Updates: Faculty Activities

Two faculty members of the UP Diliman Department of Family Life and Child Development (DFLCD), Associate Professor Charla Rochella S. Saamong, current department chair, and Assistant Professor Lester John C. Lim, participated in the Capacity Building on Developing Child Rights Research on October 14–15, 2026, at Alino Hotel in Quezon City.

Organized by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) through the Research Consortium on Children’s Rights (RCCR), the activity aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to develop and undertake research that promotes and protects children’s rights. It also sought to equip member institutions with research frameworks for developing evidence-based policy recommendations, advocacy strategies, and programs that safeguard children’s fundamental rights. 

The participation reflects DFLCD’s continuing commitment to advancing evidence-based and context-responsive practices and programs that uphold children’s rights. Through research, teaching, and community engagement, the Department recognizes the importance of grounding interventions in credible evidence while remaining responsive to the lived experiences and diverse contexts of children and their families. 

This engagement also strengthens DFLCD’s collaboration with national government agencies, non-government organizations, and academic institutions in advancing the welfare and rights of children. It is consistent with the University of the Philippines’ mandate, under Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008, to serve the nation through instruction, research, and public service. 

The DFLCD warmly congratulates our very own Asst. Prof. Jennifer Roxanne S. Daez on being awarded the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Scholarship for the Early Childhood Development Training Program. Asst. Prof. Daez joins nine (9) delegates from other countries in the pursuit of a month-long training and study to develop projects and initiatives to improve the ECD sector in our region. The program will be held from November to December 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.

Nine DFLCD faculty members attended the recently held Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (PECERA) Annual Conference from July 10-12, 2026, at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) in Singapore. The conference theme, "Early Childhood Care and Education in a Complex World: Supporting Agency, Diversity, and Inclusion," reflects an urgent need to address the growing needs of young children in an ever-changing world. In response, the faculty members of the DFLCD presented their research outputs from Department research and their graduate and postgraduate studies. For this conference, the DFLCD contributed a total of eight paper presentations, four poster presentations, and one roundtable discussion, including works of both faculty members and undergraduate and graduate FLCD students. In addition to attending the conference, the FLCD faculty members and students took the opportunity to conduct a benchmarking activity at the Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA) School, which offers inclusive early childhood programs. 

This milestone event for the Department is part of ongoing initiatives to showcase local research outputs in international settings and to learn from innovative child development practices of practitioners from other regions worldwide. The Department extends its gratitude to the UP CHE and UP OVCRD for supporting our faculty members through the Research Dissemination Grant (RDG). 

Assistant Professor Lester John C. Lim of the Department of Family Life and Child Development of UP College of Home Economics has been recognized with the PATHESCU Professional Award for Teaching given last July 17, 2026 at the Zuri Hotel, Iloilo. The award, given by the Philippine Association for Technology in Home Economics of State Colleges and Universities. Inc., (PATHESCU), acknowledges educators in home economics and related fields who demonstrate consistent dedication to teaching and curriculum development. Lim’s recognition reflects his commitment to advancing child and family well-being through education.

Your UPCHE FLCD family is so proud of you!

On March 26, 2026, Dr. Excelsa C. Tongson delivered a talk at the awareness seminar, 'Advancing Gender Equality in the Care Economy.' She discussed part of her research, Examining Unpaid Care Work of Women in the Sandwich Generation: Pathways Towards Social Protection and Wellbeing.

The seminar was held at the UP Diliman School of Economics in celebration of Women’s Month.

The UP Department of Family Life and Child Development congratulates Asst. Prof. Josephine Louise F. Jamero for being awarded the UP Centennial Professorial Chair Award (PetroEnergy Resources Corporation) for 2025-2026. This award encourages faculty members from the DFLCD to engage in research involving children and their families through recognition of their efforts. 

Your UPCHE FLCD family is so proud of you!