NU Clark - Political Science Society

NU Clark PolSci Faculty | Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office III

Prof. Allan Benedict Solacito, Dr. Lisette Robles, and Mr. John Amiel Mendoza of the NU Clark Department of Political Science participated in an academic discussion on the review of the Local Government Code of 1991, organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office III. Prof. Bernadette Castro-Macabali, also of the Department, served as facilitator and moderator during the REVAMP, guiding participants from various higher education institutions through the process of analyzing the Code and developing proposals for its amendment.

In line with the DILG Regional Office III's mandate to regularly assess the applicability of the Local Government Code amid changing socio-political conditions, tertiary institutions across the region were invited to contribute research-based analyses and recommendations. NU Clark Political Science faculty engaged in discussions grounded in research and the experiences of local implementers, examining the Code's implementation across different local contexts and proposing amendments aimed at making local governance and public service more responsive to the distinct needs of communities.

At NU Clark PolSci, we recognize research as an essential component of meaningful public service. By bringing political science scholarship into conversations on policy and governance, our faculty contribute to evidence-based reforms that connect academic inquiry with the realities of local government and the communities it serves. Through research, engagement, and public service, the Department continues to strengthen its role in advancing responsive and context-sensitive governance.

Aron Malonzo | Paper Presentation

We proudly congratulate Aron Malonzo for presenting his paper titled "Who Gets to Speak? A Rancièrean Reading of Philippine Political Discourse" at the 2026 Philosophical Association of the Philippines (PAP) Annual International Conference, held under the theme "Philosophy in Times of Democratic Uncertainty: Critical Reflection, Civic Courage, and the Ethics of Collective Life." Malonzo participated in the conference online, joining scholars and researchers in critical discussions on philosophy, democracy, and collective political life.

Drawing from Jacques Rancière, the paper examines political discourse by asking not simply what marginalized actors say, but how their speech comes to be recognized--or excluded--as political speech. Through the concepts of logos, phônê, the police, political subjectification, and the partition of the sensible, the paper explores how voices may remain politically inaudible even when publicly visible, understood, or met with sympathy. It ultimately interrogates the conditions through which marginalized actors come to appear as equal speaking subjects capable of participating in the determination of the common world.

At NU Clark PolSci, we take pride in students who move beyond the classroom to participate in broader scholarly conversations. Malonzo's work reflects our commitment to rigorous political theory, critical inquiry, and research-driven scholarship that interrogates the conditions of political participation, equality, and democratic life.

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 | 𝗡𝗨 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗦𝗰𝗶 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹

Fourth-year Political Science undergraduate researchers, John Lucas M. Javier, Lourdes Jamille Rebustes, and Juliana D. Pelaez raised the flag of NU Clark and their department at the recently held 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 (𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗢𝗣) 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 last July 31, as their research paper titled, “𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗲”: 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 won 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗥.

Javier et al.'s paper is a product of their undergraduate thesis in their course, with Assoc. Prof. Paul Anthony S. Balagtas as their adviser at the time.

This achievement is a testament that the culture of research excellence at NU Clark extends among its students, whose educative and scholarly training in the campus and its programs only gear them towards academic and professional success.

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Photos and details contributed by the NU Clark Political Science Department

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Collaborate with us! Reach out to: [email protected]

𝗡𝗨 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗢𝗣 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

NU Clark proudly celebrates another remarkable national achievement as the Department of Political Science earns the Best Research Paper Award at the Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines (APSOP) National Research Conference 2026—a recognition of the department’s excellence in research and its meaningful contribution to the study of political and social realities in the local context.

The winning research, titled “‘Sopan at Sopan Ne’: Philanthropic Illiberalism as a Generative Framework for Subnational Government and Dynastic Persistence in Pampanga,” highlights the department’s commitment to producing relevant, critical, and research-driven scholarship that contributes to a deeper understanding of political and social realities in the local context.

Representing NU Clark are Mr. John Lucas Javier, Ms. Juliana Pelaez, and Ms. LJ Rebustes, whose dedication, collaboration, and perseverance contributed to this significant national achievement.

Congratulations, NU Clark Department of Political Science and to our Nationalian researchers for this well-deserved achievement! 💙💛

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𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙔 𝙏𝙊 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙏 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙅𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀𝙔 𝙒𝙄𝙏𝙃 𝙉𝙐 𝘾𝙇𝘼𝙍𝙆?

𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀.𝐘. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍‼️

✅Apply here to reserve your slot:
https://onlineapp.nu-clark.edu.ph/quest/register.php? *𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘈.𝘠. 2027–2028

PPSA Presidents' Lecture Series at NU Clark is Postponed until further notice

Due to the prevailing weather conditions, the PPSA Presidents' Lecture Series on Philippine Democracy, originally scheduled for tomorrow, August 19, 2026, at NU Clark, is postponed until further notice.

The safety and well-being of our participants, speakers, faculty, and partners remain our top priority. With this, a new schedule will be announced once conditions permit.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we appreciate everyone's understanding. Please stay safe and continue to monitor our official channels for further updates.

🎤 Meet the Lecturer!

We are proud to welcome Prof. Herman Joseph S. Kraft, Professor of Political Science in University of the Philippines Diliman, who will be delivering with us his lecture titled: "Balancing Relations with the US and China: Implications for Philippine Grassroots Democratic Institutions."

The Philippine Political Science Association, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines, and NU Clark warmly invite everyone interested in Philippine politics and democracy to engage in a critical discussion on great-power relations.

To register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJbcDB9OMvhns6_GeFDBS-gM6jWeAddD0GbHODQ4RZ3Nke8w/viewform

📅 August 19, 2026 (Wednesday)
🕗 Registration starts at 8:00 AM
📍 NU Clark, Room 716-719
👔 Uniform or Business Casual
📝 Attendance for all NU Clark Political Science students is mandatory, except those who are currently deployed for their practicum. NU Clark Students enrolled in Contemporary World and Politics & Governance classes handled by Political Science Professors are highly encouraged to attend.

The lecture is free of charge and open to the public. The Philippine Political Science Association will also distribute a free copy of Philippine Political Science Journal (PPSJ) Journal Articles.

𝗣𝗣𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀’ 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 | 𝗡𝗨 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸

The Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines, in partnership with NU Clark, invite you to a lecture on “𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮: 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.” The lecture will be delivered by 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁, Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗣𝗵𝗗 and 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻 serving as faculty reactors.

🗓️ 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 (𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
⏰ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠
📍 𝗡𝗨 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝟳𝟭𝟲-𝟳𝟭𝟵
👔 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲: Uniform or Business Casual
🎟️ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲: Free of charge
📚 𝗣𝗣𝗦𝗝 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀: Free copies will also be distributed to participants
📝 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Mandatory for all NU Clark Political Science students, except those currently deployed for their practicum.

Note: Students enrolled in 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 and 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 & 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 classes handled by Political Science professors are highly encouraged to attend.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJbcDB9OMvhns6_GeFDBS-gM6jWeAddD0GbHODQ4RZ3Nke8w/viewform

We cordially invite everyone interested in Philippine politics and democracy to participate in this lecture and engage in a critical discussion on Philippine democracy, great-power relations, and grassroots democratic institutions.

𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙥 𝙖 𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙨, 𝙉𝙐 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠!💛💙

NU Clark PolSci proudly celebrates 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸 for being named 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 - 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 and receiving a total of 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 at the 2026 National University Service Excellence Awards. 🏆

These achievements reflect the collective commitment of the NU Clark community to 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲