Scholars of gender, linguistics, ethnography, anthropology, and Mindanao studies delivered research findings and accommodated reactions from fellow scholars in the first Emmanuel Nabayra Lecture Series, held on November 25, 2024 in honor of the late Department of Social Sciences (DSS) Senior Lecturer Emmanuel “Pads” Nabayra.
Asst. Prof. Andrea Malaya Ragragio (above), chairperson of the Department of Social Sciences, described “Father Manny” Nabayra’s academic character as that of humility. Being one who focused on contributing to scholarship with attention to detail, good relationships with his research subjects, and quality teaching for his students.
“As we face our challenges today we can get inspiration from Father Manny,” she said.
The Lecture Series’ culminating event was the re-launching of Mr. Nabayra’s book, a collection of essays titled, “Pagpamalandung sa Pakigbisug,” for scholars from the University of Southeastern Philippines, the Ateneo de Davao University, and the UP BS Anthropology program who attended.
Instructor Malaya Lapina (above, left) opened the Lecture Series with, “Mula Kalsada Hanggang Cybora: Danas ng mga Trans Pinay sa Davao,” disclosing the continuing experiences of abuse and marginalization of trans persons. Prof. Raymundo Pavo (above, right) shared the circumstances of aging lesbians in his research, “Aging in the Narratives of Older/Tiguwang Lesbians in Davao City.”
Asst. Prof. Roda Tajon of the UP Open University Faculty of Information and Communication Studies and a researcher on media studies, gender and development, and development communication (above) gave reactions to the two talks.
Asst. Prof. Edward Estrera, though not present, provided a video recording of his research, “The Verbal Morphology of the Teduray,” (above) a language spoken in southwestern Mindanao which he described as a developing language and currently the subject of a ongoing orthography project.
Instructor Vincent Santiago of the UP Department of Linguistics, in his reaction to Estrera’s study, (above) described it as significant for the “scholarship on the grammatical structures of Philippine languages” and in “historical and anthropological scholarship and language policy.”
Asst. Prof. Kenette Jean Millondaga (above) opened the afternoon session with her research titled “Enduring Importance of Care: Postpartum practices in Visayan communities in North Cotabato,” focusing on “bughat,” a women’s state after childbirth, which women address through various indigenous practices and devices.
Asst. Prof. Farah Aimee Virador of the Department of Humanities (above) gave her feedback on Prof. Millondaga’s research.
Asst. Prof. Andrea Malaya Ragragio (above) followed with her paper “Imagining within Anthropological Constraints: A proposal for reusing and reengaging with custom, mythology, and folklore,” or “Gouldian Constraints and Consequences on Epic and Folklore,” where she considered scientist and historian Stephen Jay Gould’s theory of constraints as applied to indigenous folk literature and its implications, using the Filipino concept of the “aswang” as an example.
Dr. Maria Mangahas of the UP Department of Anthropology gave her feedback on Prof. Ragragio’s paper.
Associate Prof. Myfel Joseph Paluga’s lecture on “Reviewing recent framings in ‘Mindanao Studies’: Why an ethnos-approach is important,” (above) traced and situated the historical, geographical, and linguistic contexts of the epics and the epic chanters.
University Researcher Janus Nolasco of the Asian Center (above, onscreen) gave his reactions, among which he likened the social sciences to literary and cinematic arts for their characteristic close readings of lines of text.
Open forums were interspersed between the various lectures to give the audience opportunities to ask questions. Lecturer Julius Neil Piala of the Department of Humanities’ (above, right) fielded questions that gave the lectures some context in relation to the practices and beliefs of various sectors of Philippine society, such as the Catholic faith.
The Book Launch of “Pagpamalandong sa Pagikbisog” at the culmination of the Lecture Series featured awarding of the books to the participants. Assoc. Prof. Paluga, in his closing remarks, he recounted his meeting and subsequent recruitment of Mr. Nabayra to the UP Mindanao DSS. The above file photo shows Lecturer Nabayra with his book in his DSS carrel.
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