Campus

Farewell

January 19, 2024
UP Diliman (UPD) bid farewell to two of its former deans: Josefa M. Saniel, PhD, professor emeritus of the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS), now UPD Asian Center (AC), and Leticia Cecilia Z. Peñano-Ho, PhD, retired professor of the UPD College of Education (CEd). According to an AC website post accessed on Jan. 15, Saniel passed away on 21 Dec. 2023. Meanwhile, a post on the CEd website, accessed on Jan. 15, stated that Peñano-Ho passed away on Jan. 14. Saniel. Image from the AC website According to the same AC website post, Saniel was among the generation of Philippine scholars who led the establishment of area studies as a field of study in the Philippines. A renowned Japanologist, she developed Japanese studies as a graduate degree program in the University. Saniel specialized in Japanese studies and published various works on Philippines-Japan relations; Japanese culture, society, and literature; and Japan’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia. In a Jan. 9 post on its Facebook page accessed on Jan. 16, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines stated, “Dr. Saniel’s unwavering commitment to the development of Japanese studies has rightfully earned her the title ‘grand dame of Japanology.’ Her impactful contributions to fostering cultural understanding between Japan and the Philippines have left an indelible mark on our shared academic landscape.” According to the same Facebook post, Japan conferred on Saniel the Order of the Precious Crown in 1986 as “a testament to her significant impact on Japan-Philippines relations.” Saniel began serving in the University as a history instructor in the 1950s. She was the IAS dean (1974-1979), until she was appointed AC dean (1980-1985). She was appointed professor emeritus in 1993. Meanwhile, Peñano-Ho was a clinical psychologist, neurotherapist, and professor at CEd who focused on gifted education. Peñano-Ho. Image from the CEd website Peñano-Ho was the founding president of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education (PCGE). According to its website, the PCGE “actively search(es) for Filipino gifted children and individuals and to provide ways of nurturing them.” In 2019, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) bestowed upon Peñano-Ho the Outstanding Psychologist award. The PRC website stated that Peñano-Ho received the award for her “distinguished contribution to the field of clinical psychology and neurotherapy. Her exemplar service in her profession shows her commitment and professionalism in her field… as clinical psychologist, neurotherapist, and educator.” Furthermore, the PRC recognized her pioneering work in neurotherapy and brainwave biofeedback modality, which according to the PRC, were “found effective for many disorders.” Peñano-Ho was the CEd dean (1998-2001 and 2001-2004), and UPD vice chancellor for student affairs (1992-1993). According to the CEd Facebook page, accessed on…

Research

Humanities Diliman (July-December 2023) issue now online

January 16, 2024
The UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD), in a recent email to UPDate Online, announced the online release of Humanities Diliman Vol. 20, No. 1, the publication’s July-December 2023 issue. Cover of latest issue. Image from Humanities Diliman In her editor’s note, Jordana L. Pison, PhD wrote, “We close 2023 with an issue that brings together contributions from scholars of different research backgrounds working individually or collaboratively. The threads of discussions are interdisciplinary in method, weaving in arguments drawn from various fields such as history, literature, film, visual arts, and video games. By engaging with cultural texts which apply different frameworks, the studies in this issue are sites of convergence across disciplines, thus providing readers with new considerations and different dimensions of cultural materials.” This issue of Humanities Diliman has seven articles and one review. The articles are Darna as Canonical Counter-Discourse on Power in the Superhero Genre by Cherish Aileen A. Brillon; On Cam! Micronarrative-Based Typology of Cameos in Films and Video Games by SF. Luthfie Arguby Purnomo, Lilik Untari, Shabrina An Adzhani, Yustin Sartika, SF., Lukfianka Sanjaya Purnama, Ikke Dewi Pratama, and Wildi Adila; In Praise and Defense of Graffiti: A Functional Review of Graffiti Literature by Harvey James G. Castillo; Mga Ideolohiyang Politikal na Nakapaloob sa mga Obra ng Sining Saysay na Kabilang sa Panahon ng Batas Militar Hanggang sa Kasalukuyan by Rose Pascual-Capulla and Feorillo Petronilo A. Demeterio III; Reflections on José Rizal, Arnis, and the Nature of ‘Historical Knowledge’ by Andrea Rollo; Visual Depictions and Ponderings: Sinday-Muro and Other Beings of Panay Cosmology by Maria Christine M. Muyco and Katrina Francesca M. Nazareno; and Decolonizing Kaagian: Babaylanism in Agi Poetry by John Ray A. Hontanar. The featured review is Bayan ng mga Bangkay by Chuckberry Pascual authored by Honeylet L. Alerta. In her email to UPDate Online, Humanities Diliman Editorial Assistant Merrydith J. Olivan wrote that the journal “is a Scopus-indexed, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published semi-annually by the OVCRD.” The issue may be accessed at https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/humanitiesdiliman/issue/view/949. —With a report from Humanities Diliman
Extension

Sustainability starts with the individual

November 29, 2023
“Your contribution as an individual is more important,” said Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, as he began his keynote speech at the 2nd Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum 2023 (Sustainability Forum 2023) with the theme If Not Now, When?: Addressing the Urgency to Go Sustainable at the Malcolm Hall on Nov. 21. Fragada is the undersecretary for field operations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). He represented DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga at the forum. Fragada. Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UPDIO “ If Not Now, When? is very timely, because the students—the youth—play a very vital role in the protection of our environment and our natural resources. It always starts from an individual, not just a group who were told to come and do something about it,” Fragada explained further. Fragada’s speech was about DENR’s role in terms of sustainability. Issa Litton, the forum’s moderator, said DENR has always been at the forefront of advocating sustainability programs in the country and was invited at the forum to shed more light on their activities and programs concerning sustainability. According to Fragada, the Philippines has been ranked as among the countries at most risk of climate change and disaster, as it frequently faces hazards like earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions. “The DENR is working towards climate resiliency on the local and community levels, especially in climate-vulnerable areas. The DENR is currently pushing for nature-based solutions that are sustainable for both the environment and communities. Additionally, we are tapping the capacities of various stakeholders through the national and municipal levels on programs and projects to sustain gloomy green economies,” he said. Presently, the DENR embarked on a new program called Project Transform. Fragada explained the project was introduced in three areas: Ormoc City, Leyte, Bataan, and Siargao, Surigao. “Project Transform or Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience in Environmental Sustainability Through Multistakeholder Engagement piloted in Ormoc City. The project engages the whole of society and implemented initiatives to improve community resilience, alleviate poverty, promote public-private partnership, and forge stronger multistakeholder collaborations. It will support the DENR’s resiliency framework by delivering environmental, social, and economic aid for local governments nationwide,” he said. Fragada added that the project is a testament to DENR’s commitment to disaster resiliency and environmental sustainability through partnerships with the local government units (LGUs) and the private sectors. He then encouraged the audience to engage in more collaborative projects as DENR’s successful programs are products of collaboration. “The more effective projects that we have are programs that have been collaborated on by the different agencies, LGUs, and the private sector,” Fragada said. In closing his message, Fragada addressed the students in the audience and encouraged…

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