ADDU Hosts JBEC ’26 Gathering, Reaffirms Mission of Forming Young People
Ateneo de Davao University hosted the three-day Jesuit Basic Education Commission (JBEC) 2026 Gathering on 28-30 September, welcoming academic leaders from 11 Jesuit educational institutions across its Matina, Bangkal, and Jacinto campuses.
The gathering opened with a Eucharistic Mass at the St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel and a welcome dinner at the Grade School Activity Area in the Matina Campus.
On the second day, delegates gathered at the Junior High School Leo Dominguez Amphitheater, where JBEC Chair Fr. Joseph Haw, SJ, reminded participants that formation is at the heart of the council’s work. He urged educators and administrators to be “God’s heart” to the young people they serve.
Understanding and safeguarding students
Dr. Liane P. Alampay, Psychology Professor at Ateneo de Manila University, opened the sessions with a talk on understanding the student behind the behavior. Drawing on a developmental and relational approach, she highlighted brain development, emotional development, and identity and belongingness as key areas of a young person’s growth.
She noted that growth often happens through tension, such as the conflicts that build relationships and emotional competence, and urged schools to manage conflict well rather than avoid it. Because much of student life revolves around self-regulation, she said, educators should help students “navigate, identify, label” and cope with their emotions, “not label them as right or wrong.”
In the digital world, Dr. Alampay said, “We need to protect kids from these online harms. As we navigate the digital world, we need to tether them to real-world connections.”
ADDU Office of Student Affairs Assistant Director Atty. Ira Calatrava-Valenzuela then spoke on safeguarding and student formation, reminding administrators that they are not only enforcers of rules but also educators, guardians of rights, builders of school culture, and protectors of student welfare.
Through the lens of cura personalis, Atty. Valenzuela presented discipline as both corrective, addressing wrongdoing, and formative, helping students become responsible persons. She added that following school rules prepares students to follow rules in their future workplaces and communities.
She said schools “have the right to discipline students unless it is done arbitrarily,” and guided participants through due process, case management, and proper record-keeping. She noted that good documentation helps demonstrate fairness and sound decision-making.
Delegates subsequently reflected on both sessions in small groups, and a Eucharistic Mass capped the day.
Collaboration across campuses
On the final day, delegates moved to the Senior High School Auditorium in the Bangkal Campus for the JBEC Business Meeting and the unit meetings of Jesuit school presidents and Vice Presidents for Basic Education.
In the afternoon, they convened at the Calungsod-San Vitores Jesuit-Lay Collaboration Center in the Jacinto Campus to share and discuss best practices in educating and forming young minds. The gathering closed with a Mass at the Senior High School Christ the King Chapel, followed by colorful cultural dance performances and a closing dinner that marked the end of the three-day gathering.
The University stands one with Jesuit schools across the Philippines in reinforcing its commitment to forming young people for others, as it continues to walk together in mission, collaboration, and service.
ADDU thanks the JBEC Technical Working Group, led by Mr. Ricardo “Rikki” P. Enriquez, and the University Basic Education Team for their commitment, expertise, and collaboration in making the event possible.
