PH International Workshop in Lisbon Highlights Filipino Cultural Heritage through Interdisciplinary Lens
LISBON 13 December 2024 – Philippine and Portuguese institutions organized an international workshop entitled Philippine Objects In The Context of European Colonial Gears (Late 19th – Early 20th Centuries) on 06 December 2024 at the Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal.
A brainchild of Ateneo de Manila University Assistant Professor Dr. Stephanie Coo, in collaboration with Dr. Paulo Pinto of the Centro de Humanidades (CHAM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas (FCSH), the international workshop brought together experts from various fields aimed at deepening the understanding of Philippine history and culture through innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.
The workshop is funded by the Office of Senator Loren Legarda through the Philippine Embassy in Portugal. In her message, Senator Legarda said that the workshop “is like breathing life into the stories of our past uncovering the significance and identity, and creating meaningful narratives that shape [our] aspirations for teaching and learning.” She regarded the workshop as “a vital extension of [my] efforts in leveraging cultural diplomacy in a more personal way, creating dialogues and collaboration.”
In his Opening Remarks, Philippine Ambassador Paul Raymund P. Cortes highlighted the Philippine Embassy´s key mission to explore innovative and creative ways to promote the Philippines and the Filipino people—our geography, culture, music, dance, traditions, and our shared identity with the rest of the world.
He also acknowledged the unwavering support of Senator Loren Legarda and the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Office of Cultural Diplomacy in promoting Philippine arts and culture and ensuring that these efforts are not only ephemeral but also lasting and accessible to future generations.
Prof. Elisabete Pereira of the Instituto de História Contemporânea headlined the workshop with her keynote speech on Decolonizing Knowledge about Colonial Collections in Archaeological Museums. She highlighted an ongoing Portuguese project focusing on a provenance research perspective and studying the context of how artifacts were collected and incorporated into Portuguese museums.
This was followed by presentations of 11 Filipino and European academics and specialists from various disciplines, including anthropology, history, literary studies, museology, molecular biology, materials science, and cultural studies, presenting on the relevance of cultural objects to share work experiences, ideas and analytical perspectives on colonial objects. Students from the London School of Economics shared their experiences and research on decolonization and Philippine colonial history.
The workshop was well-attended by an audience of over 60 guests, which included historians, diplomats, scholars, members of the academe, media representatives, and members of the Filipino community.
The event aimed to foster a greater understanding of the shared history between the Philippines and Europe, emphasizing the significance of cultural artifacts as vital witnesses of the past. It also served as an opportunity to discuss ongoing efforts to preserve and reclaim the cultural heritage of former colonies.
The workshop would not be possible without the support of the Ateneo de Manila University, and Portuguese partners, Centro de Humanidades, Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal and the Fundação para Ciência e a Tecnologia. END
For more information, visit https://www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/ or https://www.instagram.com/phinportugal/.