Quezon City, Philippines β August 20, 2025. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) gathered JEEPGY (Justice, Ecology, Engaged Citizenship, Poverty Alleviation, Gender Equality, and Youth Empowerment) Champions and Partners at the CEAP National Office for a Spirit-Led Conversation on strengthening the integration of social advocacies in Catholic schools.
The gathering brought together educators, administrators, and advocates to reflect on how JEEPGY can be more intentionally embedded in the vision-mission, curriculum, and daily life of CEAP member schools.
CEAP Vice President Fr. Wilmer Joseph S. Tria emphasized the overarching goal of the session: βWe envision that every graduate of our Catholic schools becomes an advocate of at least one of the JEEPGY pillars. This is our mission as Catholic educatorsβto form not only competent but also compassionate and committed leaders of change.β
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Among those who shared their expertise and insights were Mr. Miguel Karlo L. Abadines, Champion for Engaged Citizenship and Youth Empowerment and Executive Director of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB); Dr. Loreta N. Castro, Champion for Justice and Peace and Program Director of the Center for Peace Education, Miriam College; Sr. Marvelous L. Misolas, MM, Champion for Ecological Integrity and Executive Director of the Environmental Studies Institute, Miriam College; Fr. Christian βTootsβ B. Buenafe, O.Carm, Champion for Media Education and Executive Director of the Titus Brandsma Media Center & Institute of Spirituality in Asia; Br. Joaquin Severino S. Martinez, FSC, Champion for Poverty Alleviation and President of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod; and Dr. Melanie M. Reyes, DSD, Champion for Gender Equality and Executive Director of the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), Miriam College.
They were joined by Atty. Myles Gonzales-Esquivel, Executive Director of the Miriam College Child Rights Advocacy Center; Mark Paul Samante, Chair of the Ateneo de Davao University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC); Stella Marquez Fong, Faculty Associate for Gender-Fair Education at WAGI; and Mr. Raul Socrates C. Banzuela, National Coordinator of the Pambasang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA). Members and officers of the Catholic Association of Social Science Teachers (CASST) also participated, including Dr. Dave Dela Cruz, OP; Dr. Ariel Bravo of the University of St. La Salle; Ms. Rosanna A. Diwa of Claret School of Quezon City; Mr. Renz R. Gali of Miriam College Foundation; Mr. Wilson Padillon, LPT, MA of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School; Ms. Shiela Marie Baron of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University; and Ms. Leonor Rosales of Aklan Catholic College.
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The discussion centered on how JEEPGY advocacies can be strategically mainstreamed across various subject areasβSocial Studies, Science, and Values Educationβwhile ensuring that schools reflect these advocacies in their institutional policies and practices. Participants also underscored the need for systematic support, such as adequate budgets, aligned policies, and CEAPβs active role in advocacy, to ensure sustainability. Beyond plans, the group stressed the importance of impact evaluationβto measure how deeply and widely these advocacies are lived out by students and communities.
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In his synthesis, CEAP Executive Director Mr. Narcy F. Ador Dionisio highlighted the importance of aligning JEEPGY advocacies with the Catholic schoolsβ mission of integral formation. He underscored that the strength of JEEPGY lies not only in thematic advocacies but also in how these values are lived out across the curriculum, institutional policies, and daily practices of schools.
By the end of the session, JEEPGY Champions and Partners committed to shaping a whole-school approach that is intentional, systematic, and consistentβfrom administrators to teachers, and from classroom instruction to student life.