EU Program holds 2nd International Conference on European Studies

Themed “Comparing Regionalisms: The EU Model as Reference Point for Integrating Regions,” the European Studies Program (AB EU) gathered academics and experts across nations on November 16 for the 2nd International Conference on European Studies at Faber Hall. Classifying its participants’ research into four panels, the conference examined the possible problems and benefits of setting the EU as a standard on building and sustaining an inter-regional union in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Corresponding researchers from each panel shared their study to provide perspectives on EU’s and ASEAN’s international relationship, law, trade, politics, and how those interplay among the two organizations. Keynote speaker Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines Ambassador Franz Jessen also graced the event to discuss nationalism in the midst of regionalism. To close the conference, AB EU Director Marissa Paderon, PhD said that the EU can also learn from the ASEAN values of “cooperation through dialogue and collective positions to deepen and develop further our political security and economic relations.” Franchesca Fajemolin

CASMV collaborates with Gabriela Youth for anti-VAW InTACT elective

The Sanggunian Commission on Anti-sexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV), the InTACT program, and Gabriela Youth-University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) collaborated for an optional InTACT elective on the fight to end violence against women and children (VAW), on November 8 at Escaler Hall. The elective was meant as a supplementary discussion for the InTACT module “Respect, Boundary, and Consent.” CASMV Head Regina Pagdanganan headed headed the event, with speakers from Gabriela Youth UPD, USC Gender Committee Head Kat Estrella and VP for Education and Research Chloe Chiong. Estrella presented statistics, situations, and views on VAW, while Chiong, showed application and relevance of VAW in reality. Chiong said college women were twice as likely to be sexually assaulted than robbed, and from 2012 to 2014, there has been a 200% increase in domestic violence victims. The speakers also introduced “Gabbie,” a Facebook Messenger chatbot meant to help Filipinos report incidents of sexual assault and harassment. Patricia Yap

History conference calls for re-evaluation of hero criteria through student-made research papers

The History Department hosted its third Kasaysay conference that featured student research papers with the theme “Kabayanihan sa Kasaysayan” on November 13 at Faura AVR. Conference supervisor and history professor Francis Gealogo, PhD, stated the theme was chosen as a call to re-evaluate what it means to be a hero, due to the law-given criteria that led to the approval of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The conference also aimed to promote Filipinization through the presentation of research papers written in Filipino, followed by discussions among the panel and the audience. A second conference will be held in the next semester, Gealogo said. Patricia Yap

DevSoc launches Philippine Development Youth Congress 2018: Lingkod

The Development Society (DevSoc) of the Ateneo launched their flagship project, the Philippine Development Youth Congress (PDYC) 2018 in partnership with Quezon City (QC) Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation at the QC Hall and Leong Hall on November 10 and 11, respectively. Themed “Lingkod” or “to give service,” the congress served as an avenue for honing QC SK officers’ skills on project management through lectures detailing proper processes, techniques, and values needed to handle a project’s various facets. Among some of the topics were planning, fund-raising, and integrity. Lecture speakers included Barangay Sta. Ana Local Village Councilor Tobit Cruz, School of Social Sciences part-time instructors Vince Rapisura and Czarina Medina-Guce, Hirayang Kabataan co-founder Carlo Africa, and entrepreneur and TV Show host Jules Gulang. Franchesca Fajemolin