UST Department of Asian Studies

Huge congratulations to our recent graduate 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗭𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼 for successfully presenting her research at the 2𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 2026!

By critically analyzing cinematic masterpieces, Zabine elevates Philippine cinema on the global stage, demonstrating that film serves as a crucial historical text rather than mere entertainment. Ultimately, her research substantially bridges 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴, providing international audiences with a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how art mirrors national identity and survival. 🎬🇵🇭

We celebrate with 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 "𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼" 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 whose brilliant artwork is currently circulating nationwide in commemoration of the Supreme Court’s 125th anniversary. Embracing the theme “𝘚𝘊: 125 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,” Rancho contributed significantly to the country's public memory by designing the reverse side of the special ₱125 commemorative coin issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, all four official anniversary stamps for PHLPost, and the commemorative beep cards featuring his digital artwork, "SC Padre Faura Community," which will soon be used by MRT and LRT commuters. View the designs and know more about the details: https://rb.gy/ztj6pc

Following a rigorous internal and external review process, the Department is proud to announce this year's recipient of the Best Thesis Award in Asian Studies. Authors 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻 and 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀, explore the hybridity of youth peacebuilding through an empirical case of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission. Drawing on ethnographically inspired methods, their research illuminates the lived introspective experiences of how "emancipation" is negotiated across power asymmetries in diverse peacebuilding spaces and systems.

Congratulations to our current junior 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘀 on his recent appointment as Course Coordinator for the Asian Undergraduate Symposium of the National University of Singapore-College! We celebrate this milestone with you, Tim! 🐉

This leadership role recognizes Tim’s growing contributions to 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺-𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴. Through his active involvement in student-led and regional platforms, Tim has demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering young people, fostering collaboration, and creating spaces where emerging leaders can learn, connect, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. 🔑☮️🌐

“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞… 🎞️”

A little time capsule of a day we never wanted to end—one that will eventually become a cherished reminder of a season of life filled with growth, gratitude, and the kind of friendships that made every challenge a little easier to bear.

Godspeed, ASN Batch 2026! 🤍💫

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𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜.




Posted with approval of adviser

An evening dose of the power of the B! 👑🌟 Reconnecting, reminiscing, and moving forward!

Last Thursday, some of our alumni currently with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs met with Dr. Lino Baron for a delightful kumustahan dinner. Our alumni community plays a vital role in shaping the growth of our program, and the Department remains deeply committed to supporting them in their professional journeys! We are absolutely thrilled to see our young alumni making strides with relentless dedication in the field of diplomacy and international affairs! 🌏🇵🇭

Hoping to reconnect with more of our alumni very soon! Consider this your official heads-up, we’ll be in touch! 📧☕️🍻