PEPA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF DEVELOPING FILIPINO TEXTBOOKS

 

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian receives a Plaque of Recognition during the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA). Joining him (from left) are Danda Crimelda Buhain and Atty. Dominador Buhain of Rex Education; Jose Paolo Sibal of Phoenix Publishing House; and John Emyl Eugenio of C&E Publishing Inc.

The Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA) recognized its achievements and honored its partners during its 75th anniversary held last December 5, 2025 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas. Highlights of the event entitled HONORING THE PAST, CELEBRATING THE PRESENT AND PUBLISHING IN THE FUTURE, were presentation of plaques to HONORABLE SENATOR SHERWIN GATCHALIAN, SENATOR RODANTE MARCOLETA, HONORABLE CONGRESSMEN ANTONIO CERILLES and RUFUS RODRIGUEZ, and ATTY RODELIO T. DASCIL who were instrumental in the legislation of the Book Industry Development Act (RA 8047). Plaques were likewise presented to government and private agencies like the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, the NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT BOARD, the PRIVATE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE and the CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Past PEPA presidents Dr. Ernesto Sibal, Jesus Ernesto Sibal, Jose Agaton Sibal, Atty. Dominador Buhain, Jose Maria “Toots” Policarpio and current president Jose Paolo Sibal were likewise given awards for their service and dedication to the Association.

SENATOR SHERWIN GATCHALIAN, was recognized for his diligence in pushing for educational reforms as the then Chairman of the Senate Education Committee in the 19th Congress. In his acceptance speech, Senator Gatchalian reiterated his position that the public schools be permitted to select the textbooks best suited for their students and their conditions, citing the practice of private schools whose textbooks are chosen by the subject coordinators and teachers.

Speaking for PEPA, President Emeritus Dominador Buhain stated that the good senator’s proposed solution for providing each public school student with a set of textbooks through liberalized procurement is being adopted by advanced countries with high ratings in international assessments like China, Japan, Finland and Singapore, whose students score high in international assessments like PISA. Senator Gatchalian lamented the delays in textbook allocation for public schools which are caused by a centralized procurement process.

Senator Gatchalian,, a product of the private school system , even sees no opposition on the adoption of procurement program in the private schools due to their perceived accessibility and presumptive quality of textbooks to be adopted (brought out by competitive market forces where quality prevails) within a shorter time frame.

He believes that with the enhanced DEPED budget, his earlier estimated P28 billion peso allocation mentioned in 2024 would be sufficient to provide one textbook per subject per student. Possessing a textbook instead of having none due to bureaucratic delay could serve as a better proposition to improve our standing in the PISA.

Unfortunately, the procurement for textbooks for SY 2025-2026 in some grade levels has been delayed by new procurement guidelines under RA 12009.

As PEPA looks forward to another seven decades of service to the Filipino learner, it is resolved to meet the rigorous demands of knowledge production for the diverse learning needs of Philippine schools.

REX Champions a More Human Future at AECON 2025: Special Edition on Education 5.0

 

In a world where technology continuously influences how people live, learn, and connect, one question remains urgent: how do we keep education human?

Rex Education placed that question at the heart of this year’s Annual Educators’ Congress (AECON 2025): Special Edition on Education 5.0, held on October 23 and 24, at the Gallio Events Hall in Parañaque City. With the theme “Agentive, Ethical, Connected, Open, and Nurturing,” the congress gathered school leaders, teachers, and education advocates from across the country for 2 days of reflective conversations and practical exchanges focused on putting people at the center of learning.

Reclaiming the Heart of Education

While Education 4.0 was driven by innovation and digital transformation, Education 5.0 calls for balance. It seeks to place humanity back at the core of learning, embracing technology with care, empathy, and purpose.

In his opening remarks, Rex Education CEO Don Timothy Buhain shared a heartfelt reflection on AECON’s significance and the deeper meaning of Education 5.0, emphasizing that “education has always been, and will always be, about people.” He explained that Education 5.0 is to make sure that as we move forward, we never forget the human being at the center of it all. “Technology will always be a means and a tool, but people will always be the purpose,” he emphasized.

What Education 5.0 means for REX

This year’s theme—Agentive, Ethical, Connected, Open, and Nurturing—defines REX’s vision for Education 5.0. Each word carries a practical and moral commitment.

Being Agentive is about being self-directed and purposeful; also being involved and capable of taking action. Meanwhile, being Ethical concerns choices guided by our values, having integrity, compassion, and moral discernment. Being Connected points to the relationships that make learning possible—with schools, families, and communities. Moreover, being Open stands for inclusivity, accessibility, and transparency. Nurturing brings all these elements together. It calls for learning environments that support the whole person—intellect, emotion, and spirit—so learners can grow with confidence and succeed in life.

Highlights of AECON 2025

The first day of AECON featured an interactive Pre-Conference Session led by Dr. Edizon A. Fermin, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the National Teachers College. Through hands-on activities and reflective exercises, participants explored three key tenets: Institutionalizing Less is More, Opening Pathways and Doorways, and Investing in Immersion, gaining practical tools to help build a stronger, more future-ready Senior High School program.

The main conference on October 24 opened with the Learner Panel Spotlight, “Kami Naman Talaga Sana,” and the keynote address, “Reclaiming Humanity in Education 5.0,” by Rev. Fr. Jessel “JBoy” M. Gonzales, SJ of Ateneo de Davao University.

Two pannel discussions followed. The first panel, “Beyond Lifelong Learning: Content, Methodology, & Assessment that Matter,” featured esteemed education leaders Dr. Marlene Ferido, Dr. Violeta Valladolid, and Dr. Brando “ER” C. Palomar, moderated by Ms. Rita Atienza of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The second panel, “Of Numbers and Narratives: Quality Schools that Promote IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Sustainability) In Focus,” featured Dr. Malcolm S. Garma and Ms. Maria Louella M. Tampinco. The session was moderated by Mr. Narcy Ador Dionisio, Executive Director of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.

The day’s sessions concluded with a synthesis led by Dr. Edizon A. Fermin, bringing together key insights and reflections from the discussions.

A Shared Hope for the Future

Across two inspiring days, AECON 2025 became a space where educators rediscovered the heart of their work. Through

meaningful discussions and heartfelt exchanges, participants were reminded that the future of learning begins not with technology, but with people—those who teach, those who learn, and those who dare to make education better for all.

As the conference came to a close, Rex Education reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing every Filipino learner and supporting teachers and school leaders through relevant, future-ready, and deeply human learning solutions.

Because in the end, Education 5.0 is not only about adapting to the future—it’s about creating one led by heart, humanity, and purpose.

REX Book Store now globally recognized as official Philippine partner of ASCD

Press Release:

Premier learning solutions provider partners with global non-profit organization to foster new developments in educational transformation.

Learning constitutes many things, and an enduring commitment to transforming and innovating on what it means to learn and teach in the 21st century is something that the  country's foremost learning solutions provider is trying to do.

Late last year, REX Book Store was announced as the preferred distributor of publications and services by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving how learning and teaching approaches are implemented to help ensure the success of every child through innovative ways of education that challenge, support, and engage them as whole persons in a safe and healthy learning environment.

This year, REX is now recognized by ASCD as its official Philippine partner, providing Filipino educators with a firm and reliable access to award-winning and research-backed professional learning materials and programs which would help them shape today's learners into the Whole Child. REX's campaign for the Whole Child is based on ASCD's research and practices which have gained traction in other developed countries' educational systems, with integrations to curriculums and programs merging and transforming the landscape of education for the 21st century.

In what began as a resource partnership way back in 2010, ASCD has been providing REX with some of the industry's most trusted resource speakers for their internal professional development, fusing new insights and research into REX's publishing practices and holistic education campaigns. From 2015 onward, coinciding with REX's 65th anniversary, the premier learning solutions provider began gradually adopting ASCD's whole child approach into its core philosophy, incorporating the approach's vision with its own mission of providing 21st-century learning tools and solutions that reflects what its maxim "tayong lahat, kapit bisig, para sa bata, para sa bayan" means: a village, a community, helping each other nurture, sustain, and secure the success of children as future professionals who would, in turn, help transform the country into a globally competitive nation.

REX's full-fledged adoption, support, and practice of ASCD's Whole Child initiative and other innovative approaches to 21st century learning has now developed into a deeper, joint commitment to uphold the concepts of holistic education in light of the Philippine government's own campaign to bring its educational system to the next level with the K-12 program. These efforts are part of REX's vision to help produce young learners today who may lead us into the future, equipped with the critical skills they need to contribute a positive impact to society towards global progress.

With over 115,000 members from 128 countries, REX Bookstore now joins the ASCD community in helping transform the world of education by assisting teachers and learning stakeholders, and helping secure the success of each child through progressive values and holistic development.