UP Manila OT Brings Tatak UP CAMP to the Global Stage at WFOT 2026
Written by: Julianna Marie Galbizo, OTRP
Edited by: Gabriella Isabel Tablante-Santos, PTRP and Yves Y. Palad, EdD
The UP Manila Department of Occupational Therapy proudly participated in the 19th World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Congress 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Aligned with this year’s theme: Inspiring Change, Innovating Futures, and r. Representing Honor, Excellence, and Service, our faculty members carried Tatak UP CAMP onto the global stage through active engagement in the 4-day congress.
They attended impactful presentations highlighting OT’s vital role in climate change, disaster resilience, inclusive education, mental health, occupational justice, and community-based practice, further affirming that occupational therapy is not only clinical, but deeply social, environmental, and transformative.
Several CAMP OT faculty members proudly showcased their ongoing projects and research:
Ms. Jona Flor Villarido presented the highlights of the study “Co-creating mobility devices in less-resourced settings: A collaborative approach in developing an appropriate mobility device for Filipino children,” emphasizing collaboration that extends beyond the medical professions, including partnerships with engineering teams.
Mr. Marlowe Eriberto Acuña Jr. shared “The Meaning of Participating in Academic Fieldwork among Occupational Therapy Interns in a Filipino University,” shedding light on an innovative, non-clinical platform for fieldwork education.
Asst. Professor Peñafrancia Ching presented “Implementing a Train-the-Trainer Program for Disaster Risk Reduction and Response,” underscoring occupational therapy’s critical role in disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Asst. Professor Guia Allyza Rabacca shared the findings of the study “Mapping the Landscape of Occupational Therapy in Philippine Basic Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey,” providing valuable data to strengthen OT practice in school-based settings.
Both Mr. Acuña and Asst. Prof. Ching also chaired sessions during the conference, offering their perspectives as well as facilitating meaningful discourse among a global audience of occupational therapists.
With WFOT 2026 now concluded, the UP CAMP Department of Occupational Therapy looks forward to bringing back home insights from the Congress to inform, shape, and transform occupational therapy research, education, and practice in the service of the Filipino people.
