Philippine Studies Expands International Reach at Inaugural “Dialogo: Philippine Studies Goes Global” Conference
(Left to Right): Conference participants at the Ramon Magsaysay building, Former Dean of UPAC Henelito Sevilla, Jr. and DFA-OCD Assistant Secretary Celia Anna Feria during the opening ceremony; Parallel sessions (Photo credits: Conference Days 1 and 2 DFA-OPD Photographers Maria Vanessa Ubac and Johannes Adrian De Guia).
MANILA 06 December 2024 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Office of Cultural Diplomacy (OCD), in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) Asian Center (AC), organized the inaugural "Dialogo: Philippine Studies Goes Global" international conference from 27 to 29 November 2024. The event convened scholars from various universities in the Philippines, foreign universities and institutions with Philippine Studies programs, government officials, diplomatic corps, cultural agencies and stakeholders.
The conference kicked off on 27 November 2024 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center, with the opening remarks of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez who underscored the university's pivotal role in Philippine Studies and cultural preservation. DFA-OCD Assistant Secretary Celia Anna Feria and former UPAC Dean Henelito Sevilla, Jr., Ph.D., also delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing the significance of cultural diplomacy and academia in advancing Philippine Studies globally.
Senator Loren Legarda, the visionary and driving force behind the establishment of Philippine Studies programs in 25 universities abroad, was the guest of honor at the event. She lauded the progress of Philippine Studies programs, which began in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London in 2017 and has since expanded to more universities overseas. Highlighting the importance of Philippine culture, Senator Legarda said, “we must know and understand our wealth as a nation for us to value ourselves; otherwise, we will always think we are a poor nation and inferior people when we are not, when we are one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, when we are wealthiest in terms of culture.” In line with her causes for environmental conservation, she was honored with a donation of 100 trees under her name, through the DFA’s partnership with Generation HOPE tree-planting campaign.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Ramon Guillermo, novelist and professor from UP’s Center for International Studies, who expounded on the entanglement of history and contemporary narratives in Philippine Studies. The opening ceremony was followed by parallel conference sessions and concluded with a reception at the San Agustin Church.
Dr. Reynaldo Ileto, acclaimed historian and author of Pasyon and Revolution: Popular Movements in the Philippines, 1840–1910, delivered the keynote lecture during the second day of the conference. According to Dr. Ileto, “we need to move beyond the Filipinas versus the Philippines or dark age versus light of liberty dichotomy and construct a 400-year history that meets the demands of a multipolar world order–this should be a key project of global Philippine Studies.”
Following the keynote, the event transitioned into a series of sessions that spanned 35 conference themes on various fields of Philippine Studies, ranging from Intersecting Policies and Communities in Environmental and Economic Governance to Collaborative and Inclusive Future for Education, and many more.
The second day of the conference ended with a banquet and cultural night at the Ramon Magsaysay Center. Incoming Dean of the UPAC, Professor Christian Moratilla, Ph.D., spoke on the future of Philippine Studies at the UPAC.
The conference concluded with roundtable discussions at the UPAC on 29 November 2024. At the closing ceremony, Conference Convenors DFA-OCD Director for Cultural Exchanges André Peter Estanislao and UPAC Professor Maria Dulce Natividad expressed their gratitude to participants for their contributions to the conference and to the field of Philippine Studies. Director Estanislao and Professor Natividad affirmed Senator Loren Legarda's call to further institutionalize the Philippine Studies conference and other relevant initiatives.
Participants joined cultural tours to the National Museum of Anthropology, Natural History, and Fine Arts and Intramuros on the last day of the conference. The tours immersed the conference participants in Filipino art, history, and culture, highlighting the country’s diverse heritage. END
(Left to Right): Senator Loren Legarda delivers the Guest of Honor message; Former Dean of UPAC Henelito Sevilla, Jr., DFA-OCD Assistant Secretary Celia Anna Feria, Senator Loren Legarda, and UP President Angelo Jimenez, during the awarding of certificate of donation of 100 trees in honor of Senator Legarda. (Photo credits: Conference Days 1 and 2 DFA-OPD Photographers).
(Left to Right): Professor Ramon Guillermo’s keynote lecture; Participants at the Church's Facade; San Agustin Church Chief Conservator Lou Revilla; Welcome reception. (Photo credits: Conference Days 1 and 2 DFA-OPD Photographers).
(Left to Right): Professor Reynaldo Ileto’s keynote lecture; Conference sessions; Cultural night performance (Photo credits: Conference Days 1 and 2 DFA-OPD Photographers).
(Left to Right): Roundtable discussions; Closing Remarks of DFA-OCD Director for Cultural Exchanges André Peter Estanislao; Cultural Tours. (Photo credits: Conference Day 3 Photographers DFA-OPD Royce Vann Paul Pantua and Johannes Adrian De Guia).