Asian Center 71st Founding Anniversary | Ugnayan: 71 Years of Bridging the Philippines and Asia

Details: Published: 02 November 2026

This year, the UP Asian Center is celebrating its 69th Founding Anniversary. As part of its celebration, there will be a month-long series of online and on-site activities that the Asian Center community and its partners, stakeholders, and friends are welcome to enjoy.

ABOUT THE THEME

Established in 1955, the UP Asian Center is the premier institution in the Philippines dedicated to the inter- and multidisciplinary study of Asia and the Philippines within its regional environment, serving as the university's only academic unit with a dedicated regional area of specialization. The Tagalog term Ugnayan—signifying connection, solidarity, and mutual engagement—encapsulates the Asian Center’s core mission: serving as an academic, policy, and cultural bridge between the Philippines and its Asian neighbors, and vice versa.

Marking its 71st Anniversary, the Asian Center reflects on their more than seven decades of pioneering scholarship, diplomatic policy engagement, cultural diplomacy, and area studies encompassing both Asian Studies and Philippine Studies. Reaching this milestone offers an opportunity to honor the center's history, examine contemporary geopolitical and socio-cultural shifts across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia, and outline new pathways for regional unity and academic exchange. Ugnayan brings together scholars, diplomats, policymakers, cultural workers, students, and community leaders to celebrate shared heritage, assess ongoing regional challenges, and foster resilient, future-oriented Asian partnerships.

THIS YEAR'S ACTIVITIES

Ugnayan: 71 Years of Bridging the Philippines and Asia | Flag Ceremony and Special Lecture

In celebration of their 71st founding anniversary, the UP Asian Center will hold a Flag Raising Ceremony and Special Lecture on 9 November 2026, 8:00 AM, PST (GMT+8), at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Lawn and ASEAN-Japan Halls. The event is free and open to the public. Online registration is recommended due to limited slots.

Historia Obscura: The Philippines in 16th and 17th Century Portuguese Sources | An Online Book Talk

The UP Asian Center will be hosting the online book talk of Historia Obscura: The Philippines in 16th and 17th Century Portuguese Sources" on 10 November 2026, 3:00 PM, PHT, Online via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, but signing up for a (free) Zoom account is required.

Contextualizing Mindanao: Archives and Digitization for the Study of a Global Past | An Online Forum

The UP Asian Center will be hosting the online forum "Contextualizing Mindanao: Archives and Digitization for the Study of a Global Past" on 13 November 2026, 3:00 PM, PHT, Online via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, but signing up for a (free) Zoom account is required.

Source Materials on Asian Ritual and Performance: Past Trajectories and Future Trends | A Special Discussion

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.

Kapuluan: Archipelagic Convergences between Southeast Asia and the Pacific | An Onsite International Conference

The UP Asian Center, with the support of the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor and the UP Office of International Linkages (UP-OIL), invites everyone to the Onsite International Conference, “Kapuluan: Archipelagic Convergences between Southeast Asia and the Pacific.” The deadline for registration is 20 November 2026, Friday (Manila Time). The conference is ONSITE and is open to the general public. Participation in the conference is FREE. Conference Kits, meals, and certificates will be provided to accepted participants. LIMITED SLOTS ONLY.