The UP Asian Center will conduct the onsite lecture, "Source Materials on Asian Ritual and Performance: Past Trajectories and Future Trends" on 24 November 2026, 2:00 PM, PHT (GMT+8) at the Seminar Room, Asian Center, UP Diliman. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged due to limited seating.
ABOUT THE LECTURE
In June 2025, the UP Asian Center formally introduced and turned over the Matthew Constancio Santamaria (MCM) book collection to the Asian Center Library. Serving as the first installment of the library talks, the event featured a special mini-exhibition of selected books from the collection to showcase and emphasize the importance of these materials to the general public. For its second installment, we explored the concept of rarity in books and for the third, it focused on Japan-related and Japanese-written books included in the Collection.
For the fourth installment of the library talks, the event will focus on the MCM Santamaria Collection's two areas of strength in the field of ritual and performance: 1) Japanese traditional theatre, and 2) Southeast Asian classical or court performances. The context of strength in the former lies in the collector’s experience in the practice in Nihon Buyoh (Japanese Traditional Dance), Ryukyu Buyoh (Okinawan Traditional Dance), and a long-term exposure to Japanese culture from 1990 to 1999. The context of strength in the latter lies in the collector’s one-year fieldwork in Cambodia with a solid institutional affiliation with the Royal University of Fine Arts Dance Department, and several research forays in the southern Philippines, particularly in the province of Tawi-Tawi, and across the border in the form of frequent visits and encounters with masters or culture bearers of the Sama-Bajau igal dance and kulintangan music ensemble traditions in Semporna and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. This shift from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia would not have been possible without generous grants from the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) of the Ateneo de Manila University, the ASIA (Asians studying Asia) Scholarship Foundation under the auspices of the Ford Foundation, and the Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange Program (SEASREP). The fourth library talks on the MCM Santamaria Collection will emphasize the very real relationship between collecting, on the one hand, and artistic practice and field research on the other hand.
Researchers and visitors have the opportunity to view these rare materials at the Asian Center Library. All books from the MCM collection will be strictly designated for "Room Use Only" and cannot be borrowed or taken out of the library.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
MATTHEW M. SANTAMARIA, Doctor of Law
Professor, Asian Center, UP Diliman
Dr. Matthew Santamaria is a Professor at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman, where he shares his expertise in Japanese politics, culture, and society. He earned his Doctor of Law and Master of Law in Political Science from the Graduate School of Law at Kyoto University, Japan, and holds a Master in International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Dr. Santamaria's academic journey reflects a profound commitment to understanding the political and cultural dynamics of Japan and Southeast Asia. Specializing in politics, performance studies, and the cultures of Japan and Southeast Asia, Dr. Santamaria has made significant contributions to these fields through both scholarship research and creative pursuits. His research interests include Sama-Bajau studies and Philippine culture, with notable publications such as "Pag-jamu Boheh Deya: Interrogating 'Property' in the Sama Tabawan Music and Dance Ritual of the Sacred Well." Beyond academia, he co-directed and choreographed Tanghalang Ateneo's "Sintang Dalisay," showcasing his dedication to integrating performance art with cultural studies. In recognition of his artistic achievements, Dr. Santamaria was appointed as a UP Artist, underscoring his dual impact as a scholar and artist.
AMPARO ADELINA C. UMALI III, Ph.D.
Professor and UP Artist, UP Center for International Studies
Dr. Amparo Adelina C. Umali III is a Professor at the University of the Philippines Center for International Studies (UPCIS), specializing in Japanese traditional performance practices, Japan-Philippine cultural relations, Philippine theater, and intangible cultural heritage. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Japanese Literature from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her work encompasses the study, preservation, and promotion of traditional Japanese performing arts, particularly Noh theater and Bunraku puppetry, as well as their intersections with Philippine cultural and artistic practices. Her notable works include the 2018 publication Nōh Theater and Cultural Diplomacy: With a Glimpse into Philippine Practices, co-authored with Naohiko Umewaka and Matteo Casari.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
This forum is organized by the UP Asian Center as part of their 71st founding anniversary.
For inquiries, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 891-8500 loc. 3586.