FEATURE ESSAY STUDENT’S CORNER HUMANS OF AC 4 Adventure, Data Gathering, and 6 Remote Learning as UP’s Educational 7 Serving at the Frontline: Building Network in Indonesia Strategy: Are We Really Ready? Asian Center’s Skeletal Force UP SHIFTS TO REMOTE LEARNING FOR AY 2020-2021 With stay-at-home measures implemented due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the University of the Philippines adopted a complete shift to online platforms for teaching and learning in this academic year. This despite calls from various sectors for a more inclusive alternative. Courses will be delivered remotely Clockwise (from top): Dr. Caroline Hau, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Zhandra Tam, Jefferson Mendez, and Marie Bernadine Umali. Photo Credit: through “the entire spectrum of Araw ng Pagkilala Online Ceremonies asynchronous or non-real time communication between teachers 7 MA AND 9 PHD DEGREES CONFERRED and learners—from text-based (basic IN FIRST VIRTUAL GRADUATION OF ASIAN email, FB messenger, Viber group, CENTER AND TRI-COLLEGE PROGRAM etc.) to online discussion boards in The Asian Center and the Tri-College Cerda, Michael John Fast, Maria-Teresa different platforms (UP’s Learning PhD Philippine Studies Program held the Galura, Marichu Liwanag, Joanne Manzano, Management Systems (e.g. UVLE, first ever virtual recognition rites to honor 7 Guillerma Mendoza, Romeo Peña, Minard VLE), Canvas, Google Classroom, MA and 9 PhD graduates last 26 April 2020, Reyes and Elyrah Salanga-Torralba. Edmodo etc.)—and synchronous or amidst the lockdown imposed because of “This afternoon’s program is a historic real time communication between COVID-19. event,” noted Dean Joefe Santarita in teachers and learners (e.g. lectures, This year, three were graduates of his opening remarks. “You were able to webinars and teleconferences using MA Asian Studies: Sarah Jean Grutas, earn your degree despite the threat of such platforms as Zoom, Google Abdulwahid Panganting and Marie COVID-19… and you were able to witness Meet),” as indicated in OVPAA Bernardine Umali. Another three graduated your graduation through this special online Memorandum No. 2020-68. “CUs are with the degree of Master in Asian Studies: program,” he said. urged to adopt a uniform LMS or at Jefferson Mendez, Denzel Sarmiento and From their homes, all graduates also most two LMSs” to avoid confusion Zhandra Tam; while the lone graduate of delivered a short message, a move away among students and teachers. Master in Philippine Studies was May from having one class representative to The memorandum, released by Haydee Serona. The PhD Philippines deliver the batch’s graduation speech. the Office of the Vice President for Studies graduates were: Christoffer Mitch Turn to Page 2 Turn to Page 2 RADUATE CANDIDATES last May, marking the completion of their G academic requirements. DEFEND THESIS VIA ZOOM Coincidentally, the MA students’ theses The pandemic may have put a halt on were all related to Southeast Asian studies. many things, but it certainly did not hinder Each thesis looked at Indonesia and touched Asian Center’s students from graduating. on themes such as literature, state order, Three students from the MA Asian Studies and conflict resolution. program and five from the PhD Philippine The said MA thesis are: Studies Program successfully defended their thesis through Zoom (video calling platform) Abdulwahid Panganting defends thesis via Zoom. Photo credit: Turn to Page 2 Dr. Sevilla’s Facebook 2 MUSYAWARAH: The Asian Center Newsletter 7 MA AND 9 PHD from page 1 UP SHIFTS from page 1 “I am thankful to my professors and what’s happening and to make intervention Academic Affairs on 19 July, outlines classmates who have been instrumental to to the best of [your] abilities…through the academic plans and timetable, my growth. Medyo malungkot nga lang na networks and institution…[and] participation preparations for, and implementation hindi ko sila personal na mapapasalamatan at in social and political movements,” she said. of remote learning. This was part of the personal na makakapagpaalam,” said Sarah Galvez Tan, on the other hand, drew University’s early plans and strategies Grutas in her graduation message. from his experience in working in the developed even before the COVID-19 The guests of honor were Dr. Caroline grassroots communities to highlight the in case of class suspensions brought Hau, professor at the Center for Southeast culture and traditions of the Philippine about by natural hazards, disasters, or Asian Studies in Kyoto University, for the indigenous peoples, such as traditional social and political eventualities. The Masters Program ceremonies and former medicine and healing practices, and unique implementation was now propelled by Health Secretary, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, for writing systems. the current public health crisis because the PhD Philippine Studies Program. Highlighting this year’s graduation of the pandemic. Tracing the developments in Asia that theme, “Maglingkod, Magmalasakit, The Board of Regents (BOR), signified its “position as the leading growth Manindigan,” he called on PhD graduates UP’s highest decision-making body, center of the world,” Hau pointed out in her to make their research beneficial. “Sana approved the shift to remote learning speech that the “growing regional clout, po ito ay maging policy, maging program during its 1352nd meeting on 30 July. connectivity and interdependence among guidelines, part of communication. Sana In the same meeting, it also adopted nations” belies the “politics of inclusion magamit ito ng maraming tao,” he said. the proposed calendar of the UP and exclusion, the unequal processes that Deviating from the usual conduct of Administration, opening classes on underpin the processes of nation as well as graduation, two separate ceremonies for 10 September and shortening the first region making in Asia.” Hau also called on the Masters Program and the Tri-College semester from the usual 16 to just 14 the important role of graduates “as students PhD Philippine Studies Program were weeks. of Asia.” prerecorded and streamed via YouTube. Sectoral regents (Student, Faculty, “It is your task… to make sense [of] and Staff Regents) have since called for a more pro-student approach to GRADUATE STUDENTS from page 1 the “new normal.” Based on the ∙ “The Converging Role of Traditional business and governance, history, and local university’s data, more than 5,600 Leaders and Non-Traditional Leaders literature. students may be unable to keep up in Conflict Resolution: The Cases of The PhD dissertations successfully with and afford the approved mode of Mindanao, Philippines and Maluku, defended via Zoom are: learning. Indonesia” by Abdulwahid Panganting; ∙ “Diskarte: Understanding Design ∙ “Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s Buru Culture through the Chairs of the ∙ “Naratibo ng Lubi sa Ating Gunita: Ang Quartet: Literature as a Site of Filipino Design Exemplars” by Industriya ng Niyog sa Panitikan at Counterhegemony and Contestation Guillerma Mendoza; Kasaysayang Pilipino, 1940–2018” by in Indonesia’s New Order” by Marie ∙ “Subli (Ang Pamana): Philippine Romeo Peña; and Bernardine Umali; and Culture and Values in the Governance ∙ Katwiran ng Kasaysayan: Ang ∙ “Lustful Lords, Dead Deities: Female of Filipino-Owned Family Corporations Alegoryang Pangkasaysayan at Sexuality in Indonesian Folk Literature” in the Philippines” by Maria-Teresa ang Diskurso ng Kasaysayan, by Sarah Jean Grutas. Galura; Nasyunalismo, at Bayan sa mga The PhD dissertations defended ∙ “Piso, The Image of Filipino Identity: Nobelang Pangkasaysayan sa Wikang remotely, on the other hand, examined The Concealed Value of Philippine Tagalog, 1905–1927” by Christoffer Philippine culture, tradition and values as New Generation Currency” by Minard Cerda. seen in aspects such as design, kinship, Reyes; THE DEAN’S CORNER MILESTONES by Prof. Joefe B. Santarita, Ph.D. “Time flows away like the water in the river.” I am glad that we have revived this newsletter, despite being at Indeed, this saying from Confucius perfectly fits the bill to a time when the world is suffering from COVID-19. Regardless of describe the development of Musyawarah. Time flew by in the past the limitations, we continue the dialogue and record the milestones 14 years since the release of the newsletter’s maiden issue. Its of the Center and its constituency. The newsletter complements the inception was geared primarily towards documenting the activities Asian Center’s website and other social media platforms in widely conducted by the Asian Center and the achievements of its students disseminating our activities and advocacies. Furthermore, it gives and alumni. As the newsletter’s first editor-in-chief (EIC), I remember our students the opportunity to share their travels and travails, flights well that it featured the experience of an alumna studying in South and plights, as well as inspirations and inhibitions regarding Asia and Korea. After a decade and four years, that alumna is now the EIC of beyond. By and large, the collective narratives greatly enable the the revived newsletter. Asian Center to perform its mandate, as envisioned by its founders— Musyawarah, the Bahasa term for “discussion,” is a fitting to be a “world center” for the study of Asia. word to carry the newsletter’s purpose of promoting and facilitating With the help of Dr. Michelle Palumbarit and her team, I hope discussion among stakeholders, and providing space for students that this newsletter will encourage Asian Center’s students to take to showcase their achievements, passion and skills related to Asia. It part in the discussion, as their time, likewise, flows away like the is a forum where academic and literary expressions of faculty, staff, water in the river. students, and alumni are highly welcomed. Padayon! SEPTEMBER 2020 | VOLUme 1 | IssUE 1 3 ASIA IN FOCUS NORTHEAST ASIA JAPAN’S PM ABE RESIGNS DUE TO HEALTH CONDITION by Justin Beneraba Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe consecutive days from November 9, 1964 to announced his resignation due to his poor July 7, 1972.