CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines—The Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators (PAFTE) Region VIII administered its 2025 Regional Pre-service Teachers’ Congress (Samar Leg) at Samar State University (SSU), held on May 5, 2025 at the SSU Maceda Gymnasium.
A total of 1,416 pre-service teachers gathered at the SSU Main Campus for the congress, themed “Shaping the Futures of AI-Supported Teaching and Learning: Upholding Pedagogical Duty for Inclusion and Affirmative Action.” Alongside various educational experts from across Eastern Visayas, the event gathered pre-service teachers from the SSU Main, Mercedes and Paranas campuses, Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) Main and San Jorge campuses, Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Can-avid Campus, University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) Main Campus, Christ the King College of Calbayog, Inc. (CKC), and Samar Colleges, Inc.
The day-long activity highlighted important talks on inclusive and ethical frameworks to enhance teaching quality. Serving as speakers were Dr. Edward Jay M. Quinto, Dean of Mapua University’s School of Education and Basic Studies, who tackled the topic on ‘Harnessing AI in Addressing Global Challenges in Teaching and Learning.’ Experts from other institutions also took part at the first half of the program, including Dr. Nimfa T. Torremoro, Dean of Samar Colleges, Inc.’s College of Education, Dr. Roushiell France S. London, OSDS Director of Palompon Institute of Technology, and Ms. Manilyn S. Sablan, SSU’s Student Teaching Supervisor, who all provided engaging activities during the morning session.
For the afternoon session, the attendees listened to two keynote topics on ‘Redefining Pedagogy in Promoting Inclusion and Affirmative Action’ by Dr. Perlita Vivero, ETEEAP Director of Leyte Normal University (LNU); and ‘Developing Ethical Technological Framework for Quality Teaching and Enhanced Learning by Dr. Marife N. Daga, LNU’s Department Chair for Graduate School’s Doctorate Program. Afterward, Dr. Siony Ubane, Dean of the University of Eastern Philippines’ College of Education, and Dr. Joyce M. Magtolis, LNU’s Dean of College of Education, led the engaging activities among participants and gave a closing remark, respectively.
PAFTE Region 8 annually hosts a congress for pre-service teachers in Eastern Visayas to provide them with up-to-date knowledge, skills, and strategies that will boost their readiness for the teaching profession.