DR. FELICITAS E.PADO recently retired as a Full Professor in the College of Education, University of the Philippines, Diliman, where she used to handle courses on Teaching Beginning Reading and Trends and Approaches in Teaching.  After retirement from UP, she was invited as a consultant of Basa Pilipinas, a five-year USAID-funded project which aimed to improve the reading performance of learners through teacher-training and the provision of quality instructional materials in reading.

She finished her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Universidad de Sta Isabel, Naga City (Magna cum Laude) and her Master of Arts in Teaching Reading at the UP College of Education.  She was sent to Western Australia to take a course on Teaching English as a Second Language.  In 1991, she finished her Doctor of Philosophy with an Academic Excellence Award from UP Diliman.

She has written books for beginning and developmental reading which are being used in preschool and elementary.  She was a consultant and trainer in the literacy projects of the Department of Education.  

She is a multi-awarded professor, three of which are  METROBANK OUTSTANDING TEACHER Award in 1991, the Sesquicentennial Vincentian Award in Education, given by Universidad de Sta. Isabel in 2018, and the National Reading Advocacy Award  given by the Reading Association of the Philippines (where she was president from 2005 to 2007).

Assistant Professor Jamero has been serving Filipino families and children for the past 15 years through the Department of Family Life and Child Development, University of the Philippines.  Her students in the preschool, undergraduate, and graduate levels fondly call her Mama Lois or Teacher Lois.  

At the heart of all her research, teaching, and public service is play.  Through the years, her research on play for development and learning has been applied to inclusive education, the infant development program, and multi-age groupings in preschool education.  Frameworks for practice emerged from these studies including the parent and infant service framework during the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently, the inclusive early childhood education framework of the UP Child Development Center.  Teacher Lois further explored the potential of open-ended play materials to bridge the home and the school during crisis.  Kits for Family Play were produced from this initiative and this material was well-received in international conferences.  At the end of this year, UNESCO will be publishing a chapter on these kits of open-ended play materials and their purpose in the development of competencies across domains and the understanding of concepts across subject matter areas for children ages 0-5.  

For the past five years, she and her colleagues have been working in partnership with DOST to create storybooks for children.  The books are meant to be instruments for childcare workers, educators, and parents for developing science and mathematics competencies in the early years and the early grades.  As of this date, she has authored 10 storybooks for young children and these are all to be disseminated for free by DOST. 

Mrs. Anna Cristi S. Pangilinan is a distinguished educator currently serving as Principal II at Southville 8 Elementary School, SDO Rizal. She holds a Master of Arts in Education Major in Education Supervision and has completed the academic requirements for a Master of Arts in Psychology. Currently, she is in the process of completing her Doctor of Philosophy.

Mrs. Pangilinan was honored as the Most Outstanding Elementary Principal, receiving the Gawad Bayaning Montalbeno Sa Sektor Ng Edukasyon Award in 2023. In addition to her role in school leadership, she contributes to the broader educational community as a Curriculum Writer in Region IV-A CALABARZON and a National Trainer for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

Recently, she served as the Program Director for the WCH International Humanitarian Summit and Conference, showcasing her dedication to advancing educational and humanitarian initiatives on a global scale.

Asst. Prof. Eleanor Marie Bahrami-Hessari is a Licensed Professional Teacher and a certified DIRFloortime® play therapy professional. She received her Master of Arts in Special Education from De La Salle University, Manila. After holding a post as faculty and assisting in setting-up the Special Education program at the University of Santo Tomas in 2006, she moved to New York City to earn her Master of Science specialization in Early Childhood General and Special Education at the Bank Street Graduate School of Education, New York City. During her stay in the U.S., Eleanor was a New York State Certified General and Special Education Teacher at a therapeutic nursery school where she worked with preschool children with special needs. Since moving back to the Philippines, she has been engaged in research and training future early childhood and special education teachers at the University of Santo Tomas, College of Education. She is a passionate advocate of inclusion, early intervention, play therapy, and women’s rights.

Hakamiah Hahn B. Iglesia is a third-year student of the UST College of Education under the Elementary Education program. She finished her grade school and junior high school at the Tarlac Montessori School. From elementary to the present, she has been representing her school, district, province, region, and even the country in various academic, sports, social, and civic engagements, wherein she has been awarded and recognized for her standing. Recently, she has also been awarded a “Leaders of Learning” certificate for having successfully completed a course offered by Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Hakamiah is a dedicated student with a strong passion for advocating quality education and upholding the rights of every youth, with a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and accessible educational opportunities for all students. As she journeys through her education, she is setting her foot forward towards more avenues for learning, exploring, growing, and contributing towards creating safer learning environments that empower each child to reach their full potential.

Julliana Marie Dela Cruz Valerio is a Fourth Year Student taking up the program of Bachelor of Special Needs Education, Major in Early Childhood Education. She spent all her life in a Catholic school, from St. Paul College of Bocaue, from Kindergarten to 10th Grade, and Senior High School to Present at the University of Santo Tomas. She is currently working on spreading her wings by trying new challenges that expand her skills, such as applying for different organizations and attempting to take on more leadership roles. She also aims to finish her degree to fulfill her lifelong dream and is interested in helping young students one step at a time by specializing in assisting young pupils with neuro-developmental disabilities. Now, she’s trying to get closer to her dreams as she spends her current chapter as a Pre-Service Teacher who’s ready to learn from and engage with both teachers and students she meets. 

Mr. Noeneil R. Villanueva is a dedicated Special Education professional with extensive experience in teaching, interpreting, and educational leadership. He is currently serving as a Special Education Teacher II at the Department of Education, Philippine School for the Deaf, since 2019, and has been a Registered Interpreter for the Deaf with the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf since 2020.

His teaching journey also includes a role as a Part-Time Instructor II at the University of Santo Tomas, College of Education, from 2021 to 2023, and a Part-Time Lecturer at Great Plebian College, Alaminos, from 2020 to 2021. He has contributed significantly to the field of Special Education at institutions like Kolbe International Academy and Linden Tree Institute Inc., where he served as a Special Education Teacher from 2012-2013 and again from 2015-2019. Additionally, Mr. Villanueva held a leadership position as the Special Educational Needs Focal Person (Coordinator) at United International Private School in Dubai from 2013 to 2015.

Mr. Villanueva holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Major in Special Education, from the University of Santo Tomas, completed in 2012. He further enhanced his expertise by earning a Master of Arts in Education, Major in Special Education, from De La Salle University - Manila in 2020. His comprehensive background in Special Education, coupled with his commitment to supporting the needs of students with diverse learning abilities, highlights his passion for fostering inclusive learning environments.