Therese San Diego Torres, President of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), delivered a keynote presentation on the first day of the 3rd FRAMEwork Asia-Pacific Communication Conference held at Far Eastern University (FEU), Manila.

Held on September 11-12, 2025, the hybrid onsite and online conference brought together scholars, practitioners, and communication leaders from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, highlighting the power of collaboration in shaping the future of communication studies across the region.

Delivering her keynote presentation, “Informed Voices, Transformative Actions: Bridging gender issues and communication in the achievement of UN SDG 5,” Torres shared insights from a forthcoming UNESCO report on women and the media, noting progress since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—more women in journalism and leadership, gender desks and safety policies in newsrooms, and the amplifying power of digital platforms. She warned, however, of persistent gaps such as underrepresentation in top editorial roles, continuing harassment and abuse, and algorithm-driven amplification of misogynistic content.

Her recommendations called for inclusive storytelling, stronger safety standards, gender-responsive support systems and tech governance, and multistakeholder collaboration, so that “informed voices lead to transformative change in our institutions, our media, and our everyday lives.”

Torres was joined by Mr. Mark Lester Chico, President of the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), as responder. Dr. Roderick Evans Bartolome, FEU Department of Communication faculty member, was moderator.

During the event, FEU and AIJC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their partnership for future editions of the FRAMEwork conference. The next conference is scheduled for March 2026, and graduate school students, faculty members, and alumni of AIJC are invited to participate and contribute to this growing regional platform.

At the conference, Mr. Junephrey Ocampo of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, who is also a faculty member of AIJC, moderated the plenary session titled, “Changing Views and Communicative Ways on Masculinity.” He also presented his paper, “Raising a Gay Son in the Time of the Covid-19 Lockdowns,” which won third prize in the paper competition.

The FEU-AIJC partnership also celebrates a shared history. Dr. Rowena Capulong Reyes, FEU Vice President for Corporate Affairs and lead convener of the conference, is an alumna of AIJC.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Reyes cited the upcoming 2028 centennial celebration of FEU: “Hosting this conference is part of our journey towards our milestone of being 100, being brave

at 100, and our commitment to carry forward a legacy of—as our founder said—being able to help the nation transform.”

Reflecting on the key lessons and the theme of the conference, Dr. Reyes said, “If ‘No Gender Left Behind’ is to live beyond this conference, it must move us to action—not just to question norms, but to replace them with practices that honor merit, dignity, and humanity.”

It is noteworthy that the idea for AIJC—which started as the Asian Institute of Journalism (AIJ) in 1980—came from a group of educators including Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Jr., the eldest son of FEU founding president Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Sr.

Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Jr. served as a founding member of the AIJ Board of Trustees. He was FEU president from 1970 to 1985. This reflects a legacy of academic and professional synergy that continues to inspire new generations of communicators.

With this renewed partnership, the 3rd FRAMEwork Asia-Pacific Communication Conference celebrated academic excellence and set the stage for a stronger alliance between AIJC and FEU, ensuring that their shared commitment to advancing communication education and practice remains vibrant for years to come.

For updates on the March 2026 conference and participation details, interested AIJC graduate students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to follow the FEU FRAMEwork Facebook page and the AIJC Facebook page.