Select Page

Category: News & Events

Davao Region’s Sole SSEAYP Ambassador from ADDU Shares Journey with Fr. San Juan

Mr. Sung Goon Acosta, Ateneo de Davao University’s Class of 2026 Salutatorian, paid a courtesy visit to University President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, on October 28, 2026. Mr. Acosta is the only Davao Region representative among the 18 Philippine Youth Ambassadors of Goodwill chosen by the National Youth Commission (NYC) for the 50th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP). He used the visit to Fr. San Juan to share his upcoming participation in the program and to express his thanks to the University for its continued support.
Carrying the blue knight leadership abroad
During the visit, Mr. Acosta spoke about the journey ahead as one of the country’s delegates to the international youth exchange, which gathers young leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States and Japan. Shaped by the University’s tradition of leadership and service, he voiced his commitment to live out the blue knight leadership on the global stage. He pledged to bring the Davao Region and the wider Mindanao to the forefront by presenting the diversity of their cultures, identities, and stories.
The road to the 50th SSEAYP
His preparations begin with the Pre-Embarkation Activities (PEA) in the National Capital Region from 5 of November 2026 to 5 of December 2026. The month-long program will prepare the Philippine delegation for the voyage through team building, cultural preparation, and discussions on issues concerning the country and the ASEAN region.
After the PEA, Mr. Acosta will sail aboard the Mitsui Ocean Fuji, the official ship of the 50th SSEAYP, from 3 January 2027 to 5 February 2027. The voyage will take the youth ambassadors from Japan to Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and back to Japan. Over the course of the voyage, participants will join cultural exchanges, institutional visits, dialogues, and community activities meant to build friendship and cooperation among young people in ASEAN and Japan.
Global minds with a Mindanawon heart
This is not Mr. Acosta’s first time representing the University abroad. He previously represented Ateneo de Davao at the 31st Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) Annual Conference through the Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao Office (AIM).
His experiences reflect the University’s commitment to forming global minds with a Mindanaoan heart, preparing its students to engage the world while staying rooted in their communities.
Mr. Acosta was earlier announced as the Class of 2026 Salutatorian and Davao Region’s sole Philippine Youth Ambassador to the 50th SSEAYP.

University’s First-Ever PANAF Grand Win Secured by ADDU Marketing Students

Ateneo de Davao University Marketing students were named grand winners of the PANAF Brand Communications Students’ Competition 2026 on 7 November 2026, marking the University’s first-ever grand win in the competition.
The announcement came during the Philippine Association of National Advertisers Foundation (PANAF) PANAnaw Awards at the University of Makati.
The team representing ADDU
Representing the University were Bachelor of Science in Marketing students Ms. Maria Zenda Selina T. Dan (Team Lead), Ms. Hyacinth Louise R. Duldulao, Mr. Rafael Carlos M. Clet, Ms. Felicity Guillen L. Castroverde, Mr. Lorenzo Fernand E. Abracia, Ms. Jolinna Marie R. Yncierto, and Mr. Clyd Warren C. Cenojas.
They were coached by Ms. Roneliza Emelyn J. Ladroma, MBA, Marketing Department Chairperson, and assisted by Ms. Donna Vida M. Abrina, MBA, a faculty member of the Marketing Department.
The challenge
PANAnaw is an annual competition organized by PANAF for students in advertising, marketing, communication, and business. It promotes responsible content creation, implementation, and consumption, and helps prepare future industry practitioners.
This year’s case, set by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, asked teams to design a behavior-change communications campaign that encourages underbanked Filipinos to start saving and keep it up as part of everyday life. Entries had to focus on changing attitudes and habits rather than proposing a new banking product, application, or promotion.
The winning campaign
The team’s plan, Kahit Konti, Counted!, starts from the premise that underbanked Filipinos already save, mostly through informal and communal means such as setting aside coins and change, keeping money in an alkansya, or joining a paluwagan.
Instead of asking them to become savers from scratch, the campaign sought to recognize and strengthen the saving they have already been doing. The key message of the concept centers on “Kahit paunti-unti, may mararating ang tabi.”
The plan unfolded in three phases: Kilalanin ang Tabi, which reframes small savings as real progress; Pangalanan ang Tabi, which anchors savings to a concrete goal; and Palaguin ang Tabi, which makes the move towards formal saving familiar and accessible.
A win for the School of Business and Governance
The Ateneo de Davao community congratulates the School of Business and Governance and its Marketing Department for this achievement. The win reflects the University’s commitment to forming excellent and socially responsible marketing practitioners.
ADDU previously placed 2nd Runner-Up at the national level of the 2020 PANAF Brand Communications Students’ Competition, with the awarding held on 27 November 2020. This year’s grand win builds on that earlier podium finish.

ADDU Computer Studies Students Place 1st Runner-Up in DICT Regional Pitching

Three Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) students from the Computer Studies (CS) Cluster of the School of Arts and Sciences finished as first runner-up in the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Regional Pitching Competition 2026, held under the Philippine Startup Challenge XI, on 27 October 2026.
The competition proper
The Philippine Startup Challenge is DICT’s annual flagship competition in which students pitch ideas for ICT products and services that are innovative, relevant, and viable as business ventures.
It is open to senior high school and college students and runs in three stages: the regional pitching competition, the semifinals, and the finals. DICT regional offices conduct the first stage, where participating teams are screened and shortlisted by a regional selection committee. Regional winners are then endorsed to the DICT main office for the semifinals.
The Ateneo de Davao team
ADDU was represented by Mr. Ricky Rodrigo Jr., a first-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science student; Mr. Terenz Jahred Dantes, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science student; and Mr. Kimi Jumilla, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science student. Their placing reflects both the steady performance of the team and the range of programs within the CS Cluster. They competed with their startup, “KURYENTA.”
The students were guided by Mr. Patrick Angelo P. Paasa, a faculty member of the Information Technology Department and Director of the Ateneo de Davao Research in Information Systems and Software Engineering (ARISEn) Laboratory. His mentorship supported the team’s preparation for the regional round.
Forming innovative leaders
The School of Arts and Sciences noted that the achievement mirrors the University’s commitment to forming innovative and competent young leaders. It also affirms the University’s aim of encouraging students to apply their talents and technical skills to create solutions that serve the community.

SHS Students Explore ADDU’s Five Schools, Hear Alumni Journeys at Career Day

On 30 October 2026, students from the Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School unit took a closer look at their futures during Career Day 2026, a full-day program of career talks and breakout sessions with the University’s five schools: the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), School of Business and Governance (SBG), School of Education (SOE), School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), and School of Nursing (SON).
Clusters from each school set up interactive displays in key areas across the campus. The displays presented the academic programs each school offers, the skills and competencies these programs develop, and the career paths open to their graduates.
A future “at your doorstep”
The program opened with remarks from Dr. Gina L. Montalan, Vice President for Basic Education, who reminded the students that the future is nearer than they think. “The future is no longer a distant horizon… to each of you; it is right here at your doorstep,” she said.
Dr. Montalan added that Career Day was designed to give students meaningful exposure to a wide range of academic and career pathways through direct engagement with professionals and experts in the field, many of whom are outstanding graduates of the University’s Higher Education Unit.
Ms. Ima V. Oani, Coordinator of the ADDU SHS Wellness and Testing Center, described Career Day as a milestone in the students’ transition to college. “This is the end part as you transition from senior high school to college, and a starting point of your career development,” she said.
Ms. Oani recalled that the Senior High School readiness assessments, which measured achievement in English, science, and math, along with aptitude and interests, guided students toward their electives. She said that the event is the culmination of the said process, giving students a clearer view of the opportunities awaiting them in higher education.
Career talks and breakout sessions
The career talk proper introduced students to the different career paths and programs they may pursue in higher education. They then moved through five rounds of breakout sessions, held per school, to learn more about what each school offers.
Higher Ed alumni share their paths
The career talk featured five notable alumni, one from each of the University’s schools. They shared how their years at Ateneo de Davao prepared them for their fields and gave students a firsthand look at the careers their chosen programs can lead to.
Mr. Ed Ivan M. Bardoquillo, RCh, MSc (SAS) is an Assistant Professor and researcher at ADDU who graduated Summa cum Laude in Chemistry. His work spans polymers, nanotechnology, and plastic waste management, and he has published in Scopus-indexed journals.
Ms. Sharmaine Dianne Mamaed, CPA CMA (SBG) graduated Summa cum Laude and as Class Valedictorian in Accountancy. She ranked 4th nationwide in the 2015 CPA Licensure Examination and placed 3rd globally in the January/February 2026 US CMA Examination window. She is now Manager for Finance Controllership at Frontier Tower Associates Philippines.
Ms. Ailene Renee G. Tagorda, LPT (SOE) graduated Magna cum Laude in Secondary Education, major in Science. She currently teaches in the ALS-SHS program at F. Bustamante National High School and has led climate and women-in-science initiatives.
Ar. Fritz Mari S. Sendrijas, UAP (SEA) graduated Magna cum Laude in Architecture and placed first nationwide in the June 2023 Architecture Licensure Examination. He is now an architect at Aidea, Inc. and a national review lecturer at JPT Review Center.
Mr. Clifford Jay P. Cafe, RN (SON) graduated Magna cum Laude in Nursing and placed 2nd in the August–September 2026 Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination. He is currently a researcher at TopRank Review Academy.
Scholarships, student life, and enrollment
The closing program began with a presentation of scholarship programs by Ms. Devi Joy Barcena, Scholarship Officer of the Office of Admission and Aid. She introduced three college scholarships: the Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Scholarship, the Jubilee Scholarship Fund (JSF), and the Working Scholars Program (WSP).
Mr. Gene Leo A. Jesuro, Director of the Office of Admission and Aid, invited the Senior High School students to join the Higher Education Unit and introduced them to student life at the University, including student organizations under the assemblages of socio-civic, culture and arts, faith and formation, and more. He also highlighted the University’s formation programs, Ignatian spirituality, service learning, and academic excellence.
Dr. Maria Teresa B. Isidor, Assistant to the VP-HE for Academic Matters, delivered the closing remarks on behalf of the Vice President for Higher Education. She welcomed the students on behalf of the Higher Education community, noting that the University “offers one of the diverse ranges of academic programs in the region, if not in the whole Mindanao.”
Dr. Isidor urged the students to use their remaining time in Senior High School to reflect seriously on their choices. “Ask yourself, what kind of work excites me? What am I genuinely interested in?” she said.
She also acknowledged that the abundance of options can be overwhelming. “With so many choices, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But remember, listen to yourself. Know your strength. Recognize your interest. And be honest about what you want to pursue,” she said.
As students prepare for their next chapter, the University remains committed to guiding them toward higher education and the careers they choose to pursue.
 

ADDU Welcomes 52 New CPAs in October 2026 CPALE

Ateneo de Davao University welcomed 52 new Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) after the release of the October 2026 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination (CPALE) results. The university’s passing rate of 44.83% was well above the national passing rate of 37.11%.
The figures come from the official results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). ADDU’s performance exceeded the national average by 7.72 percentage points. Based on the reported rate, about 116 ADDU examinees took the licensure examination.
Inside the CPALE
The CPALE is widely regarded as one of the country’s most rigorous professional licensure examinations. Administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Accountancy, it assesses examinees on six areas: financial accounting and reporting, advanced financial accounting and reporting, management advisory services, auditing, taxation, and the regulatory framework for business transactions.
Examinees must earn a general average of at least 75%, with no grade below 65% in any subject.
Gratitude to the Accountancy Community
The university thanked Dr. Margie J. Clavano, CPA, Dean of the School of Business and Governance (SBG), and Dr. Cleofe A. Arib, CPA, Chairperson of the Accountancy Department. It also thanked the faculty, staff, and students for their continued dedication to academic excellence.
The Accountancy program is housed under the SBG, which prepares students for careers in public practice, commerce and industry, government, and academe.
The Ateneo de Davao community congratulates the new Certified Public Accountants from the University:

Allanna May Arellano, CPA
Donna Marie Bacsal, CPA
Cheenky Cabalfin, CPA
Marzello Yuan Cabo, CPA
Harry Jan Lois Cacdac, CPA
Paolo Cachuela, CPA
Angelene Cocamas, CPA
Erica Marie Colon, CPA
Daniela Reign Dapigan, CPA
Krystalet Nera Embrado, CPA
Queenie Espinosa, CPA
Kathleen Lyca Espiridion, CPA
Christian Dave Fernandez, CPA
Danielle Nicole Fong, CPA
Ken Jefferson Fos, CPA
Delight Francisco, CPA
Harriet Mariah Franco, CPA
Charlaine Anthonette Funcion, CPA
Faye Andrea Gabato, CPA
Ferryl Ken Ganhinhin, CPA
Fatima Rohaida Guro, CPA
Rosemary Veronica Hernandez, CPA
Nikka Jane Legaspi, CPA
Alessandra Marie Leyma, CPA
Khalil Emerson Mamalinta, CPA
Ralph Vincent Manreal, CPA
Aliyah Xyanne Masayon, CPA
Aliya Medida, CPA
Dell Merina, CPA
Sabrina Alexis Muico, CPA
Ospré Dale Napat, CPA
Donell Leo Nuñez, CPA
Jessiah Chaire Nuñez, CPA
Ivan Louie Opalla, CPA
Arlj Paglinawan, CPA
Shaina Mae Palban, CPA
Margaux Andrea Palma, CPA
Mohammad Faiz Paporo, CPA
Eldane Pelenio, CPA
Faye Nathalie Piquero, CPA
Jessiemel Bryan Reganit, CPA
Angelica Reyes, CPA
Nastashia Angeline Ricabo, CPA
Muhaimen Sacar, CPA
Diana Aretha Salcedo, CPA
Miadith Rose Salva, CPA
Ma. Helena Angela Serrano, CPA
Jorgs Nikolo Tarranza, CPA
Jel Therese Turan, CPA
Elaine Joy Young, CPA
Scott Agni Zapanta, CPA
Juleah Kyla Zardilla, CPA

With these results, Ateneo de Davao University reaffirms its commitment to forming competent and ethical professionals and looks forward to the contributions the new CPAs will make in their chosen fields.

Loading

Pin It on Pinterest