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Three batches of graduates from 2020, 2021, and 2022 marched for the UP Asian Center 2022 Commencement Exercises last Saturday, 30 July 2022, 2:00 pm, at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, University of the Philippines Diliman. After two years of virtual ceremonies, the event was done both on-site and online.

Professor Randolf “Randy” S. David, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Sociology, UP Diliman was the guest of honor. Professor David reminded the graduates of the root causes of our societal issues, and their duty as citizens of our country through citing the True Decalogue of Apolinario Mabini of the UP Asian Center.

Delivering the response on behalf of the graduates were Mx. Gregorio “Gio” R. Caliguia III for the Philippine Studies program and Mx. Katrina Kae S. Principe for the Asian Studies program. Mx. Gio Caliguia used bamboo as a metaphor to signify the strength and resilience of Filipinos in overcoming their challenges. He also evoked that the graduates should be sensitive, conscious, and critical to the situations of the different sectors.
On a related note, Mx. Katrina Principe emphasized the struggle of the Filipino people throughout the pandemic; and putting into importance the caring of the self and nation, and empathy and action to achieve a collective goal.

From the previous years, batch 2021 had 15 graduates while batch 2020 had 20.

For the Academic Year 2021-2022, a total of 30 students graduates from the four master’s programs of the UP Asian Center.

Master of Arts in Asian Studies (MAAS) Graduates

Four (4) students finished their Master of Arts in Asian Studies (MA Asian Studies). Listed below are the titles of their theses:

• Roehl Niño Andrada Bautista: “Kendo as Soft Power and its Role in Japan’s Cultural Diplomacy with the Philippines”
• Roberto Pangilinan Lim, Jr.: “Memories of the Cultural Revolution: Analyzing Selected Written Memoirs in English in the Construction of Conflict, Survival, and Escape”
• Christian Lemuel Magtaka Magaling: “Imperial Temporalities, Insurgent Futures: Comparisons of 20th Century Political Thinkers in Indonesia and the Philippines”
• Maria Corazon Corre Reyes: “Contents Tourism and Local Community Revitalization: The Case of Hida-Furukawa as an Anime Sacred Site for ‘Your Name’”

Master of Arts in Philippines Studies (MAPS) Graduates

Seven (7) students graduated from Master of Arts in Philippine Studies (MA Philippine Studies). Listed below are the titles of their theses:

• Sharon Vergara Bancoro: “Filipina Migrant Domestic Worker’s Identity and Narrative Practices: From Self to Nation”
• Gregorio Recto Caliguia III: “Rethinking Bakla: A Keyword in Philippine Conceptual, Sexual, and Social History”
• Severo Severo Catura: “Institutionalizing Policies for Persons with Disabilities: A Policy Review and Implementation Verification of Marikina City”
• Angelo Palencia Porciuncula: “Pasyon Show: Kwentong Buhay ng mga Camarerong Bakla”
• Chenny Villaruz Ramos: “Loob at Kapwa in Action: Analysis of ‘Wanted sa Radyo’ in Socio-Cultural Context”
• Alicia San Pedro Raymundo: “Political Opportunity Structure under the Administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III: A Case Study of a Social Movement of Informal Settler Families in the Philippines”
• Elgin Glenn Regencia Salomon: “The Testimonial Narratives of the Tausug Survivors During the Militarization of Sulu and the 1974 Battle of Jolo: Counterhistory, Identities, and Collective Memories”

Master in Asian Studies (MAS) Graduates

The Master in Asian Studies program produced thirteen (13) graduates:

• Daniel Dominic Sta. Ines Ambat (Japan)
• Cedric Danielle Amores Barcena (Southeast Asia)
• Angelo Silva Bonga (West Asia)
• Bernadette Anne Naidas Buensuceso (Japan)
• Jose Marie Merciales Flores (Japan)
• Ivy Jessen Galanido Galvan (Southeast Asia)
• Michaela Ileto Navato (Japan)
• Jan Vincent Christerson Young Ong (China)
• Michael Denniel Mendoza Palaganas (Southeast Asia)
• Katrina Kae Salunson Principe (China)
• Nashwina Abduraji Rasul (China)
• Geri Mae Asacta Tolentino (Korea)
• Aemir Mangalindan Villafania (Japan)

Master in Philippines Studies (MPS) Graduates

Lastly, six (6) graduated from the Master in Philippine Studies Program:

• Jonald Tejano Bagasina (Foreign Relations)
• Jean Aaron Doria De Borja (Socio-Cultural Studies)
• Chelsea Janine Rusiana Hill (Development Studies)
• Karol Josef Bernal Notob (Socio-Cultural Studies)
• Maria Raphaela Elegado Pilar (Foreign Relations)
• Charley Lapera Urquiza (Development Studies)

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The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian 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. It also 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. As an area studies institution, 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.