aguhon | volume I issue 1 | june-july 2012
contents>> PRESIDENT’S CORNER 4
The President of the Organization of Area Studies Majors welcomes the Area Studies freshies
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NEWS 5
Be in the loop with the latest activities and events brought to you by the Area Studies Program and OrgASM
COVER STORY 6
Summer to Remember
The seniors share their summer practicum experiences and prove that work can be fun and exciting
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FEATURES 8
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All Aboard: Area Studies
Your first guide to the most awesome course ever!
10 Peep Talk
Aguhon gets up close and personal with OrgASM’s Executive Board 2012-2013
EN COMPASS 12
Dito sa Area
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Advice on how to enjoy freshie life and the unique Area Studies culture
the cover
AGUHON is in need of writers, artists, photographers, contributors and online managers. Interested? Contact Ace at 09272815552. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ACE VINCENT MOLO EDITORIAL STAFF
FRANZ JUDE ABELGAS JOSELITO ARCINAS EZRA KRISTINA BAYALAN LANCE TREVORE CLEDERA ROEZIELLE JOY IGLESIA CONTRIBUTORS
he cover features the fun and fulfillment T of the practicum that made the summer of Area Studies seniors a colorful one. Cover design by Ace Vincent Molo
ANA CASILDA APACIBLE MARC JUANE SHARMAINE LIZADA JOHN ALBERT MAGUAD CYRUS POLICARPIO MONICA PONCE RAISA PAZ RAMOS
EMAIL ADDRESS
aguhon@upmorgasm.com WEBSITES
facebook.com/AguhonOnline issuu.com/aguhon.orgasm AGUHON is open to contributions (articles, opinion, photographs, artworks, literary pieces, etc.) from members of the Organization of Area Studies Majors. Send your contributions to aguhon@upmorgasm. com. Written articles must be in .doc/.docx format. Artworks and photographs must be in .jpg format, 300 dpi. Include your name, student number and year level in an attached .txt (Notepad) document. All Rights Reserved © 2012
editor’s note Naimbag nga aldaw! (Pardon my Ilocano.) As you read this message, you are also witnessing a historical milestone unfold. You are currently reading the very first issue of AGUHON, the newest and the official newsletter of the Organization of Area Studies Majors (OrgASM). “Aguhon” is the Filipino translation of ‘compass.’ The compass does not only symbolize our inclination to the study of places, regions, cultures, or formally, areas. It also signifies the multidisciplinary nature of our degree program which gains from all directions, all disciplines, and all perspectives. Furthermore, just like the actual thing, this newsletter aims to ‘guide’ every OrgASM member to the in’s and out’s of the organization by keeping them informed of the latest activities and undertakings of the organization in which they belong to. While the establishment of this publication is a first in the history of our organization, Aguhon is also a realization of the longtime pursuit of bringing communication and information dissemination within and outside the organization to a higher level. Previously confined only to communication through social networking sites and electronic groups, information dissemination among members (and nonmembers alike) now takes a new, fun, creative and exciting form. It is hoped that this new avenue will heighten interest and participation in the organization’s forthcoming endeavors and in the organization itself. In this light, we shall strive and put our best foot forward to keep you informed and to give you nothing but the best of OrgASM. And because going places is one of the many things that we love about Area Studies, this year’s practicum takes on the spotlight in our debut cover. The seniors share stories on how they spent their summer at the most exciting workplaces and destinations: the National Museum, the Juan Luna Shrine, Tourism Malaysia, and Bustos, Bulacan. This feature will prove that it is really more fun in the Philippines and in Area Studies! Meanwhile, we dedicate this issue to the program’s (and soon, OrgASM’s) newest babies, UPM Area Studies Batch 2016. We hope that reading the first issue of Aguhon will be a great way to start the school year and your Area Studies journey as a whole. In fact, we included articles that will introduce you to the awesomeness that is Area Studies. We wish you all the best in your UP and AreaStud life! To end, I extend my gratitude to the OrgASM Executive Board 2012-2013 for giving me this wonderful opportunity to spearhead Aguhon. I am looking forward to a great and productive year, and rest assured, Aguhon will be faithful to its duty and will always be there in OrgASM’s every endeavor. So without further ado, read away and enjoy!
In service,
contact the editor!
You may contact me by texting at +639272815552 or by sending an email to molo.acevincent@gmail. com. You can also add me on Facebook (Ace Vincent Molo) or follow me on Twitter (@ThisIsAceMolo).
Me striking a pose at the picturesque Bangui Windmills during a fieldwork-slashsidetrip of our Ilocos Norte practicum.
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president’s corner Isang mainit na pagtanggap at pagbati sa lahat ng mga bagong Iskolar ng Bayan, partikular sa mga kapwa ko Area Studies Majors! Bilang primerong pinuno ng Organisasyon, inaanyayahan ko ang bawat isa na “Tikman ang Saya sa Area!” Tatlong taon ang nakalipas nang ako rin ay magsimula tulad ninyo. Tatlong taong madaliang lumipas sapagkat hindi ko na nabilang ang mga araw na dumaan. Tulad ninyo, ramdam ko ang malaking hamon sa aking unang pagpasok sa unibersidad. Tulad ninyo, tangan ko ang malaking tanong sa aking unang araw sa ating kurso. Tulad ninyo, wala akong ibang hinangad sa pagtatapos ng taon kundi ang lumipat ng programa, mag-shift. Normal akong tulad niyo…noon. Sapagkat walang sapat na ideya ukol sa larangang kinabibilangan, ako ay naghanap ng ganyak (motivation) upang ipagpatuloy ang kurso. At aking hinamon ang sarili, hamong talikdan ang dating kagalingan (comfort zone). Mula sa pagiging mahusay sa matematika at agham noong elementarya at sekundarya, nilakbay ko ang agham panlipunan. Sa paglipas ng bawat semestre, iba’t ibang karunungan sa mundo at lipunang ginagalawan ang natuklasan ko. Ang kasaysayan, bilang pundasyon ng ating pag-aaral, ay mabisang instrumento sa pagkilala ng partikular na teritoryo o sakop (area). Lagpas sa mga detalye, ang pagaaral ng kasaysayan ay ukol sa bakit, paano at implikasyon ng mga pangyayaring magkakaugnay. Hanggang sa ang mga tagong tala sa kasaysayan sa akin ay naging mas kasiya-siya, higit sa ‘solving for x’ at ‘molecular activities.’ Normal ang magtanong. Normal ang magtaka. Normal ang mag-alangan…sa simula. Kaya naman kaming mga miyembro ng Organization of Area Studies Majors, ang inyong mga ate at kuya sa programa, ay gagabay at sasamahan kayo sa unang taon ng inyong pagiging normal sa ilalim ng katangi-tanging pangalan ng ating Organisasyon. Unti-unti ay mababatid ninyo ang kagalingan ng kurso. Sa pagkilala sa kasaysayan at iba’t ibang kultura, partikular ng Pilipinas at Asya, mabubuo sa isipan ang holistikong pagtingin sa mga kasalukuyang suliranin at isyu na kinakaharap ng bansa na laging iniuugnay sa konsepto ng pagunlad. Ang korapsyon ay kultura. Ang kahirapan ay kultura. Ang ating pagtanaw sa antas ng kurso (agham panlipunan) ay bunsod ng kinagisnang kultura. Gayunpaman, rito sa kurso mauunawaan na ang pagbabago sa Pilipinas na ating inaasam ay magsisimula sa pagbabago sa ating kaisipan, sa ating pagtingin sa lahat ng kaganapan. At saka rin mabibigyan ng bagong pakahulugan ang kasaysayan at kultura, lalo’t higit ang identidad at nasyonalismo. Normal na hindi pa maintindihan ang sinundang talata; ngunit sa pagpapatuloy ninyo sa kurso ay sigurado akong mauunawaan ninyo. Bilang pangwakas ay nais kong iwan sa inyo ang isang hamon – hamon na hamunin rin ang inyong mga sarili na talikdan ang mga nakasanayang kagalingan. Ang pagkabilang sa agham panlipunan ay nasa ibayo ng pagiging normal. Take risks. Broaden your horizons. Move beyond your limitations.
SHARMAINE Z. LIZADA Pangulo, Organization of Area Studies Majors
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news
OrgASM selects new set of officers harmaine Lizada, an Area Studies (AS) senior, will serve as S the president of the Organization of Area Studies Majors (OrgASM) for Academic Year 2012-2013, after winning the elections held on March 22.
Lizada, the sole candidate for the position of president, got 39 votes, representing 53% of all members who participated in the elections. Cyrus Policarpio, AS senior and outgoing Vice President (VP) for External Affairs, emerges as the new VP for Internal Affairs after garnering 48 votes. He bested Innah Marriah Tolentino, AS junior for the said post. Meanwhile, Alimar Mohammad Malabad, AS junior, assumes the position of VP for External Affairs by gaining 47 votes, winning over Ace Vincent Molo, outgoing VP for Publicity, Research and Documentation (PRD). Sole candidates Tricia Louise
Damatan and Paul Nikko Degollado garnered the highest percentages of votes, making them VP for Finance and VP for Publicity & Documentation (amended position), respectively. On the organization’s second General Assembly held on July 19, Franz Jude Abelgas, AS junior, was elected as the first VP for Legal and Academic Affairs, after the ratification of the revised OrgASM constitution held on the same day. Lizada, Policarpio, Malabad, Damatan, Degollado and Abelgas form OrgASM’s 9th Executive Board and will serve until the election and proclamation of new officers on March 2013.
Professor Houbden talks on area studies and SEA history at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, delivered a lecture entitled “The Future of Area Studies and the Role of History in Southeast Asia” last March 13 at GAB 301B, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila.
The lecture is organized by the Area Studies 125 (Economic History of Asia) class of Professor Bernard Leo M. Karganilla and the Organization of Area Studies Majors. As both area studies and Southeast Asian history are in a state of reconfiguration, Professor Houbden explains how these two interlinked fields of study can provide new insights in knowing and understanding a rapidly transforming Southeast Asia. Faculty members of the Department of Social Sciences, including Professor Roland Simbulan of the Development Studies Program, and Professors Fatima Alvarez-Castillo and
ACE VINCENT MOLO
rofessor Vincent Houbden, P a professor of Southeast Asian history and society
Teresa Lorena Jopson of the Political Science Program, also attended the event. Professor Houbden studied history and Southeast Asian languages at Leiden University, The Netherlands. Over the years, he has published widely on various dimensions of colonial, national, economic and cultural history, mostly on Indonesia but increasingly on Southeast Asia from a comparative perspective. (With information from the Department of Social Sciences Facebook page)
PRESIDENT LIZADA, SHARMAINE Z. ABSTAIN
39 35
53% 47%
48 24 2
65% 32% 3%
47 25 2
64% 34% 3%
69 5
93% 7%
73 1
99% 1%
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS POLICARPIO, CYRUS C. TOLENTINO, INNAH MARRIAH V. ABSTAIN VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MALABAD, ALIMAR MOHAMMAD B. MOLO, ACE VINCENT P. ABSTAIN VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE DAMATAN, TRICIA LOUISE C. ABSTAIN VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLICITY, RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION DEGOLLADO, PAUL NIKKO C. ABSTAIN
TABLE 1. The results of the OrgASM Executive Board election. Source: OrgASM COMELEC.
news bites OrgASM brings sweet treats at the CAS All-Orgs Fair The Organization of Area Studies Majors participated in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) All-Orgs Fair held on July 2 at the CAS Quadrangle and Little Theater Walk.
constitution include the establishment of the Legal and Academic Affairs Committee, to be headed by newly-elected Vice President Franz Jude Abelgas, institutionalization of batch representatives, and the restatement of the organization’s mission and vision.
OrgASM sold sweet treats like brownies, cupcakes and truffles at very affordable prices.
Aguhon goes online
The CAS All-Orgs Fair is organized by the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council as an avenue for CAS-based organizations to introduce themselves and be known by UP Manila students.
Aguhon, the official newsletter of the Organization of Area Studies Majors, officially launched its first online platform in the form of a ‘like page’ on Facebook, Aguhon Online, on July 15.
Aguhon Online is a one-stop Facebook portal for Area Studies majors—bringing OrgASM’s latest events and activities, reporting news and issues from around Asia, and providing useful links and information.
New OrgASM constitution ratified A revised constitution of the Organization of Area Studies Majors was ratified during its second General Assembly held at The Manila Collegian Office, July 12.
Like the official Facebook page of Aguhon (Aguhon Online) at http://www.facebook.com/ AguhonOnline.
Amendments in the revised
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cover story
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he National Museum of the Philippines, one of the many institutions with the task of preserving the cultural heritage of the Filipino nation, provided us Area Studies Majors many opportunities to practice our expertise. Among its many divisions (Archeology, Anthropology, Geology, among others), majority of the 2012 practicumers were assigned under the Museum Education Division, the division in-charge of various tasks, including dissemination of information about the Museum’s activities and its relevance to Filipino history and cultural heritage. Since we had to work for only 100 hours (the average was 300-600 hours), the Museum had to assign tasks that we could accomplish within the time frame so we were assigned to do an update on their brochures on the different exhibits and buildings and make another brochure for their upcoming events for the month of May. While doing so, we had to do research about our assigned
topics (we were divided into groups). The main highlight of our practicum in the National Museum was our participation in their yearly event called Nature Walk, an event that highlights the importance of the natural biodiversity of our country, which was also organized by the Museum Education Division. Each year, they hold it at different venues. This year, Nature Walk 2012 was held in Candaba, Pampanga because of its Marshland ecology that could provide a new experience for the Nature Walk (during the previous years, Nature Walk was already held in the sea and mountain habitats). As practicumers, we were assigned different tasks during the event. Some had to document, take photographs, facilitate and usher people. Nevertheless, we were also able to enjoy the Nature Walk as participants. We stayed at a leisure farm called Lola Corazon which provided various facilities including bedrooms, function rooms, swimming pool, zip line and etc. In here the various forums were held during the day. The rest of our free time was up to us to spend so one would naturally know what to do with it. Our tasks were fairly balanced in ways that we could both learn and
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t was in the second week of April when we were informed that we will work as interns for Tourism Malaysia. It was definitely a relief since we do not have much time left as we need also to pursue the other half of our practicum for research works. Though we really intend to pursue to work in the embassy itself, tourism seems to be good venue for learning especially for us Area Studies majors. Generally, the nature and scope of our work is to present Malaysia to the Philippine market as the best destination for travel through print advertisements, mass media promotion and packages from travel agencies. Tourism Malaysia also acts as an information and resource center for those people who have inquiries and interest on travelling to Malaysia, whether knowing how to get
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enjoy our trip. The culminating activity of the Nature Walk was the Bird Watching and the tour we had around Candaba, Pampanga (which involved visiting various local industries, old houses, among others) which was both a new and thrilling experience for us. In the end, the National Museum experience was a wholesome experience for us. Some of us were even considering applying for the volunteer program they had to add up to our experience. Also, because of the possibility of the “Intel” we had about the next year’s venue for Nature Walk—Camiguin Island, a very inviting place, some of us had considered saving up for it next year.
there or checking out the best tourist spots and places to visit. Surveying around, one will find the importance of tourism for Malaysia, for the office is well- equipped with the latest and most efficient technologies, appropriate utilities and numerous advertising paraphernalia. Each room in the office has a specific purpose— there is a storage room, a prayer room (since most of our superiors are Muslims), conference rooms, a learning resource room, a pantry and a large reception area for walk-in visitors. It also has a complete set of brochures and maps exclusively for tourism purposes. In the end, this experience taught us the way corporate management works. First, we learned is the importance of effective communication, since through this, one can give a proper representation unto its subject in order to persuade them. Second, critical approaches are needed in scrutinizing the market in order to fully understand it and make a good strategy out of it. Effective
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d a t a interpretation is also an important factor to have the right approaches in dealing with feasibility studies. Lastly, though it sounds like a basic subject, the clerical works which includes filing, organizing and sorting, truly makes work more efficient and systematic.
indi pa ako nagbabakasyon H mula nang pumasok ako sa UP. Maraming dahilan kung bakit
nangyari sa akin iyon pero hindi na mahalaga iyon sa ngayon. Hanggang sa pinakahuling summer ko sa kolehiyo ay kailangan pa ring konektado sa kurikulum ng kurso ko. Buti na lang, kasama ko lahat ng may balak grumadweyt ngayong school year, at least, sama-sama kami sa hirap at saya. Bago pa naman mag-summer, inaasikaso na ng klase ang gagawing praktikum. Naghahanap sila ng mga ahensya na maaaring pasukan upang makakuha ng work experience. Ako naman, sumama ako sa maliit na grupo na gustong pumunta sa malayo. Sa ilalim ng National Historical Commission of the Philippines, maraming mga makasaysayang lugar na maaaring bisitahin, puntahan at pagdausan ng praktikum. Napili ng grupo ang Juan Luna Shrine sa Ilocos Norte. Maliban sa ilang klase sa Geography, nakikita ko lamang ang Ilocos sa mapa ng
Pilipinas, sa internet, at sa Magic Sing, kaya masasabi kong hindi pa buo ang aking kaalaman ukol sa lugar na iyon. Kahit may kapitbahay kaming Ilocano, hindi ko naman halata ang kanilang kultura. Nalaman ko na kami ang magsisilbing mga curator ng shrine. Sumabak agad kami sa isang trabahong aktibo at nakaharap sa iba’t ibang uri ng tao. Ito ay isang magandang pagkakataon upang masubok namin ang aming mga kakayahan. Isa rin itong karangalan para sa amin dahil pinagkatiwalaan kami ng aming mga boss at hindi kami tinago lamang sa isang aklatan o opisina. Nakasalamuha namin ang iba’t ibang uri ng mga turista. Iba’t iba ang mga pinanggalingan, nasyonalidad at edad. Dumarating sila sa iba’t ibang mga paraan: ang iba ay naglalakad, naka-van, naka-bus. May mga galing ng Maynila, Palawan, Cebu, US at Germany. Kinailangan naming matutunan ang napakaraming mga impormasyon sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas at buhay ni Juan Luna sa sandaling panahon. Nasusubok din ang talas ng aming isip dahil sa mga mahihirap na tanong ng mga turista. Nahasa rin ang aming pagsasalita at komunikasyon habang kinakausap ang mga turista sa iba’t ibang salita. Naging abala kami sa pagiging gabay sa mga turistang bumisita sa shrine. Isa
pang parte ng aming praktikum ay ang paggawa ng travel show tungkol sa Ilocos
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atlong taon nang ikinikintal sa aming mga isipan ang kahalagahan ng kasaysayan sa pagbubuo ng ating bansa at sa pagtatakda ng ating tadhana bilang isang bayan. Kasaysayan ang siyang nagbibigay sa atin ng ating identidad bilang iisang bayan at nagtatakda ng tunguhin kung saan natin nais ihatid ang bansa. Dinala kami ng aming pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal sa pag-aaral ng kasaysayan sa isang bayang may ilang oras lamang ang layo mula sa Maynila. Ang tanawin sa bayan na ito ay malayong-malayo sa maingay at magulong tagpo sa lungsod: payapa at simple ang pamumuhay ng mga mamamayan sa bayang ito. Bukod pa rito, hitik sa kasaysayan at kalinangan ang bayang ito, kung kaya’t mayroong puwang ang aming
Norte. Kailangan naming pumunta sa ibang bahagi ng Ilocos upang makita ang mga sikat na tanawin at destinasyon nito. Kami ay nakarating ng Pagudpud, Bangui Windmills, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Paoay Church, Marcos Museum, Batac, Laoag at iba pa. Kinailangan din naming tikman ang mga pagkain na sikat sa Ilocos gaya ng empanada at longganisa. Sa aming pagpunta at pagtira sa Ilocos ng dalawang linggo, natutunan namin ang ilang salitang Ilocano, ilang mga kaugalian at ilang pagkain na masarap. Maliban doon, nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataong makita ang ganda ng Pilipinas sa Norte. Sa aming pagtatrabaho, naranasan namin ang maging curator, resident historian, guide o kung ano man ang tawag sa kanila ng mga tao. Nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong mahasa ang aking pagsasalita at pagtuturo sa ibang tao sa kakaibang klasrum. Aming naranasan ang makapagtrabaho sa isang hindi pangkaraniwang opisina. Kahit papaano ay may mga aral sa buhay kaming natutunan. Maaaring pagsasanay ito sa hinaharap kung kami ay magkakaroon na ng mga trabaho. Nagkaroon din ako ng idea sa aking nais gawin sa buhay, ang lumabas ng syudad at magaral ng tao, kasaysayan at kultura. Higit sa lahat, naranasan ko ang kasabihang “find a job that you love, and you won’t have to work a single day.”
pag-aaral sa tinaguriang “Bayang Dakila.” Ito ang bayan ng Bustos sa Bulacan. Bilang mga mag-aaral ng kasaysayan at kultura, malapit sa aming mga puso ang aming ginawa sa loob ng tatlong linggo. Aming binuo ang kasaysayan ng bayan ng Bustos mula sa iba’t ibang lapit (approach) sa kasaysayan tulad ng church history, economic history, social history at women’s history. Ang aming pananaliksik ay bahagi ng pagsasakatuparan ng adhikain Pamahalaang-Bayan ng Bustos na maituro sa mga kabataan ang mayamang kasaysayan at kalinangan ng kanilang bayan. Ang partikular na paksang iniatas sa akin ay ang mga bahay na bato ng Bustos. Nakatutuwang isipin na sa gitna ng kasalukuyang pamamayani ng mga gusaling yari sa konkreto, semento at iba pang mga makabagong materyal, ang
mga bahay na bato ay nananatiling nakatindig sa bayan ng Bustos at nagsisilbing pagpapatotoo sa makulay na kultura at mayamang nakalipas ng bayan. Hanggang ngayon, ang mga tahanang ito ay patuloy na sumasaksi sa pagdaloy ng buhay at pag-unlad ng Bustos bilang isang bayan. Sa pagbagtas sa Kalye Heneral Alejo G. Santos, makikita ang hilera ng mga lumang bahay na ito na patuloy na ipinamamalas ang tibay at ganda, sa kabila ng maraming pagbabago na hatid ng paglipas ng panahon. Mula sa masasayang kuwento ng mga matandang mamamayan nito, masarap na minasa at lengua de gato, magagandang tanawin at magigiliw na mga tao, ang pagbuo sa kasaysayan ng Bustos ay isang karanasang hindi lamang nagpatalas ng aming mga kakayahan; gayundin, ito ay patotoo na tunay ngang mas masaya sa ating bansa!
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features
all aboard: area studies
BY ACE VINCENT MOLO
UP Manila. Course Code 7193. BA Social Sciences (Area Studies). Whether you wrote this down on purpose on your UPCAT application form, or chose this to lift your DPWS or recon status, you are surely doubtful of this thing that you have just entered in. Let this be your first guide to the uniqueness and awesomeness called Area Studies. THE PROGRAM
WHAT ON EARTH IS AREA STUDIES?
Charge it to experience—all freshies that enter Area Studies do not have a sound idea of what the degree program is and what it is all about. We cannot really blame them, because for most Filipinos, Area Studies does not really ring
sciences—be it economics, history, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, among others—as their major field. As problems such as the excessive freedom in the selection of sometimes incongruent majors and the lack of a specific path for the students rose, Dr. Cristina E.
gained from these disciplines in creating a better understanding of these areas. That might sound difficult for you, but simply, the essence of area studies is that it believes that a single discipline or perspective is not always enough in studying a region or a country.
Science and Technology (MST), and Social Sciences and Philosophy (SSP). Your courses during your freshman year are all GE courses, which are preset during the first semester. Later on, you are to choose (as a block) your courses for the second semester. One thing that makes the first year of an Area Studies major very special is taking Mathematics 11 (College Algebra), a foundation course that is, for most AS majors, dreaded and loathed, even reaching the point that students fail and repeat the subject. The harsh reality is that an AS major should complete Math 11, no matter what (or how long) it takes, for this is a prerequisite to courses such as economics and statistics.
In short, area studies is the study of
Physical education (PE) courses are
“THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES (AREA STUDIES) PROGRAM IS A MULTI- AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM THAT STUDIES SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL AND CULTURAL AREAS, IN PARTICULAR THE PHILIPPINES AND ASIA, UTILIZING THE DIFFERENT SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES OF HISTORY, POLITICS, ECONOMICS, GEOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY.” a bell. Area studies is a field of study in the social sciences that deals with the histories, politics, economies and cultures of various world areas. In the Philippines, area studies is an young field in the academe, for only a few institutions offer this degree program, including, of course, UP Manila. UP Manila’s BA Social Sciences (Area Studies) Program focuses on studying the history, politics, economy, geography, culture and society of the Philippines and of Asian regions, as well as issues and current developments faced by these regions. The forerunner of the current program is the degree program AB Social Science, considered to be one of the oldest degree offerings of UP Manila. Back in the 1970s, the Social Science program was a double major course, meaning students can choose any two of the many branches of the social
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Torres, a former senior professor of the current Area Studies Program, advocated for the alteration and reorganization of the Social Science program in the mid-1980s. She proposed that the many branches of the social sciences be grouped into two: the behavioral sciences (with anthropology, psychology, and sociology as its major courses), and area studies (with history, economics, and political science as its major fields). Until the establishment of the Behavioral Sciences’ own department in 200_, the originally double major degree program, Social Science, became Social Science (Behavioral Studies), which is now simply known as BA Behavioral Sciences, and the present-day BA Social Sciences (Area Studies) degree program. The program (and area studies itself) is multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary in nature and approach—it uses the various social science disciplines in the study of the Philippines and Asia, and then integrates knowledge
areas, regions, and countries—and their histories, politics, economies and cultures. So the next time someone asks you what your course is all about, it is hoped that you can already give a cool answer, yet don’t expect that your friend or relative will easily understand the concept of area studies—again, charge it to experience.
THE CURRICULUM
WHAT ARE THE COURSES THAT I WILL TAKE IN THE FOUR (HOPEFULLY NOT MORE) YEARS OF MY STAY?
Because Area Studies is a multidisciplinary degree program, expect a wide variety of courses that will be taken throughout your course of study. Your first years of stay in the university will be filled with courses called general education (GE) courses. Every UP student (in all campuses) is required to take 45 units of GE courses, split into three domains, namely Arts and Humanities (AH), Mathematics,
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also to be taken (ideally) during the first two years in the curriculum, but you can choose not to. You can take a PE course later in your stay, as long you take four courses: one fundamental course (known as PE 1 FPF - Foundations of Physical Fitness) and three elective PE courses. Yes, you have the freedom to choose your PE courses, and there is a variety of PE courses being offered in UP Manila, ranging from sports (basketball, bowling, swimming, badminton), to dance (folk dance, streetdance, modern jazz), to martial arts (arnis, selfdefense), to recreational activities (pilates, Philippine games). Also taken during the freshman year is the National Service Training Program (NSTP), a mandated program that aims to instill community service and values formation to all college students. Through the years, the thrust of the NSTP for Area Studies is geared towards environmental awareness and protection, balancing theory, practice and service.
An AS major’s basic knowledge of a non-English foreign language (through an option of 6 units of a foreign language elective) will give him/her an edge in careers in the
“IT EMPLOYS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH USING THE VARIOUS THEORIES, METHODOLOGIES AND APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. IT REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE BUT INTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVE IN THE STUDY OF THE HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, POLITICS, ECONOMY, CULTURE AND SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND ASIA WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT WORLD DEVELOPMENTS.”
For a detailed look on what to expect, you may refer to the curricular checklist we have provided you on this page.
THE FUTURE
WHAT AWAITS ME AFTER AREA STUDIES?
Being a relatively young field, most people (including freshies) think that there are no viable career opportunities for graduates of area studies. This is totally false. With the kind of training that the Area Studies Program provides, an
Being a graduate of the Area Studies Program also opens career opportunities in the following fields: • Education/teaching • Governmental work, civil service and public administration • Work in non-governmental organizations and advocacy work • Work in private/corporate agencies/offices • Media/journalism • Public and private sector development • Policy studies, research & consultancy • Work in historical/cultural/ tourism agencies One can also pursue graduate studies in any field of the social sciences. According to experts (and Area Studies faculty members), pursuing a graduate degree provides greater advantage in a highly competitive world.
“THE PROGRAM PREPARES THE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN TEACHING, RESEARCH, POLICY STUDIES, ADVOCACY WORKS, AND EMPLOYMENT IN NGO, GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE OFFICES, AND IN CIVIL SOCIETY SECTOR. IT IS ALSO A VERY GOOD PREPARATION FOR LAW SCHOOL AND GRADUATE STUDIES IN ANY FIELD OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. WITH ITS EXTENSIVE SOCIAL SCIENCE PREPARATION AND BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF A NONENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE, THE DEGREE ALSO SERVES AS AN EXCELLENT PREPARATION FOR A CAREER IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE OR IN A MULTICULTURAL WORK ENVIRONMENT.” AreaStud major is well-rounded and versatile, knows how to look on things through their various aspects, and thinks critically and comprehensively. No wonder, many opportunities await an Area Studies major upon his/her graduation. Area Studies is a pre-law course, and in fact, many AS majors choose
See, there are a lot of opportunities that await you as you leave the university! (And even Medicine!) With great opportunities, friendly people and a new take on exploring the world, you can never go wrong with Area Studies! You have the information that you need, now go forth and start your AS journey!
SECOND YEAR
Through social science electives, an AreaStud major has the opportunity to expand his/her horizons or to concentrate on a discipline of his/her interest, which can also be used to pursue a minor discipline.
diplomatic service, in international organizations and agencies, or in multicultural work environments.
THIRD YEAR
studies, anthropology, behavioral sciences, philosophy, etc. with course numbers 100 and above) and an optional 6 units of a single non-English foreign language (usually in the form of elementary and intermediate courses).
FIRST YEAR
to proceed to law school and a number of our alumni are already lawyers.
FOURTH YEAR
Foundation courses (anthropology, economics, political science, sociology) and major courses (area studies, history, geography, social science) fill the latter portion of the curriculum. During your senior year, you get to choose social science electives (courses in history, political science, development
FIRST SEMESTER GE (AH) _________________________________________________ 3 GE (MST) ________________________________________________ 3 GE (MST) ________________________________________________ 3 GE (SSP) _________________________________________________ 3 GE (SSP) _________________________________________________ 3 PE ______________________________________________________ (2) (3) NSTP 1 ____ 15 SECOND SEMESTER GE (AH) _________________________________________________ 3 GE (MST) ________________________________________________ 3 GE (MST) ________________________________________________ 3 GE (SSP) _________________________________________________ 3 GE (SSP) _________________________________________________ 3 3 MATH 11 (College Algebra) PE ______________________________________________________ (2) (3) NSTP 2 ____ 18 FIRST SEMESTER GE (AH) _________________________________________________ 3 GE (AH) _________________________________________________ 3 GE (SSP) _________________________________________________ 3 3 AREA ST 101 (Introduction to Area Studies) PR: 30 UNITS 3 ECON 11 (Introductory Economics) PR: MATH 11 3 POL SCI 11 (Introduction to Political Science) (2) PE ______________________________________________________ ____ 18 SECOND SEMESTER GE (AH) _________________________________________________ 3 3 ANTHRO I (General Anthropology) 3 HISTORY 101 (Ancient & Medieval History) 3 HISTORY 114 (Cultural History of the Philippines) 3 POL SCI 14 (Philippine Government & Politics) PR: POL SCI 11 3 SOCIO 101 (General Sociology) (2) PE ______________________________________________________ ____ 18 FIRST SEMESTER GE (MST) ________________________________________________ 3 4 ECON 101 (Macroeconomic Theory & Policy) PR: ECON 11 3 GEOG 131 (Geography of the Philippines) 3 HISTORY 102 (Modern Europe) 3 HISTORY 116 (Philippine Nationalism) 3 POL SCI 160 (Society, Politics & Government) PR: POL SCI 11 ____ 19 SECOND SEMESTER 3 ANTHRO 123 (Peoples of the Philippines) PR: ANTHRO I 3 AREA ST 121 (History, Politics, Culture & Society of Southeast Asia) 3 AREA ST 141 (Economic History of the Philippines) PR: ECON 11 3 GEOG 143 (Geography of Asia) 3 SOC SCI 120 (Directed Readings in Social Sciences) PR: 60 UNITS 3 SOC SCI 192 (Statistics for the Social Sciences) PR: MATH 11 ____ 18 SUMMER 3 AREA ST 190 (Practicum) PR: 90 UNITS FIRST SEMESTER 3 AREA ST 122 (History, Politics, Culture & Society of South Asia) 3 AREA ST 132 (Seminar in Philippine Urban Issues) PR: 60 UNITS & AS 101 3 PI 100 (The Life & Works of Jose Rizal) PR: 60 UNITS 3 SOC SCI 199 (Research Methods in the Social Sciences) PR: 90 UNITS Social Science Elective _____________________________________ 3 3 Social Science/Foreign Language Elective _____________________ ____ 18 SECOND SEMESTER 3 AREA ST 123 (History, Politics, Culture & Society of East Asia) AREA ST 124 (History, Politics, Culture & Society of West Asia & North Africa) 3 3 AREA ST 125 (Economic History of Asia) PR: ECON 11 3 AREA ST 131 (Seminar Issues in Asia & the Pacific) PR: AS 101 Social Science Elective _____________________________________ 3 3 Social Science/Foreign Language Elective _____________________ ____ 18
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS
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features
peep talk
Pagsilip sa OrgASM Executive Board 2012-2013
Dahil tapos na ang init ng nakalipas na buwan at nagsisimula na ang tag-ulan, inihahatid sa inyo ng Aguhon ang isang espesyal na ‘sneak peek’ sa mga bagong halal na miyembro ng pinakamasarap na organisasyon sa balat ng UP Manila, ang OrgASM! Atin nang kilalanin ang mga namumuno sa organisasyong nagpapatikim, nagpapainit, nagpapasarap at nagpapaligaya sa Iskolar ng Bayan ng UP Manila. Basang-basa na ba kayo? Sumilip na at simulan na ang pagkilatis.
Sharmaine Lizada President
Q: What is Area Studies? A: Iyon na talaga yung first question? (Laughs) Ang hirap sagutin. (Laughs) ‘Yung course kasi natin, ‘yung Area Studies, ay multidisciplinary. Kapag sinabi mong multidisciplinary, halimbawa, ‘yung mga disciplines like Anthro, Socio, History, Politics; iyang mga ‘yan, ini-incorporate natin sa course natin. Pinag-aaralan natin siya. Tapos ‘area’ kasi may definite na area. So ang Area Studies sa UP Manila is somehow related to Philipine Studies and Asian Studies, kasi yung Philippines in Asia, iyon ang area of expertise natin. Q: In relation to your position as the President of the organization, what are your plans for this academic year? A: Actually, marami na tayong plano. Nu’ng General Assembly, inilahad na natin ‘yung monthly activities natin. Iisa-isahin natin siya as magpo-progress ang academic year. Pero iyong general approach natin ay iyong nasabi na din natin noong ‘miting de avance’. Gusto natin na tayo sa org natin ay, una, tayong organization ay maging organisado. Kasi nga kaya tayo organization kasi organisado. Pangalawa “of Area Studies Majors” dapat tayong mga miyembro nito, alam natin na tayo, feel na feel natin iyong course natin. Tapos iyong pangatlo, may pattern ‘yan. S, systematic. H, holistic which is iyong essence ng ating course. Tapos Accessible kasi tayo sa ExecComm, hindi lang ako, lahat kami sa naniniwala na dapat bawat isang member ay may say sa org. So ayun. Systematic. Holistic. Accessible. Iyon po ang plano natin. Hindi lang ako kundi tayong lahat sa ExecComm. Q: If you are to add or remove a course from the AreaStud curriculum what is it and why? A: Gusto ko kasing I expand—“expanding horizon”—sana. Kahit hindi naman expertise, sana magkaroon din tayo ng courses—like African Studies – kahit yung mga overview lang basta pagsamahin siya sa isang course. Though nagawa naman siya sa Area Studies 101, sana magkaroon pa tayo ng iba’t ibang [kaalaman]. Yung makilala natin yung iba [bansa] like Australia. May nagtanong sa’kin [kung] anong alam natin sa Australia? Parang world talaga yung scope natin.
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Cyrus Policarpio
Vice President for Internals
Q: What is Area Studies? A: Ano nga ba talaga ang Area Studies? Ito ‘yung isa sa mga pinakamatitinding tanong na kinaharap ko noong college e, “What is Area Studies?” Syempre course natin ‘yun. So ‘yung ‘Area Studies’, sa pagtahak ko ng course na ito ang nalaman ko [sa Area Studies] ay ito ay isang multidisciplinary course na tumatalakay sa iba’t ibang isyu ng lipunan tulad sa Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology— lahat—na nagde-deal sa non-Western nations tulad ng Asia, Africa, tsaka mga Latin America. So ‘yung focus natin, more on Asian Studies, research on Asian Studies, at kung papano magde-develop itong mga bansa na ‘to. Q: In relation to your position as VP for Internals, what are your plans for this academic year? A: Ngayon ang plano ko ay ibabalik natin kung ano iyong mga nakalagay na trabaho ng Internals. Unang-una diyan ‘yung student directory, which is, napansin ko noong previous boards, medyo nakalimutan nilang gawin at hindi masyadong detalyado ang pagkakagawa. Ngayon, mas precise na, nakuha na natin ang mga contact details, mas updated, para mas makakatulong hindi lamang sa mga officers kundi sa mga miyembro din. Kunyari kailangan nilang kontakin yung isa sa committee nila mas madali nilang maaaccess. At siguro mas madali na din para sa ID. Tapos, sa iba pang projects, siguro mas madaragdagan pa natin yung team building, which is hindi lang kasama per batch pero as a whole. Iyon ‘yung medyo kulang natin. At saka siguro mga academic forums na lalong maiintindihan natin yung pinag-aaralan natin ngayon which is Area Studies.
Alimar Mohammad Malabad Vice President for Externals
Q: What is Area Studies? A: What is Area Studies? Of course, this is my course, this is my major. Area Studies is the widest perspective to me in terms of combining all social sciences as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary course to analyze our society. Ginagamit natin ang lahat lahat ng maaari nating gamitin—tulad ng Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, Kultura, Anthropology, Pulitika at iba’t iba pang mga related na asignatura—para mas maintindihan natin ang lipunan sa isang mas malawak na perspektiba, sa isang particular na lugar tulad ng Pilipinas, Asya o isang rehiyon. Q: In relation to your position as VP for Externals, what are your plans for this academic year? A: Una, tulad ng ipinangako ko noong eleksyon, sinabi ko na kikilalanin ang ating organisasyon hindi lamang dito sa ating kolehiyo kundi sa buong unibersidad. Iyon kasing trabaho ko ay medyo limitado sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa ibang mga organisasyon, institusyon ng gobyerno, o maaaring non-governmnent, at layunin kong palawigin ang sakop ng OrgASM. Hindi lang tayo dito sa CAS o kaya sa department natin, kundi lahat. At hindi lamang yung pangalan ng OrgASM kundi yung ating puso, yung diwa ng kung sino ba tayo bilang isang lupon ng mga intelektwal. Makakaasa ‘yung ating mga constituents na kung ano mang programa ang gusto nila, lahat ay gagwan natin ng paraan para lahat iyon ay matupad dahil kami talaga— ang aking komite—ang in-charge sa mga sponsorships at pakikipag-ugnayan sa labas ng organisasyon.
Q: If you are to add or remove a course from the AreaStud curriculum what is it and why? A: Siguro tatanggalin ko yung Anthro 123 tapos papalitan ko siya ng mas malawak na Anthro, Anthro in Asia, ganun. Kasi tingin ko medyo nagli-lean yung course natin sa Philippine Studies. Hindi naman ako [against] sa Philippine Studies pero mas gusto ko kasi ‘area’ e. Kung magdadagdag ako, siguro idadagdag kong mga subjects ay mga subjects about methods and
Q: If you are to add or remove a course from the AreaStud curriculum what is it and why? A: Ang aalisin ko sa Area Studies curriculum? Siguro hindi ako mag-aalis kundi magdadagdag ng ilan pang mga asignatura na mas magpapalawig. Kumuha tayo ng kaunting subject na merong micro perspective. Para sa akin dun naman sa GE, OK lang ako. Yun ay mahalaga pa rin, hindi mo maaaring pag-aralan ang lipunan nang wala ang natural sciences, hindi mo ito maaaring pag-aralan ng walang maayos na lengguwahe o language faculty na
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See more (on the next page)
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Tricia Louise Damatan
Vice President for Finance
Q: What is Area Studies? A: Kasi ang Area Studies, pinagsama-samang important disciplines ng Social Sciences. Kaya nga tayo BA Social Sciences, Major in Area Studies, ang ginagamit kasi natin ay ibaibang disciplines tulad ng Geography, History, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology and Sociology, at meron din tayong mga minor/ GE subjects like Humanities, Natural Sciences at Math para mapag-aralan ang isang rehiyon. Sabihin nating ang Political Science, PolSci, PolSci lang, isang aspeto lang ng society ang pag-aaralan mo–yung political science lang. O kaya naman Economics lang, yun lang. Ginagamit ang Area Studies kasi ine-employ niya lahat para mapag-aralan yung isang region. Para mas diverse yung ating pagtingin. Q: In relation to your position as VP for Finance, what are your plans for this academic year? A: Ang mga plano ko ay sumasakay sa plano ng Jizz Party na binuo nga ng ating batch, 2014. Ang gusto kasi ng Jizz Party, magkaroon tayo ng bank account. Maraming alumni na gustong magextend ng tulong sa ating org kaya lang hindi nila alam kung pano dahil nga sa tight schedule nila. Ang gusto ng Jizz Party, maging katulong natin ang mga alumni para mas lalong mapalaki at mapabongga yung ating org. Isa pa ay yung pagkakaroon natin ng accounting journal na ayon kay Ate Sha, na ating president, meron na pala sila nito last year. Kailangan nating buhayin uli. Ang pangatlo ay yung magkaroon tayo ng strict collection ng ating monthly dues. Ang nangyayari kasi, minsan isang buwan lang sila mangongolekta. After noon, wala na. Dahil mga estudyante tayo, nahihirapan tayong kumuha ng mga resources para magampanan natin yung tungkulin natin bilang mga members ng org. Ang gusto lang naman natin, bigyan sila ng sapat na oras para makapagbayad. Nasa konstitusyon ‘yun na responsibilidad ng bawat miyembro na magbigay ng tulong na pinansiyal sa ating org. Sina-summarize ko yung gusto ko at ng Jizz Party sa accountability, transparency at leadership. Q: If you are to add or remove a course from the AreaStud curriculum what is it and why? A: Para sa akin, sobrang swak na nu’ng mga nakapaloob sa social sciences. Kasi isipin natin ang psychology ay pang-indibidwal na. Kaya sa akin kung gusto man kunyari ng tao na kumuha ng Psych na units, kunin na lamang niya as a GE. Para sa akin kasi, ang Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, History, PolSci, Economics, lahat na nandiyan para mapag-aralan mo ang isang area tulad na lamang ng Pilipinas sa loob ng Asya. Q: How will you describe OrgASM 2012-2013 in one word? A: Renaissance. MENSAHE. Sa paparating na mga members, sana tulungan at maging active sa ating organisasyon para maabot natin ang renaissance.
Paul Nikko Degollado
Vice President for Publicity and Documentation
Q: What is Area Studies? A: Ang Area Studies kasi, ito’y isang kurso na nagsasama-sama ng iba’t ibang disiplina sa pagaaral ng isang given na lugar sa isang bansa, kunwari dito sa atin. Sa Area Studies UP Manila, ang focus natin ay ang Pilipinas at ang Asya. Yung pinag-aaralan natin sa Area Studies ay ang Ekonomiya, Pulitika, Kasaysayan, Heograpiya pati Kultura ng mga binigay na area. Q: In relation to your position as the VP for Publicity and Documentation, what are your plans for this academic year? A: Syempre, una, kailangan mas makikilala pa lalo ng UP Manila yung org. Kasi given naman na na tayo yung pinakamasarap, ipapakita na natin sa kanila kung bakit nga ba pinakamasarap ang OrgASM. Nagpapasarap, nagpapatikim, nagpapainit at nagpapaligaya. Mas magandang publicity at mas maraming events na rin para sa atin. Q: If you are to add or remove a course from the AreaStud curriculum what is it and why? A: Sa akin, yung methods of social inquiry, mas iuuusog natin before pa. Parang yung SocSci 199 natin, yung research methodologies, pang 4th year lang siya. Dapat ‘yung pinaka-importante kasi sa Area Studies majors, yung marunong kang mag-research, social inquiry. Kaya [dapat] siguro sa simula pa lang may dedicated course na talaga kahit na sa ibang courses pahapyaw or indirectly naitututro na rin yung mga ganoong skills. Q: How will you describe OrgASM 2012-2013 in one word? A: Hindi na tayo lalayo sa org natin, Orgasmic.
Sharmaine Lizada (continued) Q: How will you describe OrgASM 2012-2013 in one word? A: One word? Pero gamit na gamit na ‘yung ‘awesome’ e. Siguro ano—hala ang hirap. (chuckles) One word lang? Renaissance. Dahil 9th year natin, re-nine-sance. Babalik tayong OrgASM.
Cyrus Policarpio (continued) theories. Kung titignan natin yung curriculum natin, dalawang subjects lang ang meron tayo about methods and theories, yung AS101 at SocSci 199. Siguro mas maganda yung mas malawak yung [perspektibo] natin sa pagkuha ng framework para kung gagawa man tayo ng mga paper or ideas, mas madali para sa Area. Hindi lang tayo puro magkukwento lang about sa history. Q: How will you describe OrgASM 2012-2013 in one word? A: One word lang? Nako mahirap yan. Naiisip ko two words e. Pwede English, pwede Tagalog? Excellence. Hindi na tayo yung tipong gusto lang nating sumaya, hindi yung tipong sama-sama lang. Ano na tayo, kumbaga ang goal na natin,
Franz Jude Abelgas
Vice President for Legal and Academic Affairs
Q: What is Area Studies? A: Para sa akin, ito ay isang kurso na naglalayong pagbuklurin ang mga sangay ng agham panlipunan upang lumawak ang ating perspektibo at magawan natin ng solusyon ang mga pambansang suliranin. Q: In relation to your position as VP for Legal and Academic Affairs, what are your plans for this academic year? A: Isa sa mga plano ko ay iparehistro sa SEC ang ating organisasyon. Isa pa ay ang lalong mapalapit ang organisasyon sa mas malawak pang organisasyon at lupon ng mga tao. Nais ko rin itanghal ang kagalingan ng Area Studies at ipakita sa iba na isa rin tayong academic organization na naglalayong mapabuti ang intelektwal na bahagi ng ating mga miyembro. Q: If you are to add or remove a course from the AreaStud curriculum what is it and why? A: Wala akong balak na tanggalin pero kung bibigyan ng pagkakataon, gusto kong madagdagan ng mas maraming History o Geography courses. Noong ni-review ko ang curriculum, napansin ko na 12 units [lang] ang History at 6 units ang Geography sa Area Studies. Kung magiging mas marami pa iyon, siguro mas makakatulong ito sa ating programa. Q: How will you describe OrgASM 2012-2013 in one word? A: New. umangat sa iba, kumbaga sasabihin nila ‘best among the rest’.
Alimar Mohammad Malabad (continued) binibigay ng ating AH subjects. Lahat naman sa akin ay mahalaga pero mga konting dagdag lang at yun ang ibinibigay na opurtunidad ng ating mga electives. Q: How will you describe OrgASM 2012-2013 in one word? A: Great.
contact your eb Sharmaine Lizada, President 09351301936 Cyrus Policarpio, VP for Internals 09168379488 Alimar Mohammad Malabad, VP for Externals 09178916062 Tricia Damatan, VP for Finance 09274216136 Paul Nikko Degollado, VP for Publicity & Documentation 09069392289 Franz Jude Abelgas, VP for Legal & Academic Affairs 09052600338
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en compass BECAUSE BEING AN AREA STUDIES MAJOR IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AND INCLUSIVENESS. EMBRACE YOUR IDENTITY. INVOLVE IN YOUR WORLD. ENCOMPASS.
dito sa area
NI FRANZ JUDE ABELGAS VP FOR LEGAL & ACADEMIC AFFAIRS LARAWAN MULA KAY MARC JUANE
Hello freshies! First of all, welcome sa UP Manila! For sure, F na F (as in feel na feel) ninyo ang pagiging UP freshie. At ang nakakatuwa pa, BA Social Sciences (Area Studies) ang course ninyo. Double congratulations! Asahan na ninyo ang sandamakmak na readings, reports, exams at quizzes. Pero ‘di lang naman puro katoxican ang Area Studies, uso rin naman sa amin ang maglamyerda sa Robinson’s, dumaldal to the maximum degree, kumain nang bongga at makipag-socialize more than ever! Ganyan tayo sa Area eh. Alam kong fresh pa kayo from your high school days, and adjusting to UP and Area Studies life may take a long time. Pero I assure you na you won’t do this on your own. May iba’t ibang tao at karanasan sa Area Studies at sa mga variation na ito nabubuo ang iisang kultura na masasabi ko—at mararanasan niyo—na truly, madly and deeply Area Studies. Dito lang yan sa Area. Swear. Una, sa inyong pinasukang kurso, sigurado kayong may masasandalan, mahihingan ng tulong at makakausap kayo, fellow Area Studies student man yan o ang unkabogable na lineup ng faculty natin. Come to think of it, kaunti na lang tayo tapos kanyakanya pa? Dito sa Area, umaapaw ang support group ninyo. Kailangan niyo ng libreng tutorial sessions sa Math 11? Tambay lang sa tambayan at hingin ang tulong ng mga halimaw sa math. Magpapa-check ng paper sa Histo I? Kahit sino sa amin, kaya kayong bigyan ng opinyon na kahit ‘di man makatulong sa mismong paper, ay makakatulong naman sa mga future papers niyo. Di kayo nag-iisa sa Area, remember that. Kaya din of all the academic organizations sa UPM, I can say na isa ang OrgASM sa pinaka-
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close-knit na organisasyon. Kapag sumali kayo sa org, to the new level ang drama ninyo! Dumadalaw ang mga Area Studies alumni sa UPM para lang magbigay ng advice o tumulong to the best of their ability. May mga doctor, may mga lawyer, may mga professor sa iba’t ibang universities here and abroad, at marami pang iba! Oh, ‘di ba? Sabi nga ni Dumbledore sa Harry Potter, “Help will always be given for Hogwarts students who need it.” Ganyan din dito sa Area.
capacity ninyo to withstand extreme pressure and academic hardships. Wag kayong majinggeters sa mga BS courses, may mga subjects din tayo na “to die for” ang peg. Pamatay na reaction papers, quizzes na mapapakamot ka ng ulo, recitations na uurungan talaga ng dila mo, projects na paglalamayan mo at maraming-marami pang pagsubok. Ka-level natin ang mga white colleges sa paduguan ng utak, baka akala ninyo!
Sa Area Studies, hindi lang puro acads ang pinag-uusapan. You can meet new friends (and boy/ girlfriends, perhaps?) dito! Pag ‘di niyo na keri ang stress at demands ng acads, try mingling with OrgASM and your blockmates. Nakakatulong siya, actually. Aside from the fact na iwas-suicide din siya, bonding with Area Studies majors makes you feel na may kasama ka talaga, through thick and thin. Ang kagandahan pa diyan, life longbond ang pwede niyong mabuo as a block and as an orgmate. I repeat, sa bilang natin sa OrgASM at sa Area Studies program, hindi na nakapagtataka na dito lang makikita ang samahang hindi mapapantayan ng kahit ilang ‘uno.’
Pero bago kayo ma-stress, let me clear things out. Unlike sa ibang courses, hindi nagbibigay ng mga pagsubok ang Area Studies na hindi niyo kayang lagpasan. Bahagi ang mga pagsubok na yan sa buhay at kultura natin para lalo nating ma-feel na holistic at bongga ang quality ng mga pinagaaralan natin. No pain, no gain, jispluk nga ng old adage. We have to experience everything to learn. Dito sa Area, may patutunguhan ang bawat hirap, may reward ang lahat. Walang pagkakaiba sa kahit ano pang course sa UP Manila.
Kapatid, NO ang million dollar answer diyan. Wala man tayo ng mga ‘yan, 100% na meron tayo na wala sila. Subukan niyo, guys and girls. The easiest way to understand UP culture and Area Studies life is to go through it, step by step, wholeheartedly and passionately. Hinding-hindi kayo magsisisi na nag-Area kayo. Kahit na may iba pang courses o paths ang nakalatag sa harap natin, I can confidently say na DITO SA AREA, more than worth it ang lahat. Sabi nga ni Sir Ong, “Someday, Area Studies will rule the world.” ‘Nuff said.
Pero more than the help that you’ll receive, the friendships you’ll create and the hardships that you’ll encounter, iba pa rin ang lahat ng ‘yan kapag Area ka. World class. Astig. Hindi lang ang subjects at
So uulitin ko, umaapaw na congratulations sa mga bagong Iskolar ng Bayan at sa mga bagong mag-aaral ng BA Social Sciences (Area Studies)! See you around!
Dito sa Area, masusubok ang
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ang mga profs ang “multi- and transdisciplinary”—maging ikaw, ako at tayo sa Area ay ganun din. Eh ano naman kung may Chemistry at Physics subjects sila? So what kung white college students ‘yung iba? Anong keber natin kung wala tayong lab subjects? Kabawasan ba sa pagkatao natin kung Area tayo? Hadlang ba ang Area sa mga pangarap mo, kesyo magdodoktor ka o stepping stone mo lang ‘to para magshift?