Foreword

Abstract

Why publish and read an academic paper on the liberal arts in this time of pandemic? Will it address and give solution to the ordeal that currently hurdles us? While the covid-19 pandemic’s concern is primarily on medical and health care, however, we see how its debilitating effects encroaches the various aspects of our lives: economic, political, social, economic, psychological, religious, cultural, among others. While finding a permanent cure and efficient vaccine are still the top concerns, however, we are also faced with other equally challenging concerns like mental health, loss of jobs and livelihood, weaknesses of online learning, psychological and spiritual care for those were infected with covid-19 as well as with loved ones left behind, to name a few.

While the papers in this issue do not directly tackle the pandemic, however, the themes that they bring forward to like caring leadership, listening to the voice of the disenfranchised, attention to the family, growth in faith and spiritual life are transposable to our present situation. In a way, reading these papers does not only satisfy us intellectually but gives helpful signposts how to navigate the tempestuous stream of covid-19 pandemic.