UP CEDEV focuses discussion on arts, ethics, and humanities in GE

19 Jun 2026

Originally posted on the University of the Philippines website.
Written by Fred Dabu, photos by Misael Bacani, UPS-MCO.

From left: UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Ian Kendrich Fontanilla; Dr. Jack Tsao of the University of Hong Kong; Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on General Education, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education; UP Diliman College of Fine Arts Dean Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr.; UPD Department of Philosophy Professor Liza Ocampo; and UPD Department of English and Comparative Literature Professor Jose Wendell Capili engage in a lively exchange of insights during the panel discussion, Arts, Ethics and Humanities: General Education in Higher Education, June 10.

A panel of experts convened to assert that arts, ethics, and humanities are essential foundations for cultivating productive citizens. The discussion emphasized that general education equips students with the critical thinking and ethical discernment necessary to navigate a complex, changing world. 

The event, Arts, Ethics and Humanities: GE in Higher Education, was organized by the University of the Philippines Center for Education and Development, under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. It was held June 10 at the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman and is the second panel discussion on GE, the first of which was held May 22.

The panel featured Dr. Jack Tsao, associate director and senior lecturer at the Common Core Office of University of Hong Kong; Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on GE, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education; and UP Diliman Professors Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr., Liza Ocampo, and Jose Wendell Capili.

Dr. Jack Tsao, associate director and senior lecturer at the Common Core Office of the University of Hong Kong, says general education is vital for lifelong learning.

“Employability and citizenship are inextricably linked.” — Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on General Education, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education. 

UP Diliman College of Fine Arts Dean Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr. proposes the addition of arts and culture studies in the core curriculum as an important part of ongoing integration in education. 

Tsao, also a principal fellow at Advance HE, a UK-based organization promoting higher education excellence, stated that training young people for job skills and citizenship must not be treated as separate goals. “We need a large workforce with cognitive skills. … We want people who understand human needs, who can judge what’s worth doing, what’s going wrong, and when to push back.” He emphasized that now was not the time to reduce GE.

“Employability and citizenship are inextricably linked,” remarked Fermin, adding that education aims to produce a workforce that drives the nation to a desired future. He noted that the CHED is expanding its multi-layered consultations to gather more data and insights from stakeholders, who include parents, teachers, alumni, and professional organizations.

Imao Jr., who also heads the UP President’s Committee on Culture and the Arts, stressed the need to strengthen and harmonize — rather than homogenize — education at both the basic and higher levels, especially at this time. He pointed out that the country has over 100 diverse, indigenous cultures that should be part of a humanized education.

UP Diliman Department of Philosophy Professor Liza Ocampo explains the importance of teaching ethics as a standalone course so that students adequately learn about human nature, moral reasoning, and what being human and ethical is.

Dr. J. Prospero de Vera III, former chair of the Commission on Higher Education, says reforms in general education require nationwide consultations and involve the participation of educators from local schools and far-flung areas. 

UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature Professor Jose Wendell Capili highlights how students learn certain values from literature and their general education teachers that encourage them to pursue higher education as well as navigate life’s challenges.


From left: UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature Professor Jose Wendell Capili; Dr. Jack Tsao of the University of Hong Kong; UPD Department of Philosophy Professor Liza Ocampo; Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on General Education, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education; UPD College of Fine Arts Dean Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr.; and UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Faculty Development) Ian Kendrich Fontanilla pose for a group photo after the panel discussion, Arts, Ethics and Humanities: General Education in Higher Education, held June 10 at the UPD Institute of Biology Auditorium.

Ocampo focused on how GE should develop the human person as the core of employability and citizenship. She argued that students need sufficient time to learn ethical thinking and to make informed, individual choices. This is to ensure they evolve into principled citizens and employees. She teaches Ethics 1 under the UP System GE framework.

Capili illustrated how arts and humanities are tools for social mobility, helping students gain the agility to navigate unfamiliar power structures. He explained that GE protects graduates from technological obsolescence, and the humanities enable them to think systematically and handle uncertainty. He teaches English 13 under the UP System GE framework.

Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Ian Kendrich Fontanilla was panel moderator.

UP CEDEV focuses discussion on arts, ethics, and humanities in GE

Originally posted on the University of the Philippines website.
Written by Fred Dabu, photos by Misael Bacani, UPS-MCO.

From left: UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Ian Kendrich Fontanilla; Dr. Jack Tsao of the University of Hong Kong; Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on General Education, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education; UP Diliman College of Fine Arts Dean Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr.; UPD Department of Philosophy Professor Liza Ocampo; and UPD Department of English and Comparative Literature Professor Jose Wendell Capili engage in a lively exchange of insights during the panel discussion, Arts, Ethics and Humanities: General Education in Higher Education, June 10.

A panel of experts convened to assert that arts, ethics, and humanities are essential foundations for cultivating productive citizens. The discussion emphasized that general education equips students with the critical thinking and ethical discernment necessary to navigate a complex, changing world. 

The event, Arts, Ethics and Humanities: GE in Higher Education, was organized by the University of the Philippines Center for Education and Development, under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. It was held June 10 at the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman and is the second panel discussion on GE, the first of which was held May 22.

The panel featured Dr. Jack Tsao, associate director and senior lecturer at the Common Core Office of University of Hong Kong; Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on GE, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education; and UP Diliman Professors Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr., Liza Ocampo, and Jose Wendell Capili.

Dr. Jack Tsao, associate director and senior lecturer at the Common Core Office of the University of Hong Kong, says general education is vital for lifelong learning.

“Employability and citizenship are inextricably linked.” — Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on General Education, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education. 

UP Diliman College of Fine Arts Dean Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr. proposes the addition of arts and culture studies in the core curriculum as an important part of ongoing integration in education. 

Tsao, also a principal fellow at Advance HE, a UK-based organization promoting higher education excellence, stated that training young people for job skills and citizenship must not be treated as separate goals. “We need a large workforce with cognitive skills. … We want people who understand human needs, who can judge what’s worth doing, what’s going wrong, and when to push back.” He emphasized that now was not the time to reduce GE.

“Employability and citizenship are inextricably linked,” remarked Fermin, adding that education aims to produce a workforce that drives the nation to a desired future. He noted that the CHED is expanding its multi-layered consultations to gather more data and insights from stakeholders, who include parents, teachers, alumni, and professional organizations.

Imao Jr., who also heads the UP President’s Committee on Culture and the Arts, stressed the need to strengthen and harmonize — rather than homogenize — education at both the basic and higher levels, especially at this time. He pointed out that the country has over 100 diverse, indigenous cultures that should be part of a humanized education.

UP Diliman Department of Philosophy Professor Liza Ocampo explains the importance of teaching ethics as a standalone course so that students adequately learn about human nature, moral reasoning, and what being human and ethical is.

Dr. J. Prospero de Vera III, former chair of the Commission on Higher Education, says reforms in general education require nationwide consultations and involve the participation of educators from local schools and far-flung areas. 

UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature Professor Jose Wendell Capili highlights how students learn certain values from literature and their general education teachers that encourage them to pursue higher education as well as navigate life’s challenges.


From left: UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature Professor Jose Wendell Capili; Dr. Jack Tsao of the University of Hong Kong; UPD Department of Philosophy Professor Liza Ocampo; Dr. Edizon Fermin, chair of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels on General Education, Teacher Education, and Graduate Teacher Education; UPD College of Fine Arts Dean Abdulmari “Toym” Imao Jr.; and UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Faculty Development) Ian Kendrich Fontanilla pose for a group photo after the panel discussion, Arts, Ethics and Humanities: General Education in Higher Education, held June 10 at the UPD Institute of Biology Auditorium.

Ocampo focused on how GE should develop the human person as the core of employability and citizenship. She argued that students need sufficient time to learn ethical thinking and to make informed, individual choices. This is to ensure they evolve into principled citizens and employees. She teaches Ethics 1 under the UP System GE framework.

Capili illustrated how arts and humanities are tools for social mobility, helping students gain the agility to navigate unfamiliar power structures. He explained that GE protects graduates from technological obsolescence, and the humanities enable them to think systematically and handle uncertainty. He teaches English 13 under the UP System GE framework.

Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Ian Kendrich Fontanilla was panel moderator.