The UP Asian Center and the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy successfully hosted Dialogo: Philippine Studies Goes Global, 2024 International Conference on Philippine Studies. The conference was held from 27 to 29 November 2024 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center, Diamond Hotel, and the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium. About 20 Philippine Studies programs and 250 participants spanning 15 countries from around the world attended the conference.

This pioneering conference gathered Philippine Studies programs, scholars, and advocates across the globe to initiate critical and meaningful dialogues about the field as a program of study and research. It aimed to foster global scholarship, serve as a platform to exchange best practices, and foreground indigenous knowledge. 

Guest Speeches and Keynote Lectures

The conference was inaugurated by UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, who delivered the Opening Remarks. President Jimenez stated that the event reflected UP’s vision as a global university, one that “bridges local realities and global challenges.”

Following President Jimenez’s remarks, Conference Convenors UPAC Professor and Former Dean Henelito A. Sevilla, Jr. and DFA-OCD Assistant Secretary Celia Anna M. Feria addressed the audience. Professor Sevilla invited participants to make Dialogo a space for innovation and collaboration to push the boundaries of Philippine Studies, while Assistant Secretary Feria underscored the pivotal role of Philippine Studies in promoting soft power and cultural diplomacy.

The Guest of Honor Senator Loren Legarda, who has championed the establishment of Philippine Studies programs abroad, graced the audience with her address. The four-term Senator shared the origins of her advocacy of promoting the field, which began in 2017 with the establishment of a Philippine Studies program at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and has since expanded to 25 universities worldwide. 

“Let us create a strong national brand that indulges the world in the richness of our cultural heritage, the depth of our intellectual discourse, and the dynamism of our creative spirit,” said Senator Legarda as she emphasized her unwavering commitment to supporting Philippine Studies programs and initiatives.

The conference also featured two Keynote Lectures by highly acclaimed scholars: Professor Ramon G. Guillermo of UP Diliman and Professor Reynaldo C. Ileto of the Australian National University.

In his lecture titled “Ang Dialogo Tungkol sa Diablo: Ang Pagtatagpo nina Don Belong at Ben Anderson bilang Modelo sa Araling Filipino,” Professor Guillermo discussed how Benedict Anderson’s encounter with Isabelo de los Reyes serves as a productive model for doing Philippine Studies, where scholars from different roots and backgrounds engage in “egalitarian dialogues.”

Meanwhile, Professor Ileto delivered the second Keynote Lecture  “Rethinking ‘Filipinas’ in a Multi-polar World: A Challenge for Philippine Studies.” He invited scholars to see Philippine history in a new light: “We need to move beyond the Filipinas versus the Philippines or dark age versus light of liberty dichotomy and construct a 400-year history that meets the demands of a multipolar world order–this should be a key project of global Philippine Studies.” 

Credits: DFA Office of Public Diplomacy

Conference Panels

Dialogo showcased over 140 paper presentations across 35 panels, conducted in 5 simultaneous sessions during the first two days at the Diamond Hotel. These presentations were rigorously selected and curated from more than 300 proposals submitted by scholars from 50 universities and institutions worldwide.

The panels and presentations reflected a rich diversity of topics and themes, including institutional backgrounds of Philippine Studies programs, history and historiography, indigenous knowledge and practices, Mindanao society and culture, Filipino diaspora and migration, politics and international relations, gender, decolonization, language, media, health, environment, and education. Together, these panels underscored the multifaceted nature of Philippine Studies as a program of study and research. 

Credits: DFA Office of Public Diplomacy

Plenary Roundtable Discussions

 The final day of the conference involved two plenary roundtable discussions that collectively sought to reflect on the current landscape of Philippine Studies and chart a path forward for the field.

The first roundtable, titled “Local Studies in Dialogue: Bridging Local Perspectives, Foregrounding Indigenous Knowledge” and moderated by Dr. Ma. Cristanta Flores, brought together leaders of local and indigenous studies programs from across the Philippines—Dr. Ruth Tindaan from UP Baguio, Dr. Hope Sabapan-Yu from the Center of Cebuano Studies, University of San Carlos, and Dr. Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph from the Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center, MSU Marawi. Panelists highlighted the significance of amplifying local voices and indigenous perspectives in Philippine scholarship.

In the second roundtable, “A Global Dialogue on Philippine Studies: Reflections, Challenges, and Future Directions” moderated by Dr. Maria Dulce Natividad, leaders from Philippine Studies programs from around the world shared insights and experiences with their respective initiatives. Panelists included Dr. Maria Bernadette Abrera of UP Diliman, Dr. Patricia Halagao and Dr. Lorenzo Perillo of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Dr. Bjoern Dressel of the Australian National University, Dr. Roger Friedlein of Ruhr Universität Bochum, and Dr. Yuchen Ma of Peking University.

During the closing ceremony, Conference Directors DFA-OCD Director André Peter Estanislao and Dr. Maria Dulce Natividad expressed their gratitude to both participants and the organizing team for their contributions to the success of the event. They also shared exciting news about the institutionalization of the Dialogo conference, marking it as an ongoing platform for global dialogue on Philippine Studies.

Special Events

In addition to the rich scholarly discussions and exchanges, Dialogo also offered participants memorable special events. The conference kicked off with an elegant Cocktail Reception on the first day at the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros. The second day was highlighted by a vibrant Cultural Night at the Ramon Magsaysay Center, featuring captivating performances of Filipino music and dance. On the final day, the participants were treated with a Cultural Tour of the National Museum Complex and the historic Walled City of Intramuros, immersing themselves in the rich history and heritage of the Philippines. 

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

The Dialogo International Conference is organized by the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman and the Office of Cultural Diplomacy, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with The Honorable Senator Loren Legarda, The Philippine Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Sinematika, Inc., Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Diamond Hotel, Intramuros Administration, San Agustin Church, San Agustin Museum, National Museum of the Philippines, City of Manila, and the Toyota Motors Philippines Foundation.

Visit our website: Dialogo: Philippine Studies Goes Global. For inquiries, please contact the conference secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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.