The Southern Luzon State University - Office of Research Services (SLSU ORS), in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, hosted the 3rd session of the Huntahan: SLSUโs International Research Seminar Series (Year 3). The event, themed โExploring Histories, Cultures, and Creativity: A Discourse on Research and Teaching Humanities,โ took place on June 18-19, 2024, with a hybrid format. Around 50 participants attended in person at the Banahaw Hall of the SLSU Hotel and Cafรฉ, while over a hundred joined via ZOOM.
Dr. Frederick T. Villa, President of SLSU, opened the event with a video message encouraging participants to commit to learning truths, cultivating empathy, and motivating others in teaching and conducting research on histories, cultures, and creativity. Dr. Nicanor L. Guinto, ORS Director, and Dr. Joselito Delos Reyes, Coordinator of the UST BA Creative Writing Program and Resident Fellow of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, expressed their gratitude to the participants and the working committee, sharing insights on the collaboration between SLSU and UST.
Esteemed scholars then led discussions on various aspects of Quezon province’s rich heritage. Ms. Rona Catherine R. Repancol, a researcher specializing in the stone materials used in Spanish Colonial Churches and a UST faculty member, discussed stone and other tangible heritage as a research topic. Dr. Anton Heinrich Rennesland, award-winning essayist and instructor at UST’s Department of Philosophy, explored cultural research through a philosophical lens. Dr. Maridel D. Villalon, a researcher on the history of food in Tayabas, Sariaya, and Lucban, shared her findings on culinary history as a research area.
The second day featured prominent figures from UST focusing on creative writing and literary studies. Dr. Augusto Antonio A. Aguila, Co-Director of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, opened the session with an overview of the Center’s functions and collaborative efforts. Dr. Delos Reyes then engaged participants in cultural research, followed by writer and filmmaker Mr. Jose Justine Mojica, who covered the fundamentals of screenplay writing. In the afternoon, award-winning author and poet Mr. Joel Toledo inspired the audience with his insights on teaching poetry writing, and award-winning poet and essayist Mr. Ralph Semino Galan discussed teaching creative nonfiction writing.
Dr. Marissa C. Esperal, SLSU Vice President for Research, Extension, Production, Development, and Innovation, expressed her gratitude for the fruitful partnership between UST and SLSU, noting that this Huntahan session was among the most attended since its inception in 2022.
Participants also shared their appreciation for the event. Mr. Aldrin M. Catacutan remarked, โI learned so much from the lectures of some of the high-caliber members of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, and it was one of the most interactive sessions I have attended. I commend the initiatives of SLSU and look forward to more lectures and related activities that pave the way for students and teachers to participate.โ
Since 2022, the ORS has hosted the year-long Research Seminar Series, Huntahan, to promote cross-institutional research-related conversations across disciplines. The next session, scheduled for July 16, will be a collaboration with the Social Development Research Center of De La Salle University, focusing on capacitating researchers in Basic Qualitative Analysis. Registration details will be posted on the ORS Facebook Page and Website (https://slsuresearch.info/) in the upcoming days.
By: April Arianne A. de Leon