The 12th National Conference on Catechesis and Religious Education (NCCRE) with the theme “Research in Religious Education and Theology: Issues, Trends, and Developments” was successfully held last June 21-22, 2024, at the University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod, Negros Occidental. This event was a collaborative work of the Department of Theology and Religious Education of the De La Salle University Manila (DTRE DLSU), the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department of the University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod (PRSD USLS), and the Religious Educators Association of the Philippines (REAP). Prof. Dr. Rito V. Baring, DLSU Manila served as the lead convenor together with Dr. Arvin D. Eballo, REAP President, and Dr. Dorothy Javier-Martinez, Chair of DTRE DLSU. Thirty-six educational institutions were represented by 150 registered and walk-in participants as well as plenary speakers, guests, research clinic mentors, RE Lecturers, nine panel moderators, and the members of the working team from both DLSU Manila and USLS Bacolod.
Day 1: June 21, 2024
The first day started at 7:30 AM with the arrival and registration of participants who were likewise given conference kits. The emcees and moderators, Dr. Teresa Camarines and Dr. Jeff Clyde Corpuz of DLSU Manila, together with the USLA Technical Support Staff and Dr. Jose Eric Lacsa of DLSU Manila, facilitated an organized flow of the Programme as the Powerpoint Presentation was projected on screen to guide participants.
To formally put things in order at the session hall, Dr. Ronnie Lizada, Religious Studies and Philosophy Chair of University of St. La Salle Bacolod, explained the Conference House Rules. Dr. Arvin Eballo, REAP President, acknowledged the participants’ attendance by institution. Sr. Auria Arabit, REAP Vice President, together with her team and the USLS Chorale led the community in the Opening Prayer which was followed by the Philippine National Anthem. The Emcees introduced the President of USLS, Bro. Joaquin Severino Martinez, FSC, before he delivered his pre-recorded Opening Address. Bro. Joaquin gave his warmest welcome and left a challenge to the Religious Educators to be committed disciples of Jesus in building the Kingdom using Catechesis and Religious Education as tools. He emphasized the need for continuous updating in order to remain relevant to our learners.
The emcees proceeded with the introduction of the first plenary speaker, Prof. Dr. Raymund Sison. Dr. Sison’s keynote lecture focused on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning or SoTL. He defined what SoTL is and gave a lot of examples in the context of Religious Education. He highlighted that teaching in university or even in K-12 should be done in a scholarly manner. According to him, good teaching requires reflection and a good teacher uses technique that reveals himself. A good teaching involves recognizing a teaching-learning problem, designing and implementing solution and evaluating the solution. He ended his lecture with the clear and easy to understand presentation of the study conducted abroad about the Gen Z and Christianity. He even challenged the participants to do similar study but using the Philippine context. An Open Forum immediately followed. Participants were actively engaged in sharing their personal insights, take aways, and relevant questions to the first plenary speaker. Then, the NCCRE lead organizers and REAP President awarded the certificate of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Raymund Sison. Short health break followed.
When the session resumed, the emcees introduced the Bishop of Bacolod, His Excellency Bishop Patricio Buzon, D.D., who delivered a hearty message to all the participants. It was followed by an intermission number from USLS Performing Arts. Mr. Ronaldo Celestial from DLSU-Manila introduced the second plenary speaker, Prof. Dr. Melvin Jabar from DLSU Manila. Dr. Jabar’s plenary topic was “Doing Case Study Research on Religious Academic Institutions.” He discussed the definition and types of case study, the basics in doing qualitative case study, the steps in designing case study research, the methodological challenges, limitations and measures to mitigate the challenges and pitfalls. He emphasized that case study research design allows the researcher to immerse into the situation and to examine how an issue or phenomenon is addressed with specific context. Another engaging Open Forum followed. Then the NCCRE head organizers awarded the certificate to Dr. Melvin Jabar.
Before the lunch break, the emcees explained to the participants some reminders and details of the afternoon’s Parallel Sessions. Participants were given the opportunity to choose through a QR Code which topics or parallel session to attend to out of the Nine (9) Parallel Panels which started at exactly 1:00 PM in designated venues. Each parallel session has an assigned moderator who facilitated the flow of the different paper presentations by different researchers. Each panel allotted time for Open Forum so that participants can share their insights, ask questions, and clarify things. All the presenters received their certificates before the closing of the parallel sessions through a short prayer. Like the plenary session in the morning, the parallel sessions in the afternoon provided pertinent information and realized the goal of the conference which was to give participants updates on the current trends and issues on Religious Education.
Health Break and Picture Taking followed. Participants for museum tour at USLS and cultural tour were given time to prepare. The said activity was facilitated by the working team of the University of Saint La Salle Bacolod from 3:15 PM until 7:00 PM. Other participants attended the Research Clinic at 7:30 PM with Prof. Dr. Rito V. Baring of DLSU and Dr. Jeramie N. Molino of SLU.
Day 2: June 22, 2024
On the second day of the 12th NCCRE, participants, organizers, and guests signed in the attendance sheet. Dr. Rebecca Doctora and Dr. Slade Garzon of USLS Bacolod served as the emcees and moderators of the day. They called on Dr. Sotero Milos and Sr. Josephine Sagon of USLS Bacolod to lead the Opening Prayer and Dr. Robert Niverio of Assumption College to give a recap or highlights of Day 1. Dr. Barry Belen of USLS Bacolod was then called to give an introduction on the third plenary speaker.
Msgr. Ronald Quijano, STh.D, Vicar General of the Diocese of Bacolod, graciously served as the third Plenary Speaker on the theme, “Research in Religious Education and Theology: A Ministry that Edifies the Church’s Synodality.” He discussed the dynamic interplay between emerging social realities, the discernment of faith through theology, and the integration of research within the context of ministry, teaching, and pastoral action in the Church. He highlighted the importance of integrating insights from research in a synodal manner to foster collaboration and unity within the Church for continuous edification. Some of the best takeaways from his talk are as follows:
- Four areas that can be given urgent priority and can be the subject of scholarly research – Family, Youth, BEC, and Catechesis;
- Research work of theologians, religious educators, and catechists must “focus on what is real and concrete” about human experiences and not get too entangled with what is abstract and fixed dogmatic formularies or ethical principles, even though they are essential, relevant and beneficial… these “must be reflective of what is happening on the ground.”
- The task of teaching and doing research is a vocation within a vocation. He said that “we should also take the role of formators – to accompany people, especially those who are wounded and brokenhearted, in their daily faith journey”;
- Teaching and doing research work is a ministry, a joyful experience of encountering the Lord we love and serve. This is our mission.
- Our teaching and research work must be the fruit of our contemplative prayer-experience
- Teaching and research ministry edifies the Church’s Synodality. Our ministry is not isolated from the life of people in our parishes especially those in the peripheries. Our research output should focus on programs that will edify or build up our families, young people, BECs, and catechesis. We “inform, form, and transform” our people through fraternal dialogue and listening. We let them feel they are valued, listened to, welcomed, loved, and redeemed.
- He ended up by citing an image of Jesus knocking at the door at nighttime, with a lamp in his hand; challenging us to undergo a kind of pastoral conversion; from a maintenance Church to a more missionary Church that reaches out to everyone.
An engaging Open Forum followed by the awarding of a certificate of appreciation to Bishop Quijano was done.
Dr. Dorothy Javier-Martinez from DLSU Manila introduced the “Research Feature: Religious Education Research” featuring three presenters for the best practices in religious education research, namely: Dr. Bonnadelbert Antonio from Holy Angel University, Mr. Rafael Fernando from De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas, and Ms. Ma. Charlene Pilapil from DLSU Integrated School. Dr. Bonnadelbert Antonio presented his research on “Pamagmasabal: a culturally appropriate view of environmental stewardship for the Kapampangan.” Mr. Rafael Fernando’s research focused on “Religious Education Pre Service Teachers’ Attitudinal Scale Development and Validation. Ms. Ma. Charlene Pilapil’s research is about “Teaching Christian Living: Towards a Learning Reflective Framework.” By explaining well the background of the study, framework, methodology, results (reliability and validity), discussion, and conclusion, the featured researchers were able to inspire the audience to ask questions and to clarify matters to which they replied intelligently. After an engaging Open Forum, they were awarded with certificates of appreciation.
After the research presentation and health break on the same day, a REAP Annual General Assembly was held and facilitated by Dr. Arvin Eballo, REAP President. Dr. Eballo began delivering his President’s Report with an icebreaker for the plenary and ended it well with his remarkable sense of humor. He likewise showed the audience a short video clip to summarize his report and later, explained in details what it conveyed. He highlighted important legal matters and/ or documents: the registration of REAP with the Securities and Exchange Commission; the filing of Income Tax Return to the Bureau of Internal Review; the Official Receipt issued to the old and new members of REAP; and the authority given to REAP as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Provider by the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC). Dr. Eballo also gave a financial report particularly the Balance Sheet and Statement of Revenue and Expenses as of December 31, 2023. He also shared REAP’s activities that were conducted:
1) Catechetical and Religious Education Training with Fr. Edward Foley as speaker on “The Liturgical Movement as Decolonization: A Historical Perspective;”
2) Biblical Apostolate, with a webinar on “The Use of the Bible Amid the Russian Invasion of Ukraine” held last July 29, 2023;
3) Research Collaborations and Publications, i.e. the IAMS Asia Conference on “Global Crisis, Sustainability, and Mission in Scholarship held last November 22-24, 2023 at the De La Salle University Manila as well as the 12th National Conference on Catechesis and Religious Education on “Research in Religious Education and Theology: Issues, Trends and Development” at the University of Saint La Salle Bacolod on June 21-22, 2024;
4) Doing Filipino Theology and Religious Education in honor of Dr. Jose de Mesa last February 7, 2023 via Zoom;
5) Laudato Si Implementation and Eco-Spiritual Pilgrimages, with “Greening the Faith: Challenges to Religious Education during the 11th NCCRE, June 23-24, 2023 at DLSU Manila, and the talk on The Significance of “Laudate Deum” in the Context of South and Southeast Asia Today, February 29, 2024, at the University of Santo Tomas Manila
6) Ecumenical Partnerships, i.e. with International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS)
7) Intercultural, Intrafaith, and Interfaith Dialogue with the following acitivites: “The Role of Religion in Dailaoging, Healing, and Peacebuilding: The Case of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” last October 28, 2023; and Online Conference on Bangsamoro Research ’23 last December 2-3, 2023;
8) National and International Linkages: Advocacy Conference 2024: “Accompanying the Youth toward Building Peace and Becoming Global Citizens” last April 19, 2024, and IAMS Conference last November 22-24, 2024; Religion and International Diplomacy, November 4, 2022; and Fratelli Tutti: Vision of an Open World, last March 18, 2023
9) Advocacy and Social Engagement (St. Vincent de Paul Polilio Group of Islands Social Development, Inc.)
Dr. Eballo also discussed the steps for the new/ renewal of membership. An Open Forum followed. Dr. Eballo also acknowledged the service rendered by the CPD Team Provider members; the REAP Board Officers 2022-2025.
Lastly, he announced that the host for the 13th NCCRE will be the Holy Angel University in Angeles, Pampanga. A group photo opportunity of the entire 12th NCCRE participants and officers was held.