The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (ABIS) program at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) celebrates a significant interdisciplinary academic victory with the presentation of two (2) academic research papers authored by its senior students at the prestigious 2025 International Conference of the Philippine Sociological Society (PSS) held on 1 to 3 October 2025, at the Ateneo de Davao University. The two accepted papers, which directly engaged with the conference theme, "Sociology of Crisis and Care: Navigating Tensions, Charting Alternatives," demonstrate the students' capacity for critical global analysis.
The paper "People Level Impacts of Digital Care: Reflections from the Frontlines of Cyber Governance that Shape Well-being in the ASEAN," authored by Ivan Gabriel A Amanese, Marvin Mc Hyll V Battung, Sophia Yzabelle S Gabia, Allen Arc V Megreño, and Nadine C Suson, investigated how robust cyber governance in ASEAN functions as a form of institutional care that tangibly impacts societal well-being in the people level. [CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO PRESENTATION]
PEOPLE LEVEL IMPACTS OF DIGITAL CARE:
Reflections from the Frontlines of Cyber Governance that Shape
Well-being in the ASEAN
1aMARVIN MC HYLL VILLEJO BATTUNG, 1bIVAN GABRIEL ALTES AMANENSE, 1cSOPHIA YZABELLE
SAMBAAN GABIA, 1dALLEN ARC VELARDE MEGREÑO,1eNADINE CHU SUSON & 2aDON ANTONIO VELEZ
1a-1e Student, The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, The College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
2a Assistant Professor, Faculty of Sociology & Anthropology, The College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
The second paper, "National Resilience & Care from the Philippine Diaspora: OFW Remittances in an Era of Compounding Crises," by Julia Millene O Rañoa, Chaoncy Rich C Azucena, Jhon Ludmer D Canonigo, Jezyrose Nicole B Galindo, and Hannah Suraima B Rowaon, positioned OFW remittances not merely as an economic flow but as a compelling case for transnational care and a critical national survival strategy during compounding global crises. [CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO PRESENTATION]
NATIONAL RESILIENCE & CARE FROM THE PHILIPPINE DIASPORA:
OFW Remittances in an Era of Compounding Crises
1aJULIA MILLENE OMPOC RAÑOA, 1bCHAONCY RICH CAÑETE AZUCENA, 1cJOHN LUDMER
DENSING CANONIGO, 1dJEZYROSE NICOLE BACUADO GALINDO, 1eHANNAH SURAIMA BALACY ROWAON,
& 2aDON ANTONIO VELEZ
1a-1e Student, The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, The College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
2a Assistant Professor, Faculty of Sociology & Anthropology, The College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
Assistant Professor Don A Velez of the Department of Sociology & Anthropology, who guided this remarkable engagement shares that “the papers demonstrated the students' ability to fuse international relations perspectives and policy development positions with broader socially responsive analysis and academic discourse.” Their success highlights the high academic standard achieved through the mentorship of faculty. This accomplishment is a testament to the quality of research being produced by the International Studies program. By securing slots on this major academic and professional platform for knowledge exchange and engaging in the conference, undergraduate students have actively validated the program’s role in fostering impactful interdisciplinary scholarship.
This extraordinary achievement shows that undergraduate-level academic research work can exceed expectations and engage the frontiers of the professional sphere of social science research.