Yesterday at the University Council, I sat with Professors Noel Moratilla and Imee Su Martinez. They were once my students.
To see Noel’s work on the politics of culture and Imee’s expertise in chemistry leading the room is the best part of the job. This is why we stay.
#AustraliaDay2026, hosted by His Excellency, Marc Innes-Brown, Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines.
With National Museum of Anthropology Director Ianne Ubalde, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary and former Philippine Ambassador to Germany & Korea Tess Dizon de Vega, and political analysts Ronald Llamas & Christian Esguerra during last night's #AustraliaDay2026
With writer Ren Aguila (R) and veteran Filipino-Australian actor Alfred Nicdao, whose career spans over four decades.
A pioneer for Southeast Asian representation in the Australian entertainment industry, Alf is one of the first Filipino actors to appear on Australian television.
With Dr. Louie Jon Sanchez
city never sleeps.
Maraming Salamat po, DOST National Research Council of the Philippines 🙏🙏🙏
📷 Vincent Olarve
With colleagues from the UP Dept. of European Languages. We’ve been teaching at the UP College of Arts and Letters for over 30 years, but the 2016 Faculty Center (FC) changed everything. A decade later: No offices. Not even workstations. Yet we still manage to get the work done.
I visited UP College of Mass Communication College Secretary and Associate Professor Iris Brillon (I was her PhD dissertation adviser). Along the way, I also ran into other CMC friends, all praying for Dr. Louie Jon Sanchez's immediate recovery 🙏🙏🙏
With UP CMC Journalism Department Chair Karol Ilagan, UP CMC Dean Diosa Labiste, and UP CMC Office of Extension and External Relations Jane Vinculado.
(Seated) Playwright Bonifacio Ilagan and former UP Faculty Regent (2015) & former UP CMC Dean (1985-1991) Georgina Encanto 🌻
📷 Joanne Mabuloc
new year
An afternoon get-together with Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Director General Emeritus Mrs. Sylvia Palanca Quirino, hosted by Mrs. Nemie Bermejo. As Director-General for many years, Mrs. Palanca Quirino oversaw the administration of the Palanca Awards.
"Abé-abé sa KALsada" — The University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters (CAL/KAL) First Prize-winning Lantern at the UP Diliman Lantern Parade:
Artistic Director and Co-Designer: Assistant Professor Carlo Pagunaling
Co-Designer: Nap Rivera
While properly attired in a suit, I was unable to catch the Ateneo de Manila ceremony celebrating Professor Emerita Soledad Reyes's conferment of Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi, occasioned by service as a panel member at the defense of Joseph Victor Deseo’s Master of Arts (Theatre Arts) thesis in Diliman
ATM: Emceeing the 75th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature 🥂
Alumni UK: Celebration and Welcome Home 2025 underscored academic and professional ties between the UK and the Philippines. It also served as a high-value gathering for exchange, collaboration, and mentorship. UK education continues to be a powerful catalyst for leadership and innovation.
With Her Excellency, Sarah Hulton, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines and to Palau, at Alumni UK: Celebration and Welcome Home 2025.
📷 Lotus Postrado (Director Philippines at the British Council).
At the Dress Rehearsal for the 25th Anniversary of the Asian Cultural Council Philippines Foundation, with UP CAL Alumni Association Co-Chair Chyn San Juan & Chair Chris Millado, and Ballet Philippines Trustee Sheree Chua. Chris directed the anniversary show, held last night.
With Francesco Bellissimo, the renowned Tokyo-based Italian chef, Daniele Macuglia, Assistant Professor of the History of Science at Peking University, and my former student, UP Manila Org Comm alumna Joanna Altomonte Abrera, representing Società Dante Alighieri Manila at the UP CAL
#halloween at the #UPdiliman College of Arts and Letters (CAL)
Moderating Monash University Distinguished Professor of Learning Analytics Dragan Gasevic's Keynote Address on "Rebooting AI: Building AI We Can Trust" at the 5th ASEAN University Network (AUN-TEPL) symposium on Student Engagement and Technology-Enhanced Personalized Learning at UP BGC.
Representatives from UP Diliman's Arts and Humanities Cluster met with the university's AI and Academic Integrity Team. The challenge lies in creating frameworks that promote ethical AI use while safeguarding the core values of artistic expression and intellectual honesty.
AS WALK,
Palma Hall, UP Diliman
Friday PM
1st week of classes
First week of classes:
English 13 Writing as Thinking (2 classes)
CW 140 Creative Nonfiction
CW 298 Creative Writing and Popular Culture
📷 Gail Esclamado
