“I, the Researcher: My Positionality, Agency, and Power”
Dr. Liberty Pascua-de Rivera
Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow, Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University, Sydney, Australia
Bionote
Dr Liberty de Rivera is Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow at the Faculty of Education of Southern Cross University. Her research interests include analysing and evaluating policies and their implementation in the areas of education for sustainable development, climate change, and disaster risk reduction. Central to her research is the idea of cognitive justice—what, or whose knowledge, is emphasised or neglected in the process of policy transfer. Dr de Rivera has conducted research and development work in Singapore, the Philippines, Vanuatu, and Australia.
UN Sustainable Development Goals Contributions
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Mindfulness for Teacher Action Research Productivity
This workshop empowers educators to harness mindfulness to enhance focus, reflection, and productivity in their action research practice. Through guided exercises and practical strategies, participants will learn how to reduce stress, sustain energy, and integrate mindful awareness into data collection, analysis, and reporting. Designed for teachers balancing classroom responsibilities with research demands, the session provides actionable techniques to foster clarity, creativity, and well-being while advancing meaningful inquiry in education.
Dr. Sterling Miranda Plata
Associate Professor, De La Salle University
Certified Learning Design and Education for Sustainable Development Bootcamp Mentor by the ALDESD
Bionote
Dr. Sterling Plata is a burnout survivor, so her mission is to help professionals use the power of a growth mindset, mindful practices, and micro steps to thrive at work. She is an associate professor at De La Salle University.
Recent Publications
- Taguba, H., & Plata, S. (2025). Engagement strategies and reasons for disengagement with teacher feedback: Insights from L2 senior high school students in academic writing. Language Testing in Asia, 18(25), 1–20.
- Plata, S. (2024). Policy leadership for faculty members and staff's mental health: case study of a private university in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Social Science Review, 24(2). View article
- Plata, S., De Guzman, M. A., & Quesada, A. (2023). Emerging Research and Policy Themes on Academic Integrity in the Age of Chat GPT and Generative AI. Asian Journal of University Education, 19(4), 743–758.
Critical Thinking for Responsible Action in the Age of AI
Full Professor, Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University
Chairman, Responsible AI and Analytics Council, Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines (AAP)
Chairman, Shared Prosperity Committee, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP)
Bionote
Dr. Ben L. Teehankee is a Full Professor specializing in Strategic Management, Governance, and Ethics at the Department of Management and Organization of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University (DLSU), which he founded and chaired from 2011–2014. With over 40 years of teaching experience, his consulting and speaking engagements for numerous private, government, and educational institutions (including RCBC, BDO Unibank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the World Health Organization) focus on corporate governance, leadership, ethics, process improvement, corporate culture, strategic thinking, and information technology applications.
Key Teaching Areas
- Strategic Management
- Corporate Governance and Ethics
- Organizational Behavior and Managing Change
- Business Intelligence, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
- Humanistic Management
- Action Research
Leadership & Service
- CHED: Member of the Technical Panel on Business Administration and the Technical Working Group on Institutional Sustainability Assessment.
- AAP: Chairman of the Responsible AI and Analytics Council.
- MAP: Chairman of the Shared Prosperity Committee.
- IHMA: Board Member, International Humanistic Management Association.
- UN PRME: Member of the Steering Committee for the PRME Chapter ASEAN+ and the i5 Expert Pedagogy Group.
- Board Service: SOS Children Villages Philippines and Shareholders Association of the Philippines (SharePhil).
Promoting Digital Well-being among Educators in the Age of Digital Transformation
The workshop will explore the relationship between digital technology, mental health, and well-being and how both reshape social connections. Participants will learn how to model digital wellness and support students in developing critical awareness of their digital lives.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize the relationship between digital technology, mental health, and social well-being.
- Develop practical strategies to manage screen time, stress, and digital overload in education.
- Promote mindfulness and reflection to foster sustainable digital well-being.
Marissa S. Nicasio, PhD
Faculty, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, BAGCED, De La Salle University
Chairperson, Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research and Supervision (PACERS, Inc.)
Bionote
Ms. Marissa S. Nicasio is currently a part-time faculty of De La Salle University under the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. She obtained her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the same university, her BS in Psychology and MA in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Santo Tomas. She took the second batch of licensure exams for guidance counselors in 2009 and placed 7th.
Currently, she is the Chairperson of the Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research and Supervision (PACERS, Inc.), an accredited CPE provider for counselors, psychologists, and psychometricians. Through PACERS, she has delivered plenary talks and facilitated workshops that promote sustainable mental health practices for practitioners. With more than 20 years of counseling experience, 15 years of which was in school counseling, she finds inspiration in helping people work on their goals and enhancing their well-being.
Subscribe to RSS Feed (Opens in New Window)
