Faculty researchers from the University of Batangas (UB) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) demonstrated academic excellence at the Speech Communication Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (SCOP) International Convention and Research Congress held at Centro Escolar University in Manila on April 25, 2026.
The CAS delegation secured major institutional recognition during the international congress, with one faculty member clinching a top awards spot. The presenters delivered the following papers:
Dr. Yolanda C. Alejandre won the prestigious Best Research Abstract Award for her paper titled “Rhetorical Competence and Communicative Effectiveness in the Digital Age: An Analysis of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Human Expression.” Her research deconstructs how classical persuasive modes adapt to contemporary digital landscapes to maintain authentic human communication.
Dr. Kristine Amor S. Catequista presented “From Hashtags to Action: Citizen Participation through Social Media Campaigns for Good Governance.” Her study explores the operational transition from online awareness to physical civic action, evaluating how modern communities utilize online platforms to demand institutional transparency.
This international academic output directly mirrors the principles of SDG localization, converting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into relevant local insights that align with subnational targets:
Dr. Catequista’s research on social media campaigns and citizen participation directly advances SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, mapping onto Target 16.7 by developing critical evidence for responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels of local governance. Concurrently, Dr. Alejandre’s award-winning analysis of communicative competence furthers SDG 4: Quality Education, specifically aligning with Target 4.4 by fostering advanced cognitive and communication skills that increase workplace readiness and technical adaptability in a digitized economy.