Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand 
why the old poets of China went so far
and high 
into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

The UP Asian Center will be holding a public lecture, The Current Taiwan-Philippines Bilateral Relations and The Prospect of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, on 3 May 2017, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Seminar Room, UP Asian Center, Quezon City. The lecture is free and open to the public, but seating is first-come, first-served and participants are encouraged to sign up.

ABOUT THE LECTURE

In a new era of uncertainty and world-wide backlash against globalization and regional economic integration, it is important to reexamine and strengthen the bilateral relations between neighboring countries. Although the Philippines and Taiwan are close neighbors, both countries have long overlooked each other’s importance and the benefits of economic complementarity for their respective economic and industrial development. Representative Gary Lin’s lecture will shed light on the historical background and the current situation of the Philippines-Taiwan bilateral ties. Rep. Lin will also explain and analyze the Taiwan Government’s “New Southbound Policy” and the impacts on Taiwan and the Philippines's relationship in the years to come.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER 

Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin has served as Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines since September 23, 2014. He has a Doctorate in History from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He did his undergraduate studies in Tamkang College, Taipei, Taiwan, majoring in English Literature, and earned his Master’s Degree in History from the University of Manchester, England, UK. Dr. Lin has served in the Taiwanese Foreign Service in different capacities, including Second Secretary and First Secretary to Swaziland; Counselor and Chargé d’ Affaires to Grenada and St. Lucia, West Indies; Consul-General then Deputy Representative of the Taipei Liaison Office in South Africa; Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Representative to Australia and Norway.

INQUIRIES and ATTENDANCE

If you are planning to come with/as a big group (a class or delegation), please inform us the number of participants at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It would also be best if their names could be registered online or if you could send us a list of their names.

ENROLL: MA Programs: Asian Studies @ UP Asian Center 

 The UP 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. Get an overview of these programs. The Asian Center also houses a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia. It has published several books and monographs, and hosts or organizes various lectures and conferences