Fernando Alejandro C. Ligot, MHPEd, CSP-PASP

Chairperson, Board of Trustees

Prof. Fernando Alejandro C. Ligot, "Sir Bal" to most, obtained his Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology degree in 1988 from the UP College of Allied Medical Professions and his Master in Health Professions Education degree from the UP National Teachers' Training Center for the Health Professions in 1997. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Administration at the College of Education in UP Diliman.

An academician for most of his career, Sir Bal is an associate professor at the UP-CAMP and also a former Chairperson of its Department of Speech Pathology. He is currently a speech pathology consultant at the Operation Smile Philippines -Manila Cleft Care Center in Sta. Ana Hospital and at the Cleft Rehabilitation Program of H.O.P.E. Volunteers Foundation, Inc. in Bacolod City.

Sir Bal is a founding member of the Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists and is a member of the Board of Trustees of PASP since 2014. An active volunteer of Operation Smile Philippines, Sir Bal is a member of both the organization's Medical Advisory Council and Speech Council.

Working actively to improve speech language pathology education in the country, Sir Bal is also a member of the Technical Committee on Speech Language Pathology Education of the Commission on Higher Education.

He is a recipient of several prestigious recognitions, including "Outstanding SP Faculty" in 2003 from UP-CAMP, "Outstanding Faculty for Extension Service" in 2006 from UP Manila, "Outstanding Volunteer for 2013" from Operation Smile Philippines, and as one of the 50 Outstanding Alumni of the College of Allied Medical Professions in 2012.

Jocelyn Christina B. Marzan, PhD, CCC-SLP, CSP-PASP 

Secretary, Board of Trustees

Prof. Jocelyn Marzan, known more as Joyce or Ma'am Joyce, has been working for the development of speech pathology in the Philippines for over 30 years.

She earned her BS Speech Pathology degree from UP Manila in 1986, and Master of Arts (Speech Pathology and Audiology) from New York University in 1990. She did a year of Clinical Fellowship at the Kennedy Child Study Center in New York and received a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA in 1991. She has since maintained that certification.

She completed two years of coursework towards a doctorate in communication science and disorders at the University of Pittsburgh before returning home to complete both a master's and a doctorate in Developmental Psychology at UP Diliman with a focus on language development in Filipino toddlers and pre-school children. She has been a faculty member of the Department of Speech Pathology at UP Manila on a full time basis since 1993, and has been part of enhancing instructional designs and teaching-learning materials over the years, including the recent major revision that strengthened SLP foundations in normal communication development, the role of communication competence across the lifespan, and the importance of intervention for maximal participation and inclusion in society of persons with communication and/or swallowing disorders.

Upon the request of the Commission on Higher Education, Prof. Marzan led the development of the initial Policies, Standards and Guidelines for Speech-language Pathology Education. This effort was participated in by more than 40 Filipino speech pathology practitioners and educators based both in the Philippines and in various countries around the world. 

She served as president of PASP from 2004-2006 and as a member of the PASP Board of Trustees from 2014-2019. In this role, she has played a part in developing and lobbying for the recently passed Speech Language Pathology Act (RA 11249). Prof. Marzan envisions the opening of several graduate and undergraduate programs in speech pathology throughout the Philippines, with each serving as a nerve center for the development of service and locally relevant research in the Philippine major languages and with all programs collaborating constructively for the good of Filipinos with communication and/or swallowing conditions and their families. 

Ma. Georgina D. Mojica, MHPEd, CSP-PASP

She has received her degree in BS Speech Pathology from UP-CAMP in 1988, and went on to finishing her Master’s degree in Health Professions Education (MHPEd) from the UP National Teachers’ Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTC-HP) in 1994. She has extensive teaching and clinical experience in the field of speech pathology. She has actively taken part in various local and international conferences both as a resource speaker and as a participant. She has also engaged in collaborative research works in the fields of hearing habilitation, stroke rehabilitation and most recently in inclusive education. 

Prof. Mojica, Ma'am Gigi to most, is currently the Assistant Dean of the College of Rehabilitation Science in University of Santo Tomas. She started the BS Speech Language Pathology program in the said university, thus, she is the founding chair of the department. Concurrently, she is a member of the Technical Committee for Speech Language Pathology Education of the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education. She holds the position of Trustee in the Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists.

Judith A. Damian, M.S., CCC-SLP, CDP, CSP-PASP

Judy Damian is the second Filipino to obtain the Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines, School of Allied Medical Professions (now known as UP CAMP) in 1984. After graduating, she taught SP courses in UP for one year and then left for the United States to pursue her post-graduate studies. She obtained her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Boston University, Sargent College of Rehabilitation in Boston, Massachusetts in 1987. She completed her CFY in New Medico Head Injury Systems in Lynn, Massachusetts and obtained her Certificate in Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) as a board certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in 1988.

Judy is a California-licensed Medical Speech-Language Pathologist with 32 years of extensive experience in adult rehabilitation in direct patient care and management in a variety of health care settings such as acute hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehab centers, and skilled nursing facilities. She has specialties in gerontology, adult dysphagia, and adult neurogenic cognitive-communication disorders. She is a registered MBSImp Clinician©TM with expertise in Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (Modified Barium Swallowing Studies) and a certified VitalStim® therapy provider of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for the treatment of dysphagia. She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner® and a Certified LSVT LOUD® Clinician (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment). Judy has provided clinical teaching, supervision, and mentoring to graduate SLP students and ASHA Clinical Fellows in Massachusetts and California. She has presented educational sessions to other healthcare professionals and physicians on varied topics related to adult dysphagia and cognitive-linguistic deficits in the USA and locally.

Judy currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Speech Language Pathology at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences in the University of Santo Tomas. She teaches undergraduate courses in adult language disorders, diagnostics, and healthcare in SLP. She is also currently pursuing her PhD in Philippines Studies in the University of the Philippines Diliman.