๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ก ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Marking another milestone in its journey toward digital transformation, Abuyog Community College (ACC) formally concluded its AI Ready ASEAN Rollout through a virtual culminating activity held via Zoom on July 17, 2026, celebrating faculty completers while reaffirming the institution’s commitment to cultivating an AI-ready academic community.
Hosted by Dr. Orlando P. Vinculado, Jr., Director of the Office of International Affairs and External Linkages of Leyte Normal University, the culminating program highlighted the achievements of ACC faculty and staff who participated in the regional AI literacy initiative and outlined the next phase of AI integration across the institution.
Opening the virtual ceremony, Dr. Maricar C. Tegero presented a comprehensive recap of the AI Ready ASEAN program, revisiting the series of colloquia, asynchronous learning modules, mentoring sessions, and collaborative engagements that equipped participants with practical competencies in responsible and ethical Artificial Intelligence integration for education.
One of the ceremony’s highlights was the recognition of faculty and staff who successfully completed the program requirements under their respective master trainers. Participants were grouped according to their assigned mentors: Group 1 under Dr. Marife N. Daga, Group 2 under Dr. Orlando P. Vinculado, Jr., Group 3 under Dr. Michael Dell Tuazon, and Group 4 under Dr. Maricar C. Tegero. The announcement celebrated the participants’ commitment to professional development and their readiness to champion AI literacy within the college community.
Providing the programme updates, Dr. Michael Dell Tuazon encouraged participants to continue maximizing the learning platform by completing the remaining 15 AI Ready ASEAN learning modules and accomplishing the corresponding AI readiness assessments. He emphasized that learning does not end with the culmination program, reiterating that faculty and staff still have ample opportunity to finish the online modules and deepen their understanding of AI applications in education.
Selected faculty participants also shared their reflections on the training experience, describing the modules as insightful, practical, and highly relevant to the evolving demands of twenty-first-century education. They expressed appreciation for the programme’s emphasis on ethical AI use, innovative teaching strategies, and responsible digital citizenship, noting that the training enhanced both their confidence and competence in integrating AI into classroom instruction and professional practice.
Delivering his Ways Forward message, ACC College President Dr. Clemelle L. Montallana underscored the importance of collaboration as the cornerstone of institutional growth.
“The beauty of collaboration lies in our ability to share ideas and learn from one another rather than working in isolation,” Montallana emphasized.
He further encouraged participants to remain adaptive and forward-thinking as education continues to evolve alongside technological advancements.
“We must know how to navigate the realities of the world we are facing today. Continuous learning and collaboration will enable us to prepare our students for a future where Artificial Intelligence becomes an essential part of everyday life,” he added.
Concluding the program, Dr. Marife N. Daga expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the ACC administration, participating faculty members, and the organizing team for embracing the initiative with enthusiasm and commitment. She commended the participants’ willingness to learn emerging technologies that will ultimately benefit both educators and learners.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vinculado introduced participants to ASEAN Ahead (ASEAN AI for Youth Empowerment and Development), the ASEAN Foundation’s newest regional initiative supported by LinkedIn. The two-year programme seeks to equip 18,200 young people across the 11 ASEAN Member States with workforce-ready Artificial Intelligence competencies, digital literacy, essential soft skills, mentorship, and career development opportunities.
The virtual culminating activity concluded with a group photo opportunity, symbolizing the strengthened partnership between Abuyog Community College, Leyte Normal University, and the ASEAN Foundation in advancing AI literacy, fostering educational innovation, and preparing educators and learners alike for a future shaped by responsible Artificial Intelligence.