Excelsa C. Tongson

Excelsa Tongson is a full-time faculty member of the Department of Family Life and Child Development at the College of Home Economics, the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). Through the years, she has handled key administrative positions, including College Secretary of the College of Home Economics, Project Development Associate of the Office of the University Registrar, and Deputy Director for Training, Outreach, and Extension Program of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the Philippine Normal University, a Master’s in Family Life and Child Development, and a Doctoral Degree in Social Development from the University of the Philippines.

She has engaged widely with children, women, and LGBT groups in rural and urban areas for over 30 years. Her research interests include Gender Responsive Early Childhood Care and Development, women and gender studies, specifically unpaid care of women in multi-generation households. She has published in various local and international academic journals and conducted training and led studies on children, women, and gender for local and international organizations such as UNICEF, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, and Save the Children Philippines.

Dr. Tongson is the President of the Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP), a national organization of educators, researchers, and activists promoting gender equality in the Philippine educational system.