The Panag-uban Leadership Camp 2026, themed “Learning Across Cultures and Regions,” was organized by Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) for its international students, in partnership with the University of San Agustin (USA), on 28 March 2026. As host and partner, USA warmly welcomed participants to its campus, reflecting its commitment to intercultural engagement, leadership formation, and the strengthening of institutional collaboration.
The day’s activities began with a campus tour, allowing participants to explore the University of San Agustin and gain an appreciation of its academic environment and heritage. This was followed by the formal program held at the 5th Floor of the Fray Luis de Leon (FLD) Learning Commons, where participants engaged in a series of interactive activities and lectures.
In his welcome remarks, Rev. Fr. John Louis S. Ricamora, OSA, Dean of the College of Nursing, Nutrition, and Dietetics, highlighted the importance of building bridges across cultures and forming leaders responsive to the needs of a global community. He emphasized the convergence of the Augustinian and Ignatian traditions through the partnership, both rooted in the pursuit of truth, service, and faith. A key moment of the program was the formal handover of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions, marking the official formalization of the USA–Ateneo de Davao partnership and signaling a shared commitment to sustained collaboration in academic exchange, cultural engagement, and formation.
The program also featured a lecture by Director John Paul J. Petrola of the Center for Heritage and Indigenous Cultures, which enriched discussions on leadership and intercultural engagement. Participants were encouraged to listen deeply, reflect meaningfully, and engage with perspectives beyond their own.
In his closing remarks, Director John Paul P. Mondejar of the International Relations Office, reflected on how the gathering became a space for meaningful dialogue, discovery, and connection among all participants. He concluded, “May the examples of our Holy Fathers, Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, inspire us to do and be the good in this changing world.”
Anchored in the Augustinian values of Unitas, Veritas, et Caritas, and inspired by the call to be persons for others in the spirit of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (for the greater glory of God), the USA–Ateneo de Davao partnership for the Panag-uban Leadership Camp reaffirmed the vital role of collaboration in fostering initiatives that shape socially responsive and globally engaged leaders.
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