health challenges. In addition, UST College of Nursing and Caregiving programs partake in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, our great healer.”

The caregiving program is the latest to rolled out by UST and RMI-HFSEC which also had a Bookkeeping course training with the College of Commerce and Business Administration in 2021.

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The opening ceremony was led by Most Reverend Alberto S. Uy, D.D. the Bishop of Tagbilaran diocese, with welcome message from Msgr. Harold Anthony S. Parilla, Immaculate Conception Parish priest and Vicar General of the diocese. A special message was delivered by Atty. Edgardo M. Chatto, 1^st Bohol Congressional District Representative, and a video message from Dr. Rene R. Escalante, Chair of National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) was also shown. Bp. Uy conduct a short rite of the opening of the museum doors followed by a museum tour by Dr. Eric B. Zerrudo, CCCPET Director. The museum was conceptualized by composite team organized by USTGS-CCCPET.

The Museo Parroquial de Baclayon: Tagbilaran Diocesan Museum of Liturgical Arts is located at a section of the old convent of one of the oldest churches in the country, the La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church. Built in 1727, the Baclayon Church has been a repository of priceless liturgical and cultural artifacts which reflect the rich Boholano history and heritage. With the retooling of the museum, outstanding pieces from the parish collection are presented against the backdrop of the liturgical seasons, showing visitors the context in which these objects were used or being used in the different liturgical celebrations and observances. Fr. Milan Ted Torralba, Chair of the Diocesan Commission for Church Cultural Heritage and alumnus of the Cultural Heritage Studies Program, initiated this serial development of church museums, part of the faith-based tourism program of the Diocese.

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The turnover of the books was led by University officials led by the Chancellor, Very Rev. fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., Vice-Chancellor Very Rev. fr. Filemon I. dela Cruz, Jr., O.P., and Rector Very Rev. fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P. The officials were joined by Project Lead Professor Clarence M. Batan, PhD, who in his speech proudly presented the output as “our University’s ambag for the Catholic Church.” According to Batan, the study’s outputs “lead to the path of New Evangelization and the insightful discovery of the catechist in all of us.”

Receiving the books were bishops of the Philippines, led by Most Rev. Roberto Mallari, D.D., Chair of the CBCP-ECCCE, who were present during the three-day Ambag 500 Retreat at the SantĂ­simo Rosario Parish Church.

Apart from the PARI project, the NCS 2021 likewise implemented Research-based Intervention Outcome initiatives that introduced various strategies such as family, digital, youth, adult, bible, and creative catechesis “to re-energize the Catechetical Ministry across Ecclesiastical Territories.” All the outputs of the project may be accessed through: . 

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In his introduction, Batan said that the book was the output of combined inputs from the catechists’ stories, stories of pedagogy, stories of holiness, and creative catechesis. The book mixes the use of parables, lectures, prayers, conversations, poems, dance, songs, theater, and visuals as part of the pedagogical armament of catechists as they carry out their ministry in their respective areas.

A key feature of the book is the “retablo” of saints and blessed who were known catechists and thus serve as role models for those continuing the ministry.

The book is the fourth of a projected seven-part series of books/modules arising from The National Catechetical Study (NCS) 2021: Pastoral Action Research and Intervention (PARI) Project jointly carried out by UST’s Research Center for Social Sciences and Education and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.

The book was edited by Batan, along with associate editors Keith Aaron T. Joven, Joan Cristi T. Bagaipo, PhD, Renniel Jayson J. Rosales, Leonardo O. Quimson, Jr, MA, and Jonathan James O. Cañete. Joining them in the project were Christine C. Balmceda, Ser Allan G. Bodoraya, Tricia Mae V. Cruz, MA, Arthur G. Octubre, Ma. Elena P. Octubre, Abigael Maitim-Padilla, Maria Corazon C. Sanin, MA, and Mc Kyle F. Vilaz.

The latest work can be downloaded in .pdf format via:  

Meanwhile, the Online Launch, which includes presentations from the authors and editors, can be seen on the project’s YouTube Channel:  

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Headlining the roster of speakers is the event’s keynote speaker, Professor Judith L. Pace, EdD of the University of San Francisco School of Education. Joining the Panel of Reactors for Professor’s Pace’s speech are Ateneo de Manila University’s Associate Professor Enrique Niño Leviste, PhD and University of Nottingham’s Vicente Chua Reyes, Jr., PhD.

Philippine Department of Education Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado M. San Antonio, PhD will likewise deliver a talk on “The Future of Teaching Controversial Public Issues: The DepEd Response.”

Democracy program mentors Associate Professor Mark Charles Baildon, PhD (National Institute of Education – Singapore) and Associate Professor Theresa Alviar-Martin, PhD (Kennesaw University) will likewise share their insights in the webinar, which will feature a showcase of instructional plans and sharing of testimonies from the participants of the Certificate Program.

The event will be punctuated by the launch of the Democracy website, which puts together the outputs of the years-long research project funded by the Fondazione Gravissimum Educationis.

Register here:

Program Flow:

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The Heritage Forum program serves as an on-line platform for the public, particularly the academe, industry and community,Ěý to discuss views on heritage contestation in the country. With this Episode 6, its main objective is to raise environmental, legal, developmental, moral and heritage issues addressed to the Dumaguete City Government to stop the massive development project.

Messages of solidarity will come from Most Rev. Julito Cortes DD, Chair of CBCP Episcopal Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (CBCP-ECCHC) and Bishop of the Diocese of Dumaguete; Dr. Angel Alcala, National Scientist and former Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Dr. Romell Seronay, President of the Philippine Association of Marine Sciences (PAMS); EnP Joy Hakcholna, President of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) and Atty. Gerthie Anda, Executive Director of the Environmental Legal Action Center (ELAC)-Palawan.

The roster of speakers will be composed of Archt. Michael Manalo, NCCA Sub-commission for Cultural Heritage; Archt. Paulo Alcazaren, Environmental Planner; Dr. Rene Abesamis, Director of the Silliman University – Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management (SUAKCREM); Atty Golda Benjamin, Silliman University College of Law; Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, Chair-Creative Baguio City Council and former Chancellor-UP Baguio and Ms. Eva Marie Singson-Medina, former Mayor of the World Heritage City of Vigan.

The opening prayer will be led by Fr. Hermel Pama OP while the closing prayer will be shared by Fr. Earl Cura CICM. This UST GS CCCPET initiative is supportedĚý by the CBCP-ECCHC, Diocese of Dumaguete, Silliman University, PAMS, PIEP, United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)-Dumaguete, San Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation, Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), Advocates for Heritage Preservation (AHP), Herencia and Leon Gallery.

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Remembering St. Dominic as the salt of the Earth, light of the world

In his homily, grounded on the two central images of salt and light, Cardinal Advincula said the Thomasian community must remember and reflect on St. Dominic’s life, which was dedicated to serve the Church and the people: “St. Dominic’s zeal in preaching the gospel remains an example for us today, like the exaltation of St. Paul in our Second Reading.” The Thomasian cardinal added: “St. Dominic preached the word and stayed with his task, whether convenient or inconvenient, constantly teaching and never losing patience.”

Moreover, relating the milestone with the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines this year, Cardinal Advincula mentioned that St. Dominic’s legacy of preaching has been kept alive by his successors. “We cannot ignore the great contributions of the sons of St. Dominic to our country. The Dominican missionaries have truly become salt and light, [who are] faithful to their mission of preaching the Gospel of Jesus,” he said.

Cardinal Advincula, who is currently the 33rd Bishop of Manila, also mentioned that the first Bishop of Manila was a Dominican missionary, Bishop Domingo de Salazar, O.P., who served from 1579 to 1594.Ěý“Domingo de Salazar was a great son of St. Dominic, [who was] grounded in the truth of universal human rights and defended the dignity and the rights of the native people,” Cardinal Advincula said, citing Pope Francis’ letter to the Master of the Order, Very Rev. fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., in celebration of the Order’s Jubilee Year.

The Christian Standard

Meanwhile, Cardinal Advincula reminded the Thomasian community of their role as “the salt of the Earth and the light of the world”, which Jesus had entrusted to each and everyone. “What we find here, my dear friends, is an incredible esteem, trust, and confidence that the Lord has in us; it is an incredible hope that he places in us,” he said.

“Jesus encourages us to be aware of this [role], to be conscious of this [role]. He is telling us that we should not simply remain superficial, but instead go down deep in the deepest recesses of our hearts. And there, we will find the lighted lamp and a handful of salt,” Cardinal Advincula added.

The two central images both signify the Church’s way of living and proclaiming the Gospel. “Both salt and light achieve their purpose by being consumed and by disappearing, like salt in food and like oil in the lamp. This points to a discrete way of loving. Both [images] are also at the service of others. Salt gives flavor to food so that someone else can enjoy eating it, while the lamp provides light so that someone else can walk safely. And so, salt and light are images of a love that is not directed to one’s self, but places one’s self generously at the service of others. And this precisely is Christian love […] this is the standard with which we should measure ourselves,” Cardinal Advincula said.

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Watch the Mass presided over by Cardinal Advincula here.

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As one of CBCP’s flagship projects in the celebration of the 500 years of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines,Ěý the capacity-building initiative was conceptualized to review the past and guide the future narrative of the Church. Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortez, Chair of the CBCP ECCHC, highlighted in his opening message the “prevalence of truth and fallacy, reality and fantasy, claims and counter claims that often lead to historical revision to lionize events, places and people.” It is envisioned that more clergy and laity will be equipped not only with the research skills and methods but with the right attitude of discipline, humility and patience.

The inaugural episode was a panel discussion participated in by highly respected church historians of the country- Fr. Tony de Castro SJ of Ateneo de Zamboanga, Fr. Emil Quilatan OAR of the Archivo Recoleto, Fr. Albert Flores of the Archives of the Archdiocese of Manila (AAM), Prof Regalado Trota Jose of Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas (AUST), and Fr Milan Ted Torralba of the Tagbilaran Diocesan Church Heritage Commission. Attended by clergy and church enthusiasts from Dioceses across the Philippines, the inaugural episode was viewed by an overwhelming attendance 180 on-liners in the zoom and 800+ netizens in the FB platforms of CBCP ECCHC, CBCP News, UST GS CCCPET, and the 500 Years of Christianity.

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The main e-shares in the event are: Rev. fr. Wenifredo V. Padilla III, O.P., STL-MA, SSL (Lead Interventionist for the Bible Catechesis), Asst. Prof. Reuel Rito N. Seño, MA (President, Religious Educators Association of the Philippines), Ms. Clarina Bataan (Catechist, Our Lady of Manaoag Parish), and Mr. Bryan G. de Quiroz (Catechist, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish). Joining them are Most Rev. Roberto C. Mallari, DD (Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija and Chair of the CBCP-ECCCE) and Rev. Fr. Ernesto B. de Leon (Executive Secretary of the CBCP-ECCCE).

Interested participants are invited to pre-register.

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