Faculty and Staff

UP AIT’s mission is to advance the travel and tourism profession by providing high quality education and training to students who are envisioned to be the industry’s future leaders. At the forefront of this mission, UP AIT is backed by a roster of 16 full-time faculty and 10 lecturers from the travel and tourism industry.

Full-time Faculty


Ramon Benedicto A. Alampay, PhD

Ramon Benedicto A. Alampay, PhD

Associate Professor
Regenerative tourism; destination development and competitiveness; tourism and gender; consumer behavior in tourism; food and tourism; creative tourism
Rielle Christian D. Alcantara, MCD Community development, Community-based tourism; Tourism and Gender; Sustainable Tourism
Maria Criselda G. Badilla, PhD

Maria Criselda G. Badilla, PhD

Associate Professor
Tourism Marketing, Destination Development and Marketing, Tourism Master Planning, Branding and Online Image Formation, Smart and Digital Tourism
Monina M. Buccat, DPA

Monina M. Buccat, DPA

Assistant Professor
Tourism Policy, Tourism Governance; Tourism Resilience; Strategic Management, Human Resource Development; Tourism Disaster Management
Reil G. Cruz, PhD

Reil G. Cruz, PhD

Associate Professor
Tourism planning, Tourism product development, Destination branding, Inclusive development, tourism capacity building, tourism accreditation
Edieser DL.Dela Santa, PhD

Edieser DL.Dela Santa, PhD

Professor, UP Scientist 1 (2020-2022)
Tourism policy and planning, tourism education, politics of (re)presentation of heritage and culture
Richard Phillip A. Gonzalo, CPA, MSFin Destination Development; Community Organizing in Tourism; Enterprise Development in Tourism; Tourism and Social Development; Culture and Tourism; Gender and Tourism; Voluntourism; Investment Planning; Disaster and Crisis Management; Financial and Strategic Management; Student Affairs and Higher Education Administration
Ivan Anthony S. Henares, PhD

Ivan Anthony S. Henares, PhD

Assistant Professor
Heritage Conservation Policy, Cultural Tourism and Policy, Heritage Planning and Management (i.e. Historic Urban Landscapes, Cultural Landscapes, and Industrial Heritage), Tourism and Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Gastronomy, Intangible Heritage, Community-Based Festivals, Sustainable Cultural Development
Maria Carmela M. Ibañez, EnP

Maria Carmela M. Ibañez, EnP

Assistant Professor
Sustainable tourism, community-based tourism, heritage tourism, tourism policy and planning, climate change and DRRM, urban and regional planning
Giovanni Francis A. Legaspi, MIR

Giovanni Francis A. Legaspi, MIR

Assistant Professor
Corporate social responsibility in tourism, employment relations in tourism, tourism human capital, indigenous peoples and tourism
Emma Lina F. Lopez, PhD

Emma Lina F. Lopez, PhD

Associate Professor
Financial & strategic management in tourism enterprises; tourism research methods; educational and dark tourism
Ivan Anthony S. Henares, PhD Tourism destination development and management, tourism planning, tourism education, special interest tourism (e.g. agritourism/farm tourism, ecotourism, volunteer tourism), regenerative tourism
Gladys Wina B. Nocon, MBA

Gladys Wina B. Nocon, MBA

Assistant Professor
Entrepreneurship in Tourism, Barrier-Free Tourism, Tourism Management
Leticia Susan L. Solis, Phd Human resource management in tourism, disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in tourism, tourism education, management of tourism and hospitality businesses, special interest tourism (slum tourism, etc.)
Charmielyn C. Sy, MA

Charmielyn C. Sy, MA

Assistant Professor
Developmental studies, agritourism, ASEAN mutual recognition arrangement, ICT in Tourism
Victoria H. Villegas-Bacay, MSC

Victoria H. Villegas-Bacay, MSC

Assistant Professor
Tourism management, marketing, tourism governance, destination resilience

Lecturer


Maria Cristina N. Asuncion, MBA

Maria Cristina N. Asuncion, MBA

Senior Lecturer
Transportation and travel trade operations
Atty. Mark Anthony A. Asuncion

Atty. Mark Anthony A. Asuncion

Senior Lecturer
General law practice, litigation and appeals
Maria Lourdes B. Bendebel, MS

Maria Lourdes B. Bendebel, MS

Senior Lecturer
Travel trade, Voluntourism, Community-based Tourism
Marisa Eslao-Pamo, GDip

Marisa Eslao-Pamo, GDip

Teaching Associate
Farm Tourism/Agritourism
Noreen Rose V. Gonzaga, CPA, MBA

Noreen Rose V. Gonzaga, CPA, MBA

Senior Lecturer
Accounting and Finance
Dr. Marie Danielle V. Guillen

Dr. Marie Danielle V. Guillen

Professional Lecturer
Tourism Transport Planning and Management, Informal Transport, Policy and Planning Sciences, Climate Change, Planetary Health and Social Protection
Marjorie June Lucero-Antonio, MBA

Marjorie June Lucero-Antonio, MBA

Teaching Associate
Marketing communications, Conference and Events Planning, Destination Branding
Catherine Rose P. Pacia, MBA

Catherine Rose P. Pacia, MBA

Senior Lecturer
Technology Management, Marketing High Technology, Ecommerce

Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS) and the Administrative Staff


Division of Academic Affairs
Dionisia Ali Administrative Assistant
Helen Pojas University Extension Associate
Ma. Asuncion Sava Administrative Assistant
Kristina Carlota Gumawid Administrative Aide
AIT Library
Gladys Florendo College Librarian
Ruben Ochoa Administrative Aide
Division of Tourism Research and Extension Services
Maria Rose Manalo University Research Associate
Sarah Andrea Briones University Research Associate
Milovy Mariel Baduria University Research Associate
Evelyn De Ramos University Extension Associate
Office of the Institute Secretary
Digna Jacar Student Records Evaluator
Rudy Carr Gaca Administrative Assistant
Demetrio Caratiquit Administrative Aide
Administration and Engineering
Jodel Joseph Abas Administrative Officer IV
Erwin Torres Administrative Officer I
Andrew Camontoy Administrative Assistant and Building Administrator
Juvito Valdez Administrative Aide

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question in mind? We listed down some of the Frequently Asked Questions in the graduate program to help guide you. If you have further questions not covered in this FAQ, please send us an inquiry through aitgradprog.upd@up.edu.ph

UP AIT offers the Graduate Diploma in Tourism Development and Management (GDip TDM) which leads to the degree of Master of Science in Tourism Development and Management (MSTDM).

The graduate program courses are listed here. You may also view the description of courses here If you would like to know more about the subjects, please send us an e-mail.

All tourism and non-tourism graduates, with at least 1-year work experience and who would like to obtain a diploma and/or an advance degree in the field of tourism management and development may apply.

The list of requirements and downloadable application forms can be found in this page.

Yes, applicants whose work experiences are non-tourism related are welcome to apply. However, all applications will be assessed based on results of entrance examination, interview, academic performance, essay, and recommendations.

At present, UP AIT does not accept shiftees for the Graduate Program. Courses/Subjects taken in other colleges or universities will not be credited for the completion of the GDipTDM and MSTDM.

The entrance exam uses different types of questions that aim to assess your current knowledge, comprehension, logic, and analytical skills. Advanced knowledge of tourism is not required.

The application process is conducted online. Please ensure that you have read and understood the program details before submitting your application here. Once you have completed the application requirements, you can now proceed to submit your application.

For questions or concerns, please contact the Graduate Program office at aitgradprog.upd@up.edu.ph

The UPAIT Graduate Program is intended to meet the professional development needs of graduates to advance their careers in the tourism industry. Thus the UPAIT Graduate Program as much as practicable will offer weekday evenings (5:00 PM onwards) and Saturday classes (scheduled between 8 AM – 7 PM).

Graduate students are advised to take 9 units to get full load credit per semester or an equivalent of 2 – 3 classes per semester depending on the course credit units.

All students enrolled in the Graduate Program of UP AIT need to take a total of 21 units of required and elective Courses, which will allow the completion of a Graduate Diploma. Should the student want to advance to a Master’s Degree, the student needs to take 16 or 19 more units depending on the track they choose; Plan A is a thesis track with 19 units or Plan B, a non-thesis track with 16 units.

Full-time GDipTDM students, taking a normal load, may complete the degree in three semesters (approximately 1.5 years). The time limit for the completion of all diploma requirements shall be no more than two (2) years starting from the student’s first enrollment in the course and shall include all leaves of absence from the program.

If GDipTDM graduates choose to continue to MSTDM, you must complete an additional 19 units (Plan A, thesis track) or 16 units (Plan B, non-thesis track), which may be taken in two semesters and one mid-year term. The time limit for the completion of the Master’s requirements shall be three (3) years, starting from the student’s first enrollment in the course and shall include all leaves of absence from the program.

Yes. There will be time limit of 2 years from enrollment for the GDipTDM, and a time limit of 3 years for MSTDM, maximum years to finish is 5 years.

The cost per unit is Php 2,000 and the estimated cost of tuition fees for full load per semester is around Php 20,000 – 25,000.

Students and prospective applicants are requested to search for available grants or scholarships at the University of the Philippines Office of Scholarships and Student Services.

For list of available scholarships visit the website of the University of the Philippines Office of Student Scholarships.

Contact Us

The University of the Philippines, Diliman is currently implementing alternative work arrangements. Please ensure to schedule and coordinate your visit in advance before proceeding to our campus.

Get in touch

Please ensure to schedule and coordinate your visit in advance before proceeding to our campus.

Location:

AIT Building, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101

Email:

asianinstituteoftourism.upd@up.edu.ph

Call:

(+63 2) 8 981 8500 extension #2798

AIT Directory:

Visit here

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