News and Updates

Marami nang boluntir ang naging bahagi ng iba’t-ibang programa ng Ugnayan ng Pahinungód mula nang ito ay na-revitalize noong 1994. At sa paglipas ng panahon, marami na rin kwento ang nabuo–mga kwentong nagbibigay-buhay sa bawat tagumpay at patuloy na nagbibigay ng saysay sa paghahandog ng sarili sa bayan. Sa bawat kwentong ito, makikita ang iba’t-ibang dahilan kung bakit pinipili ng mga boluntir na magpatuloy sa paglilingkod. Ngunit hindi madali ang maglingkod, lalo na sa dami ng hamon at pagsubok na patuloy kinakaharap ng mundo ngayon. Kaya’t nakamamanghang isipin na marami pa rin ang patuloy na nagboboluntir. Kasabay nito ang kagustuhang paghusayin [...]

“UPCAT is a chance – isang pagkakataon para subukan ninyo ang inyong mga sarili at buksan ang mga bagong posibilidad para sa inyong kinabukasan.” With the aim of making quality education more accessible to aspiring Iskolars ng Bayan, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UP Open University (UPOU) conducted the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2027 Online Orientation last 23 March 2026 via Zoom Video Conferencing Platform and Facebook Livestream. Around 360 participants including senior high school students, teachers, and parents attended the orientation. The program began with the welcoming remarks of the UPOU Chancellor, Prof. Joane V. Serrano. In [...]

The Protecting Animal Welfare (PAW) Project has officially entered a new chapter as a student-led organization, now recognized as the Union for the Protection of Animal Welfare at the Open University (UPAWOU). Previously operating under Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU in partnership with the Campus Development and Maintenance Office (CDMO), UPAWOU now stands as the first animal welfare and socio-civic organization in UP Open University. This transition marks not just a structural change, but the empowerment of students to lead and sustain animal welfare initiatives within the university. UPAWOU’s foundation was shaped through a series of trainings, workshops, and collaborative efforts [...]

To strengthen the spirit of volunteerism and enhance the capacity of the volunteers, the UPOU Ugnayan ng Pahinungód organized a full-day training event entitled “Volunteerism 101: Pahinungód Volunteer Capacity-Building and Training” on 16 August 2025, Saturday at the Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.  The training brought together both new and continuing Pahinungód volunteers, equipping them with a deeper understanding of volunteerism, its principles, and ethical foundations. Designed to promote reflective and engaged volunteer service, the event also provided practical insights on the fundamentals of volunteerism, digital facilitation, project management, and community development.  The program [...]

E-Guro: Teachers learning the competencies of online and distance e-learning (ODeL) to serve learners better The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)  Ugnayan ng Pahinungód will launch its E-Guro program to the general public in celebration of National Teachers’ Month and World Teachers’ Day, running from 5 September to 5 October 2025. The E-Guro Introductory Course in Teaching K to 3 Learners: A Journey to Early Childhood Education aims to enhance educators' teaching strategies and practices through professional development courses. Since its first course offering in 2024, it has reached more than 1000 teachers from 100 schools with partners from DepEd [...]

Strength in Every Step In a heartfelt effort to empower mothers, parents, and caregivers of all backgrounds, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Ugnayan ng Pahinungód successfully hosted a webinar titled “MotherTalk: Kaalaman at Kwentuhan” on 07 June 2025 via Zoom Video Conferencing Platform. This is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being. The webinar was hosted by the Online Mother’s Class (OMC) volunteers: Ms. Mariel Precious Joy C. Gardose, Ms. Ravina Cap Atan Wahid, and Ms. Arlene B. Mendiola-Acol.  One of the speakers of the webinar is Dr. Queenie [...]

Driven by their dreams of studying at the University of the Philippines, over 1,000 senior high school students from Northern Mindanao took a significant step toward becoming Iskolar ng Bayan by joining the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) Simulation held from 23 to 26 June 2025. Organized by the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód of the UP Open University (UPOU) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Region X, the simulation gave students the chance not only to familiarize themselves with UPCAT procedures, protocols, and guidelines but also to gain valuable tips and motivation for the actual exam. Four [...]

In celebration of Mother’s Day, the UPOU Office of Ugnayan ng Pahinungód (OUP), in collaboration with the Office of Gender Concerns (OGC), hosted Usaping Nanay: Launching of the Online Mothers’ Class MOOC last 14 May 2025, at the Pook Ugnayan, University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). The event brought together members of the community and UPOU’s partner offices in a shared commitment to women’s health, empowerment, and lifelong learning. At the heart of the event was the promotion of the Online Mothers’ Class, a massive open online course (MOOC) developed by the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, UPOU, in collaboration with the [...]

The UPOU Ugnayan ng Pahinungód recently concluded its 2025 Online Bridge Program, a massive open online course (MOOC) designed to help senior high school students—particularly those from underserved areas—overcome learning gaps and prepare for college entrance exams such as the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT). Running from January to March, the program offered free online courses in English, Math, and Physics, reaching over 2,000 students across Region X. With the help of 73 volunteer course coordinators (CCs) and 54 dedicated teacher focal persons, students engaged in weekly synchronous classes, self-paced modules, and interactive online learning. Despite the [...]

As part of the University’s efforts to democratize access to UP education, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UPOU successfully conducted the UPCAT 2026 Online Orientation last 26 March 2025 via Zoom Video Conferencing Platform. This initiative aimed to provide essential information about the University of the Philippines, as well as its constituent units and the UP College Admission Test. Around 150 Grade 11 students from Northern Mindanao attended the orientation.  The program, hosted by Ms. Naomi Jean Unlayao and Ms. Jezreel Anne Cometa, commenced with welcoming remarks from the newly appointed UPOU Chancellor, Prof. Joane V. Serrano. PhD. In her address, [...]