UP Center for International Studies

28/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐒 𝟏𝟗𝟕 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 🎭

On Monday, May 25, 2026, undergraduate students of 𝗚𝗦 𝟭𝟵𝟳: 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 presented their culminating performance for the Second Semester AY 2025–2026 titled “𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙪.” The showcase highlighted the discipline, coordination, and artistry of Bunraku, Japan’s traditional puppet theater, in which three 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺𝘰 𝘵𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘪 or puppeteers — the head and right-hand puppeteer, left-hand puppeteer, and foot puppeteer — move in complete synchronization to bring a single puppet to life.

The performance was attended by distinguished guests led by former UP College of Arts and Letters Dean and UP Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts (DSCTA) faculty Prof. Amihan Ramolete, a pioneering member of the UPCIS Bunraku Ensemble in 2013, who came together with performing arts student interns from Bulacan State University. Also present was Khen del Prado, an alumnus of the BA Philippine Studies program and a member of the Bunraku Ensemble since 2018, as well as UP alumni Stella Herras Lundqvist and Elvira Lorenzo. Joining them in the audience were UPCIS Korean Dance lecturer Ms. Jo Jangeun, UPCIS Director Ramon Guillermo, former UPCIS Director Cynthia Neri Zayas, and the parents, siblings, and friends of the GS 197 students.

The program featured three performances:
🌊 𝙀𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙪 𝙈𝙖𝙞 (𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙪) – a lively opening piece dedicated to the god of prosperity and fishermen. It featured puppeteers: 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗲 (Head and Right Hand Puppeteer), 𝗔𝗻𝗷𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲 (Left Hand Puppeteer), and 𝗟𝘆𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗴 (Foot Puppeteer), accompanied by five 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘶̄ or chanters — 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮, 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘀, 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂, 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘁, and 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮 — who performed the original chant in Japanese despite many of them having no prior background in the language. Assisting the performance were stage hands 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘆𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗯𝗮𝘀 and 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝘀𝗼𝗻.

✊ 𝙋𝙖𝙜-𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙨𝙖 𝙏𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙗𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙪𝙥𝙖 – a restaging of the 2016 UPCIS Bunraku adaptation of the poem and song by Andres Bonifacio portraying the enduring love and shared struggle of Bonifacio and his wife, Gregoria de Jesus. The Gregoria de Jesus Puppet team was composed of 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘀 (Head and Right Hand Puppeteer), 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝘀𝗼𝗻 (Left Hand Puppeteer), and 𝗟𝘆𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗴 (Foot Puppeteer), while the Andres Bonifacio Puppet team consisted of of 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂 (Head and Right Hand Puppeteer), 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘆𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗯𝗮𝘀 (Left Hand Puppeteer), and 𝗧𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇(Foot Puppeteer).

👶 Ugoy ng Duyan - a 2025 Bunraku adaptation inspired by the lullaby composed by National Artist Lucio San Pedro but critically reinterpreted in response to a concept suggested by Prof. Zayas. The Mother puppet team included 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮 (Head and Right Hand Puppeteer), 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 (Left Hand Puppeteer), and 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮 (Foot Puppeteer), while the Son puppet team featured 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗲 (Head and Right Hand Puppeteer), 𝗔𝗻𝗷𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲 (Left Hand Puppeteer), and 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘁 (Foot Puppeteer).

UPCIS acknowledges with gratitude its artistic collaborators. For Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, the puppet dance featured music by Restie Umali interpreted by coloratura soprano Luz Morete, accompanied on the piano by concert pianist and current director of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), Greg Zuniega. Featuring costumes by Darwin Desoacido, a theater arts alumnus and member of the Bunraku Ensemble since 2014, the Bunraku pas de deux was brought to life through the choreography of Joanne Ko–de la Calzada, an alumna of the PHSA, the UP College of Music Dance Program, and Ballet Philippines.

For Ugoy ng Duyan, UPCIS also extends its gratitude to Kim Quinola of the College of Home Economics’ Department of Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design for the costumes; Rowena Bayon, a PHSA and UP alumna for the props; Jethro Joaquin, former faculty member of DSCTA for the sound design; and Edith Gordoncillo — an alumna of PHSA, Ballet Philippines, and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) for the choreography.

Congratulations to our students, mentors, artistic collaborators and production team for a successful performance celebrating intercultural engagement, creativity, and rigorous performance practice.

どうもありがとうございました。

24/05/2026

🎭 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐔𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐊𝐔! 🎭

Witness the artistry, discipline, and intercultural engagement of the students of the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗚𝗦) 𝟭𝟵𝟳: 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 for the Second Semester of AY 2025–2026 as they bring to life traditional Japanese Bunraku puppetry in 𝙀𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙪 𝙈𝙖𝙞 (𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙪), as well as Bunraku interpretations of 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗼’𝘀 𝙋𝙖𝙜-𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙨𝙖 𝙏𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙗𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙪𝙥𝙖, and 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼’𝘀 𝙐𝙜𝙤𝙮 𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙪𝙮𝙖𝙣.

This performance is the culmination of a semester of rigorous immersion in Japan's traditional performance practice under the guidance of the dedicated mentors and members of the UPCIS Bunraku Ensemble headed by UPCIS lecturer 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗲 and assisted by 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗶 and 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘀. Presented under the artistic direction of 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗔𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗨𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶, 𝗜𝗜𝗜, the performances feature costumes for Ebisu Mai and Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa by 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗼 and costumes for Ugoy ng Duyan by 𝗠𝘀. 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀’ 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻. Choreography for 𝘜𝘨𝘰𝘺 𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘶𝘺𝘢𝘯 is by 𝗠𝘀. 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 and choreography for 𝘗𝘢𝘨-𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘴𝘢 𝘛𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘣𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘶𝘱𝘢 is by 𝗠𝘀. 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗞𝗼 - 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝘇𝗮𝗱𝗮.

Come celebrate the art of Japanese puppetry and the hard work of our students

🗓️ 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡: 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝟮𝟱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟮:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠 –– Open House
𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 –– Performance

📍 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: 𝗨𝗣𝗖𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗖 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗻

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰!

18/05/2026

Last May 8–9, 2026, undergraduate students from the UP Center for International Studies (UPCIS) enrolled in 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝟭𝟬𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮 this Second Semester AY 2025–2026, showcased their academic research through a vibrant poster presentation at the 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗣𝗞𝗦𝗦), held at the Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall, UP Diliman.

Since its inauguration in 2012, PKSS has been a venue for Filipino and international scholars to share their research outputs and insights on Korea-related issues and Korea-Philippines relations. UPCIS is an Exhibit partner of the UP Korea Research Center for this year’s PKSS.

15/05/2026

As military budgets grow, an urgent question remains: what kind of future are we funding?
Join the UP Asian Center, together with the IPB - International Peace Bureau, Stop the War Coalition, and the Alternative Development Program of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, for “𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? 𝗔 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆,” on 15 May 2026 at the Seminar Room, UP Asian Center.
📅 15 May 2026 (Friday) | 2:00 - 5:00 PM (Manila Time)
📍 Seminar Room, UP Asian Center
🔗 Register now: bit.ly/acmilitaryspending
This forum brings together voices from academia, civil society, and advocacy groups to examine the broader social, political, and economic impacts of militarization in the region and beyond.

As military budgets grow, an urgent question remains: what kind of future are we funding?

Join the UP Asian Center, together with the IPB - International Peace Bureau, Stop the War Coalition, and the Alternative Development Program of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, for “𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? 𝗔 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆,” on 15 May 2026 at the Seminar Room, UP Asian Center.

📅 15 May 2026 (Friday) | 2:00 - 5:00 PM (Manila Time)
📍 Seminar Room, UP Asian Center
🔗 Register now: bit.ly/acmilitaryspending

This forum brings together voices from academia, civil society, and advocacy groups to examine the broader social, political, and economic impacts of militarization in the region and beyond.

07/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧
October 30 - November 2, 2026 | The University of Osaka, Minoh Campus

The Philippine Studies Conference in Japan (PSCJ) is convened every four years as an international forum for scholarly exchange in Philippine Studies in Japan. Over the course of its history, the conference has brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and linguistics, to advance academic dialogue on Philippine society.

The PSCJ 2026, marking the sixth conference in this series, aims to build upon the accumulated achievements of Philippine Studies in Japan while critically re-examining ongoing social transformations and evolving research methodologies. By fostering dialogue across disciplinary and generational boundaries among scholars based both in Japan and abroad, the conference seeks to provide a platform for exploring new directions and perspectives in Philippine Studies.

Official website of the 6th Philippine Studies Conference in Japan (PSCJ 2026), held once every four years. In 2026, we welcome you to the University of Osaka. Join this premier international gathering of scholars to explore Philippine studies. Call for Papers and registration details available here...

07/05/2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝟐𝟐-𝟐𝟑 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Universitas Sanata Dharma, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Politics and Literature in Southeast Asia: Contesting Power, Imagining Futures

In Southeast Asia, literature has never been neutral. Writers, poets, playwrights, and cultural producers have had to confront the harsh realities of colonialism, neocolonialism, authoritarianism, and neoliberal globalization. Literary texts and performances have served as weapons of resistance, instruments of state ideology, and laboratories for imagining alternative futures. In a world ruled by Thucydides’ aphorism that “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,” literature is challenged to provide an alternative space—one where imagination contests domination, and where voices from the margins articulate visions of justice and solidarity.

Today, the stakes are heightened. The rise of populist and autocratic leaders across the globe, including in Southeast Asia, has intensified the deployment of manipulative discourse, manufactured consent, and the continuing erosion of democratic institutions. Literature, criticism, and theory must respond to these challenges, not only by documenting them but by actively intervening in the struggle over meaning, representation, and power. Critical theory should empower critics and writers to expose the mechanisms of authoritarian populism, to resist the co-optation of language, and to reclaim literature as a site of ethical and political imagination.

THE 14th LITERARY STUDIES CONFERENCE 22-23 October 2026 Universitas Sanata Dharma, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Politics and Literature in Southeast Asia: Contesting Power, Imagining Futures In Southeast Asia, literature has never been ...

07/05/2026

🇪🇺 𝐀 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞: 𝐇.𝐄. 𝐒𝐮𝐣𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐏 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧 🇪🇺

The 𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐔𝐏𝐂𝐈𝐒), the Asian Center, UP Diliman, and the UPD Department of European Languages, in partnership with the 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, successfully hosted a public lecture by 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐣𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐈 opened the program with a special message. 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐚 of the UP Asian Center introduced the lecture's academic context, and 𝐃𝐫. 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐃. 𝐆𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐧-𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐨 of UP DEL then formally introduced our distinguished guest speaker.

In his lecture, “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍-𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓𝟎,” Ambassador Seam provided a masterclass on the evolution of the EU-ASEAN strategic alliance. He highlighted the "Golden Jubilee" of this partnership as a vital catalyst for deeper cooperation in digital sovereignty, the green transition, and sustainable connectivity.

The discussion was further enriched by our panel of reactors: 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐭. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐥 (UPCIS), 𝐃𝐫. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳 (UP DEL), 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐳 (UP Asian Center), who shared their localized and interdisciplinary insights.

The entire proceedings were expertly guided by 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐔𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐈𝐈𝐈 of UPCIS, who served as the overall emcee where engaging questions from students sparked a truly dynamic Open Forum. Finally, UPCIS Director 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨 brought the event to a formal close by emphasizing the importance of these international academic exchanges.

This event stands as a testament to UP Diliman’s commitment to fostering global dialogue and academic excellence.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating 50 years of EU-ASEAN diplomacy!

Photo credits to: Mr. Jonas Catubay, UP Asian Center

06/05/2026

HAPPENING NOW!

Ambassador Sujiro Seam talks about the current state of ASEAN-EU relations at the onsite public lecture, "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡-𝗘𝗨 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟱𝟬," today, 6 May 2026 at the Seminar Room, UP Asian Center. For more information: bit.ly/aseaneudialogue
This lecture is organized by the UP Center for International Studies, UP Asian Center and the UPD Department of European Languages

04/05/2026

💠11PKSS Exhibit Partner💠 UP Center for International Studies

Don't miss the poster presentation by undergraduate students: Korea Studies 102 The Making of Global Korea this current 2nd Semester AY 2025-2026! During the breaks, please meet our students and interact with them outside Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall!💗✨

⏰ DATE: 8 - 9 May 2026
📌 VENUE: Pilar Herrera Lecture Hall, G/F Palma Hall, UP Diliman
🗓️ PROGRAM VIEWING: https://bit.ly/11PKSSpro
🗓️ REGISTRATION LINK: https://forms.gle/RP3YAcBsyvwCG9A27

Since its inauguration in 2012, PKSS has been a venue for Filipino and international scholars to share their research outputs and insights on Korea-related issues and Korea-Philippines relations. 🇰🇷🇵🇭

#한국학 #필리핀한국학회

04/05/2026

[SPECIAL LECTURE] War, Speed, and Care: Korean Society through the Lens of Literature

Abstract:
This lecture examines how Korean literature reflects the historical and social conditions of modern Korea through three key themes: war, speed, and care. The Korean War has been revisited in Korean literature for decades, and Korea’s enduring militaristic culture continues to evoke the sense of a war that has never fully ended. At the same time, the struggle for survival has accelerated many aspects of Korean society, producing a culture marked by speed and pervasive anxiety. These dynamics often appear in modern Korean fiction, where characters struggle either to keep pace with shifting social expectations or to resist them. The tempo and narrative form of these works frequently mirror the experience of social acceleration itself. Against this backdrop of violence and pressure, contemporary Korean literature raises another question: what forms of care might allow us to imagine different ways of living together today?

Speaker:
Dr. Wookyung Jeong is a lecturer at Incheon National University and Kyung Hee University. She received her PhD in Modern Korean Literature from Seoul National University, where her dissertation examined the literature of Ch’oe Yun and the poetics of translation. Her research interests include translation studies, multilingual literature, women’s writing, and care. Recently, she has been exploring Korean novels, poetry, and webtoons translated into French and English.

REGISTRATION LINK (Zoom): https://up-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/kWv0MUwLQBi2Sm7V4cxznA

YouTube Live Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/tYfiiI3PnMQ

This online lecture is co-hosted by UP Center for International Studies, Seoul National University Asia Center, and UP KRC with support of the Korea Foundation-한국국제교류재단.