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, [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has appointed Mr. Larry Natividad Cruz as the new Director of Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, effective 01 March 2025. With background in management, development studies, distance education, and community engagement, Mr. Cruz aims to lead the university’s Ugnayan ng Pahinungod toward greater outreach and impact, in collaboration with all concerned offices and stakeholders. Mr. Cruz is a Research, Extension and Professional Staff (REPS), Program Development Associate (PDA), and Senior Lecturer at UPOU’s Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS). He previously served as the President of the All UP Academic Employees Union-Open University (AUPAEU-OU) [...]

The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UPOU thanks previous Director Dr. Queenie-Roxas Ridulme for her dedication and passion to serve the underserved and marginalized communities in the Philippines from 2021 to 2025. Her legacy is forever remembered in the programs and activities she led and launched that will continuously impact the lives of hundreds and thousands of Filipinos.  Through her fervent leadership, she has spearheaded the development, launching, and implementations of new programs. The Protecting Animal Welfare (PAW) project that aims to manage campus animals taking shelter in the premises of the university. The Kalinga at Yakap (KaYa) app which is a mental [...]

The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UPOU joined theTri-Conference 2025 and the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the University of the Philippines Open University with the theme, "Constancy, Change and Co-existence", on 24-28 February 2025.  During the Day 1 of the week-long celebration, Pahinungód UPOU, along with the UPOU officials, faculty, staff and partners, participated in the Opening of the ASEAN Community Gallery and Fair at the UPOU CCDL Auditorium. In the afternoon, the Pahinungód UPOU Director Queenie Roxas-Ridulme and staff also took part in the tree planting ceremony for the Native Arboretum and Restoration Project held at the UPOU-EDC BINHI Arboretum. This [...]