Ateneo de Manila University participates in 2025 CEAP National JEEPGY Conference

Ateneo de Manila University, through its delegates from the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), Thea Noreen Rizz D Rondina and Alfred Antoni Andrius B Armada, participated in the 2025 Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) National JEEPGY Conference. The event gathered educators, religious leaders, and advocates from across the country to discuss the role of Catholic education in fostering justice and peace, with a specific focus on Mindanao.

The conference saw a high turnout of participants, primarily from the private education sector. This included higher education institution (HEI) presidents, school heads, and campus ministry officials. A diverse set of speakers from the religious, government, and civil society sectors provided a broad perspective on justice and peace education.

Fr Guillrey Anthony M Andal, President of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, opened the conference using the Vinta as a metaphor for embracing diversity and resilience. The keynote speaker, Fr Daniel Franklin E Pilario, President of Adamson University, emphasized the role of education as an active force for justice. Fr Pilario referenced the adverse effects of the Duterte regime’s Drug War on communities like Payatas, stressing the importance of integrating victims’ narratives into academic discourse to foster empathy and critical thinking. He reminded the participants that education must never be neutral, and must instead openly side with those at the margins.

A key component of the second day was the exposure visit to Silsilah Dialogue Movement’s Harmony Village, where the ASoG Ateneo Bangsamoro Initiative (ABI) team engaged with the organization’s long-standing peace advocacy. Founded by Italian missionary Fr Sebastiano D’Ambra, the organization has pioneered Peace Studies programs, promoted interfaith dialogue, and continues to advocate for environmental preservation and educational reform.

The afternoon session featured a discussion on Engaged Citizenship and Youth Empowerment by Miguel Karlo L Abadines, Executive Director of Simbahang Lingkod Bayan. Abadines emphasized that political participation extends beyond voting and requires extensive community involvement. He also highlighted the limitations economic security can bring to civic participation, citing Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium in critiquing the current economic structure that continues to marginalize the poor.

On day 3, Member of Parliament (MP) Atty Laisa M Alamia, a prominent woman Bangsamoro politician, delivered an insightful speech on the broader implications of Synodality, emphasizing its role in promoting inclusivity and representation. She stressed that genuine representation must translate into effective policies, particularly for women, the youth, and Indigenous peoples.

MP Alamia also discussed historical injustices like the Jabidah Massacre and the Mamasapano incident, highlighting the continued relevance in the Bangsamoro’s struggle for self-determination. She advocated for the integration of peace and justice studies into the educational curricula to address ongoing conflicts and historical grievances. She ended her speech with a call to action, stating that despite differences in faith, “We must journey toward justice and peace leaving behind division and embracing unity.”

The 2025 CEAP National JEEPGY Conference emphasized the crucial role of Catholic education in addressing societal justice and peacebuilding. Ateneo de Manila, through the ASoG ABI team, reflects the institution’s commitment to fostering education grounded in concern for others while advocating for justice, peace, and inclusive governance in the Philippines.

Photos courtesy of Alfred Antoni Andrius B Armada, Ateneo School of Government (ASoG)