MLQU Hosts National Dialogue on the Future of Learning in a Hyper-Digital Philippines

Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) and its partner, Bayan Family of Foundations (BFF),  through the Manuel L. Quezon Academy (MLQA), successfully convened on 23 January 2026 the second episode of the MLQA-DisQourse (Quezonian Dialogue) titled “The Future of Learning in a Hyper-Digital Philippines: Opportunities and Risks We Can’t Ignore.” The high-level dialogue brought together leaders from government, industry, and innovation ecosystems to examine how learning systems and workforce preparation must evolve in an increasingly digital world.

Serving as the anchor voice was Former DICT Secretary Emmanuel Caintic, who framed the national context of the Philippines’ digital transformation. He highlighted the country’s progress in digital governance and infrastructure while emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen digital talent development, cybersecurity resilience, and responsible technology adoption. Secretary Caintic challenged education leaders and industry partners to act decisively today to prepare Filipino learners for a competitive global digital economy.

Complementing the national policy perspective were industry and innovation leaders who grounded the discussion in real-world workforce demands.

Engr. Eric Jude Solidom, CEO and President of High Tech Corporation, underscored the importance of modernizing learning environments and strengthening industry–academe partnerships. He emphasized that beyond technical knowledge, graduates must develop digital fluency, problem-solving skills, and adaptability to remain employable in the digital economy.

Mr. Carlo Calimon, President of Start-Up Village, highlighted the role of startups and innovation hubs in shaping future-ready education. He stressed that entrepreneurial culture, creativity, and real-world project exposure are critical to preparing students for emerging industries.

Providing an industry-academe bridge and digital productivity lens was Ms. Paola Bagaforo, Managing Partner of DAARC Studio and AI and Digital Productivity Fellow of the Bayan Family of Foundation. She emphasized that education must move beyond technical literacy to include workflow design, collaboration tools, and human-centered digital practices, preparing learners to thrive in technology-enabled work environments.

The dialogue was moderated by Prof. Sergio M. Andal, Jr., who guided the conversation across policy, industry, innovation, and education reform.

Through this episode of MLQA-DisQourse, MLQU reinforced its strategic thrust toward industry-aligned curricula, innovation-driven education, and employability-focused learning, consistent with its long-term vision of producing graduates who are adaptable, digitally capable, and future-ready.