The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) launched its first regional executive education hub—UA&P CORE Cebu—on March 28, 2025, in a milestone event held at the Citadines Cebu City that also formalized the university’s partnership with real estate development company Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI).
The launch marks a pivotal step in realizing UA&P’s Strategic Vision 2030, which includes establishing a national presence across three strategic locations in the country. Through CORE Cebu, the university aims to deliver executive-level education that emphasizes both technical excellence and values-driven leadership.
“Cebu City was a natural and strategic choice for this expansion,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UA&P Foundation Inc., citing the Queen City of the South’s robust economy, accessibility to Visayas and Mindanao, and the strong support of alumni in the region, both from UA&P and its forerunner, Center for Research and Communication (CRC). “We are particularly heartened by the strong presence of our active alumni network here.”
The event featured a partnership signing ceremony between UA&P and CLI, with Amb. Cuisia, Jr., UA&P President Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, CLI Chairman Mr. Jose Soberano III, and CLI Executive Director & Senior EVP Mr. Jose Franco Soberano as signatories. The partnership secures CORE Cebu’s headquarters at the Latitude Corporate Center in Cebu Business Park.
In his remarks, Dr. Roberto Miguel Roque, UA&P Vice President for Business Development and Alumni Affairs, emphasized that the Cebu project was “a shared dream, a shared vision, a shared mission with many stakeholders.”
“We considered once more our purpose: to bring the unique educational experience of UA&P, deeply imbued with wisdom, solidarity, and excellence, to many more places—starting with our country, and eventually the rest of the Asia-Pacific region,” Dr. Roque said.
He also highlighted the deeper significance of the occasion, which coincided with the centenary of the priestly ordination of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, to whom UA&P owes its spiritual inspiration.
CORE, which stands for Continuing Real-World Education, will offer a suite of executive-level certificate programs and short courses tailored to the needs of industries in the Visayas and Mindanao. Upcoming offerings include programs on Data Governance, Sustainability Management, Project Management, and the much-established Strategic Business Economics Program (SBEP).
The facility—designed by world-renowned architectural firm AIDEA—will span approximately 470 square meters, with a large multipurpose area, a tech-enabled case room, faculty offices, and coaching rooms to host both local and international lecturers, including faculty from the IESE Business School in Barcelona.
UA&P President Dr. Padojinog expressed deep gratitude to the project’s key benefactors. “They have set a shining example of collaboration,” he said. “Your belief in our mission will undoubtedly create ripples of positive impact—not only in Cebu but also in the VisMin area, and, in the future, in Vietnam and Indonesia.”
Dr. Padojinog emphasized that CORE is more than a physical space—it is a platform for human flourishing, professional growth, and transformative leadership. He invited the community to support the project in various ways—from donations and professional services to program development and enrollment of executives.
“Let us work together to make CORE a symbol of what is possible when visionaries, educators, and partners unite,” he said. “May your continued generosity inspire even greater achievements.”
The soft launch was attended by members of the UA&P Board of Trustees and Management Committee, alumni from UA&P and CRC, institutional partners, and representatives from Cebu’s business community. UA&P co-founder and BOT Vice President Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas shared the value of upskilling, reskilling, and retooling of professionals and executives. Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, who is a UA&P alumnus, also graced the occasion.
UA&P co-founder Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, who began his academic career in Cebu, described his participation in the event as “a full circle to my professional career.” Now part of the UA&P team launching executive programs in the Visayas and Mindanao, he shared his hopes of turning CORE into a hub for transformative business and governance education.
“I hope I am not dreaming too much,” he said, outlining his vision for specialized programs, corporate transformation roadmaps, and even a regional governance forum based in Mactan. “But I always have ringing in my ears the comment of St. Josemaría: ‘Dream, and your dreams will fall short.’”
As UA&P expands its reach through CORE Cebu, the university reiterates its commitment to shaping professionals who are not only competent and globally competitive but also deeply committed to serving the common good.
For more information on UA&P CORE programs or partnership opportunities, contact [email protected].
