Meet the Speakers | 2026 PAARL NSC
Prof. Marissa S. Pontillas (Officer In-Charge, Office of the University President, Palawan State University)
Prof. Pontillas is the Officer-in-Charge of Palawan State University, the first and premier state university in the MIMAROPA region. A distinguished scholar in the fields of teacher education and research. Prof. Pontillas has dedicated 42 years to advancing teacher training and quality higher education in the province of Palawan. She has a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, and is a candidate for Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Research and Evaluation, also from UP Diliman.
Prof. Pontillas spearheaded the recognition of the University’s College of Teacher Education as a Center of Excellence for Elementary and Secondary Education programs since 2011. She introduced curricular innovations in teacher education programs, resulting in higher pass rates for PSU graduates on licensure examinations. She was a fellow in the MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, short course on Innovative Approaches to Early Childhood Education and Development at the Golda Meir Carmel International Training Center in Haifa, Israel, in 2012, and an Australian Awards fellow in Applied Development and Research Partnership in Tertiary Leadership and Management at the University of New England in New South Wales, Australia, in 2018. Aside from her expertise in teacher education, she also actively engages in research in socioeconomic monitoring in fishers’ communities, impact assessment of social development projects, systems thinking applied to socioecological problems, and needs assessment.
Dr. Jonavie S. Quiambao, RL (Director, University Library at Angeles University Foundation (AUF)
Dr. Quiambao is a licensed librarian and academic leader with extensive experience in library management, accreditation, and archives and records management. She holds a PhD in Educational Management from AUF and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Prior to becoming Library Director, she served AUF in various roles, including Accreditation Officer, Records Officer, and Librarian.
Her professional achievements include being named a 2026 TULLIP Fellow (Transforming University Libraries: Leadership and Innovation Programme) by the National University of Singapore Libraries, where she received the Leadership in Action Award and Most Promising Project Award. She is also actively involved in professional organizations, serving in leadership roles within PLAI-CeLRLC, CeLPH, and as an institutional representative to PAARL.
Assoc. Prof. Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan (Faculty of Information Science
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
Dr. Shuhidan is an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, where she has served since 2000. She holds a PhD in Information Storage and Retrieval from RMIT University, Australia, a Master’s degree in Information Management from UiTM, and a Bachelor of Accounting (Hons.) from the University of Hull, United Kingdom.
Her expertise is in information and knowledge management, with research interests in digital literacy, information behavior, knowledge sharing, information governance, and the role of libraries and information systems in supporting learning and community development. She has held several leadership roles at UiTM, including Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs), Head of the Centre for Resource Center Management, Coordinator of Publication, and Exercising Dean of Research and Innovation. She has supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students, has been actively involved in national and international research projects, and has published widely in the fields of library and information science and knowledge management.
Asst. Prof. Dan Anthony Dorado (School of Library and Information Studies
University of the Philippines Diliman)
Asst. Prof. Dorado is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, affiliated with the School of Library and Information Studies. He specializes in Information and Communication Technology, with particular interests in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, as well as computational methods, open education, critical data studies, and radical statistics.
He earned his Bachelor of Library and Information Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman and completed his Master of Technology Management at the UP Technology Management Center. Prior to joining the faculty, he served as an Information Specialist at the UP College of Engineering Library.
Prof. Dorado has been actively engaged in conducting and participating in seminars and training programs on artificial intelligence, data analytics, and their applications in libraries and education. In recognition of his contributions to teaching and public service, he was awarded the One U.P. Faculty Grant Award in 2026. A licensed librarian, he is a member of the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. – National Capital Region.
Ms. Elvira B. Lapuz (University Librarian, University of the Philippines Diliman)
Ms. Lapuz is the current University Librarian of the University of the Philippines Diliman, a position she has held since September 2020. A distinguished leader in the field of library and information science, she previously served the university as Deputy University Librarian and as a Senior Lecturer at the UP School of Library and Information Studies.
Ms. Lapuz holds both a Bachelor and Master of Library Science from the University of the Philippines. Her professional expertise focuses on the management of libraries and information centers, library advocacy, collection development, and information literacy. Her leadership extends to major national and international organizations, having served as the National President of the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) and President of the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL). Internationally, she is a member of the IFLA Regional Division for Asia Oceania.
Throughout her career, Ms. Lapuz has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the profession, including:
- First Place, 1992 Librarians Licensure Examination.
- Gabriel A. Bernardo (GAB) Leadership Award (2017).
- UP Diliman Gawad Chanselor para sa Natatanging Kawani (2016).
- Outstanding Academic Librarian (2014).
She continues to be an active voice in the library community, frequently serving as a resource person and speaker at international summits regarding the future of libraries and sustainable innovation.
Dr. Rosette E. Nuera (Chief Librarian, National Teachers College)
Dr. Nuera is a distinguished leader in the field of librarianship, currently serving as the Chief Librarian and a part-time faculty member at the National Teachers College (NTC) and Senior Lecturer at the Centro Escolar University. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, as well as a Master of Education in Library Science from NTC, and a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science from Manuel L. Quezon University. A licensed professional since 1999, her career spans over two decades of technical and administrative leadership in academic libraries, including significant tenures at the College of the Holy Spirit Manila.
Dr. Nuera, served as the 2025 President of the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL). Her commitment to the profession is further evidenced by her roles in the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) and her long-standing chairmanships within the Mendiola Consortium and the SSpS Library Committee.
As a researcher and subject matter expert, Dr. Nuera has co-authored several international journal articles focusing on 21st-century librarian competencies, research data services, and the experiences of Filipino library professionals abroad.