Philosophy Probes Politics in Regional Confab

Naga City -- The Philosophy Department of the Ateneo de Naga University is sponsoring a regional convention on Philippine politics as part of its annual Philosophy Week celebration.

Dubbed "Decoding Philippine Politics: An Interdisciplinary Approach," the convention features lectures from noted author and Bikol historian Danilo M. Gerona, Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) director Bobby Tuazon, human rights lawyer Atty. José Maria Carpio, and Marxist scholar and Ateneo de Naga President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J., among others.

On January 27, the convention hosts Prof. Gerona's lecture, "The Powerful, the Powerless, and the Power Broker-Philippine Politics: A Historical Review" at 10:30 AM.

This is followed by "Sadiring Tawo: From Familial to Oligarchic Politics" by Adrian Remodo of the Philosophy Department, at 1:30 PM; and Sherwin Pasiona's "Wanted: Social Justice" at 3:00 PM.

A workshop entitled "Students in the Public Square (Part 1)" will be facilitated by Fr. Wilmer Tria, Chair of the Philosophy Department.

On January 28, CenPEG's Bobby Tuazon will speak about "Decoding Oligarchic Politics" on January 28 at 1:30 PM; this is preceded by the lecture of Media Studies Department's Victor Nierva entitled "The Booth is a Marketplace: Corruption in the Local Media" at 9:00 AM.

At 3:00 PM, Philosophy Department's Federico José Lagdameo lectures on "The Peñafrancia Celebration Controversy: A Philosophical Reflection on Church-State Relations in Naga City."

The second part of the Fr. Tria's workshop for students is held at 4:30 PM.

On January 29, Atty. Carpio's "Patronage Politics and Government Programs: the Case of Urban Poor Housing in Naga City" is at 9:00 AM.

The lecture "Engaging in the Public Square: Group Reflections on the State of Philippine Politics" by Adrian Remodo is at 10:30 AM.

Meanwhile, Fr. Joel Tabora's "On Caritas in Veritate" at 3:00 PM concludes the regional convention.

All lectures are to be held at the Instructional Media Center (IMC) of the Ateneo de Naga University.

For the past six years, the annual Philosophy Week celebration of the Ateneo de Naga University has aimed at promoting critical and responsible thinking not only among students but the community at large as well.