The Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception (FCIC) joined a meaningful gathering of educational leaders during the 9th Aralinks Leadership Academy: Solidifying Goals, Inspiring Action (ALAGA) held from November 20 to 22 at Royce Hotel in Clark. The three-day event brought together administrators, teachers, and educational innovators from across the country in a shared pursuit of purposeful and future-ready leadership.
Represented by Mr. John Melchor Libres, Ms. Jedd Anghag, Ms. Aleida Fe M. Nogal, and the school president, Sister Mary Michael G. Bactong, OSF, PhD, FCIC, engaged in the academy’s sessions that explored leadership, integrity, digital transformation, and the responsibilities of schools in a rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence. The themes of alignment, responsible innovation, and community-centered leadership strongly resonated with FCIC’s core mission and Franciscan values, especially its vision of forming compassionate, grounded, and future-ready learners.
Throughout the three-day event, FCIC actively participated in discussions led by keynote speaker Dr. Ruben Velarde, who highlighted the need to “humanize the algorithm” and ensure that technological advancements serve deeper learning, not shortcuts. His message aligned closely with FCIC’s existing efforts to uphold integrity, reflection, and purposeful use of technology in the classroom. Sessions on AI, digital citizenship, and learning design provided FCIC insights that reinforce its ongoing initiatives in creating developmentally appropriate tasks, enhancing student engagement, and integrating digital tools with mission-driven pedagogy.
A major point of pride for FCIC during ALAGA 2025 was the announcement of winners from the 8th National Phoenix Aralinks Quest. FCIC’s Junior High School team earned an Honorable Mention in the Software-Based Computational Artifacts Track with their project Vision Voice. Student-creators Gian Jose E. Castil and Sam Adriel M. Morillo were recognized among top talents nationwide for their creativity, innovation, and meaningful use of technology. This national recognition reflects FCIC’s growing culture of innovation and its commitment to nurturing young thinkers capable of solving real-world problems through technology.
FCIC’s presence extended beyond attendance. Sister Mary Michael, was also briefly interviewed by Phoenix, further positioning FCIC as an active contributor in national educational dialogue. Her participation exemplified the school’s leadership stance and the value it places on forming educators who are reflective, future-ready, and anchored in the school’s mission.
One of the event’s standout activities, the Phoenix Playground, captured the attention of FCIC delegates. The hands-on showcase featured twenty interactive stations demonstrating ShowcACE and ACE Powered projects from schools across the country. This experience is deeply aligned with FCIC’s ongoing initiatives to promote problem-solving, creativity, and computational thinking among learners. It also affirmed the school’s direction toward integrating innovative, student-centered approaches into its curriculum.
The academy’s discussions on alignment, community-centered leadership, and responsible innovation strongly supported FCIC’s identity as a mission-driven institution. The insights gained echoed FCIC’s belief that technology and innovation must always uplift the whole school community, not just enhance performance, but strengthen relationships, collaboration, and purpose.
The Student Voice Panel, in particular, reminded FCIC’s representatives that all educational decisions must begin with empathy and consideration for real learner experiences, an advocacy already central to the school’s philosophy.
As ALAGA 2025 concluded, FCIC’s delegates returned home energized and aligned with a clearer sense of direction. Inspired by national conversations, best practices, and the school’s own achievement in the Aralinks Quest, FCIC continues to deepen its commitment to forming future-ready learners without losing sight of its mission, its community, and its values. This year’s ALAGA affirmed that FCIC is not only participating in the future of education, but it is also helping shape it, grounded in integrity, guided by purpose, and strengthened by faith and innovation.
by Aleida Fe Nogal and Jedd Anghag
