The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) hosted a Teaser Lecture and Virtual Open House on May 20 focused on academic integrity and the ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research and writing.

The featured teaser lecture, titled “Academic Integrity and AI in Research,” was delivered by Dr. Pauline Gidget Estella, AIJC faculty member. She shared critical insights on navigating the ethical boundaries of using AI in scholarly work.

Drawing from her 2021 and 2023 studies, Dr. Estella outlined the “most important competencies necessary in working with AI in technical writing.” These include technological profile competencies, or the “skills you perform within technology when it comes to AI,” such as “evaluating AI-generated outputs” and “prompt engineering.”

She also emphasized the importance of “cognitive-behavioral base competencies,” including understanding how AI works, practicing critical reflection on the sociological dimensions of AI, and upholding accountability and transparency in the use of AI.

At the same time, Dr. Estella cautioned against overreliance on generative AI tools, warning that dependence on these technologies may result in poor-quality writing and weaken a writer’s ability to think critically and communicate clearly.

The event aimed to spread awareness on the ethical use of AI while giving prospective students a firsthand experience of the academic rigor and discussion culture within the Graduate School. AIJC President Therese San Diego Torres underscored the importance of proactive discussions on the ethical use of emerging technologies.

The virtual open house also served as a briefing for individuals seeking to advance their careers in media and communication. The Institute offers three graduate programs designed to meet contemporary industry demands:

Master of Arts in Journalism

Master of Arts in Communication

Master in Communication Major in Public Relations and Corporate Communication

For those who missed it, another Virtual Open House will be held on June 3, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Dr. Paz H. Diaz, AIJC Vice President for Academics and Dean, will discuss the ladderized structure of the master’s programs, as well as the class schedules and admissions process.

Interested applicants are encouraged to register for the free Virtual Open House here.

Mapúa University received an authenticated copy of the historic Murillo Velarde 1734 Map during a ceremonial turnover held on May 18, 2026, as part of University Week celebrations attended by university officials, faculty, students, and guests.

“Why was the map in a British castle in the first place? This is where the story becomes painful and important. The map was made here in Manila in 1734. It was commissioned by a Spanish Governor-General, ordered by King Philip V. They needed a map to prove that they owned us, a map of dispossession. It was organized by a Jesuit priest, Pedro Murillo Velarde. But to prove that dispossession, they needed the Indios—the dispossessed—to put it into life. This is critical,” Mr. Mel V. Velarde, chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and the NOW Group, said during the turnover ceremony.

Also present at the ceremony were Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jay Tristan Tarriela, PhD, commander of the West Philippine Sea Transparency Group, and Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman and Executive Director.

Mr. Velarde also underscored the contributions of Filipinos Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay and Francisco Suárez, who signed their work, affirming their role in the map’s production.

In his message, Zerrudo invited the guests to examine the map, noting its value as a visual narrative of the past. “Look at the illustrations closely because they tell a lot of stories of how we were at that point in time and how these places have become in the present,” he said.

Zerrudo thanked Mapúa University for its role in bringing the map closer to Filipinos. “Through this effort, we allow our young people to encounter history in a tangible and meaningful way, helping cultivate a broader appreciation of our shared heritage, and understand the stories and truths that continue to shape our identity as a nation.”

Admiral Tarriela also delivered a message during the ceremony. “When the People’s Republic of China unilaterally asserted its so-called nine-dash line, claiming nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, including waters and features that lie squarely within our own exclusive economic zone, they leaned on a historical fiction. They claimed historic rights stretching back to the time immemorial,” he said. “But history, ladies and gentlemen, leaves receipts, and the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map is one of our most important receipts that can never be defeated by fiction.”

Tarriela continued, “In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague handed down a landmark ruling. The tribunal categorically rejected China’s nine-dash line claim. It affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone, including Bajo de Masinloc and features within the Kalayaan Island Group. That ruling did not happen by accident. It was the product of years of meticulous legal work by our legal team and, of course, by Justice Antonio Carpio. It was supported, fundamentally, by historical evidence—maps like the one that we unveiled today.”

Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, University President and CEO of Mapúa University, expressed appreciation for the donation and emphasized how it will help strengthen national identity and inspire students to make meaningful contributions to the country’s future. He added, “Beyond its immense historical value, this map stands as a profound symbol of our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and a vital tool for nation-building. And we will make sure that our students know this.”

The authenticated copy of the map is permanently housed at the Mapúa Intramuros Library.

The first scientific map of the Philippine archipelago, the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map was officially declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Library of the Philippines in December 2025.

The turnover of the authenticated copy to Mapúa University forms part of the “Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin” campaign. By engaging students during University Week, the Mapúa turnover highlights how heritage and education intersect in shaping the next generation of Filipino innovators and nation-builders.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) received an authenticated copy of the historic Murillo Velarde 1734 Map during a ceremony held at the PRC NCR Regional Office in Quezon City on May 13, 2026.

PRC Chairperson Atty. Charito A. Zamora delivered the acceptance speech and expressed gratitude to Mr. Mel Velasco Velarde, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and the NOW Group, for the donation.

“The Commission appreciates that history should also be promoted along with professional competence,” Chairperson Zamora said. “Being a government agency that aims at nation building, we are convinced that knowing our past will help us develop our identities as public servants who are devoted to integrity and dedication to serving the Filipino nation. This map bridges the gap between historical data and modern professional execution… so may this authenticated copy inspire patriotism, deepen appreciation for our heritage, and remind us of the sacrifices and achievement that shaped our nation.”

Joining Chairperson Zamora at the ceremony were Assistant Commissioner Lord Louis P. Valera and their colleagues from PRC.

In his speech, Mr. Velarde highlighted a medal found on the map that described the professionals of the colonial period, including the bordaderos or embroiderers and the lamineros or engravers. He emphasized that the map preserves not only cartographic details, but also the memory, heritage, and pride of the nation’s ancestors.

Widely regarded as the “Mother of All Philippine Maps,” the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map played a key role in the Philippines’ legal victory in the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine Sea. In December 2025, the map was officially declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Library of the Philippines.

The turnover of the authenticated copy of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map to the PRC forms part of the Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin campaign, an initiative that seeks to strengthen Filipinos’ appreciation for Philippine history and heritage. By bringing the historic map to institutions such as the PRC, the campaign underscores the role of professionals and public servants in preserving national identity, cultural memory, and patriotism for future generations.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) continues to be a proud partner of the 4th FRAMEwork Asia-Pacific Communication Conference, which brought together scholars, practitioners, and communication leaders at the Cavite State University (Indang Campus) International Convention Center in March 2026.

Princess Catherine Pabellano, who completed her Master of Arts in Journalism at AIJC and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, took the stage as moderator of the third keynote session on Day 2, “Definitely Not a Troublemaker: Augmenting Scientific Discourse Through Generative AI.” She joined the third keynote speaker, Alvin William Alvarez, D.V.M., of Cavite State University, and the responder, Robbie Jan Vincent Buelo, PhD, of the National University Dasmariñas.

Among the paper presenters during the parallel sessions was James Patrick Aquino, who has completed his Master of Arts in Communication at AIJC. He presented his paper titled, “From Talk Now to Know-How: Exploring the Role of Academic Communication in AI Familiarity Among Teachers with Diverse Professional Fields Using the SECI Model.” The paper of another AIJC alumnus, Normandy Manalaysay, was also selected for presentation: “An Exploratory Study of Text and Image Generative AI Adoption in the Creative Ideation Process by Filipino Advertising Copywriters and Art Directors.”

AIJC students were invited to participate in the conference online.

AIJC’s renewed partnership with Far Eastern University (FEU), conference organizer, continues to open opportunities for graduate students, faculty, and alumni to share research, engage in critical dialogue, and contribute to the evolving communication landscape in the region.

For updates on future editions of the FRAMEwork Conference and how to participate, AIJC students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to follow the FEU FRAMEwork Facebook page and the AIJC Facebook page.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) marked the successful conclusion of the third cohort of its Executive Program on Public Communication during the culminating activity held on April 17, 2026.

The specialized two-month program is designed to equip leaders with the strategic tools needed to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of modern public discourse. Participants in this cohort come from public institutions, including government and the academe:

• Emy Ruth Gianan, Officer-in-Charge, Communication Management Office, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila
  
  
• Noralene Menchavez Uy, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, International Affairs, and Climate Change, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
  
  
• Maricon C. Viduya, Director for Strategic Communications, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

During the culmination, the importance of maintaining integrity in public information was highlighted as a cornerstone of the training curriculum.

“Public communication is a matter of public trust. Our job is to ensure that it is handled with discipline, clarity, and responsibility,” said Therese San Diego Torres, AIJC President.

Following the success of this cohort, the program will be offered again in June 2026. Interested applicants and organizations may visit this page on the AIJC website for registration details.

An authenticated copy of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map was officially turned over to the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) on April 16, 2026.

“It is my privilege to stand before you today in Nueva Ecija, a province already present on the Velarde 1734 Map, almost a 300-year-old map,” Mr. Mel Velasco Velarde, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), said during the turnover ceremony. “That matters because this map reminds us that places like Nueva Ecija were already part of a living geography of land, river, memory, and community long before the modern nation took its present form.”

“This is why I did not come here merely to donate a map. I came here to return a witness,” Mr. Velarde added. “Nueva Ecija is not peripheral to the story of the Philippines. It is central to it. This province has helped feed the nation and in doing so, it has carried a quiet but profound dignity… We must know how to honor places like this.”

The Murillo Velarde 1734 Map is widely regarded as the “Mother of all Philippine Maps” and is particularly notable for its role in the Philippines’ legal victory in the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the West Philippine Sea. In December 2025, the map was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Library of the Philippines.

The university-wide event was attended by students, faculty members, alumni, and university officials.

Dr. Ariel G. Mactal, Vice President for Administration, delivered the acceptance speech on behalf of CLSU. 

“We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Velarde for his remarkable generosity and patriotism,” Dr. Mactal said. “CLSU embraces its role as a steward of this cultural treasure. We commit to preserving its value and ensuring that it becomes an active instrument of learning… May this map inspire our students to appreciate the depth of our history, to take pride in our identity, and to remain mindful of the responsibility of safeguarding our nation’s heritage.”

The turnover of what is now regarded the “Soul of the Nation” is part of the Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin campaign. The initiative aims to popularize the enduring relevance of the map and foster a deeper sense of national identity and historical awareness among Filipinos.