The PhD in performance studies of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts (DSCTA) has a wide scope and its interdisciplinary nature can benefit several fields of study.

Prof. Jimmuel C. Naval, PhD, CAL dean, said, “… napakalaki talaga ng pakinabang nito sa lahat ng aspekto. At maaaring masakop nito ang iba’t ibang disiplina, maaaring ilapat ito sa siyensiya, management, social sciences and philosophy, at iba pa bilang kakaibang teknik para mapaabot sa mga estudyante.”

The first doctoral program in performance studies in the Philippines was approved at the 1362^nd meeting of the UP Board of Regents on July 29, 2021.

Meanwhile, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo said the program can help preserve culture through research and conversations.

“Sa pamamagitan ng PhD program, nahihikayat din ang mga estudyante, iskolar, at dalubhasa na lalo pang tuklasin ang kaugnayan ng teatro, komunikasyon, at lipunan; ng teorya at praxis. Ang ganitong mga diskusyon at talastasan ay tiyak na malaki ang maiaambag sa ating kultura at lipunan,” Nemenzo said.

CAL Graduate Studies Office (GSO) Coordinator Aura Berta A. Abiera was hopeful that the new program can consolidate the studies made by the CAL departments and be the “home” of the studies.

“Umaasa kami na bagaman nakapagluwal na ang KAL ng mga pag-aaral sa mga konsepto ng performance o pagtatanghal mula sa magkakaibang mga departamento, ang paglulunsad ng isang tiyak na programa sa ganitong disiplina ang makapagbibigay ng isang mapagkalingang tahanan sa mga saliksik at malikhaing proyektong napagsama-sama ang mga mahahalagang kaalaman sa pagtatanghal,” Abiera said.

Program specifics. Prof. Oscar T. Serquiña Jr., department coordinator for academic affairs and one of the program proponents, said “Full-time performance studies students taking a normal load may complete the degree in three academic years. Students must maintain a 1.75 general weighted average in completing all the coursework to advance to the comprehensive examination.”

Prof. Sir. Anril P. Tiatco, PhD, DSCTA chairperson and the program’s lead proponent, enumerated the requirements for admission, retention, dissertation, and graduation; the faculty members for the doctoral program; and the opportunities awaiting students and graduates of PhD in performance studies.

“For admission, holders of any master’s degree may be admitted to the PhD in performance studies program. Applicants must satisfy the requirements set by the University for admission. Application for the program will begin in February or March 2022,” Tiatco said.

The PhD in performance studies was launched on Dec. 17, 2021 and was attended by several university officials and international theatre scholars—some of them were invited to help formulate the proposal, while some were invited to be part of the faculty who will teach performance studies courses.

They were Prof. Patrick Alcedo, PhD from the York University, Canada; Prof. Gene Naverra, PhD from the National University of Singapore, Singapore; Prof. Theron Schmidt, PhD and Prof. Jonathan Bollen, PhD from University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia; Prof. Paul Rae, PhD from the University of Melbourne, Australia; Prof. Helen Rees, PhD from the University of California Los Angeles, USA; Prof. Jean Graham-Jones, PhD from The City University of New York, USA; Prof. Broderick Chow, PhD and Prof. Maria Delgado, PhD from the University of London (UL), United Kingdom; and Prof.  Rustom Bharucha, PhD from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.

DSCTA faculty members Asst. Prof. Marvin Ray D. Olaes, CAL associate dean for public affairs, and Rex Sandro M. Nepomuceno served as hosts. DSCTA alumna Marynor Madamesila sang her cover of “Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako” by Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes, and choreographer PJ Rebullida performed the dance “Life/Vital.”

For further information, interested parties may send an email to CAL GSO (cal_gso.updiliman@up.edu.ph) or DSCTA (cal_dscta.updiliman@up.edu.ph), or visit the Facebook page of CAL GSO (https://www.facebook.com/UPD.CALGSO) or DSCTA (https://www.facebook.com/UPDepartmentofSpeechCommunicationandTheatreArts).

For the video of the launch, visit https://www.facebook.com/UPDepartmentofSpeechCommunicationandTheatreArts/videos/504799317726672.