By: Matthieu Oliver S Casolocan, Francis Christian J Ebarle, and Hilary Duff T Silleza
The 63rd Annual Meeting and Conference of the Philippine Economic Society (PES), held on 7 November 2025, at Makati Shangri-la in Makati City, gathered economists, policymakers, industry leaders and students nationwide. With the theme “An Economy That Works for The People - Sustaining Economic Progress Amidst Global Polycrisis” this year’s conference offered discussions and activities that explored various solutions to economic-related issues nationwide and provided an opportunity for comprehensive discussions.
Following the students’ visit to the significant economic institutions and museums in Iloilo City, the Department of Economics of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan joined the conference with a delegation of 16 students and two faculty members. The conference featured a comprehensive program that includes the morning and afternoon formal plenary sessions as well as the simultaneous breakout sessions discussing a wide range of dissertations and recent studies. These sessions explored critical aspects of Philippine economy such as labor market insights, geopolitical impacts in developing economies, reform simulations for the Philippines and other pertinent topics that sought to enrich the students’ knowledge and understanding of contemporary economic issues throughout the conference.
Beyond attending sessions, a key highlight of the meeting and conference is the opportunity for the students to engage beyond their immediate community and connect with different individuals with valuable insights. The students were able to participate in discussions through the various breakout activities and plenary sessions in the conference. The discussions covered topics such as the Economics of Climate Change in the Philippines, Multidimensional Drivers of Development in the Philippines, Uncertainty and Insecurity in Agriculture and Fisheries–these being just a couple of the topics of discussion among the varying line-up of subject matters pertinent to the present state of the Philippine economy. The students partook in these discussions with economists, policymakers, industry leaders, and with students from different educational institutions across the country. This provided a great opportunity for them to gain valuable knowledge on present economic policies, concerns, and landscape through an exchange of ideas while expanding their network of connections with professionals and academics that will benefit their future professional and academic pathways.
In line with its commitment to academic excellence, the participation of the Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan Economics Department in Philippine Economic Society Meeting and Conference 2025 has successfully achieved the goal of promoting and fostering quality education outside of the conventional and traditional learning space. Through participating in events such as the PES Meeting and Conference, the aspiring economists of Xavier Ateneo gain experience and exposure in discussions that shape the nation’s economic welfare and development where students can be equipped with the proper knowledge and skills to face different economic issues with confidence, reliability, and integrity. The department’s active involvement in the PES 2025, exemplifies the dedication and commitment of the department to student development and its mission to cultivate progressive, socially responsible economists who contribute meaningfully to the progress of the Philippine economy and society as a whole.
Photos by: Ms Krisha June Burgos and Ms Princess Alyssa Bajada