DMMMSU College of Graduate Studies in collaboration with CHED Region-I held a summit of guidance counsellors, facilitators at the Eriguel Hall, South La Union Campus, Agoo, La Union on March 5 to 6, 2020.

Dr. Juan Primitivo P. Petrola, Education Supervisor II of CHED Region-I, in his inspirational message, highlighted the critical role played by guidance counsellors in the life of students. He reminded them that they are “sources of compassion”, emphasizing that compassion is empathy and love in action. He encouraged the participants that they be the persons to offer love to students when the whole world choose to judge them. He further encouraged them to be ‘champions’, always resilient despite the challenges and adversities they encounter.

The 80-year old Dr. Luzviminda D. Guzman, Chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counselling, delivered her keynote address during the first day where she talked  on trends/updates and issues in the guidance and counselling profession.

Impressed by the conduct of the summit, Dr. Guzman stressed that the summit was historic in that it is the first not only in the Region but also in the whole country.   

Following the keynote address of Dr. Guzman, five (5) participants presented their studies. Moreover, heads of guidance units and chairs of guidance programs from HEI’s offering MA in Guidance and Counselling shared their best practices.

On the second day, Prof. Jojet Lamberto R. Mondares, a registered Psychologist and director of Psychsart Mpower Center based at Baguio City lectured on the roles and responsibilities of the guidance counselor/practioner in dealing with mental health issues.

Also, four other participants presented their studies.  

Workshop on outcomes-based syllabi for MA in Guidance and Counselling (MAGAC) major and cognate subjects and presentation of outputs concluded the activities for the two-day summit. In the workshop, the participants compared the syllabi they use in their respective institutions and they harmonized and OBEdized them.

The summit was organized by Dr. Marcelina H. Ayson, Chair of the MA in Guidance and Counselling Program; Dr. Remedios C. Neroza, former Chair of the same program, now the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies; the faculty members in the Program; and MAGAC students. (ayu)