International Relations majors from Mindanao State University (MSU), Marawi City visited the UP Asian Center last 13 July 2016, where they listened to two lectures given by Dean Joefe B. Santarita, and Dr. Henelito Sevilla, Jr., Assistant to the Dean for Administration and Public Affairs.

Dean Santarita discussed Blue Economy Cooperation among ASEAN states, India, and China, while Dr. Sevilla gave a presentation, “China’s New Maritime Silk Route Strategy: Its Economic and Political Implications for ASEAN.”

The IR students of IR 197 Section A Class were accompanied by Faculty Supervisor, Dr. Fatima Marohombsar, who served as Faculty Supervisor. Their visit has been one of several that has been held since 2012 (except 2013). Read about the 2012, 2014, and 2015 visits.

Dean Santarita specializes in Indian studies, migration studies, Philippine culture and society, maritime history and Southeast Asian political economy. Dr. Santarita, who obtained his Ph.D. in South Asian Studies from the National University of Singapore, handles several graduate courses at the UP Asian Center, including those on Regionalism and Community Building in Asia, Modern Asia, and Asia in Antiquity, among others. Visit his faculty profile.

Dr. Henelito A. Sevilla, Jr. is Assistant Professor at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman and Assistant to the Dean for Administration and Public Affairs. He specializes in international relations, Mindanao studies, Philippine-Middle East Relations, political economy of the Middle East, energy security in Asia, Persian Gulf security and Middle Easterners in the Philippines. The coordinator of the West Asian Studies graduate program of the UP Asian Center, he handles several graduate courses such as Seminar on West Asia, Philippine Foreign Relations in Selected Countries in West Asia, and History and Development of Philippine Foreign Policy. Visit his faculty profile

Mindanao State University was established on 1 September 1961 through Republic Act 1387 and Republic Act 1893. Its flagship campus is in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Visit the MSU website to learm more. 


The Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. The Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.