Dr. Celerino Tiongco launches book, "Beyond the Classroom"
A discourse on ten educative tasks for our times
The debut book of Emeritus Associate Professor and former Dean of the School of Education and Human Development (SED), Celerino Tiongco, Beyond the Classroom: Ten Vital Educative Tasks for Our Times, was released during a soft launch at the UA&P Dining Halls on Aug 5, 2026. The event, titled “Beyond the Classroom: A Convoy of Gratitude,” brought together members of the UA&P community and those who contributed to the book’s completion.
The themes of Beyond the Classroom are the culmination of a diverse professional journey. Dr. Celerino Tiongco’s original career path was not in education; he studied geology, worked in mineral exploration and mining, and held roles in business consultancy and publishing before joining UA&P in 2004. His eventual transition into education gave him the opportunity to further explore questions he had first encountered 25 years ago during his doctoral studies at Columbia University, particularly on the moral imagination. The years of reflection eventually led to a fundamental inquiry: What does it really mean to educate a person beyond the development of competence? In his book, Dr. Celerino Tiongco argues that education is essentially human formation—a quiet work that takes place through patient conversation, attentive silence, and the humility of sowing seeds without controlling their growth.
Dr. Celerino Tiongco emphasized that while the book carries one author’s name, it is the fruit of a shared effort. He credited several key figures who contributed to the book’s completion, including Rex Drilon II, who prodded him for years to write; Fernan Lukban, who made the book a personal project in celebration of his sixty-fifth birthday; Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., who authored the foreword; and Fr. Carlos Vicente Estrada, who reviewed the moral and doctrinal aspects of the text.
The book has also received significant endorsements from leaders in education and the Church. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Secretary of Education, noted that the book brings attention back to the “greater task of forming persons” rather than focusing solely on measurable outcomes. Robert Kugelmann of the University of Dallas described the work as a “gentle, loving touch” that urges readers to cultivate the heart, while Socrates B. Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, called it a “visionary guide for the future” that is both conversational and authoritative. Sheldon Shaeffer, former Director, UNESCO, praised the book as an “antidote to the pessimism” often found in modern education literature.
Beyond the Classroom: Ten Vital Educative Tasks for Our Times is presented as an invitation to lifelong learning. As Dr. Celerino Tiongco reflected during the launch, the title refers to more than just physical locations; it points to the lifelong work of becoming more human and of helping others do the same. The book is now available to readers as a present contribution to the continuing conversation about education.
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