Students from the College of Education, Arts, and Sciences (CEAS) of the University of Batangas Lipa City (UBLC) participated in the Student Empowerment Forum 2025, organized by The Manila Times on August 22, 2025, at the Manila Prince Hotel. The event, themed “Move Up, Step Up, and Level Up,” aimed to equip Filipino youth with global competencies, practical skills, and values essential for navigating today’s world.
Representing UBLC were MJ Dimaculangan, Ysabelle E. Rodriguez, and officers of the Guild of Aspiring Psychologists, accompanied by CEAS faculty member Mr. Warren P. Liwana. Their participation highlighted UBLC’s commitment to fostering socially responsible and future-ready Filipino students.
The forum featured distinguished speakers from government, education, business, and advocacy. Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian encouraged youth to pursue collective progress, while DepEd Assistant Secretary Cilette Liboro-Co stressed the importance of bold choices in shaping meaningful narratives. Other speakers included Dr. Merimee Tampus-Siena, Dr. Carl Balita, Mr. Don Timothy Buhain, Ms. Mona Magno-Veluz, Coach Lyqa Maravilla, Mr. Juvhan Rebangcos, Ms. Gianna Abao, and Ms. Caitlin Punzalan, who shared insights on resilience, leadership, sustainability, and empowerment.
For the UBLC delegation, the forum was a transformative experience, inspiring reflection, motivation, and action. The students gained a deeper sense of identity, purpose, and leadership, reinforcing the university’s mission to develop globally competent and socially responsible professionals.