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

Mr. Janus Isaac Nolasco, Managing Editor of Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, gave a presentation on academic writing during the 5th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium, which was held from 20 to 22 July at Microtel, University of the Philippines.  

In his presentation on 21 July, Mr. Nolasco shared academic writing tips with the fourteen (14) symposium participants; he explained what editors — based on his experience reviewing and copyediting manuscripts — look for in a journal manuscript. He emphasized standard practices and identified common mistakes among submissions, including the disconnect between what a manuscripts says it will do and what it actually does. 

Mr. Nolasco was one of eight editors who were invited to give an overview of their respective social-science journals, such as Kasarinlan (UP Third World Studies Center); Plaridel (UP College of Mass Communication); Social Science Diliman and Humanities Diliman; Philippine Social Sciences Review; Daluyan; and the Philippine Political Science Journal

Four Korean Studies experts also delivered plenary lectures during the symposium, which was organized by the Department of Linguistics, College of Social Sciences and Philippines. The symposium aimed to “equip Filipino scholars with the knowledge to understand Korea through a variety of lectures by Korean Studies expert” and to “assist Korean Studies scholars into developing their working papers into manuscripts” that can be submitted to academic journals. 

The PKSS was sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies. To learn more about the symposium—names of key speakers, etc.read the press release from the Department of Linguistics or the announcement from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. A photo gallery may be viewed at the Facebook page of the Department of Linguistics. 


The UP Asian Center offers M.A. programs 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.