FRIENDS Teahouse at UC, Philippines
Intercultural Passport Exploitation – Endorsement Letter on Institutional Level
FRIENDS Reunion at UC, March 2022
At UC, the FRIENDS Reunion event took place in line with the project’s objective to promote FRIENDS results, to encourage ongoing application for Intercultural Passport virtual module, and to raise awareness of the FRIENDS Teahouse initiative. It also paved the way for UC’s academic community members to revisit the issues on internationalization, questioning old assumptions about it, and to make the necessary suggestions to keep UC strong despite the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UC FRIENDS Reunion with the theme “Making Connections, Establishing FRIENDShips” was held on 23 March 2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM via zoom. 152 attendees participated in the online event. Academics, leaders of the UC community, student leaders, and various stakeholders graced the event. The welcome message was delivered by UC’s Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Innovation, Dean Ofelia G. Mana, while the presentation of FRIENDS project benefits to encourage ongoing applications for Intercultural Passports and to raise awareness of FRIENDS Teahouse initiative was delivered by the University of Cebu – Banilad’s Student Affairs Director, Mr Francis Jose Lean L. Abayata. The cultural dialogue was facilitated by the moderator. Testimonials from students, faculty, and members of the ATI Tribe community (a local indigenous community) were presented. The closing remarks were delivered by UC’s International Linkages Coordinator, Ms Teena Hernaez-Gomos. No one or nothing can stunt the inevitable push of the University of Cebu in making its way toward fulfilling the goal to be the first choice of the minds of the world (FRIENDS Reunion Agenda, Closing Remarks by Ms. Teena, Welcome Remarks by Dean Mana, Evaluation Form Template, FRIENDS Reunion Presentation by Mr. Francis Lean, FRIENDS Reunion News Article, FRIENDS Reunion speech by Edilyn Lopez, FRIENDS Reunion Closing Remarks by Teena Hernaez-Gomos (University of Cebu), Message from Students – Christine, Message from Students at the FRIENDS Reunion – Earl, Event’s Video Recording)
FRIENDS International and Intercultural Festival at UC, March 2021
UC celebrated the FRIENDS International and Intercultural Festival “UC FRIENDS Intercultural Fete 2021” on 18 March and 19 March 2021 via Zoom and Facebook live with the theme: “Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Strengthening Internationalisation at Home.” The agenda of the FRIENDS International and Intercultural Festival “UC FRIENDS Intercultural Fete 2021” is available here. The keynote speaker was Ms. Christina Armutlieva, the Director of International Cooperation at VUM, Bulgaria and FRIENDS Project Coordinator. The event also featured thirteen competent speakers from the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Cambodia, and India. Over 2500 participants from around thirty Higher Educational Institutions from different parts of the world joined the celebration. The online event was organised by the UC FRIENDS Team along with the FRIENDS Volunteers and College of Tourism MICE Classes (FRIENDS International and Intercultural Festival ” UC FRIENDS Intercultural Fete 2021″ Presentation, 18 June 2021, FRIENDS International and Intercultural Festival ” UC FRIENDS Intercultural Fete 2021″ Presentation, 19 June 2021, Culture of India by Vaishnav Venkatesh, Importance of Cultural Intelligence in the Airline Industry by Jonalyn Cabajog, Promoting Culture through Media by Marco Romas , Welcome to Indonesia by Lasta Dewi Sianturi, Culture of Cambodia by Socheata Tao, The need for CQ in Cruise Industry by Joyce Francisco, Vietnam Culture by Dan Anh).
Event Calendar (version as of July 2022)
Event Calendar (version as of March 2021)
Official Opening Events at UC, October 2020
In the morning of 8 October 2020, UC held a blessing and open house of the FRIENDS Teahouse and the new International Linkages Office in its new space on the Mezzanine Floor of UC Banilad Campus. The blessing and ribbon-cutting was attended by the UC Deans and Chairpersons of the different colleges, Department Heads as well as the UC FRIENDS project team. UC Vice-Chancellor for Business Development and Innovation Ofelia G. Mana and UC Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professional Education Engr. Anna Liza B. Son cut the ribbon. In addition, to kick-off UC FRIENDS Teahouse launching activities a virtual Orientation and Fellowship for Leadership and International Advancement (OFelLIA) was facilitated on 14 October 2020 by Ofelia G. Mana. The event was attended by Deans and Chairpersons of the different colleges, Department Heads as well a UC student leaders. The activity emphasized one of the overarching priorities of UC that is to enhance its global presence. The FRIENDS project and the newly established FRIENDS Teahouse multicultural social hub are expected to play a crucial role in honing the next generations of UC graduates and academics seeking to prosper in and contribute to an increasingly interdependent world.
