The UP Asian Center celebrated the 26 graduates from the Asian Center programs and the TriCollege Ph.D. Philippine Studies Program for AY 2023 – 2024. The recognition rites were held on 28 July 2024 at 2:00 PM at the GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center Auditorium with Former UP Vice President for Academic Affairs and CHED Commissioner, Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon-Bautista as the guest of honor.

The theme for this year’s recognition rites was Kemdol, Taguyod. Kemdol is a T’boli word for the continuous act of moving forward while adapting to the challenges and changes posed by the reality of life. Meanwhile, taguyod stands for the value of learning in the process of social transformation. When combined, the two words embody the commitment of the University to serve the nation and the larger society. The theme aimed to inspire the graduates with the hope of embodying this great responsibility to flourish and strive forward for causes greater than themselves.

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"Our purpose is bigger than ourselves"

Delivering the keynote message as the guest of honor, Dr. Cynthia Bautista commended the graduates as well as AC, CAL, and CSSP for their unwavering dedication and outstanding achievement in the expansion of scholarship and upholding quality education despite the various challenges and disruptions brought about by the pandemic, widespread misinformation, and the changing economic and geopolitical landscape. In response, Dr. Bautista emphasized the crucial role of universities and people-to-people diplomacy in navigating these social and geopolitical struggles within the region.

Undeterred by these issues, the UP Asian Center continues to fulfill its mandate of bringing Asia to the Philippines, and the Philippines to Asia. Dr. Bautista applauded AC’s recovery from the “pandemic-induced paralysis of academic life” with the successful conduct of the 2024 SEASIA Biennial Conference, dubbed as the best of the five biennial conferences held so far. She also recognized the graduates’ achievements through the major knowledge products produced—the Cultural History of the Philippine Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 1996, the narratives of the home of the Laongangon, and all the other pursued research interests of the graduates.

VP Cynch also offered three pieces of wisdom for the graduates to take to heart beyond their completion of their degrees. First is the importance of finding fulfillment and wonder in continuous learning, underscoring the value of honing their skills, and keeping abreast with social changes. Second, Dr. Bautista stressed that every person’s mission in life is not laid out clearly, but is delivered to us in disparate and small pieces. Beyond the unsustainable nature of limiting the definition of success to money and power, she quoted Arianna Huffington’s third proposed metric which is aligned with four pillars: well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving. Her third piece of advice gave special attention to the last pillar. In line with the Iskolar ng Bayan’s ultimate vow to serve the people, she reminded the graduates, “Our purpose in life is always bigger than ourselves, and it involves serving others.” Read Dr. Cynthia Bautista's full commencement address. 

Response of the Graduates

Conveying their responses were selected graduates from each of program. Frerik Ezekiel De Jesus, representing the AC Asian Studies graduates, reminded the new batch that this chapter is only the beginning of their journey. Quoting a popular superhero, “with great power comes great responsibility”, Mr. De Jesus gave weight to the duty of the newly-empowered graduates to build a better Philippines.  Kathleen Lei Limayo of the AC Philippine Studies program, gave voice to the indigenous Filipinos and their invaluable role as protectors of our environment. Ms. Limayo posed the question “Who is development for?”, highlighting the pressing need to redefine development to cater to the marginalized communities of the country. Representing the graduates of the Ph.D. Philippine Studies program, Prof. Edna Marcil Martinez also congratulated all the graduates. Newly minted Doctor of Philosophy, Dr. Martinez highlighted the role of resilient and relentless academic struggle towards service for the people in embodying the concept of Kemdol and Taguyod.

Special Performances

Special Performances from emerging Filipino artists also graced the graduation stage. Company Artist Erl Sorilla of the Alice Reyes Dance Philippines delivered the special performance of “In Flight”, portraying the journey of the graduates from their nests to their courageous leap to fly towards the noble pursuit of their dreams through his choreography. Aligned with the theme, Erl performed to the tune of “Koyu no Tebulol,” a T’boli traditional song telling the tale of a bird resting on the branches of a mountaintop tree, performed by the Jose R. Gullas Visayas Chorale and composed by Eudenice Palaruan.

Serenading guests of the ceremony was the contemporary a capella group, ConChords, composed of UP College of Music alumni Coleen Herschel De Guzman, Nica Dorotea Tupas, Jowin Mark Panizal, Laurenzo Ardan, and Val Gagatiga. The group performed their arrangement of “Mamang Kutsero” by Ryan Cayabyab and a medley of Eraserheads music. ConChords also performed the UP Naming Mahal as the ceremony concluded. The program was hosted by Dr. Jayson Petras of the CSSP Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature and Dr. Jocelyn Celero of the UP Asian Center.

THE GRADUATES AND THEIR RESEARCH

Araw ng Pagkilala 2024 recognized a total of 26 graduates from the following programs:

2024 GRADUATES OF THE ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAM

MASTER OF ARTS IN ASIAN STUDIES GRADUATES

Two (2) students graduated from the MA Asian Studies Program of the UP Asian Center. Listed below are the titles of their thesis:

•  JOHANN FLORENCE BALBIDO (Southeast Asia)
      “The Political Economy of Financial Services Expansion: A Comparative Study of Bancassurance in the Philippines and Indonesia”
•  JOHN RYAN RECABAR (Southeast Asia)
     “Catholic Religious Identity Formation among Vietnamese Catholic Religious Temporary Migrants in Manila, Philippines”

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MASTER IN ASIAN STUDIES GRADUATES

Seven (7) students graduated with the Master in Asian Studies (Non-Thesis) from the UP Asian Center:

•  Mary Angelique Alvaran (Korea)
•  FJ Daniell Chua (Japan)
•  Andrie Jamila Co (China)
•  Fredrik Ezekiel De Jesus (Japan)
•  Jenina Danielle Melchor (China)
•  Karla Khristine Melon (Korea)
•  Krista Kyla Seachon (Korea)

2024 GRADUATES OF THE PHILIPPINE STUDIES PROGRAM

MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILIPPINE STUDIES GRADUATES

Seven (7) students graduated with an MA in Philippine Studies (Thesis) from the UP Asian Center. Listed below are the titles of their thesis:

•  HECTOR MANUEL JON CANO BRIZUELA (Development Studies)
      “Understanding Young People’s Narratives of Disaster in Permanently At-Risk Communities of Sitio Riverside, Calamba City, Laguna”
•  TYRON JUDES DE LA CALSADA CASUMPANG (Socio-Cultural Studies)
     “Mahirap Ispelengin: Isang Panimulang Pag-aaral Tungkol sa mga Ideolohiyang Pangwika sa Likod ng Istandardisasyon ng Wikang Pambansa”
•  CHRISTINE TAAN CEREZO (Socio-Cultural Studies)
      “Walang Nasa: An Exploratory Study on Filipino Asexuality in the Framework of the Loob”
•  ROGELIO MALACASTE DIZON (Foreign Relations)
      “Understanding the United Nations Military Observer Group In India and Pakistan: A Perspective from Filipino Peacekeepers (2020-2023)”
•  JUNIESY MARTINEZ ESTANISLAO (Development Studies)
      “University Governance and its Link to National Development”
•  ELIAS JOY PINEDA GERONIMO (Socio-Cultural Studies) 
      “Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Filipino Migrant Teachers in Saudi Arabia”
•  KATHLEEN LEI PATAG LIMAYO (Socio-Cultural Studies)
      “Pangentoman Min Tahik (Memories from the Sea): Sama Bajau Indigenous Ecological Knowledge and Practices for Climate Change
        Adaptation and Resilience”

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MASTER IN PHILIPPINE STUDIES GRADUATES

Seven (7) students also graduated with a Master in Philippines Studies (Non-Thesis)

•  Nadine Aralar (Foreign Relations)
•  Gene Michael Atanacio (Socio-Cultural Studies)
•  Karl Lester De Vera (Socio-Cultural Studies)
•  Thea Lynn Docena (Foreign Relations)
•  Sterling Vaughn Shaw (Socio-Cultural Studies)
•  Mohammad Al-Hussein Solaiman (Foreign Relations)
•  Princess Tolentino (Development Studies)

2024 GRADUATES OF THE TRICOLLEGE PROGRAM

Ph.D. IN PHILIPPINE STUDIES GRADUATES

Three (3) students also graduated from the Ph.D. in Philippine Studies. Listed below are the titles of their dissertations:

•   JILL CERBITO
      “Paghinumdum sa Puruy-anan: Narratives of Home and the Mobility Practices of Laoanganon”
•  EDNA MARCIL MARTINEZ
     “The Symphony Orchestra in the Philippines: A Cultural Outline (1896-1986)”
•  PRINCESS FAME PASCUA
     “Pag-uugat at Pag-aalingawngaw: Ang Diskurso ng Bayan sa mga Danas sa mga Nobela ni Jose Rizal”

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

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.