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University of the Philippines Diliman | College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

“Friendship within the BA Philosophy Program” by Sofia Luna, Alyssa Galing, Claire Tamayo, and Jan Albert “Choco” Estioco

The thing about university life is that meeting new people is inevitable. Every semester, there’s a chance to socialize and mingle with different sorts of people. This makes friendships in university diverse. As part of shaping and figuring out yourself, you have the freedom to explore and see the kinds of people you want to hang out with. With this, entering university can be a life-changing experience based on whom you decide to hang out with. While your focus may go to finishing academic requirements, attending classes, and doing organizational work, it is indeed the people who are at the core of everything. Friendships forged in university are impactful and reliable sources of support. Having a strong network of friends that you can count on is a reminder that no matter how busy life can get, there will always be people who can make it bearable and, dare I say, far more enjoyable. 

 

Now, friendships come in many different ways, whether you’re orgmates, batchmates, or a fun combination of people taking up different majors, the possibilities are endless. To give you an idea of how friendship is in university, particularly under the Philosophy program, here’s an inside scoop on how our friendship came to be. Hopefully, you’ll have another idea of what to look forward to beyond academic and extracurricular work. 

From left to right: Sofia, Choco, Claire, and Aly’s first ever group photo: Polsc 14 YR2 02

 

WHO’S FREE? LET’S HAVE LUNCH!

Admittedly, being a pandemic batch, it was not easy finding our people. The distance and computer screens gave a detached air that largely impeded our capacity to form solid friendships. Despite more opportunities to connect online via messenger chats and zoom meetings, we mostly knew each other by name and their profile picture (that is, if they have one). However, our batch persisted, and some have initially found their group of friends, but for the four of us, things started to take off when face-to-face (F2F) classes began. It was the summer of 2023, the 2nd semester of our second year in university. 

 

Surprisingly, it wasn’t even in a Philosophy subject that we became close, but rather it was a GE (general elective) subject called Polsc 14 (Philippine Government and Politics) that we coincidentally took at the same time. We were four different people with four different personalities and completely different interests that unexpectedly meshed well. Fortunately, a dynamic friendship had taken form. 

 

As we got along, having lunch together seemed to be the best opportunity to bond and get through the day. The common phrase heard between us would be “Mamaya na yan, kain muna tayo.” or “Who’s free? Tara kain lunch!!” As we began to know each other, we discovered that we had several philosophy subjects that we were all simultaneously taking together! Particularly, we were surprised to find that we were all students under Sir Valero’s Philo 110 (Ancient Philosophy), the first of the four history of philosophy courses every philosophy undergraduate must go through. It was hard to know people by face then because everyone was wearing masks; it was a guessing game to know who’s who, but we were fortunate to have found each other. 

 

Generally, to give a rough idea of the dynamic, Choco is the big brother of the group. He had everything in his giant backpack. Sick? He has every medicine you can think of. Dirty hands? Fear not, he’s got wipes and tissues on the go. He’s also the group’s eldest. Claire is the chill and cool sister. At first, you’d think she’s stoic about everything, but she’s the most sociable among the four of us – our Ms. Worldwide. She’s often the one initiating and planning the group hangouts. Without her, this friendship might’ve sunken into idleness. Then, we have our fiery sister Alyssa (Aly for short). Sharp quips and witty remarks are a staple. Her honesty and vulnerability make her a deep and wonderful friend. Whether it is a rant from an overdue paper or an unexpected meetup with college crushes, she will always be there to listen and accompany you. Lastly, the “baby” sister of the group, Sofia is the group’s little ball of radiating energy. A friendly face with an optimistic aura, she is always beaming with hope and smiles. Never truly misses a beat to greet you with a warm ‘hello!’ and always tries her best to hang around despite her busy schedule. Now that you have met the gang, let us move on to how the four of us handle this crazy journey together of being philosophy undergraduates.

From left to right: Aly, Sofia, Claire, and Choco eating at NISMED YR401

 

ON STUDYING PHILOSOPHY TOGETHER…

 

Studying philosophy is, admittedly, not a walk in the park. Some texts that we were assigned to read date back hundreds of years. Most of them are dense, convoluted, and riddled with modal logic. As a group of Philosophy majors, we only had one another to rely on; after all, who else would understand our ramblings and rants?

 

We became soundboards to each other, bouncing off ideas, arguing for and against our stances, in order to grow as budding philosophers. Critical thinking, clarity in writing, epistemic humility, and sharpness in thought are required to process philosophical texts from the ancients to the contemporaries. Arguing requires a deep understanding of the philosophers and their frameworks to establish the groundwork for a well-written philosophical paper. Thus, we did our best to collaborate and find little moments in between classes and breaks where we could all just share what we know and what we wish to know about philosophy. It also helped that we had different research interests—Choco with logic, Claire with socio-political philosophy, Aly with bioethics and philosophy of mind, and Sofia with philosophy of law—so it only made sense for us to reach out to one another if we felt like we needed help in one another’s forte. 

 

Inevitably, our friendship group eventually formed little routines. We had random food trips to A2, Nismed, or UPTC (when we feel generous), tambays in front of the Department’s office while waiting for classes, to sitting in on each other’s classes (shoutout to Sir Ato for always letting us sit in his Bioethics class). When the semester started to pick up, it became review calls on Discord and Messenger, trading notes, and procrastination poorly disguised as “study/sanity breaks.” Post-exam crashouts were a must; these consisted of (1) debriefing sessions, (2) going to karaoke and screaming our little hearts out, or (3) eating food we had been craving as a reward for surviving. In short, these routines became a source of collaborative study strategies that supported each of us to get through each semester. We couldn’t imagine having gone through it all without each other. 

 

SENTI MOMENTS AND REFLECTIONS

 

As the semester came to an end, we made sure to bask in the moment and enjoy the last day of our classes to the max. Much like other seniors, we had our senti moments and looked back at the chaos that was college. The group was lively, cherishing the feeling of being complete—that despite our hectic schedules, our never-ending exams, and our many, many papers, we managed to survive.

 

We have reached the point where we have each learned different life lessons at the end of our college lives. Realizations about perseverance, resilience, self-discovery, freedom, and humility are all that we shall cherish and bring with us as we enter a new chapter in our lives. Despite the slow start of our budding friendship, the four of us managed to stick together, from sharing moments of laughter and calmer days to experiencing random, yet profound, philosophical and existential crises. From the highs to the lows, we’re lucky to have each other. With all that, this friendship of ours has truly been such a fun and wild ride.  Our college life may come to a close, but we believe that our friendship will be strong enough to transcend beyond this chapter of our lives. As you embark upon this journey, we hope that you may also find friendships that you will come to treasure in university and beyond. 

From left to right: Choco, Claire, Sofia, and Aly on the last day of classes YR402

ABOUT THE AUTHORS


Sofia Kisse Luna, Alyssa Rae Galing, Claire Giasmine Tamayo, and Jan Albert Estioco are senior philosophy students running for magna cum laude



“Making Your Philosophical Mark: Presenting and Publishing as a Philosophy Major” By Justin Felip “Dads” D. Daduya

Philosophy students in the University of the Philippines aren’t just asked to do well in the lively debates in class; we are asked to engage with the philosophical discourse beyond our classrooms –debates which have raged for millenia– through conferences, publications, and other scholarly work. As someone who has grown to love these academic pursuits over the last few years, I’m grateful that these opportunities to present and publish have allowed me to not just scratch my philosophical itch, but to make meaningful contributions both to scholarship and issues that go beyond the academe.

Even before college, I was always excited about the idea of research – the chance not only to do interesting work, but to leave a legacy that will forever be inscribed in the conversations about the field you study. Entering the department, of course, made this a much clearer goal, knowing that I had to fill in the footstops of brilliant philosophers like Ricardo Pascual and Armando Bonificio, and even the professors that we had the privilege of learning from ourselves in their last years such as Leonardo de Castro and Earl Fronda.

Funnily enough, however, I attribute my love for philosophical research mainly not to an academic experience – although naturally, most of my works are built on things I learned from my classes. Instead, I attribute it to the consistent random conversations with my peers about seemingly mundane topics that turn out to be philosophical goldmines. My friends and I would talk about everything from analyzing the sociopolitical implications of labelling things as  “Jejemon” to the epistemological underpinnings of red velvet cupcakes. I guess this is why it felt really easy to start sending in papers for conferences and for publication – I had already been philosophizing constantly, I just needed to put the words on paper. Luckily, the same people who I had so much fun jokingly applying philosophy to the most banal topics quickly turned into my best editors and my sharpest critics. While still being just as fun, our conversations started to deal with questions of whether Nozick’s rectification measures undermine his call for a minimal state, or how epistemic injustices played into covering up the war on drugs.

 

Dads is currently the Supremo (Org Head) of UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (KAPITAS).

 

I guess when so many of the people around you are so fun to philosophize with – as is the case here – you can’t help but keep wanting to philosophize. That’s what academic writing felt like for me initially: scratching the thousands of philosophical itches borne out of philosophical debates with my peers.

But of course, the beautiful thing about philosophical scholarship is that it doesn’t stop at just being fun; you actually have the capacity, even as an undergraduate, of moving the scholarship forward. It lets you take on people who are way out of your league, and if you’re lucky, you can manage to make some room for your own ideas.

My best example for this is something I always talk about: working on what would eventually be my first publication with Sir Fronda. I came up with the idea to write about reasonable belief in miracles not just because I was interested in the topic; I specifically wanted a paper that critiqued a paper by Sir Fronda himself, trusting that he would be fair even if he disagreed.

In true Sir Fronda fashion, he did end up disagreeing – quite vehemently, and without pulling any punches while expressing this disagreement. He seemed to point out every single one of my mistakes with glee, and explicitly said that my argument, at least in the original version of that paper, fell flat.

 

Dads presenting at the 2024 Philosophical Association of the Philippines National Conference on how Katarungan squares with peace negotiations, specifically discussing the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms.

 

To this day, however, I go back to that moment whenever I need inspiration to write – not because I managed to convince him about my position, but because even if you could hear the sarcasm oozing out of his voice with every single comment about my mistakes, he still took the time to write out the four single-spaced pages of comments, and ended with an encouragement to actually turn the paper into a journal article. He, the very thinker I was disagreeing with, and a philosopher who was lightyears ahead of me, thought that I did indeed have something that would push the conversation forward, and that even debate that spanned from Hume to Wittgenstein and even to himself, I still had space for my own ideas.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for me, these opportunities also allowed me to see how my philosophy could engage with questions far beyond the academe. With UP’s storied history of militant activism, I knew I had to live up to it, even in my scholarship.

Dads presenting at the 4th Philosophy, Communication, & Culture Conference at the St. Paul Smeinary Foundation, Silang, Cavite last March 2025. In his presentation, he used historical materialism to analyze the notion of the Bobotante in the context of the liberal democratic paradigm.

 

Because of this, over the last year, I’ve managed to write about trustworthy artificial intelligence appraisals, ways towards anti-propaganda critical pedagogy, and the righteousness and necessity of achieving a just and lasting peace. I’ve also had the chance to develop long-term projects such as my work on the epistemic underpinnings of the resurgence of the far right, which is increasingly relevant amid the worsening Marcos-Duterte rift and the rise of far-right populists across the Globe. Our organization, UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo, is even organizing a nationwide conference dedicated to Filipino philosophy in service of the Filipino people.

I guess all of this goes to show that when we write knowing that it’s meant for far more than the classroom, just as we are expected to,  we do a kind of philosophy that is worthwhile: philosophy that satisfies our basic hunger for philosophical clarity, contributes to the conversations of the centuries, and goes beyond the academe to analyze and change the world. This kind of philosophy has been one of my favorite parts of college life, and as I leave my undergraduate years behind, I can’t wait for many more young philosophers in the department to feel how I feel today.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justin Daduya is a fourth year philosophy major from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He has published his work Miraculosity claims as inferences to the best explanation: why reasoning about miracles must be abductive in the International Journal for Philosophy of Religion (see below).

Dads’ first international publication may be accessed at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11153-025-09952-6.

 

He has also presented in the following conferences:

  1. A Social Foundationalist Response to the Epistemic Regress Problem –  The Emmanuel Q. Fernando Philosophy Undergraduate Conference, 2025
  2. Epistemic Commodification and the Crisis of Expert Trust: Towards a Social Epistemology of Late Stage Capitalism – The 10th De La Salle University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, 2025
  3. The ‘Bobotante’ Construct and Political Despair in the Age of Disinformation: A Historical Materialist Critique  –  Saint Paul Seminary Formation 4th Philosophy, Communication and Culture Conference, 2025
  4. Academic Dependency and the Myth of Merit: A Case for Academic Reparations –  Resisting Intellectual Imperialism and Epistemic Violence: Towards Autonomous Knowledge Production, 2024
  5. Explaining Miracles: An Epistemological Account of Recognizing Miraculosity as Inferences to the Best Explanation – John Paul II International Conference God and the World: Dialogues on Culture, Religion, and Science, 2024
  6. Historico-Materialist Decolonization and the Methodological Woes of Filipino Philosophy – Resisting Intellectual Imperialism and Epistemic Violence: Towards Autonomous Knowledge Production, 2024
  7. Injustice in Holdings, Imperialist Plunder, and Inconsistencies in Nozick’s Justification of the Minimal State – Durungawan (CSSP Undergraduate Conference), 2024
  8. Kapayapaan Batay Sa Katarungan, Hindi Sa Karahasan: Ang Pilipinong Konsepto Ng Katarungan Sa Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms – Philosophical Association of the Philippines (PAP) Annual Conference, 2024
  9. Off With Their Heads!: A Thomistic Response to Foucault’s Objections to the People’s Court – Aquinas and Foucault: At the Crossroads of Medieval and Contemporary Philosophy, 2024.
  10. On Siamonds and Semantics: A Counterexample to Chalmers’ Two-Dimensional Semantics – Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP) 2024 Conference, 2024
  11. Post-Truth Tyranny and the Norms of Knowledge: An Epistemic Norm-Based Account of the Resurgent Far-Right –  Human Rights, Violence, and Dictatorship International Interdisciplinary Conference, 2024
  12. Teaching Anti-Propaganda Criticality as Epistemic Resistance: How Critical Pedagogy Combats Credibility Deficits – Philosophizing About Education in the Philippines, 2024
  13. The Philosophico-Anthropological Method: From Essentializing Identities to Dynamic Decolonization – 46th Annual Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao Conference, 2024
  14. When (If Ever) Should We Trust AI?: Bullshit, Truth, and Evaluating Trustworthiness in Generative AI –  How Can Praxis Inform Theory? How Can Theory Advance Praxis? On Applied Ethics in the Philippines, 2024
  15. Pagkakaisa and the Liebesgemeinschaft: Towards a Schelerian Post-Pandemic Filipino Ethical Framework.” In Talisik: Envisioning the Philippine Socio-Political Landscape in the Post-Pandemic World, 2024

“A Day in the Life of a Philo Major” by Sophia Beatriz “Pia” G. Cruz

A Philosophy major may be proud to call Palma Hall their home college – after all, it’s one of the most iconic buildings in UP Diliman. Still, the most experienced of students know not to call it ‘Palma’ or ‘CSSP’. Even after almost 40 years since its name change, Palma Hall has always been known (and will always be known) as AS, short for its previous status as the College of Arts and Sciences. AS houses most of the General Education (GE) subjects, so it welcomes a diverse set of students everyday. Thus, the philo major’s journey is set against the backdrop of the hustle and bustle AS is known for. The day often starts with a short climb up AS steps, the famed site of choice for student mobilizations and mass actions. This leads them to the AS lobby, often filled with students rushing to their classes or hunkered over laptops.

GOOD MORNING! IT’S TIME FOR LECTURES.

Most philosophy classes are either held on the second or third floor of Palma Hall, or in the 2nd Pavillon – Pav 2 for short. Classes can begin as early as 7AM, unless CRS has blessed you with a more reasonable start at around 10AM. It’s prudent to have your morning coffee before class – the rigorous learning will begin whether or not you’ve had your dose of caffeine. Class sizes range from around 20-30 students, ensuring attentive instruction (so be sure you’ve done the assigned readings). Professors often structure lessons in line with Socratic tradition, so be ready to ponder hard on some mind-bending questions. No worries, the beauty of philosophy is that there are no wrong answers.

There is always something new to be learned (provided you don’t let your mind wander during class). Philosophy majors are introduced to key thinkers and controversies by taking Philo 1, Philo 108, and Philo 197 in their freshman year. This foundation will serve you well as you proceed to subjects in the history of philosophy, logic, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology in your sophomore and junior years. As a senior, you’ll have access to higher majors that involve applied philosophy in the fields of law, bioethics, and other special topics. This is then capped off by defending your own undergraduate thesis. Don’t sweat it though – the curriculum is very diverse when it comes to philosophical learning. I personally had the best time in my Philosophy of Law (Philo 175), Social and Political Philosophy (Philo 176), and Ethics classes (Philo 171).

Pia’s Senior Thesis was a work in Philosophy of Law entitled “The Filipina’s Right to Un-Marry: Liberal Feminist Jurisprudence and Divorce Legislation in the Philippines”.

THAT WAS EXHAUSTING. ANYWAY, TIME FOR A BREAK!

There are many great food stops near AS to refuel after class. The kiosks behind Pav 2, near CAL, or on Fernandez street are favorites for many students for their delicious and affordable meals. You may also visit Antas, the convenience store on the 1st Floor of the West Wing of AS, to pick up packed lunches (and maybe a bluebook for your next exam).

Students have many spaces in AS to chill between classes. If you prefer quiet studying sessions, the AS Reading Hall just outside Pav 2 is perfect for you. For those seeking more active socializing, barkadas often find tables at AS Hill to enjoy their lunch and play card games. If you want a little bit of everything, across the street behind AS is Third Space at the Kamia dorm, where students can get home-cooked meals and hang out with their friends at group study sessions. 

NO TIME FOR SIESTAS! MORE LEARNING INCOMING.

The learning continues after lunch, where afternoon classes begin at around 1PM. Our curriculum allows for cognate electives, which give majors the chance to explore other subjects beyond philosophy. While some opt for classes within CSSP like Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology, the options are practically limitless. You can explore your other interests by attending classes in Public Administration, Business and Economics, or Science and Math.

If you’d prefer some more hands-on learning, you can opt to apply for a post as a Student Assistant in the various offices around the university. Work usually involves publicity material making, event management, and other clerical tasks. Students earn up to PHP 81/hour to sweeten the deal.

WHAT’S BEYOND THE CLASSROOM?

Of course, a good philo major knows that learning occurs beyond the four walls of the classroom. There are many avenues for you to apply your philosophical learnings to concrete activities. One of the best ways to make friends and explore new passions is to join organizations. The Philosophy department is currently home to three student organizations:  Apeiron Core Group, Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (KAPITAS), and UP Philosophy Society(PhiloSoc).  There are also a variety of college-wide and university-wide formations you can join to champion your advocacies, try new things, and widen your horizons.

The department also greatly supports its undergraduates who intend to pursue careers in the academe. There is no shortage of conferences, symposiums, and research opportunities that students can take advantage of. The department often hosts its own functions, though students are always encouraged to participate in university-wide, external, and even international events.

Pia was the Student Convenor and Head Organizer of the first ever Emmanuel Q. Fernando Philosophy Undergraduate Conference. Pia led an OrgComm comprised of 16 other philosophy majors along with Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando, Faculty Convenor.

Finally, for the more daring, there is always the calling to become a student leader in the department, college, or university. You may opt to become the Philosophy Department Representative, a Councilor, or even a Standard Bearer of the CSSP Student Council (CSSPSC). Beyond the college, you may even seek to serve as a member of the UPD University Student Council (UPD USC). I may be biased, as this was the path I chose, but student council is one of the most fulfilling involvements. It connects you with your fellow students, but also allows you to befriend other sectoral members like the faculty, staff, maninindas, and security guards of the college. Student leadership enables you to harness your brand of philosophical rigor towards the service of the broader UP community.

The life of a philosophy major is truly an exercise in free will. You are encouraged to choose the classes that spark your interest, explore the variety of character-building opportunities, and gain lifelong core memories. At the end of the day, your journey as a philosophy major is what you make of it – all in the palm of your hand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pia is a graduating BA Philosophy undergraduate senior who is currently in the running for Summa Cum Laude. She also served as CSSP Representative to the USC from 2024-2025.

PAGLULUNSAD: BA Philosophy Batch 2025 Send-off Launches Seniors Off to the Stars!

By Sofia Kisse C. Luna, Overall Paglulunsad Project Head

The BA Philosophy Batch of 2025 celebrated their Senior Send-off with a bang! 

The send-off, which was the first of its kind, was a department-sanctioned overnight stay at the Bonifacio Residence in Lemery, Batangas that was graciously hosted by Mrs. Winnie Bonifacio (BA Philo 1976, MA Philo 1978) from April 8-9, 2025. Asst. Prof. Enrique Benjamin R. Fernando III, MA and Asst. Prof. Symel Noelin S. de Guzman-Daulat, MA were the faculties-in-charge that served as supervisors and facilitators of the event. BA Philosophy senior Sofia Luna spearheaded the event as Overall Project Head while senior Daecia Bautista served as Activity Committee Head, working together to prepare an engaging program to encourage philosophical discourse and foster stronger friendships within the batch. 

On the afternoon of April 8, 2025 (Tuesday), the seniors travelled by bus from UP Diliman Campus to Lemery. Upon arrival at the Bonifacio Residence, Tita Winnie (along with her cute dog, Link — named after the character in Zelda) affectionately welcomed us to her wonderful home and guided us through a short tour of the area which featured the main house, three casitas (where grouped seniors were to sleep in),  and a recreational area that had gym equipment, board games, and a pool table. After her warm welcome and short tour, Tita Winnie gave a wonderful introduction to her late husband, former department chairperson Prof. Armando Bonifacio, PhD (also known as Sir Boni), who rests in the middle of the family garden. Serving as Chair from 1968-1986, Sir Boni was a prominent figure that was key to the enduring analytical philosophical tradition upheld under the Department of Philosophy. After her wisdom-filled talk about Sir Boni and her life with him, we were alloted free time to settle in and play before dinner and the bonfire.

After a bountiful dinner, a few moments were given to prepare for the BoniFire, a little wordplay in honor of Tita Winnie and Tito Boni on the program planned during the bonfire. To commence the program, Sofia Luna, the event’s project head gave her opening remarks and Tita Winnie delivered an animated motivational speech on life and its challenges — to look for our “northern star” and go through life’s pivots with serene acceptance and perseverance. The floor was then handed over to the activities’ hosts, Daecia Bautista and Nelson Bernal. 

The first main activity was “First Impressions,” during which all seniors formed a large circle facing outwards. Each senior was given a pen and paper folded lengthwise containing space for others seniors to write their first impressions of them on the left column, and an account of “when I met you” on the right. With the faculties-in-charge as facilitators, the seniors had the chance to write down what they thought about each other. Although there was a bit of a mishap in the middle due to bottlenecks in passing the papers, all was well, and each paper was able to make its return to its rightful owners in the end. From my perspective, fellow seniors were delighted and amused with the remarks they received. A short, fun, but competitive game of charades quickly followed.

Then came the long-awaited “Batch 2025 Awards.” The seniors had previously been given a chance to nominate and vote for their fellow batchmates to win awards from the most regal to the wackiest. There were some who won a lot of the awards (I am looking at you Justin “Dads” Daduya), and some who had almost every nomination at his hand. Some results were unexpected but absolutely celebrated. It was a chance to recognize each member of the batch on their brilliance, hard work, and quirkiness (and to poke fun at them too!). 

After the awards show, a surprise video was played for the seniors. It was a video of faculty members of the UPD Department of Philosophy who wished the seniors all the best after college life as undergraduates. Their messages were heartfelt and comforting for the upcoming graduates about to take on the next chapter of their lives. 

It did not end there though! To wrap it all up, hosts Dae and Nelson opened the “Gratitude Circle” for the BoniFire where each Senior was given the chance to express their gratitude to their friends, professors, and the experiences they had in UP. 

After the program, we had an After Dinner Weenie Roast. Tita Winnie prepared hotdogs, marshmallows, corn, and sticks so that the seniors could roast food over the BoniFire. It was a chance to settle down from the highs of the activities and spend the night freely. Some of us had heart-to-heart conversations while others did karaoke. In true college fashion, some drank (responsibly of course) to let loose. 

At the brink of dawn did most of the seniors decide to clean up and reside in their assigned casitas for some well-deserved rest for the activities in the later morning. 

After the sun had risen, Tita Winnie once again prepared a nutritious and varied breakfast for the seniors. While eating, Tita Winnie imparted wonderful life experiences and lessons that were inspiring. It was so memorable that most of us were quoting her by the end of the day. The one quote I particularly like and vividly remember is when she said that “There are no problems, only challenges and opportunities” as one of the key lessons that she also learned from her beloved husband. 

Soon after, we changed into athletic clothing and carried our gear to go play sports in the Clubhouse. Some seniors swam, did karaoke (again), while others played tennis, badminton, table tennis, and basketball. Some card games with juicy truths and dares were also played. After cooling down, batch photos were taken to commemorate the fun! 

After returning to the residence for a quick late lunch, Tita Winnie shared more of her lovely stories and as quickly as we had arrived, the seniors had to go and pack their bags. Farewells and personal  thanks were said to Tita Winnie (and Link). To commemorate the send-off, batch photos were taken and a Gratitude Board with personalized messages from the seniors was given to Tita Winnie as token of appreciation to her and Tito Boni, which now currently hangs on their bedroom wall. After departing her warm and cozy home, the batch made a quick stop at Leslie’s in Tagaytay to buy their pasalubong to bring to their families and get batch photos with a great view of the Taal Volcano. 

It has truly been a one-of-a-kind experience that I am sure the seniors will remember with fondness and bliss. Many memories were made and so much wisdom imparted. It has truly allowed us to bask in the moment and realize the culmination of our lives in university and how it has shaped us to be who we are today. It’s safe to say that we are finally ready to take the leap off to the next chapter of our lives! 



CSSP Extramural Training Seminar for Social Science Teachers: Community of Inquiry and AI Ethics

August 31 – September 1 2023

By Gavin Nigel ChuacucoUP Diliman Department of Philosophy

The seminar entitled “Community of Inquiry and AI Ethics” aimed to provide participants with an opportunity to discuss and learn, by manner of community of inquiry, some of the most pressing ethical issues on AI use in Philippine education.

The first day started with an introduction from the participants and a lecture from Assoc. Prof. Lumberto Mendoza. In the lecture, the community of inquiry framework was introduced alongside discussion of several ethical issues in the use of AI in Education. Despite strong opinions on the use of AI, an initial survey and conversation with the participants showed that all of them had no previous immersion with ChatGPT. In the afternoon, the seminar was conducted in the computer lab where participants had hands-on activities regarding ChatGPT uses and relevant plagiarism detectors. The day concluded with a community of inquiry session to reflect and share insights among everyone.

The second day started with a lecture and activity by Asst. Prof. Symel De Guzman-Daulat on other AI tools that could be used by students and teachers. These consisted of easily accessible website applications such as WePik, Sharly, Canva, and OpenArt, among others. The afternoon involved a lecture by Instr. Gavin Chuacuco on AI policies/ethical guidelines by institutions such as UNESCO and UP Diliman. The lecture served as points for discussion for the community of inquiry session that followed. This final community of inquiry session also served as an overall synthesis and conclusion to the seminar. The concluding insights were mainly about: 1) the digital divide that restricts access to these technologies, 2) the need for more workshops and training on the topic, and 3) the need for teachers to adopt measures that can prevent students from cheating. The program ended with high hopes as both facilitators and participants expressed optimism in making ethical use of AI towards a more innovative, integrative, and reflective education.

Congratulations to Assoc. Prof. Peter Sy and Department of Philosophy Alumni

The UP Diliman Department of Philosophy proudly congratulates Assoc. Prof. Peter A. Sy, together with a team of alumni of the department for their work Data Privacy Protection and Research Involving Human Participants: A Primer, which has been selected by the United States Library of Congress to be included in the Library’s collection of foreign digital materials.

For more information about the Library of Congress’ digital collections, visit their website (https://www.loc.gov/collections/)
Sy, P.A., Navera, J.C., Tan, K., & Nicolas, F. (2021). Data Privacy Protection and Research Involving Human Participants: A Primer. Social Sciences and Philosophy Research Foundation, Inc. DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.14479353
Congratulations Sir Peter and team! The Department is proud of you!

Applications for MA & PhD in Philosophy programs for A.Y. 2023-2024 are Now Open

Are you searching for meaning? For purpose? For knowledge? For reason? Or are you simply looking for an adventure? Join us at the UP Diliman Department of Philosophy! Applications for MA & PhD in Philosophy programs for A.Y. 2023-2024 are NOW OPEN!

The application period spans from April 14, 2023 (Friday) to  June 28, 2023 (Wednesday)

Requirements:

  • Application letter addressed to the Dean
  • Application Form (see link below)
  • 2 ID pictures
  • Certified General Weighted Average
  • Authenticated PSA Birth Certificate
  • 3 Recommendation Letters (see link below)
  • 2-3 page research/thesis proposal*

* The research/thesis proposal must follow the following specified format: Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1.0 in margin

All submitted documents must be in PDF format.

Download the Graduate Program Application Form here and download the Recommendation Letter Form here.

For inquiries, please e-mail gradprogram_philo.upd@upd.edu.ph

Prof. Ma. Liza Ruth A. Ocampo, PhD is the New Chair of the UP Diliman Department of Philosophy

The UP Diliman Department of Philosophy welcomes its new chair! Prof. Ma. Liza Ruth A. Ocampo, PhD assumes position effective on 𝟭 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯.
Prof. Ocampo obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) and her Master of Arts degrees in Philosophy from the same institution where she teaches Ethics, Metaphysics, Philosophical Analysis, and the History of Ideas with a particular stress on Medieval Philosophy: Themes on the Philosophical Anthropology of Thomas Aquinas. She was awarded the UP Diliman Centennial Professorial Chair in 2008 and 2010 respectively for the following works: The Dignity of the Thinking Person: A Philosophical Reflection on Human Nature (UST Publishing House, 2006) and the article-essay, “Man’s Definition in Thomas Aquinas’s De Unitate Intellectus Contra Averroistas: Some Doctrinal and Historical Considerations” (2008). View more of Prof. Ocampo’s publications and research interests by clicking this link: https://philosophy.upd.edu.ph/…/ma-liza-ruth-a-ocampo-phd/
According to Prof. Ocampo, her leadership aims, among many others, “[to engage] in the duties and tasks of teaching, research, and extension work in service of the country’s youth- all in the spirit of honor, excellence, and friendship.”
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As the department welcomes its new chair, we also send our deepest and warmest thanks to our outgoing chair, Assoc. Prof. KC Abalos-Orendain, PhD, who took on the tasks and challenges of leading us with grace and wisdom. Once again, thank you for your efforts, service, and friendship.
Padayon!

Call For Faculty Applications (First Sem AY 2022-2023)

The Department of Philosophy, University of the Philippines, Diliman invites applications for teaching positions (AY 2022-2023).

A Master’s Degree and/or a PhD in Philosophy, Ethics, or other related fields are preferred. Applicants with teaching experience & a research portfolio will have an advantage.

Deadline of Applications: October 23, 2022, Sunday

Requirements:

● Application Letter*

● Curriculum Vitae

● Diplomas/certificates for PhD, MA, and BA degrees

● List of publications with full copy of each publication or samples of written work

● Other requirements might be asked after initial assessment

*Address your letter to:

The Chair, Department of Philosophy,

University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Send your complete requirements to philosophy.upd@up.edu.ph.

Only shortlisted applicants will be scheduled for an online interview and/or lecture demo.