Ubaldo, Abel A. teaches at Ateneo de Manila University. Across 28 comments from students, they hold a rating of 3.6 out of 5. Students score them 2.3 out of 5 on clarity, 2.8 out of 5 on helpfulness, 1.6 out of 5 on grading fairness and 2.5 out of 5 on workload. Of those comments, 13 read positive, 3 read mixed, 6 read neutral and 6 read negative.
Ubaldo, Abel A.
Ateneo de Manila University · 28 comments
What students said
positive 13
neutral 6
mixed 3
negative 6
Ubaldo, Abel A.3.6
Background
Depends on youEducation · Career · Courses · PublicationsShowHide
Depends on youread from published reviews and public records · high confidence
Take Ubaldo when you want a demanding, actually-taught HISTO 12 and can protect time for long weekly readings and picky quizzes. Expect a hard B+ more than an A. Skip him when the rest of the term is already heavy, or when you are shopping for a light GE — the Ubaldo-only comments agree the load is not light.
Suits
students who will do long history readings every week
people who want a passionate, funny lecturer and will accept B+ over an easy A
students who can write short, precise essays
Look elsewhere if
anyone already predicting a stacked-major term
shoppers who want a light, quiz-free HISTO 12
students who need an easy A or dislike picky writing/detail quizzes
Lecturer · MA
History (history of cinema, media history, Martial Law in the Philippines, history of Philippine education)
Education
MA Philippine Studies, University of the Philippines Diliman · 2020
BA History, Polytechnic University of the Philippines · 2014
Career
Lecturer, Ateneo de Manila University · Department of History · current
Instructor, Ateneo de Manila University · Department of History
History faculty, Polytechnic University of the Philippines · History
Hard tests and extremely picky about writing style
negative
Retake?No
LeniencyNo
WorkloadHeavy
Pray that you won't get a nosebleed, I had him for last sem 😭. Prof. Ubaldo is known for hard tests, with out-of-this-world questions that you are not even sure where he pulled them out of (super minor points he had mentioned in the lecture or readings). He has a lot of materials that you need to know: readings, lectures, dates, and people that you need to memorize and know. Even if you do get the answer right, he is extremely, and I really mean extremely picky about the writing style (will grade you lower if he does not like it).
If I remember right, he prefers a straight-to-the-point writing style; no long answers with lots of words, but precise and easy-to-understand, with the points already given (feel free to correct me on this).
My tip, as a passer (who cried last sem bc of out-of-pocket questions) of his class, is to do a mind map with ALL the names of the people (even if they are super minor he might bring them up), what they are associated with (events and what they are known for, and even career), groups and what their purpose is, and dates (don't forget the dates and people and the event that occurred in them!). I suggest asking a friend to quiz you, explain how certain events happen, and when (as there is a writing portion). Then, you can create flashcards, shortcuts, and quiz yourself even more — honestly, it is the only way to be sure you are going to get a high score and pass.
For long readings (especially the 50-70 pages) make use of notebooklm to summarize key points (date, people, places, why and what happened and who is connected to who) to make it less stressful especially if you have a heavy semester and requirements to do.more
1 replyHide replies
Witty Urchin
Thanks for this! Do you remember what his exams were exactly? Like did he focus on the readings? his canvas? Which reading did he heavily focus on? etc etc
Anonymous
Exams mix readings, slides, names/dates, plus an essay
positive
it’s a good balance between all imo! there were parts of his exam where it was reading specific. there were essay questions where he asks you to reference specific readings in each question. but there were also questions that came directly from the slides (like names & events)! the canvas modules were good supplementary materials tho because he sometimes goes more into depth there compared to his slides.
i remembered a lot of multiple choice but the hardest were the modified true or false questions… try to remember specific names, dates, events, etc. because he asks those. i remember one question being like who ran for vice president along side someone 😭
and he always includes an essay in his exam from what i remembered so be ready for that bc he does kinda grade low there (at least in my experience)more
Earnest Lynx
Info-heavy modules and hard quizzes, but you learn a lot
mixed
WorkloadHeavy
you will learn a lot from ubaldo but every session is info heavy because every module of his has 3-5 readings with 20-70 pages 😩 he would ask questions in class and sometimes call on students, but i still wouldnt read all the readings lmao its impossible n sometimes i just say idk the answer if i get called lol its fine the recit is not graded i believe. his quizzes are hard thooo rip, so yes taking ubaldo’s class will give you a heavier work. but i think there are both pros and cons for both profs depending on your preference
gealogo: lighter workload and easy B+ but lessons might not be memorable
ubaldo: heavy heavy workload and hard B+ but you learn a lotmore
All comments
Earnest Panda
indiv presentations tlga. Di naman siya super strict with speaking in filipino pero he explained it naman na since its like a formal presentation just do your best to explain in filipino. If there are like certain topics/events na di mo ma explain ng maayos in tagalog you can explain it naman in english but then again try to explain in tagalog.more
Rapid Alpaca
History exam with an old Filipino song on loop
positive
Ubaldo na! Challenge yourself! You're missing out with the "Ateneo education" if you weren't able to take a freaking history exam with a freaking old Filipino song played on loop while taking the exam HAHAHAHA. If sadista ka like me, I suggest him 👹👹more
Anonymous
Engaging and understandable, but the requirements are heavy
positive
Retake?Yes
WorkloadHeavy
For some reason i liked ubaldo’s classes….he was engaging
and understandable naman yung discussion nya
His requirements lang talaga yung mabigat 😭
Golden Newt
Paper can save you; 4 does not sound attainable
4.0 attainableNo
i dont think so.. he also told us before that if we fail his class, just take it the next sem 😭 to look on the brighter side, i was able to pull my grades up with the group final paper (to be published in a website). so if ever youll get a low score on your tests, just work hard on your paper and start as early as u canmore
Anonymous
Low quizzes but B+ if you invest in the final paper
positive
goodluck! i just realized my comment might have scared u ahshha so i also want to share that i had low scores on my quizzes too but ended up getting a B+ because i worked hard on our final requirement (a group paper). so for the ppl taking ubaldo, invest in your final paper and long exams bc it can pull ur grades up. the final paper topic is also given halfway the sem so literally start asap and dont cram itmore
Anonymous
positive
Chill sem and interesting teaching style = Karen So
sem full of readings but learn a lot and interesting teaching style but high standards = Ubaldo
Anonymous
love-hate with sir Ubaldo but A-able for sure
4.0 attainableYes
love-hate with sir ubaldo but A-able for sure
Kind Dove
Don't take him if your load is already heavy
Retake?No
WorkloadHeavy
hi dont ubaldo if u predict ur load to be heavier, he wont make it bearable
in fact his sub was heavier than most of my majors combined haha so if ur feeling brave, sure… i can attest with the looping filipino jingle during the final test, difficult esp since the questions were all essay type HAHAHA and he doesnt account for delays in his sched so during finals week we had like three reqs from him sunodsunod … u wont fail, ppl are right w the B-B+ with effort but it is so not worth it w the workload and amount of material u have to absorb for his reqsmore
Anonymous
hi anon,u r probably my classmate or sumn and just received THAT email from him. i’m also anxious, hence i’m commenting here so this post will send me a notif when someone replies hahaha.we got this!more
Witty Moth
HotdogKayaKoPato
Keen Quail
Really good prof, heavy but digestible readings
positive
WorkloadHeavy
ubaldo! hes a reaally good prof
medyo heavy lang load niya (soooo many readings, but theyre digestible! youll learn for sure!
Gentle Badger
Okay naman
neutral
Okay naman
Witty Dove
Yes. Trust!
positive
Yes. Trust!
Clever Newt
C standing somehow became a B
4.0 attainableYes
im pretty sure i had a C standing with him last semester, C+ if being generous, but somehow managed to get a B so i think he does!
Anonymous
Heavy 30+ readings but he curves
positive
WorkloadHeavy
hi for us im pretty sure he did!
Took his class 1st sem 24-25 and id say it's one of the most heavy subjects ive taken with almost 30+ readings i had to juggle with my majors lol but yeah I calculated like a low to mid B but had a final grade of B+ so pretty sure he curves
just do well with the final website requirement and the final exam cuz it'll really help w your grademore
Lucky Panda
Ubaldo for learning, Gealogo if you want light
Ubaldo:
- Pros: A is possible (though unlikely), lifelong learnings
- Cons: Heavy workload
Gealogo:
- Pros: Lighter workload
- Cons: A is literally impossible, boring learnings
TL;DR: Go with Ubaldo.more
Keen Otter
Manageable workload but he grades low
mixed
LeniencyNo
WorkloadLight
as an ubaldo survivor, ull live to see another day! he had a lot of readings but easy to digest naman and workload is pretty manageable! just make sure to recite when u can alr para he wont call u again 😆
downside is he grades low hehe got a B with moderate effortmore
Earnest Alpaca
Really good prof, heavy but digestible readings
positive
Retake?Yes
WorkloadHeavy
ubaldo! hes a reaally good prof :) medyo heavy lang load niya (soooo many readings, but theyre digestible! youll learn for sure!
Mellow Urchin
Go with Ubaldo over Gealogo
negative
Ubaldo:- Pros: A is possible (though unlikely), lifelong learnings- Cons: Heavy workloadGealogo:- Pros: Lighter workload- Cons: A is literally impossible, boring learningsTL;DR: Go with Ubaldo.more
Vivid Tiger
Memorize tiny details; exams go past lecture
negative
LeniencyNo
WorkloadHeavy
not sure if he changed his approach, but we had modified true or false where you had to memorize small details like the dates, place, name of the person, etc. for the essay part, it was difficult because some of the questions weren’t discussed in class but can be found in his long readings that feels impossible to read all of them 😭 so make sure to memorize the details, review your notes from his discussion, and the most effective tip that allowed my classmates to pass his test is to ask the other section what was the content of the exam, so itd be better if u knew someone from the other class 😔more
