American Studies Conference at De La Salle Uni- Versity

TJIC A publication of theDIALDIALDIAL Thomas Jefferson Information Center (TJIC),OGUEOGUEOGUE Public Affairs Section, United States Embassy Manila Vol. 1, No. 1 June, 2000 U.S. Art Exhibit Opens at MET De La Salle Hosts U.S. Studies Seminar What does the advance of technology augur for the United States; and for other nations by extension? That was the ques- tion explored recently at an American Studies conference at De La Salle Uni- versity. Teaming up with the Public Af- fairs Section of the U.S. embassy, De La Salle sponsored a two-day exploration of the effect of technological innovation on U.S. society. It was designed to serve as the culminating event for the four-week summer institute on the same topic. The conference was held at the University’s Marilen Gearlan Conserva- tory on May 19- First Lady Loi Estrada is briefed by Nancy Mathews as Mrs. Hubbard looks on. 20. Nearly 150 The U.S. Embassy helped sponsor an As Ambassador Hubbard said in his participants exciting art exhibit, Outward Bound: opening remarks, “The exhibit was the most from a wide va- American Art at the Brink of the Twenty- significant cultural program event in my riety of institu- First Century, which opened May 11 to an tenure in the Philippines both as DCM and tions took part, enthusiastic, invitational crowd of more than Ambassador.” helping to spark 200 art lovers at the Metropolitan Museum new interest in of Manila. Philippine First Lady Dr. Luisa Organized by Meridian International American stud- Estrada cut the ribbon. She was assisted Center, the Washington, D.C. educational ies. Those in- by U.S. Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard; institution, the exhibit’s Asian tour was vited included Ms. Corazon Alvina, President, Metropolitan underwritten by a grant from Mobil members of the Museum of Manila; Dr. Jaime Laya, Foundation. The Philippine part of the Dr. David Goodman American Stud- Chairman, National on Culture and the Arts; regional tour was generously funded by ies Association and Mr. David A. Baldwin, Vice President CalEnergy International in cooperation with of the Philippines, alumni of American and General Manager of CalEnergy the U.S. Embassy and the Metropolitan Studies summer institutes in the U.S. and International. Museum. It was open to the public until those who had participated in the U.S. June 17. Embassy’s International Visitor Program. The exhibition featured 83 works of art by 77 contemporary American artists, Presenters came from diverse back- including Robert Raushcenberg, Sam grounds and institutions, and presented Gilliam, Roy Lichtenstein and Audrey Flack. papers on such topics as Technology and It gave visual expression to the diverse Democracy, Technology and the Media, nature of America, its people and its Technology and the Environment and landscapes. It comprised works by men and Technology and Education. Dr. David women of various races and ethnic Goodman, a historian from the University backgrounds from different regions of the of Melbourne in Australia, traveled the fur- United States, and offered viewers a unique thest to help make the event a success. opportunity to appreciate the latest trends He offered a presentation on technology and developments in contemporary and democracy, focusing on the impact American art. These works, seen together, of the radio in the United States. offered a visual presentation, not only of American scenery, but also a sense of the The event focused attention on De La “American scene” at the end of the twentieth “Kingfisher”, 1996, in watercolor, courtesy Salle University as a leader in American century. of William Mathews continued on page 8 1 Peace Educators Meet Regional Meeting Tackles Trafficking More than one million human beings are bought and sold each year around the world in a modern-day form of slavery. The trade is so lucrative and fast-growing that it competes with trafficking in arms and drugs. This was the alarming message heard by representatives from 21 Asia- Pacific nations, 20 multilateral organizations, and dozens of NGOs present at the first ever Asian Regional Initiative Against Trafficking in Women Attendees at Peace Educators’ Mindanao Congress included (left to right) Amb. and Children (ARIAT). The meeting, Manuel Yan, Adviser on the Peace Process, Notre Dame Univeristy (NDU) which was held in Manila from March 29- President Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Melindi Malang of the NDU Peace Education 31, was co-sponsored by the Center, and Prof. Keith Fitzgerald of the U.S. governments of the U.S. and the Philippines. The U.S. Embassy’s Public An American expert on conflict resolu- The conference, which attracted some Affairs Section and the DFA provided tion was a key resource person at the “First 100 educators and other participants, was public affairs support for this important Mindanao Congress for Peace Educators,” organized by Notre Dame University Presi- gathering. which was held April 25-26 in Cotabato City. dent Father Eliseo Mercado, OMI, with sup- Keith M. Fitzgerald, a visiting lecturer at the port from the Office of the Presidential Ad- During three days of meetings and University of Singapore and an associate viser on the Peace Process, CRS, and CIDA, workshops, representatives hammered of the Harvard Negotiation Project, shared as well as the Public Affairs Section of the out a regional action plan against his experiences in negotiation efforts in U.S. Embassy. Given recent developments trafficking. The action plan commits such diverse settings as Northern Ireland, in Mindanao, the conference’s focus on each nation to increased cooperation in the Middle East and Colombia, Ecuador and peace education and conflict management the four primary areas of prevention, Peru. was unusually timely. protection, prosecution, and reintegration. Among the specific goals are measures to improve information Civitas Publication Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy. sharing, establish an international data The 133-page publication features the bank on trafficking, generate greater papers from the first-ever Civitas Philippines public awareness of the human costs of conference, which was held simultaneously trafficking, strengthen training for law in Manila, Cebu and Davao on October 5-6, enforcement officials, and enhance 1999. The publication highlights a range of support and protection for victims. issues and concerns about civic education In a special videotaped message to and the role that government, schools and the participants, U.S. Secretary of State the wider community play—or should play— Madeleine Albright said that “Trafficking in fostering civil society and good citizenship in human beings is an urgent, increasing in democracies like the Philippines and the and devastating program, which we must U.S. The Embassy, in cooperation with the recognize clearly and address firmly. Department of Education, Culture and Sports This cynical and shameless trade distorts (DECS) and the Commission on Human our economies, degrades our societies, Rights, as well as the University of Asia and endangers our neighborhoods, and robs the Pacific, the University of San Jose- many of our citizens of their dreams, their Recoletos and the Ateneo de Davao dignity, and often their very lives.” University, sponsored the three gatherings. One major outcome of the conference was The U.S. delegation was headed by the creation of widespread interest in Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for establishing formal Civitas organizations in East Asian and Pacific Affairs Ralph “Civic Education in the Philippines: the Philippines to follow-up on the many Boyce and Anita L. Botti, the Deputy Challenges and Opportunities in the Next practical ideas and tap the great enthusiasm Director of the President’s Interagency Millennium” has just been published by the generated by interaction among attendees. Council on Women. 2 world of culture in the United States, Dr. PUBLIC AFFAIR SECTION, American Studies Cruz’s course demonstrated that though UNIVERSITIES REVIEW ASRC TIES culture is as old as humankind, it is always evolving. Starting in the mid-1980s, USIS Manila DE LA SALLE HOSTS INSTITUTE began working in partnership with several With this year’s successful initiation of Philippine universities to establish American As a formal academic discipline, the summer institute concept, Public Affairs Studies Resource Centers (ASRC)—small American Studies has not been a priority is hoping that it will become a tradition and libraries about the United States. In for Philippine universities. Only one, De La that 2001 will see an even more extensive succeeding years, USIS continued to seek Salle University (DLSU), offers coursework set of courses available for those interested these ASRC linkage agreements, signing the leading to a degree. And even at DLSU, in American Studies. last in 1998 with Mindanao State University one can only aspire to a bachelor’s degree in Marawi. in the field. In March, the Public Affairs Section (former USIS) invited all ten of its partners In an effort to give support to this FILIPINO SCHOLARS STUDY IN THE U.S. to a meeting to discuss new directions for important but neglected area of study, the the ASRCs. The two-day gathering covered Public Affairs Section—aided by an Each year, the Department of State, a wide range of issues: the expansion of important grant from the State Department’s through its Office for the Study of the United cooperative programming; the development Office for the Study of the United States— States, announces an open competition for of American studies; the gradual conversion partnered with DLSU to offer the first-ever participation in six-week long summer of the small libraries into research and summer institute in American studies. The institutes in American studies. These reference facilities; the sale of English institute took place from April 24 to May 19. institutes are competitively awarded to U.S. language materials; and the development of universities, which bid for the right to serve educational advising services for those Consisting of two courses linked by a as the academic host.

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