International Seminar in Portugal Highlights, Promotes Filipino History and Culture
From left: Nova University in Lisbon CHAM Vice-Director Dr. João de Figueirôa-Rêgo, Foreign Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto Abella, National Library of Portugal Director Dr. Maria Inês Cordeiro, seminar organizing committee head Professor Paulo Jorge de Sousa Pinto, and seminar keynote speaker Dr. Armando Marques Guedes, during the opening session of the International seminar on “The Philippines, A Global Contact Zone: Transoceanic Connections (1521-1898).” (Mabille Adrianne Sampaio photo)
LISBON 28 March 2019 – A two-day international seminar entitled “The Philippines, A Global Contact Zone: Transoceanic Connections (1521-1898)” was held at the National Library of Portugal in Lisbon from 21 to 22 March 2019.
Organized by the Center of Humanities (CHAM) of the Nova University of Lisbon, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and Pablo University in Olavide, Seville, and co-sponsored, by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Philippines Embassy in Lisbon, the seminar provided an in-depth look at the important role the region played in forming a globalized world, and the cultural, trade, oceanic and people-to-people connections established during this period in history.
The academic perspectives and critical thinking provided by 19 historians from various universities in Europe and Asia during the seminar provided a welcome opportunity to revisit historical archives and to reflect on the new evidences found.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research Ernesto C. Abella who also attended the international seminar on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs, commended the organizers for providing a platform to promote and broaden academic discussions about the region in Southeast Asia by looking at Philippine history and culture, and the cultural role it played as a contact zone in the region.
Undersecretary Abella added that, “the Philippines in Southeast Asia is highly dynamic and inter-connected. It is home to a number of countries with the fastest growing economies in the world as well as the busiest trade routes where about US$5.3 trillion worth of goods pass the waters yearly. Just as it was centuries ago, the Philippines today is in the center of all these flows and connections.”
Portuguese political scientist and anthropologist who has done extensive post-graduate research on Philippine anthropology Dr. Armando Marques Guedes was the seminar’s keynote speaker, and also presented his paper entitled “The Philippines, Portugal and Southeast Asia. Drawing connectivities.” He gave a comprehensive overview of the diversity of Southeast Asia, and outlined its connectivity and centrality as a center of political, economic and cultural linkages, both in the past and in the future.
ADMU Associate Professor Ambeth Ocampo presented the Philippine National Quincentennial Committee’s commemorations on the 500th anniversary of the Magellan expedition in 2021.
Professor Ocampo explained that the quincentennial commemorations will be an opportunity to revise and revisit the way in which this event has been represented and constructed from a Filipino point of view. He also showed various paintings and illustrations of the Battle of Mactan portrayed by Spanish and Filipino artists to the audience to support the various historical interpretations.
During second day of the seminar, ADMU’s Dr. Stephanie Coo gave a presentation on the correlation of clothing and civilization in the 19th century Spanish Philippines. She showed illustrations of the evolution of 19th century clothing in the Philippines, and argued that clothing during this time period were used as tools for self-invention on the premise that Filipinos covered with many layers of clothing were civilized.
The seminar ended with a keynote speaker from Dr. Bernard Lavallé from the Complutense University of Madrid, who examined the different perspectives of the hispanization and the subcolonial character of the Philippines through Mexico who played a role during the Union of Crowns from 1580 to 1640.
Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria hosted a cocktail reception on the first day of the international seminar, where Filipino food and delicacies were served.
The two-day seminar was well attended by academicians, students in history, and members of the diplomatic corps and the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The international seminar on the Philippines is a first of a three seminar series. The next seminar will be held at the Pablo University in Olavide in Seville, which will be followed by a seminar at the Ateneo de Manila University. END
DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella gives his remarks on importance of the international seminar as an avenue to promote Philippine history and culture. (Mabille Adrianne Sampaio photo)
Dr. Armando Marques Guedes, Political Scientist and Anthropologist of the Nova University in Lisbon gives the keynote presentation on the historical connectivity between the Philippines in Southeast Asia and Portugal.
(Mabille Adrianne Sampaio photo)
Professor Ambeth Ocampo explains the official logo of the Philippine National Quincentennial Commemorations during the seminar. (Mabille Adrianne Sampaio photo)
Dr. Stephanie Coo of Ateneo de Manila University discusses clothing culture of 19th century Spanish Philippines.
(Mabille Adrianne Sampaio photo)
Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria (left) and Ateneo de Manila professors, Dr. Stephanie Coo (center) and Professor Ambeth Ocampo (right). (Mabille Adrianne Sampaio photo)
For more information, visit www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/.