THE PROFESSOR who describes himself as platinum-haired and mahogany-skinned will soon head 60 university institutions of philosophy worldwide.
Philosophy Professor Leovino Ma. Garcia, Ph.D., was elected president of the Conference Mondiale des Institutions Universitares Catholiques de Philosophie (COMIUCAP), or the World Conference of Catholic University Institution of Philosophy, a conference consisting of member institutions from 35 countries.
COMIUCAP aims to promote exchange of information and cooperation in the teaching of philosophy, and to undertake collaborative research on problems posed by contemporary society.
Garcia was voted during the concluded third World Congress held at the Ateneo. The conference on September 11 to 13, which had the theme “Philosophy, religion and transcendence,” was also hosted by the University of Sto. Tomas.
Garcia will officially become president on October 19 after the COMIUCAP Conference in Rome. He is replacing Professor Philippe Capelle, Dean Emeritus of the Catholic Institute of Paris. Garcia will hold the position for four years until the next Congress.
Weeks prior to his election, Garcia was also awarded the rank of Officier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government.
Personal touch
Garcia’s student Frederick Ian Salonga (III AB Philo) thought Garcia was elected COMIUCAP president because of his personality.
“Masayahing tao siya. Puwede ka makipagbiruan sa kanya dahil marunong rin siya makipagbiruan sayo (He’s a jolly person. You can joke around with him because he can do the same to you).”
He added, “Dahil perky siya at parang bouncing ball, kaya minamahal siya ng mga tao (People love him because he’s perky and he’s like a bouncing ball).”
Garcia said his “personal skills” gave him an edge over his Portuguese Jesuit competitor. “[These skills are] the ability to have a total unified vision but at the same time to always have passion for the little details.”
Garcia was vice president of COMIUCAP before becoming president. He also organized the COMIUCAP Congress in the Ateneo.
Garcia said that despite having specific committees, he tended to every task in preparing for the conference. For example, he even went to the airport from 4:00 am to 4:00 pm to meet every speaker for the conference.
“I think by personal touch, I mean, you talk to them, and you see them as friends,” he said, adding that everyone who helped organize the conference had the same touch.
“It’s not only my work… [Everybody] from the young faculty to the students really took care of our delegates, even the local ones.”
No expectations
Garcia said that he was very surprised at his election. His younger competitor, he said, was more dynamic and had more experience in handling the Congresses.
His competitor presented the members of the Conference with a comprehensive list of everything he had done and everything he plans to do. Garcia, however, only told the members of the Conference to vote the person they thought would be good for COMIUCAP.
When asked of his program for COMIUCAP during the Conference, Garcia said, “Well, I don’t expect to be president so I will tell my program if ever I get elected president.”
In an interview with The GUIDON, Garcia said, “One does not aspire for those things kasi matrabaho (because it’s a demanding job). I’m already a bit old.”
“But if it is put on my shoulders, I will not shirk the responsibility,” he added.
Asian, African, Latin American philosophy
During his presidency, Garcia hopes to make people listen to Asians, Africans, and Latin Americans on philosophy.
“We are always listening to philosophers from the West and they never really listen to us. The problems facing Asia, Africa, and Latin America are very different from the problems in Europe, and the United States,” he said.
The next Congress that Garcia will be handling will take place in Africa. Garcia admitted this Congress will be harder to organize because Africa is different from Europe and the Philippines.
“There would be more need for funding, they will need more help from us,” said Garcia. He added that he also had to work with the faculty, staff, and students there because he will not be able to transport the whole COMIUCAP team to Africa.
