IN FRAME: (From L to R) Prof. Mark Aljen Binocal, DComm Student; Ms. Rechelle Ann T. Barraquias, VP for Mindanao of PACE and MDC alumna; Mx. Gerald “Maria” L. Besto, MDC Student; Dr. Sorhaila L. Latip-Yusoph, DComm student; Dr. Emely M. Amoloza, Faculty, FICS; Dr. Fraulein Oclarit, DComm Alumna; and Dr. Apple Grace L. Bonhoc-Ybañez, DComm Alumna
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Scholars and alumni from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) highlighted research on identity, governance, indigenous knowledge, crisis communication, and regional scholarship during the opening day of Panagtagbo 2026: Communicating Across Difference, Place, and Power in Mindanao, held at Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan. Organized by the Philippine Advocates of Communication Education Association, Inc. (PACE), the conference serves as the Philippine Regional Hub of the 76th International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference, bringing together communication scholars, educators, researchers, and practitioners from across the country and abroad.
The conference’s research presentation sessions featured studies on culture, communication, and social change in Mindanao and beyond.
Among the presenters was Mx. Gerald ‘Maria’ L. Besto, a Master of Development Communication student at UPOU and affiliated with Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology. Besto presented “Binabaye ha Baylan: Weaving the Life Story of a Talaandig Transwoman,” a study exploring the intersections of gender, identity, and indigeneity through the lived experiences of a member of the Talaandig community.
Also representing UPOU was Prof. Mark Aljen Binocal of Davao Oriental State University, a student of the Doctor of Communication program. His essay, “Sustainable Development Goals Communication Policy on Local Government Units through Four Discourses in Communication Research,” examined how communication frameworks can strengthen local governance and support the achievement of sustainable development goals.
UPOU Doctor of Communication alumni also shared their research during the conference. Dr. Fraulein Oclarit of GenSan Foundation College presented “Exploration of Eco’s Semiotic Framework: An Intercultural Study on Indigenous Storytelling,” which examined indigenous narratives through a semiotic lens. Meanwhile, Dr. Apple Grace L. Bonhoc-Ybañez of Ateneo de Davao University discussed “Drawing the Line: Vernacular Communication, Distrust, and Relational Precarity in the 2026 Davao Fuel Crisis,” which highlights the role of language and communication in shaping public trust during a crisis.
The UPOU presence extended to the conference plenary sessions through Dr. Sorhaila L. Latip-Yusoph, Director of the Office of Information, Press and Publication of Mindanao State University–Marawi, and a student of the UPOU Doctor of Communication program. In her plenary lecture titled “From Mindanao to the World: Producing Knowledge, Theory, and Teaching from the Region,” she emphasized the importance of generating knowledge rooted in Mindanaoan experiences and perspectives.
The participation of UPOU faculty, students, and alumni at Panagtagbo 2026 underscores the mission of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) to advance socially relevant and transformative research. By examining issues of identity, governance, culture, and communication through local and regional lenses, the scholars showcased how communication research can deepen understanding, amplify community voices, and contribute to more inclusive and equitable development.
Written by Mx. Gerald “Maria” L. Besto
Edited by Shaira Tanay