UPCD Department of Community Dentistry

The UPCD Department of Community Dentistry participated in the 2026 International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Asia-Pacific Community of Practice (2026 IARSLCE APCoP Manila) International Conference held at the University of the Philippines Diliman from June 15 to 17, 2026.

Centering on the theme “Ethics of Service-Learning and Community Engagement,” the conference aimed to highlight innovative methodologies in service-learning and community engagement, while emphasizing the preservation of ethical standards.

CommDent faculty members and students actively engaged in various conference activities, including plenary lectures, interactive workshops, poster presentations, and community visits.

A workshop entitled “Another Reason to Smile: The Ethics of Service-Learning and Community Engagement in Building Socially Accountable Health Professionals” was facilitated by the department's faculty, led by Dr. Julianne Eris Navarro and Dr. Ranee Nicole Sedilla. Another session, titled “Strengthening Collaboration Through Interprofessional Education,” was facilitated by faculty members from the UP Community Health and Development Program, including Dr. Rose Anne Rosanes.

Furthermore, research posters were presented by faculty members, including Dr. Regina Carmela Pengson and Dr. Denys Angeli Laforteza, as well as students led by Angela Louise Sunga. These presentations showcased the Dental Public Health course initiatives in the municipalities of Maragondon and Magallanes, and innovative pedagogical strategies such as transitioning from plenary sessions to cluster-based classroom reporting.

On the final day of the conference, community visits were conducted across various municipalities in Cavite. During these site visits, UPCD faculty members assisted in immersing international and local delegates in the university's local initiatives and ongoing community engagements.

See you at the 2026 IARSLCE APCoP Manila!

UPCD Community Dentistry will be facilitating a workshop on June 15, 4:15–5:45 PM: “Another Reason To Smile: The Ethics of Service-Learning and Community Engagement in Building Socially Accountable Health Professionals.”

Our students will also be presenting posters featuring the impact and lessons from work with partner communities.

See you there!

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📣 We've updated our conference advisory to include important information for participants, including:

📍 Official Venue: UP School of Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman
📋 Conference guidelines and participant reminders

Registration remains open until June 14, 2026.

Register today and secure your slot here:
https://tinyurl.com/IARSLCEAPCoP2026

For more information:
https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/2026-iarslce-apcop-conference/

We look forward to welcoming you to Manila for IARSLCE APCoP 2026!

Faculty members of the UPCD Department of Community Dentistry joined the Basic Life Support (BLS) Training conducted by the Philippine Red Cross at the UPCD Auditorium yesterday.

Many thanks to the UP College of Dentistry and Dean Michelle Segarra, the UPCD Class of 2002, and the Philippine Red Cross!

The UPCD Department of Community Dentistry proudly congratulates our students Ms. Sandra I. Batua, Ms. Patricia Kaye C. Escalante, and Ms. Katrina R. Cruz, together with their faculty adviser, Dr. Michael Antonio F. Mendoza, for winning 2nd Place in the Research Poster Competition at the 117th Philippine Dental Association (PDA) Convention.

Their research entitled “The Accessibility of UP College of Dentistry to People with Disabilities" examined the compliance of UPCD facilities with the Accessibility Law of the Philippines and assessed the knowledge of clinicians, clinical instructors, and staff on the use of Filipino Sign Language (FSL).

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

𝗨𝗣𝗖𝗗 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

May 6, 2026 - The University of the Philippines College of Dentistry (UPCD) Department of Community Dentistry, conducted a “Smoking Cessation Workshop for Dental Students” on May 6, 2026, at the UPCD Auditorium. The activity forms part of the ongoing Community Dentistry Workshop Series, which aims to equip future oral health professionals with competencies that address pressing public health concerns.

The workshop was held in cooperation with the Philippine Pediatric Society Advocacy Committee on To***co and Ni****ne Control and the Philippine Addiction Specialists Society, bringing together expertise from both pediatric and addiction medicine perspectives.

Guest speakers included Paul Lawrence C. Filomeno, RN, MD, MPH, and Rizalina Racquel H. Gonzalez, MD, FPPS, who led plenary sessions on the impact of to***co use on oral health, as well as evidence-based cessation strategies such as the 5As and 5Rs framework.

The workshop was supported by industry partner Kenvue Philippines, through its Nicorette brand, which introduced its smoking cessation products and provided samples to participants.

Designed primarily for third-year Dentistry 163: Preventive Dentistry students, the workshop also welcomed participants from the clinician levels. The program featured interactive components, including team case applications, where participants applied cessation strategies to simulated patient scenarios. Participants were grouped into four teams and engaged in role-play simulations, performing smoking cessation counseling across patients at different stages of behavioral change. Non-academic staff also actively participated, contributing to the collaborative learning environment. Dr. Filomeno and Dr. Gonzales facilitated the workshop.

The activity concluded with a synthesis plenary covering pharmacotherapy, Philippine referral pathways, and strategies for integrating smoking cessation into clinical dental practice.

Through initiatives like this, UPCD continues to strengthen the role of dental professionals in to***co control and prevention, reinforcing the importance of patient-centered, preventive, and interdisciplinary care.

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IN PHOTOS: UPCD faculty Dr. Eris Navarro, Dr. Ranee Sedilla, Dr. Denys Laforteza, Dr. Regina Carmela Pengson, Dr. Juan Rafael Silva, Dr. Samantha Samaniego, and Dr. Hannah Bringas; Kenvue Philippines (Nicorette) representatives Ms. Rose Calibo, Mr. Michael Pacia, Ms. Grace Mendoza, Ms. Dianne Alejo-Cayamanda, Ms. Lirio Abarino, and Mr. Christopher Saron; speakers and workshop facilitators Dr. Paul Lawrence C. Filomeno and Dr. Rizalina Racquel H. Gonzalez; and UPCD student participants.

UPCD Community Dentistry on the global stage 🌏

At the International Collaborative Symposium on Development of Human Resources in Practical Oral Health and Treatment, hosted by Niigata University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.