The UP Diliman Department of Philosophy hosted the first ever Emmanuel Q. Fernando Philosophy Undergraduate Conference from May 5-6, 2025. The event was held in honor of Prof. Emmanuel Q. Fernando, MA (Cantab.), DPhil (Oxon.), a former Chairperson of the UP Diliman Department of Philosophy well-known for his contributions in philosophy of law, mathematical logic, and other areas of philosophy. The event was primarily conceived as an opportunity for BA Philosophy majors of the department to come together and share their research on various philosophical topics with a wider audience. It was also intended to provide them with a preparatory platform on which they could hone their writing and presentation skills for other conferences. The theme of the event was Analysis, a reference to the Anglo-American or analytic tradition of philosophy that Prof. Fernando fervently championed throughout his academic career. Prof. Fernando’s biography may be read here: Emmanuel Q. Fernando Biography and Selected Bibliography
Prof. Fernando at the Counter Revolutionary Ceremony at Oxford University.
On the first day of the event, opening remarks were delivered by Chairperson Prof. Ma. Liza Ruth Ocampo, PhD. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Ma. Theresa Payongayong, PhD, a former student and advisee of Prof. Fernando, who reflected on his role as a scholar and mentor, and then discussed the evolving paradigm of education in the country today. The family of the late Prof. Fernando was in attendance for the opening program. The program was hosted by graduating seniors Pia Cruz (Student Convener) and Dae Bautista.
Prof. Ma. Liza Ruth Ocampo, PhD delivers her opening remarks.
Prof. Ma. Theresa Payongayong, PhD delivers the keynote address.
Members of the family of Prof. Fernando were present at the event. L to R: Hosts Dae Bautista and Pia Cruz, Engr. Manu Fernando, Prof. Payongayong, Atty. Enrico Q. Fernando, Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando, Mrs. Stella Fernando-Reyes, Enrico Fernando Jr., Atty. Agustin Javellana. Day 1 of the event was held at the Health and Wellness Center, Palma Hall.
After the opening program, students broke out into various rooms and sessions throughout Pavilion 2 of Palma Hall in eleven sub-categories where philosophy majors presented papers that had either been written or were currently in progress. Papers from six of these sub-categories were presented on the first day, including Philosophy of Law, Feminist Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Metaphysics, Political Philosophy, and Epistemology. During the two day event, over sixty students presented their papers after their abstracts had been screened by both senior and junior faculty members of the department. Each presentation was succeeded by a Q&A session during which audience members could ask questions or provide feedback for the speaker. There was also a faculty member present in each room to provide constructive comments on the presentations. Notably, it was the first time for many of our philosophy majors to present in any conference.
The final event for the first day was a Philosophy Quiz Bee in which philosophy majors were allowed to form teams of up to eight members in competing for First Place (PHP 5,000 Cash Prize, a plaque, and medals), Second Place (PHP 3,000 Cash Prize), and Third Place (PHP 2,000 Cash Prize) respectively. The event was hosted by Asst. Prof. Marielle Zosa, MA and Instr. Jevi Quitain.
The Quiz Bee was hosted and facilitated by junior faculty members of the department. From L to R: Instr. Jevi Quitain, Asst. Prof. Marielle Zosa, Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando, Instr. Patrick Villegas, and Instr. Kurt Tubera.
Philosophy majors from all batches wrote down and raised their answers on whiteboards.
On the second day of the program, presenters from the remaining five sub-categories presented on Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Religion, Ethics, History of Philosophy, and Philosophy of Mind. On the afternoon of the second day, the first ever Ethics Bowl was contested by four different batch teams, with each team consisting of members of their respective batches vying for a trophy, a PHP 10,000 cash prize, medals, and the honor of being recognized as the inaugural Ethics Bowl Champions. This sub-event was spearheaded by Instr. Gavin Chuacuco, who also prepared cases aligned with the themes of Business Ethics and Environmental Ethics, both of which were subjects taught by Prof. Fernando.
The Freshman Ethics Bowl Team consisted of (L to R) Ciara Gascon, Lois Rigo, Mikel Terrell (Captain), Rainier Lloren, Oliver Orillo, and Vhon Morales.
The Sophomore Ethics Bowl Team consisted of Preisianne Perez, Gustavo Molina, Louis Racpan, Miggy Padilla, Aldrick Operario, Jewel Tovera, and Mika Gana (Captain).
In two gruelling semifinals rounds, the Juniors defeated the Freshmen on a close 2-1 split decision while the Seniors defeated the Sophomores on a 3-0 unanimous decision. The finals, contested by the Juniors and Seniors, was adjudicated by Prof. Jeanette Yasol-Naval, PhD, Prof. KC Abalos-Orendain, PhD, Asst. Prof. Jerwin Agpaoa, MA, Asst. Prof. Arlyn Macapinlac, MA, and Asst. Prof. Renato Manaloto, MA. The two case studies focused on cases entitled “Energy Transition At What Cost?” and “Was It Ethically Justifiable to Build the DiliMall?” After an intense round, the Seniors won the inaugural ethics bowl on a 4-1 split decision. Dads Daduya was voted as the Best Speaker of the Finals.
The Junior Ethics Bowl Team consisted of (L to R): Derick Cabotage, Isa Balde, Prince Vicenta, Nadine Sese, Orange Peña Lita, and Rance Tamayo (Captain).
The Senior Ethics Bowl Team consisted of (L to R): Ron Sarmiento, Sofia Luna, Pia Cruz (Captain), Jan Estioco, Ron Imperial, Colene Santos, and Dads Daduya.
A portion of the winning case of the Ethics Bowl Champions may be found here:
The Awarding Ceremonies took place immediately after the Ethics Bowl Grand Finals. For the eleven sub-categories, three winners were awarded for writing the best full papers with First Place winning a PHP 2,000.00 Cash Prize, Second Place winning a PHP 1,500.00 Cash Prize, and Third Place winning a PHP 1,000.00. The essays were judged by senior faculty members. Meanwhile, junior faculty members who facilitated the parallel sessions awarded a Best Presenter. All winners won medals and certificates in recognition of their achievements.
The full papers of the First Prize Winner in each category can be read below:
Best Papers and Presentations
Category 1: Political Philosophy
First Prize: Juan Laurenz G. Dela Cruz, “Snatched Credibility, Dragged Reputation: The Negative Impacts of Testimonial Injustice Among Drag Artists on the Public Perception of Sogie.” View Full Paper Here: Snatched Credibility, Dragged Reputation (Dela Cruz)
Second Prize: Hans Matthew U. Antiojo, “Food as Political Resistance”
Third Prize: Isabella M. Balde, “Egalitarian Approaches to Economic Justice as Self-Defeating”
Best Presenter: Sarah N. Espiritu, “Filipino in Denial: The Propagation of Extreme Binary of Dynastic Politics and its Stifling Effect on Ideological Pluralism in the Philippines”
Category 2: Applied Ethics
First Prize: Sean Marcus L. Ingalla, “Mending the Metabolic Rift: Dialectical Compatibilism, Ecosocialism, and Land Ethic” View Full Paper Here: Mending the Metabolic Rift (Ingalla)
Second Prize: Amanda D. Binay, “Exposing the Monstrous Body: The Correlation of Asian Body Horror with Disability Narratives and Fear Politics”
Third Prize (Tie): Claire Giasmine G. Tamayo, “Reevaluating Partner Notification: Analyzing Moral Duties and the Consequences of Disclosing HIV/AIDS Status”
Third Prize (Tie): Colene Anne R. Santos, “Eating Beyond Lower Pleasure: A Development of Telfer’s Argument Against Mill’s Qualitative Utilitarianism”
Best Presenter: Colene Anne R. Santos, “Eating Beyond Lower Pleasure: A Development of Telfer’s Argument Against Mill’s Qualitative Utilitarianism”
Category 3: Philosophy of Law
First Prize: Janielle Vhon A. Morales, “When Machines Break the Law: The Case for Criminal Liability & Legal Personhood for Artificial Intelligence” View Full Paper Here: When Machines Break The Law (Morales)
Second Prize: Jan Bernadine V. Sese, “On Punishing the Innocent: The Pitfalls of Deterrence”
Third Prize: Lynelle Thea R. Castillo, “Addressing Climate Change: The Moral Obligation to Follow Laws and Policies Governing Food Systems”
Best Presenter: Jan Bernadine V. Sese, “On Punishing the Innocent: The Pitfalls of Deterrence”
Category 4: Philosophy of Religion
First Prize: Lester Jean C. Santos, “Bahala na ang Panginoon: Pagpapaubaya sa Diyos Bilang Tugon ng mga Pilipino sa Gitna ng Pagdurusa” View Full Paper Here: Bahala Na Ang Panginoon (Santos)
Second Prize: Karissa Christabel T. Bulanadi, “Thinking Good About God: The Rationality of Basing Objective Morality on God’s Value Judgment”
Third Prize: Lance Ryvendale Luiniel C. Quizon, “Does Hick Successfully Dismantle St. Augustine’s Free Will Defense?”
Best Presenter: Mara Arianna P. Santos, “A World Without Grace: Why God Cannot Be Morally Perfect”
Category 5: Epistemology
First Prize: Justin Felip D. Daduya, “A Social Foundationalist Response to the Epistemic Regress Problem” View Full Paper Here: A Social Foundationalist Response to the Epistemic Regress Problem (Daduya)
Second Prize: Paul Benedict B. Cano, “On Artificial Superintelligence as an Agent-as-it-Could-Be”
Third Prize: John Hendrix Angelo C. Ramos, “Determining the Sufficient Evidence in Ethics of Belief by Using Both a Descriptive Ethics and Bayesian Epistemology”
Best Presenter: Justin Felip D. Daduya, “A Social Foundationalist Response to the Epistemic Regress Problem”
Category 6: Philosophy of Language
First Prize: Mark Derick R. Cabotage, “On Meaning Skepticism: Indeterminacy Hitch, Radical Interpretation, and an Argument From Choice Paralysis” View Full Paper Here: On Meaning Skepticism (Cabotage)
Second Prize: Rachael Leigh D. Estanislao, “Why Lewis’s Possible Worlds Theory Prevails Over Davidson’s Truth-Condition Theory of Meaning”
Third Prize: Rhea M. Manalili, “Language Horror: How Words in Religious Context Can Orchestrate Domestic Violence in the Philippine Setting Through Wittgenstein’s Language Games”
Best Presenter: Ma. Anna Mikaela S. Gana, “Wittgensteining Language: The Verbification of Proper Nouns and Wittgenstein’s Use Theory of Meaning in the 21st Century”
Category 7: Feminist Philosophy
First Prize: Shanaeia D. Tabbang, “The Condition of the Post-Colonial Philippine Woman in Exercising Free Will” View Full Paper Here: The Condition of the Post-Colonial Philippine Woman in Exercising Free Will (Tabbang)
Second Prize: Ma. Tatiana G. Inumerables, “Sanctity of Life vs. Violation of Autonomy: A Bioethical Paper on the Right of Impregnated Victims of Rape to Avail of Abortion in the Philippines”
Third Prize: Theo Q. Ebuen, “The Last Divide: Feminism, Biological Determinism, and the Future of Sex”
Best Presenter: Lois Gail Rigo, “From Flesh to Commodity: Unpacking the Capitalist Patriarchy’s Grip on Women’s Bodies”
Category 8: History of Philosophy
First Prize: Karl Alfred T. Olalia, “Medieval Mysticism as a Model for Environmental Ethics” View Full Paper Here: Medieval Mysticism as a Model For Environmental Ethics (Olalia)
Second Prize: Karlo Mikel C. Terrell, “The Transitional Objections Against the Forms of Plato and Aristotle”
Third Prize: (None Awarded)
Best presenter: Karlo Mikel C. Terrell, “The Transitional Objections Against the Forms of Plato and Aristotle”
Category 9: Metaphysics
First Prize: Ron Victor B. Sarmiento, “Voltolini Redux: Reassessing Some Desiderata on the Metaphysics of Fictional Entities” View Full Paper Here: Voltolini Redux (Sarmiento)
Second Prize: Paul Adrian A. Galvez, “Causal-Historical Continuity on the Identity of Theseus’ Ship”
Third Prize: Grazel Lorres A. Pumicpic, “Artificial Kairos: The AI Paradox of Time”
Best Presenter: Ron Victor B. Sarmiento, “Voltolini Redux: Reassessing Some Desiderata on the Metaphysics of Fictional Entities”
Category 10: Philosophy of Mind
First Prize: Jed D. Pontero, “Phase Lang ‘Yan: On Gender Shifting and its Fixity Through the Humean Bundle Theory of Self” View Full Paper Here: On Gender Shifting and its Fixity Through the Humean Bundle Theory of Self (Pontero)
Second Prize: Amir Duane S. Ceredon, “Human Apprehension vs. Natural Existence of Beauty”
Third Prize: (None Awarded)
Best Presenter: Alyssa Rae V. Galing, “Can Machines Think?: Objections Against John Searle’s Strong AI Thesis”
Category 11: Ethics
First Prize: Ron Joshua L. Imperial, “Rethinking Metaethics with G.E.M. Anscombe: A Reinstatement of the Ethical Intention Behind the Philosophy of Action” View Full Paper Here: Rethinking Metaethics with G.E.M. Anscombe (Imperial)
Second Prize: Hana Clariza O. Eugenio, “Deserving Amidst Socioeconomic Constraints: A Reconsideration of Feldman’s ‘Reconsideration of Some Received Desert Wisdom'”
Third Prize (Tie): Maria Camille Z. Yu, “Beyond the Swipe: Understanding Eros and Authenticity in Modern Relationships”
Third Prize (Tie): Christian Mark B. Estanislao, “Parasitiko sa Ulan: Morality in the Appreciation of Rain Among Filipinos in Relation to Filipino ‘Loob’ and Western ‘Self'”
Best Presenter: Hana Clariza O. Eugenio, “Deserving Amidst Socioeconomic Constraints: A Reconsideration of Feldman’s ‘Reconsideration of Some Received Desert Wisdom'”
Best Presenters Per Category
Team Quiz Bee Winners
First Place: Carnappers (Adi Aguinaldo, Hans Antiojo, Dae Bautista, Brielle Cadenas, Dads Daduya, Reiven Espinoza, Ron Imperial, Ian Magbanua)
Second Place: LOCKEd In (Pia Cruz, Sofia Luna, Junno Salvanera, Jan Estioco, Alyssa Galing, Reuben Manasan, Colene Santos, Junno Salvanera, Ron Sarmiento)
Third Place: Natural Law Enforcers (Isa Balde, Derick Cabotage, Laurenz Dela Cruz, Raj Espiritu, Nawi Gonowon, Sean Ingalla, Steven Rotubio, Prince Vicenta)
Winners of the Philosophy Quiz Bee (L to R): Dads Daduya, Ron Imperial, Dae Bautista, Adi Aguinaldo, Brielle Cadenas, Hans Antiojo, Ian Magbanua
Ethics Bowl Champions
Senior Batch Team: Pia Cruz (Captain), Dads Daduya, Ron Imperial, Ron Sarmiento, Colene Santos, Sofia Luna, Jan Estioco
Best Speaker of the Finals: Dads Daduya
From L to R: Asst. Prof. Jerwin Agpaoa, Asst. Prof. Marielle Zosa, Prof. Jeanette Yasol-Naval, Assoc. Prof. KC Abalos-Orendain, Instr. Ingrid De Jesus, Dads Daduya, Ron Sarmiento, Pia Cruz, Ron Imperial, Jan Estioco, Colene Santos, Sofia Luna, Dae Bautista, Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando, Asst. Prof. Renato Manaloto, Instr. Gavin Chuacuco
The Department of Philosophy would also like to recognize the efforts of the following Organizing Committee members, led by Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando and Pia Cruz.
Organizing Committee (OrgComm)
Faculty Convener: Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando
Student Convener: Pia Cruz
Members: Junno Salvanera, Sofia Luna, Claire Tamayo, Jan Estioco, Alyssa Galing, Reuben Manasan, Tristan Yu, Daecia Bautista, Hans Antiojo, Brielle Cadenas, Rhea Manalili, Mika Gana, Tati Inumerables, Shine Tabbang, Gene Tronco
The Organizing Committee of the Inaugural Emmanuel Q. Fernando Philosophy Undergraduate Conference, led by Asst. Prof. Henry Fernando and Pia Cruz
The Department of Philosophy thanks all faculty members, staff, and students who participated in making this event possible. We hope to see everyone next year for the second edition of the EQF Philosophy Undergraduate Conference!
A final photo taken of attendees at the Awarding Ceremonies