Written by: Adrianne Louise Dominguez; Edited by: Yves Palad
MANILA CITY – The Professional Regulation Commission awarded CAMP’s Assistant Professor Michael C. Valdez as the 2025 PRC Outstanding Professional for Speech-Language Pathology on September 6, 2025, at The Manila Hotel.
Asst. Prof. Valdez is recognized for his contributions to the profession through leadership, scholarship, and service. He played a key role in shaping the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) education in the country by leading the curricular revision of the College’s Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology (BSSP) program, ensuring that the first-ever, and one of then only four, undergraduate SLP program in the Philippines remains trailblazing, relevant, and aligned with the national university’s commitment to leadership and nation-building.
He also contributed to the advancement of post-graduate education in SLP by leading the revitalization of the pioneering post-professional degree in SLP in the Philippines, the UP Master of Rehabilitation Science-Speech Pathology program, transforming it into the Master in Speech-Language Pathology program, which provides Filipino SLPs greater opportunities to specialize in diverse areas of practice.
He has taken various roles to further SLP education. Aside from serving as the Chair of the Department of Speech Pathology for eight years, he had a pivotal role in the quality assurance processes of the College, contributing to various accreditations by multiple agencies, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).
Asst. Prof. Valdez also shows a commitment to public service. This is exemplified by his conception of “Usap Tayo!” which provides free online screening for speech and language concerns. This program started as he found a gap in services during the pandemic, which limited client contact and mobility. Usap Tayo! is a program now integrated through CAMP’s BSSP curriculum as an exemplary platform for service-learning, fostering the value of service to the students.
Outside the University, he extends his leadership through initiatives spearheaded with the Philippine Association of Speech-Language Pathologists (PASP). He is a founding member and the current president of the PASP’s Advocating Research and Learning Special Interest Group (ARAL SIG), and a founding member of PASP’s Augmentative and Alternative Communication Special Interest Group (AAC SIG).
As a researcher, Asst. Prof. Valdez has published articles in the areas of wellness and participation. He continues to contribute to knowledge generation for the profession of speech pathology in a range of areas of expertise, such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), language acquisition, clinical training, and the economic costs of communication disorders.
These achievements are a testament to Asst. Prof. Valdez’s continuous efforts in furthering the SLP profession in the Philippines. He continues to teach at the UP CAMP Department of Speech Pathology for both undergraduate and graduate programs and serves as a technical resource person for various policy-making agencies.
