13/08/2026
The Center for West Visayan Studies warmly welcomed Architecture students from the University of San Agustin as part of their data collection activities and academic inquiry on heritage and journalism.
Center for West Visayan Studies - UP Visayas
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The CWVS is a resource center on West Visayan history, culture, and heritage.
13/08/2026
13/08/2026
The Center for West Visayan Studies gratefully received a copy of My Mother is More Than a Comfort Woman, published by The Mothers’ Storybook Project Team and illustrated by Ms. Naoko Okimoto, who personally donated the book to the CWVS Library.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Ms. Okimoto for this valuable contribution to our collection. This work will serve as an important resource for learning, reflection, and research on history, memory, and women’s experiences.
10/08/2026
Strengthening Partnerships to Safeguard Northwestern Panay’s Pagrara Heritage
The University of the Philippines Visayas - Center for West Visayan Studies (UPV-CWVS) facilitated consultation meetings in connection with the project, “Pagrara: Exploring Northwestern Panay Weaving Heritage”, at the University of the Philippines Visayas - Extension Campus in Antique (UPV - ECA), Nauring, Pandan, Antique, on August 6 - 7, 2026.
On August 6, representatives from the local government units (LGUs) of Libertad, Pandan, Ibajay, Nabas, and Buruanga, together with the Antique Provincial Tourism Office, convened to discuss the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a proposed inter-LGU alliance aimed at safeguarding and promoting the pagrara weaving heritage of Northwestern Panay.
The proposed MOU was a product of various consultation meetings, focus group discussions, and interviews with various stakeholders. It initially covers the LGUs of Libertad, Pandan, Ibajay, and Nabas, which have been engaged in the project since its inception. Buruanga, participating for the first time, expressed interest in the initiative but noted that the proposal must first be discussed with its Sangguniang Bayan and Local Chief Executive before it can decide.
Recognizing pagrara as both a shared cultural tradition and a potential driver of local economic development, the participants emphasized the importance of sustained inter-LGU collaboration to ensure its preservation while enhancing its livelihood and tourism potential. The Antique Provincial Tourism Office likewise provided recommendations on integrating pagrara into tourism development initiatives.
On August 7, representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and partner LGUs explored opportunities to strengthen educational and skills training initiatives related to pagrara. Discussions focused on: 1) existing policies and institutional initiatives that could support the safeguarding, promotion, and development of pagrara; 2) strategies for integrating pagrara into formal education and skills training programs, including the support needed to facilitate such integration; 3) competencies and standards to guide the development of a certification program for pagrara; and 4) the roles of DepEd, TESDA, LGUs, and other stakeholders in advancing these initiatives.
Participants included representatives from TESDA Aklan and Antique, the Schools Division of Antique, Alternative Learning System (ALS) teachers from the Districts of Ibajay West, Ibajay East, Nabas, Pandan, and Libertad, and representatives from Pandan LGU.
The Pagrara Project is implemented by the University of the Philippines - Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP - CIDS) under its Local and Regional Studies Network (LRSN) through the UPV - CWVS.
07/08/2026
NOTICE: The Center for West Visayan Studies Office and Library will be CLOSED on August 10, 2026 (Monday) for the staff’s rest and recreation activity.
Regular operations will resume on August 11, 2026 (Tuesday). We kindly ask our clients, researchers, and visitors to plan their transactions and visits accordingly.
For urgent concerns, you may EMAIL us through: [email protected]
28/07/2026
Thank you, Japan Foundation Manila, for visiting the Center for West Visayan Studies. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our work in cultural heritage, local history, and community engagement.
20/07/2026
03/07/2026
Hugot nga pagkilala kag pagsaludo,
Sa kay Ms. Darlene Joy Defensor Calsado,
Nagtapos sang iya pagka Masterado,
Sa Community Development nga kurso.
Sa imo Darlene, isa ka panginbulahan!
Padayon sa paghanas, sa pagkahangkilan.
Ang nalab-ot mo, isa nga kalipayan,
Kag kadungganan sang aton talatapan.
🎉 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, Darlene Joy Defensor Calsado! 🎉
The 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 proudly congratulates 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨, University Research Associate II, on successfully earning her 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 from the 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬 𝐁𝐚ñ𝐨𝐬.
Thesis title: 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚-𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑲𝑨𝑷𝑨𝑾𝑨 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆, 𝑰𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒐, 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔
30/06/2026
From Roots to Recognition: 51 Years of the Center for West Visayan Studies
The origins of the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) can be traced to the early 1970s, when Dr. Dionisia Rola, then Dean of the UP College Iloilo, advocated for the establishment of a center dedicated to Visayan studies. In response to the need for a coordinated effort to preserve, promote, and disseminate the rich historical and cultural heritage of the region, the University of the Philippines Board of Regents approved the creation of the Visayan Studies Program (VSP) on June 26, 1975. Prof. Lourdes V. De Castro was officially designated as the Program's first Coordinator on October 16, 1975, laying the foundation for its research and documentation initiatives. She was succeeded by Dr. Moises Ponteras, who served as Coordinator from 1981 to 1983. During these formative years, the VSP established itself as a pioneering institution for research on the history and culture of Western Visayas.
The Program achieved a major institutional milestone under the leadership of Dr. Henry Funtecha. After serving three consecutive terms as Coordinator, Funtecha successfully worked for the elevation of the VSP into the West Visayan Studies Center (WVSC), following the approval of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents during its 1016th meeting in 1988. Although elevated to a center, the WVSC remained under the College of Arts and Sciences. As its first Director, Funtecha expanded the Center's research programs and significantly increased its collection of research materials, further strengthening its reputation as the leading institution for West Visayan studies.
To avoid confusion with the then West Visayas State College, the WVSC was renamed the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) on June 29, 1989. Since then, the Center has been led by a succession of distinguished directors who have continued to broaden its research, extension, and cultural heritage programs: Dr. Alicia P. Magos, Prof. Melanie T. Padilla, Prof. Jorge V. Ebay, Dr. Randy M. Madrid, Prof. Frances Anthea B. Redison, and Prof. Jonevee B. Amparo.
Through the years, the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) has built a substantial and invaluable collection of materials and artifacts on the history and cultural heritage of Western Visayas. This rich repository is the product of the sustained scholarship and leadership of its successive directors, each of whom expanded the Center's research agenda and strengthened its role as the region's premier institution for historical and cultural studies. Among the Center's pioneering initiatives were De Castro's documentation of fishlore in Western Visayas and Ponteras’ recording of folk healing traditions and ethnomedicine practices. During his long tenure as Director, Funtecha significantly expanded the Center's research output by securing support from international and local funding agencies for projects on West Visayan history and culture. He also mobilized scholars through the annual Conference on West Visayan History and Culture, which produced a substantial body of pioneering studies on local and oral history.
Building on these foundations, Magos brought the indigenous epics of Central Panay to wider audiences through her lifelong anthropological work with indigenous cultural communities. The fruits of these collaborations are preserved and showcased in the Indigenous Peoples Resource Center (IPRC), established at the CWVS in 2015. During Padilla's directorship, the Center further strengthened its cultural preservation initiatives through the establishment of the CWVS Textile Museum and the Humay Museum, both of which house rare and significant collections of the region's tangible cultural heritage.
Under Ebay's leadership, the Center broadened its scope to include public safety, disaster resilience, and community development. In response to the national call to develop a culture of safety and resilience, particularly within the region’s small island communities ravaged by disasters, the CWVS established the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Hub. Its Rehabilitation for Island Sustainability and Empowerment (RISE) Gigantes Project in the Gigantes Islands, Carles, Iloilo, received the 1st Gawad Pangulo Award for Excellence in Public Service in 2016, while the Disaster Risk Reduction Training, Education and Advocacy for Children's Protection and Resilience (TEACH DRR) Project was an awardee during the 3rd Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service in 2019. During this period, the Center also expanded its engagement with indigenous cultural communities and small island communities.
The CWVS celebrated its 45th anniversary during the directorship of Madrid, a period marked by sustained efforts to strengthen the Center's standing alongside other regional studies centers in the Philippines. A significant milestone was achieved on January 25, 2020, when the CWVS became an official member of the Kapisanan ng mga Bahay Saliksikan ng Bansa (KABANSA), further affirming its role within the national network of research centers.
The Center continued to expand its institutional reach under the directorship of Redison. During the 1385th meeting of the UP Board of Regents on November 30, 2023, the CWVS was elevated to a supra unit under the UP Visayas Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, reinforcing its strategic role in advancing research, extension, and cultural initiatives. During this period, the Center also strengthened its partnerships with local government units through collaborative research projects on weaving traditions and culinary heritage, and the region-wide cultural mapping, further deepening its engagement with communities across Western Visayas.
The Center's growing contributions soon received wider recognition. On July 12, 2024, the City Government of Iloilo honored the CWVS with a Heritage Award in recognition of its outstanding efforts in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. In May 2025, the Center became an affiliate member of the Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN), an affiliate program of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) that coordinates, supports, and promotes local historical initiatives nationwide. Later that year, on December 18, 2025, the CWVS received further distinction as one of the awardees of the 1st Gawad Balangaw, the highest regional merit and recognition conferred by the Regional Culture, Heritage, and Arts Committee (RCHAC) of the Regional Development Council VI for its significant contributions to West Visayan culture and the arts.
At present, the Center is headed by Prof. Jonevee Amparo, whose expertise in language and cultural research strengthens the Center’s research and extension initiatives. She is supported by the CWVS staff, University Research Associates Darlene Joy Calsado and Sashah Dioso, and Administrative Assistant Faith Saraza in advancing the Center’s programs and activities.
30/06/2026
This June 2026, the UP Visayas Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) celebrates its 51st anniversary. Established on June 26, 1975, the Center has built a significant collection of materials and artifacts that document the history and cultural heritage of Western Visayas. Over the past five decades, it has remained committed to its mandate to document, promote, and safeguard the region’s rich historical and cultural legacy. In line with this mission, the Center’s director and staff actively participated in various research and extension initiatives throughout the month that advanced the appreciation, documentation, and preservation of local history and cultural heritage. These activities were the following:
Conduct of a workshop for Grade 11 teachers of Pavia National High School in partnership with the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino of UP Visayas. The activity focused on the collation of contents on local history and cultural traditions and strengthening teachers’ understanding of the subject, “Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino.” (UPV SWF Conference Hall, June 10).
Participation in the APRU Indigenous Knowledges Workshop, “Living Knowledge Traditions Rooted in Land and Sea: Pathways to Resilience, Innovation, and Cultural Continuity,” hosted by the University of the Philippines. The workshop brought together researchers, academics, and indigenous knowledge advocates to discuss the preservation and advancement of indigenous knowledge systems. (Boracay Island, June 16–20).
Participation in the launch of the 100-volume Cultural Inventories of Panay and Guimaras under the Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras (CMPG) Project, one of the largest cultural documentation initiatives in Western Visayas. CWVS personnel were part of the CMPG project implementation team. (UPV Auditorium, June 19).
Conduct of coordination meetings and stakeholder consultations for the implementation of CWVS-led projects, “Pagrara: Exploring Northwest Panay Weaving Heritage” and “Namit Gid: A Multi-Stakeholders Collaboration for the Ilonggo’s Batchoy” under the Local Regional Studies Network of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies. (Aklan, Antique, and Iloilo City, June 23–26).
Participation in the seminar “Oral History in Southeast Asia: Foundations, Methods, and Regional Perspectives (Part I)” organized by the De La Salle University Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub. (DLSU, Manila, June 29)
26/06/2026
Amparo takes the helm at CWVS
Asst. Prof. Jonevee B. Amparo has assumed leadership of the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) as its acting director. She succeeds former director Asst. Prof. Frances Anthea R. Redison, whose term has ended and who is now pursuing doctoral studies.
Amparo is a faculty member of the Division of Professional Education. She earned her Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Filipino, graduating magna cm laude from West Visayas State University in 2009. She later completed her Master of Arts in Filipino (Wika) at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2016.
Her research focuses on language policy, language education, grammar, linguistic ethnography, natural language processing, and contextualization. Her scholarly work has been presented at local and international conferences and published in academic journals. She was one of the authors of the Lingguwistikong Etnograpiya ng Filipino (Hiligaynon) which was published by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in 2025. She has led and participated in various public service initiatives.
Recognized for her contributions to teaching and public service, she received the One UP Faculty Grant for Teaching and Public Service for three consecutive terms (2019-2021; 2022-2024; and 2025-2027). She also serves as the current Coordinator of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino–UP Visayas and teaches in both the High School and Graduate School programs of the University.
Written by: Sashah B. Dioso
Photo courtesy of the UP Visayas website: https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/about/officials
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Amparo takes the helm at CWVS
Asst. Prof. Jonevee B. Amparo has assumed leadership of the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS) as its acting director. She succeeds former director Asst. Prof. Frances Anthea R. Redison, whose term has ended and who is now pursuing doctoral studies.
Amparo is a faculty member of the Division of Professional Education. She earned her Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Filipino, graduating magna cm laude from West Visayas State University in 2009. She later completed her Master of Arts in Filipino (Wika) at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2016.
Her research focuses on language policy, language education, grammar, linguistic ethnography, natural language processing, and contextualization. Her scholarly work has been presented at local and international conferences and published in academic journals. She was one of the authors of the Lingguwistikong Etnograpiya ng Filipino (Hiligaynon) which was published by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) in 2025. She has led and participated in various public service initiatives.
Recognized for her contributions to teaching and public service, she received the One UP Faculty Grant for Teaching and Public Service for three consecutive terms (2019-2021; 2022-2024; and 2025-2027). She also serves as the current Coordinator of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino–UP Visayas and teaches in both the High School and Graduate School programs of the University.
Written by: Sashah B. Dioso
Photo courtesy of the UP Visayas website: https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/about/officials
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