Text by Gabrielle Serrano
Photo by Erlyn May U. Pareja
The National Graduate Office for the Health Sciences (NGOHS), in partnership with the Graduate Management Team, hosted the 8th Annual Graduate Students’ Colloquium on Oct. 10, 2025, at the City Garden Suites Hotel.
For the first time since the pandemic, this year’s colloquium was an in-person event, which allowed for dynamic interactions among the participants.
This annual event provides a valuable platform for graduate students across various health disciplines to present an update of their theses/dissertations, to listen to the feedback of experts, and to promote graduate student interaction and fellowship.
The opening ceremony was graced by inspiring words from the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Bernadette Heizel M. Reyes, who emphasized the theme of “Pagpapasalamat” (Gratitude). She expressed her deep appreciation for the faculty who continually guide students in their research endeavors, as well as for the students who dare to ask questions that are difficult or seem impossible to answer.
“My dream is that one of the difficult questions you answered is going to lead to something astounding,” Vice Chancellor Reyes said. “I am hoping that one of you will stay on the path of discovery and research, and answer bigger questions that will redound to the good of people in the world. UP Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan.”
The Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, Dr. Johanna Patricia A. Cañal, also shared her gratitude, noting the importance of the colloquium. She recalled her own experience as a graduate student and how valuable it would have been to participate in an event like this. “This colloquium is not just an opportunity to present your research, but to learn from the thoughts and ideas of others,” she remarked. “This is a sign of our humility. That we want to learn. That we don’t know enough now, and therefore want to learn.”
A highlight of the day was the plenary talk by Dir. Arturo M. Ongkeko, Director of the National Telehealth Center, who focused on the critical responsibility of researchers to protect their participants’ privacy. The plenary talk, titled “Protecting Research Participants: Data Privacy Under the Data Privacy Act,” explored the essential role of data protection in research.
Dir. Ongkeko underscored that each data point in research represents a real person, whose trust and vulnerabilities are at the heart of the research process. “Data protection is not just a compliance work; it’s about embedding respect, ethics, and accountability in every stage of our research,” he emphasized.
Participants were given an overview of the different types of data breaches and best practices for safeguarding participants’ information. The importance of abiding by the Data Privacy Act, and the serious penalties associated with violations were also discussed, stressing that privacy is everyone’s responsibility.
The colloquium featured a full schedule of breakout sessions, with 52 graduate student presenters sharing their research across diverse fields such as clinical audiology, pharmacy, nursing, public health, medical physics, medicine, and health professions education. The morning and afternoon sessions covered a wide range of topics, encouraging thought-provoking discussions and collaborations among students and experts.
A best presenter from each session was chosen based on a set of criteria. The 10 best presenters were recognized and awarded during the closing ceremony, celebrating the exemplary work of these students.
As the colloquium concluded, the NGOHS Director, Dr. Carl Abelardo T. Antonio, delivered an optimistic closing address, thanking everyone for their contributions. He also shared exciting plans for the next colloquium, promising to scale up the event to accommodate more students next year.
He also announced the date for the 9th Graduate Students’ Colloquium, which will take place on Oct. 9, 2026.#
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