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Featured photo: Embedded crystals in a ceramic sculpture (Photo by Roan Alvarez)Diliman, Quezon City – The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), through the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), has launched its third Futurists-in-Residence Program on 6 May 2025 at the UPOU Bukas Space, DICT Building, Diliman, Quezon City. An initiative by Bukas Laboratory under the helm of Assoc. Prof. Diego Maranan, the program supports the faculty’s aim to nurture creative exploration at the intersections of art, science, and technology by providing a platform for artists, scientists, designers, engineers, and activists for critical inquiry and hands-on experimentation. [...]

July 2025 – Assistant Professor Margaret J. Suarez has been appointed as the new Faculty Secretary of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), succeeding Assistant Professor Joyce Mae Manalo-Vega. The transition comes as Assistant Professor Vega embarks on her doctoral studies through the UP x UTS Doctoral Program Collaboration starting this July. Before joining the FICS faculty, Assistant Professor Suarez served as University Researcher, where she contributed to institutional development and championed inclusive, accessible education. She also held the position of Institutional Linkages Officer under the term of former UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria. Assistant Professor Suarez earned [...]

17 July 2025 — Seven students took center stage at the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) Colloquium, presenting their research projects before faculty members and peers at the WC Multimedia Production Building, UP Open University, and online via Zoom. Organized by the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) through MMS 197 Faculty-in-Charge and BAMS Colloquium proponent, Dr. Emely Amoloza, the event provided a venue for students to share their final outputs, engage in academic and professional dialogue, and receive feedback from faculty advisers and peers. The program opened with welcoming remarks from FICS Dean Roberto B. [...]

The Watch! Tap! Shop! Team Jordan Rae Costanilla, Rajan Joaquin Llaguno (on screen) and Anna Porsche Gutierrez with (from center to right) Alvin Peñaflor, Erickson Llaguno, and Asst. Prof. Raz dela Torre On 3 July 2025, the Gawad Pangulo Grant-awarded team behind Watch! Tap! Shop! convened at Bukas Space in the UPOU-DICT Building, Diliman, to explore integrating their interactive e-commerce platform into short films and student projects. The meeting brought together team members Anna Porsche Gutierrez, Erickson Llaguno, Alvin Peñaflor, and Asst. Prof. Raz dela Torre onsite, with Rajan Joaquin Llaguno and Jordan Rae Costanilla joining remotely. The session [...]

Four students from UPOU’s BA Multimedia Studies program engage in a 13-week international collaboration on language learning technologies.Four students from the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) program under the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) completed a 13-week virtual exchange hosted by the School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. Held from 21 April to 14 July 2025, the Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program was facilitated by Professor Yuka Akiyama.The participating students—Joinne Sherry May Alcano, Cathleen Kayley Basaca, Renzel Ivy Francisco, and Miki Tolentino—collaborated with fellow participants [...]

In a field where dedication, innovation, and impact are essential, Assistant Professor Mari Anjeli Crisanto stands out as a remarkable educator and scholar. She continues to exemplify the transformative role of academic leadership in today’s dynamic educational landscape. Her work not only advances knowledge but also inspires students, colleagues, and communities, making her recent recognition a well-earned milestone in a career defined by excellence. From 2022 to 2023, Asst. Prof. Mari Anjeli Crisanto was among a select group of online learners who completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice at the University of Liverpool. This professional development opportunity was made [...]

Members of the MMK Creative Team together with UPOU faculty, staff, students, and other online participants during the special screening event at the UPOU CCDL Auditorium. About 200 online and onsite attendees joined the special screening event, “Paglaya: An MMK Special Screening and Conversation on the Infodemic, Vulnerability and Media Advocacy”, held on 9 July 2025 at the Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). The event featured the Director’s Cut of “Sim Card” and “Bintana”, a two-part episode from the acclaimed local television series Maalala Mo Kaya (MMK), directed by [...]

Assistant Professor Lei Kristoffer Lactuan of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), served as a resource speaker at MoodleMoot Philippines 2025, held on 4 July 2025 at the Luxent Hotel, Quezon City. The annual conference, which took place from 2 to 4 July, gathered learners, educators, and innovators from various local universities and colleges, government agencies, and industry sectors to explore the latest developments in digital learning using the Moodle platform. In his presentation, AI-ducation: Transforming the Way We Learn, Assistant Professor Lactuan who is also Assistant to the Director of [...]

FICS Dean, Dr. Roberto Figueroa, Jr. (third from right) and his mentee, Mr. Liam Iñaki Gillamac (rightmost), pose with ECTI-CON 2025 session chairs, Dr. Budi Halim Santoso of Duta Wacana Christian University, Indonesia, and Dr. Matsunori Makino of Chuo University, Japan along with other presenters from Chulalongkorn University. At the forefront of immersive technology in education, Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr., from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), delivered an insightful presentation during the parallel and tutorial sessions of the 22nd International Conference on Electrical Engineering/Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications and Information [...]

June 25, 2025 — The University of the Philippines Department of Broadcast Communication (DBC) held a curriculum workshop at the University Hotel, UP Diliman, aimed at rethinking academic strategies for a rapidly transforming media landscape. Among the invited speakers was Assistant Professor Raz dela Torre, who shared his insights on current media trends, content development, and industry challenges from both creative and educational perspectives. Assistant Professor Raz dela Torre discusses the current state of the entertainment industry, including its latest trends and pressing issues, with members of the Department of Broadcasting and Communication, UP Diliman. Entitled “What’s [...]