Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP) recently witnessed another milestone in its long-standing advocacy for cultivating critical, discerning, and reflective thinkers. Gladys P. Mangiduyos, long-time advocate of critical thinking, officially launched her podcast Critical Thinking in an Age of Noise, a platform designed to guide listeners in navigating the complexities of the digital world with clarity and purpose.

The inaugural episode featured no less than the University President, Dr. Irineo G. Alvaro Jr., as the first guest. His participation underscored institutional support for strengthening criticality across disciplines. In this conversation, Dr. Alvaro affirmed the urgency of cultivating sound judgment amid an era saturated with misinformation and cognitive overload.

The second episode shifted the lens to Critical Thinking in the Family and Workplace, bringing together four guests whose leadership spans education, entrepreneurship, global linkages, raising kids, and health services. The distinguished panel included Wilfredo C. Ramos, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Rio Anne B. Dizon, Director for Internationalization and Linkages; Engineer Irene G. Alvaro, entrepreneur and project consultant; and Maricris Gozun Tallant, director, cardiovascular ICU, Stepdown, Respiratory & Nursing Administration from Phoenix, Arizona.

Each guest reflected on how criticality shapes their decisions as parents, educators, administrators, and professionals. They described the interview as one that “brought out their best,” affirming the value of the podcast as a space that encourages depth, honesty, and intellectual courage.

A Legacy Rooted in Years of Critical Thinking Advocacy

The launch of the podcast is not an isolated initiative; it is the continuing arc of a movement that began in 2008, when Mangiduyos first presented the concept of cultivating critical thinking to WUP deans and department heads. Since then, the College of Education has become the central hub for critical thinking training, hosting seminars that have shaped thousands of students over the years.

In 2009, all academic deans collaborated to establish a unified Outreach and Extension initiative called Reach Out to Teach, offering free training to public school teachers, researchers, police officers, and members of the armed forces. Smaller-scale trainings were also extended to church ministries and student groups, and the Wesley Divinity School later adopted critical thinking as an elective course.

By 2011, these efforts crystallized into the formal launching of Our Hands Together for Critical Thinking Movement, an initiative born from Mangiduyos’ own 15-week advanced training under The Foundation for Critical Thinking.

Mangiduyos expressed deep gratitude for the institutions that supported her formation:

“The Foundation for Critical Thinking has been so gracious to give me a scholarship, and I am profoundly thankful to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, especially Dr. Kim Cape and Dr. Ken Yamada, and the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relations, who provided the means for me to present my paper and lead a round-table discussion during the International Critical Thinking conference in Berkeley California.”

Part of her contribution to pedagogy is the introduction of the RHDA teaching tool, a process designed to strengthen students’ ability to analyze information, question assumptions, and evaluate evidence responsibly.

For more than a decade, this movement has been celebrated annually, highlighting the imperatives of criticality in addressing fallacies, media bias, propaganda, and educational fads. Using Socratic questioning, Mangiduyos and her colleagues help students confront and dismantle misinformation with intellectual rigor.

A Movement Renewed: Monthly Critical Thinking Convocations

Today, the cultivation of critical thinking is entering a new chapter. Under the strong support of President Irineo G. Alvaro Jr., WUP has institutionalized monthly Critical Thinking Convocations across disciplines, drawing hundreds of students each session. This initiative marks the formal launch of the Pause. Ask. Choose. Movement, a simple yet powerful framework introduced by Mangiduyos to make critical thinking more accessible and actionable in everyday life.

The Seven Monthly Critical Thinking Convocation that features Critical Thinking in an Age of Noise was inaugurated on September 5, 2025, and had its second and third installments in October and November respectively, attended by graduating students from the College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Criminal Justice Education, College of Nursing, College of Engineering and Computer Technology, College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Wesley Divinity School. This would run until March 2026.

Mangiduyos is currently pursuing her continuing education, equipping herself in speaking, book writing, and podcast production. As she refines her lifelong craft in critical thinking, she recognizes how this work has been reimagined, strengthened, and meaningfully delivered to wider audiences. She considers herself profoundly fortunate to be coached and guided by two exceptional mentors – Kaley Chu and Dale Stevens, whose expertise and generosity have shaped her growth with remarkable impact. Their mentorship has deepened her clarity, elevated her voice, and expanded her capacity to serve through transformative communication.

As misinformation and disinformation continue to proliferate globally, the launch of Critical Thinking in an Age of Noise amplifies WUP’s resolve to lead educational communities toward clarity, discernment, and truth. Through this podcast, Mangiduyos extends the reach of a movement she began nearly two decades ago—empowering families, workplaces, and institutions to think with intention, wisdom, and integrity.

The University stands poised to benefit further from this timely initiative, as the podcast promises to become an essential resource for learners and leaders navigating the increasingly noisy world of the 21st century.

Article by PIO and OVPAP
Video clips courtesy of Gladys P. Mangiduyos
Photos by PIO