By Nestle G. Taala

Dr. Sabijon, seated (2nd row, and 3rd from the left), with Dr. Angela Wong Wai Ching and Dr. Hope Antone of the United Board, seated 3rd and 2nd from the right, respectively, and some seminar speakers and participants.

Dr. Ananias C. Sabijon, Jr., (PhD in Education, major in Curriculum Development), Director of CPU Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CPU-CTLE) represented Central Philippine University during the 2019 Harvest Seminar on Whole Person Education (WPE), sponsored by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) on September 17-21, 2019 in Sanata Dharma University, Jogjakarta, Indonesia. The seminar was participated by 28 selected participants who came from different universities in Southeast Asia, specifically from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.

During the seminar, the United Board Officers, seminar speakers, and the participants were welcomed by Rector Dr. Johanes Eka Priyatma of Sanata Dharma University.

The invited speakers were from Indonesia, the USA, and the Philippines.  Meanwhile, each WPE participant/trainer shared his/her respective “WPE Journey.” The United Board officers, who also served as facilitators during the seminar, were Dr. Angela Wong Wai Ching, Vice President for Programs; Dr. Hope S. Antone, Director for Faculty Development; and Mr. Calvin Mok, Program Associate.

Prior to Dr. Sabijon’s participation in the said seminar, and as the nominee endorsed by the university president, he attended the Whole Person Education Academy (WPEA) on September 16-29, 2018 at Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.  He was the only representative from the Philippines during the academy. 20 participants were purposively selected from various Southeast Asian countries.   After his participation in the academy, he officially conducted many WPE-related activities, as a classroom professor and trainer in CPU, and in other universities when he was invited as the Resource Speaker or Presenter.

One of the components of the presentation and report of Dr. Sabijon on Whole Person Education (WPE) during the seminar was on the presence of WPE teaching-learning approach or philosophy embodied in the phrase “Exemplary Christian Education for Life (EXCEL)” that is visible in the university’s Vision Statement, “A University committed to Exemplary Christian Education for Life (EXCEL) and responsive to the needs of the total person and the world.”

It can be recalled that Sabijon was also a recipient of the United Board Fellows Program and the only United Board fellow in the field of education in CPU.  He received his training in administration and Science education from his mentors at Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong (SAR), and at Valparaiso University in Indiana, USA. Before his participation in the United Board Fellows Program and the WPEA, he was a recipient of the Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr. Science Education Award (sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology [DOST], among others), and was the 1st placer in Region VI and 9th placer at the national level.

In his recent WPE seminar participation, he is thankful to the United Board for the financial support, Dr. Robles for his endorsement, and to the CPU Management Committee chaired by Atty. Von Lovel D. Bedona for the strong upkeep.