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Asian Studies conference examines issues under a new world order

| Written by Fred Dabu

UP President Angelo Jimenez welcomes conference participants with a call to look at the new world order through multicultural and interdisciplinary perspectives. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

The 2026 Graduate Student Conference of the University of the Philippines Diliman Asian Center featured plenary discussions and parallel session presentations of more than 60 research papers and posters about the current geopolitical, economic, and socio-cultural transformations shaping Asia and the world. It was held May 30 at the UPD GT Toyota AC auditorium. 

 

Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert, a career diplomat who was the first woman to serve as secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines, and Professor Filomino V. Aguilar Jr. of Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of History, shared important recommendations and inspiring insights as the conference’s keynote speakers.

 

AC Dean Noel Christian Moratilla, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (video message), and UP President Angelo Jimenez delivered messages during the opening program.

 

Seated, from left: Ambassador Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (former ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway and Republic of Iceland), Philippine Center for Democracy President Amina Rasul-Bernardo, AC Dean Noel Christian Moratilla, UP President Angelo Jimenez, Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert (former foreign affairs secretary, career diplomat), Ambassador Evan Garcia (former permanent representative to the UN, former ambassador to the UK), and conference emcee Rochelle Leonor pose for a photo with AC faculty, students, and other conference participants. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO.
Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Domingo Albert discusses the history, aims, processes, achievements, and significance of ASEAN. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

Albert imparted knowledge and realizations gained from decades of experience in diplomacy and international relations. She traced the history and role of ASEAN to help attendees have a deeper appreciation for the regional organization’s significance in the country’s own navigation of past and contemporary challenges. She said ASEAN has to be seen based on its many aims and achievements as well as its limitations.

 

Aguilar discussed the importance of gaining specialization in Asian studies and promoting scholarship about Asia as vital tools in addressing the many issues being identified in the conference. He advised students to delve into the issues as close as possible and to think independently about the complex challenges.

 

Ateneo de Manila University Professor Filomino V. Aguilar Jr. presents challenges in Asian Studies and highlights the need to promote scholarship about Asia. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO.
Asian Center graduate students present their research papers in concurrent sessions conducted at the auditorium and AC classrooms. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

In the afternoon, parallel sessions were conducted at different rooms for the AC graduate students’ paper presentations and discussions. The best oral presenters, and research papers and posters submitted for the conference were awarded at the end of the day. In the Best Poster category, first place went to Merry Chimera Oraiz, second to Enrique Gallardo, and third to Justin Jeff Firmalo. Best Presenter awardees were Jay-Mar Luza at first place, Jazz Lendle Balota at second, and Nomer Guiller Angeles at third. Bojo Evangelista won Best Paper, with Nomer Guiller Angeles coming second, and Raymond Presado at third.