February 4, 2026 – The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) held its 23rd Special Learning Session (SLS) via Zoom, focusing on Safeguarding in Catholic Schools. The session emphasized the shared responsibility of the entire school community to protect children and young people from harm, rooted in Catholic values that promote prevention, accountability, and care to uphold dignity, rights, and holistic development.
CEAP Executive Director Mr. Narcy F. Ador Dionisio opened the session with a meaningful message that framed the discussion, highlighting safeguarding as a vital dimension of Catholic education. The program featured three speakers from the Catholic Safeguarding Institute (CSI): Prof. Gabriel S. Dy-Liacco, PhD, LPC, President and Founder, who shared the Church foundation of CSI; Ms. Rojean Caharian-Macalalad, Executive Director, who presented the CSI framework; and Ms. Teresa J. Java, MAEd, Program Officer for Asia and the Pacific, who discussed safeguarding in practice.
With around 300 participants from 17 CEAP regions in attendance, the session included an engaging Q&A portion, allowing participants to reflect on safeguarding challenges and opportunities in their own schools. It concluded with CEAP’s presentation of its programs and initiatives, underscoring how safeguarding is integrated into its broader mission of Catholic education.
By aligning the insights of the Catholic Safeguarding Institute with CEAP’s ongoing efforts, this Special Learning Session reaffirmed the collective commitment to building safe, nurturing, and accountable learning environments. It marked another step in CEAP’s mission to ensure that safeguarding remains at the heart of holistic formation in Catholic schools.