Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far
and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

Sevilla

ESSAYS and COMMENTARIES

2023. "Urgently Needed: Strategic Elevation of Philippines-Middle East Relations." Stratsea, 6 February.
2021. "Analyzing President Duterte's Foreign Policy Approach towards the Middle East Region." Manara Magazine, 8 December.
2020. "Is the deployment ban of Filipino workers to Kuwait misconceived?" East Asia Forum, 6 March.
2017. Review of Jewish Identities in East and Southeast Asia: Singapore, Manila, Taipei, Harbin, Shanghai, Rangoon, and Surabaya, v.6 by Jonathan Goldstein. Pacific Affairs 90 (3). 
2016. "To embrace the spirit of acceptance and tolerance." Inquirer, 8 April.
2015. Review of "Importing Democracy: The Role of NGOs in South Africa, Tajikistan and Argentina" by Julie F. Melton, Kettering Foundation Press, Ohio. Journal of South Asian Studies 3 (3): 417–18. 
2013. "The role of the military and the rulers of the Gulf States in stabalizing or de-stabalizing Egypt." Islamic Societies Review, 17 July. 
2013. "Attack on Syria,multilateral approach to resolving this crisis remains a crucial instrument." Islamic Societies Review, 27 August.
2013. "Armed Forces: What’s Next for Morsi’s Egypt?" Islamic Societies Review, 8 July.
2013. “Turkish Cultural Diplomacy in the Philippines.” Middle East Institute, 13 November.
2013. "Philippine-Iran Relations: Taking Advantage of New Opportunities and Promise." Forging a New Philippine Foreign Policy, 30 July.
2013. "The Philippines’ Elusive Quest for Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Observer Status." Middle East Institute, Middle East Asia Project, March.
2013. "The Emergency Evacuation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Libya and Syria." Middle East Institute, Middle East Asia Project, February. 
2012. “Imam Khomeini’s Ideas and Personality: Impact on International Relations.” Payam-e-Mehr 3 (8):30–36 Special Issue, January-February. 
2011. “Hajj and the Unity of Men.” Payam-e-Mehr 2:7 (December, Special Edition) 62–68. 
2010. “Getting to know our neighbour better.” Payam-e-Mehr (February-April).
2009. “Introducing Iranian Studies in the Philippine Universities: A Soft Approach in Cultural Dialogue.” Payam-e-Mehr 1:1 (July-September). 
2009. “The Political Economy of Energy and the Nation-State System: An Evaluation of Dependency in Japan, China, South Korea, And the Philippines.” Peyam-e Mehr 1:2.
Comments (Readers' Forum)
2013. "Breaking Tough Diplomacy." Jakarta Post, 10 July.
2013. "Transnational Role in Syrian War." Jakarta Post, 28 June. 
2013. "Turkey in the middle of Arab uprising." Jakarta Post, 18 July.
2013. "US-Iran Engagement." Jakarta Post, 01 August.

COURSES TAUGHT

  • AS 284 Persian Gulf Studies
  • AS 280 Seminar on West Asia
  • AS 281 Seminar on West Asia
  • AS 282 Readings on West Asia (Middle East Politics and Governance)
  • PS 279 Seminar on West Asia
  • PS 269 Philippine Foreign Relations in Selected Countries in West Asia
  • PS 264 History and Development of Philippine Foreign Policy
  • PS 269 Seminar on Foreign Relations with Selected Countries and Regions
  • PS 282 Philippines in the Global South

JOURNAL ARTICLES

2023. "The State of Philippine-Iran Bilateral Relations, Maximizing Values, Human Potentials and Shared History." Historia i Świat: Research Journal of Institute of History 12: 397–416.
2021. "Iran and the Philippines: In the Pursuit of Constructive Engagement." Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 15 (3): 398–414.
2019. "The Philippines' Foreign Policy Direction: An Assessment of the First Year of President Duterte." Journal of South Asian Studies 6 (3): 165–73.
2019. "The Turbulent Middle East: Analysing Security Issues facing China’s Belt and Road Initiative towards the Region." Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies,
2017. "China's New Silk Route Initiative: Political and Economic Implications for the Middle East and Southeast Asia." Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 11 (1): 83–106
2016. "The Nationalization of Saudi Arabia's Labor Market and the Filipino Overseas Workers." Journal of South Asian Studies 4 (2) 33–44. 
2015. "From Silent Protest to Humanitarian Intervention: the Case of Libya." Journal of South Asian Studies 3 (3): 377–86.
2015. "West Asian Communities in the Philippines: An Exploratory Study of Migrant Iranians, Jews, Arabs, and Turkish." Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia 51 (1): 98–129. 
2014. "Nationalization Scheme (Nitaqat) in Saudi Arabia and the Condition of Filipino Migrant Workers." Journal of Identity and Migration 8 (2): 7–23. 

2013. “Conflict in Syria: The Changing Political Landscape of the Middle East.” World Affairs 17:3 (Autumn, July-September) 40–61. 
2013. “The Arab Spring and the South China Sea Tension: Analyzing Chinese Drive to Energy Security.” Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations 2:3 (Fall 2013) 1–113.
2013. “The Republic of the Philippines BID for Observer Status at the OIC: Motivations, Challenges and Opportunities.”  International Journal Advances in Social Sciences and Humanities 1:1 (October) 18–28. 
2011. “Middle East Security Issues and their Implications to the Philippines.” Indian Journal of Asian Studies 24:1–2 (July-December).
2011. “Re-constructing the Political Mind Set of the Persian Gulf Security.” International Journal of West Asian Studies 3 (1): 49–67. 

2010. “The Security of Energy Supply: Its Implications on the Political and Economic Growth of Asian-Pacific Region.” Asia Pacific Journal for Social Sciences, India Special Issue 1, December. 
2010. “Why Middle East Matters to the Philippines?” Asia Pacific Journal of Social Sciences, India 2:2 (July-December).
2012. “Hajj, Unity and Islamic Awakening.” Edited by Dr. Mohammad Reza Dehshiri and Dr. Mohsen Shojakhani, 235–244.  Alhoda International, Cultural and Artistic and Publishing Institution. Tehran.
2012. “An Assessment of Iranian relations with the World: An Outsider’s View.” 

BOOK CHAPTERS

2023. "Iran's Pragmatic Approach in Accommodating China's Belt and Road Initiative: A Determinant for Future Closer Bilateral Cooperation." in China's Engagement with the Islamic Nations: A Clash or Collaboration of Modern Civilisation?, Young -Chan Kim (eds). Springer Switzerland AG.
2020. "Middle East Geopolitics and China-India Strategic Interaction in the New Era." Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. DOI: 10.1080/25765949.2020.1760541
2020. "Marginalization of Interests: The Case of Philippine-Middle East Relations." In International Studies in the Philippines: Mapping New Frontiers in Theory and Practice,, edited by Frances Antoinette Cruz and Nassef Manabilang Adiong, 145–60. Abingdon, Oxon and New York, New York. 
2018. "The Prospects of President Duterte's Foreign Policy Agenda vis-a-vis China and the Future of ASEAN. In Challenges for Asia: Towards a Community of Common Destiny, edited by Yuan Tangjun. Shanghai: Fudan University Press.
2018. "Turkish Active Diplomacy in the Philippines as Inspired by Fethullah Gülens." In The Hizmet Movement and Peacebuilding: Global Cases, edited by Mohammad Abu-Nimer and Timothy Sidel. 
2017. "Which Way to Go? Analyzing the Political, Economic, and Cultural Directions of Philippine-Iran Relations." In Philippiune-Iran Relations: 50 Years and Beyond, edited by Henelito A. Sevilla, Jr, 7–24. Quezon City: Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman. 

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. in International Relations, University of Tehran
  • Master in International Relations, University of Shahid Beheshti
  • B.S. in International Relations, Mindanao State University, Marawi City

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Mindanao issues
  • International relations
  • Philippine external relations with the Middle East
  • Political economy of the Middle East
  • Energy security in Asia
  • Persian Gulf security issues
  • Middle Easterners in the Philippines