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 Salutes Its 2016 Graduates

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Photo: Eleven of the 12 MA Graduates of the UP Asian Center. 

Twelve graduates of the UP Asian Center’s MA programs and two* graduates of the Tricollege Ph.D. Philippine Studies program took part 26 June 2016 in the graduation ceremony held at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman. 

Below are the names of the graduates under the UP Asian Center’s MA programs, with their respective areas of specialization in parenthesis.

Master of Arts in Asian Studies

Master of Arts in Philippine Studies

  • Lorna Israel

    • Thesis: “Refusing a Life without Poverty: Scarcity and Abundance in Dolphy’s Situation Comedies”

  • Ann Louise de Leon

    • Thesis: “Apostolic Catholic Church: An Ethnohistory of a Social Movement”

Master in Asian Studies

  • Lara Cartujano (Northeast Asia, Japan)

  • Shanedey Parreno (Northeast Asia,Japan)

  • Milovy Ramos (Southeast Asia)

  • Martin Baliao (Northeast Asia, Japan)

  • Dorcas Ramos (Northeast Asia, China)

Master in Philippine Studies

  • Virgilio Gener

  • Gerlene Reyes (Society and Culture)

  • Esther Pinzon (Society and Culture)

Ph.D. Philippine Studies

  • Noel Moratilla, Ph.D.

    • Dissertation: “Kontra-Diskurso: Testimonial Narratives of Filipino Workers (1986-2012)”

  • May Salao, Ph.D.* (could not attend the ceremony due to prior commitment)

    • Dissertation: "The Animation Industry in the Philippines: Institution Building for Skill Formation"

  • Evelyn Vergara, Ph.D.

    • Dissertation: "Women’s Images in Liwayway Short Stories Post-Edsa, 1992-2002"

Photo: Lorna Israel (L) and Noel Moratilla delivering their responses on behalf of the MA and Ph.D. graduates. 

The Asian Center offers two tracks for its MA programs in Asian Studies: The Master of Arts in Asian Studies (thesis track), and the Master in Asian Studies (non thesis). The same goes for MA programs in Philippine Studies: The Master of Arts in Philippine Studies (thesis track), and the Master in Philippine Studies (nonthesis). The Tricollege Ph.D. Philippine Studies Program is jointly administered by the Asian Center, College of Arts and Letters, and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.

Learn more about the Asian Center’s MA Programs and the Ph.D. Philippines Studies Program

Delivering a response on behalf of the graduates was Lorna Israel (MA) and Dr. Noel Moratilla (Ph.D.). Dr. Leslie Bauzon, Vice President of the Division of Social Sciences of the National Research Council of the Philippines, was guest of honor; in his speech, he spoke of his (and his colleagues’) research on the Escalon Man. Dr. Bauzon was introduced by Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and Chair of the Tricollege Council of the Ph.D. Philippine Studies program.

Providing intermission number was Professor Lester Demetillo of the UP College of Music, who accompanied on guitar a performance of “Awit ng Pulau” by Caitlin Norma and Trisda de Ocampo of the UP Integrated School. “Awit ng Pulau” is written by Ed Maranan.

In attendance were Associate Professor Rolando Talampas, who as College Secretary called the graduates one by one on stage; Dr. Joefe Santarita, Dean of the UP Asian Center; Dr. Dulce Natividad, Assistant Professor at the UP Asian Center; and Dr. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. Dr. Rebecca Gaddi, president of the Asian Center's alumni association, presided over the oath-taking of the graduates, who are now members of the association. 

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.