The Division of Social Sciences (DSS) of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), in partnership with the Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints (PSHEV) journal of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), successfully held Historia: A Conversation on History, Research, and Publication at the UPV Cinematheque, Iloilo City last May 22, 2026.
The forum featured distinguished historians from ADMU, namely Dr. Filomeno Aguilar Jr., Dr. Michael Pante, and Dr. Katherine Lacson, who shared insights on historical writing, research methodologies, and academic publication.
In his lecture, Dr. Aguilar emphasized the significance of comparison in history, highlighting how the comparison of ideas and sources serves as a valuable discursive strategy in historical writing. He explained that comparison is always shaped by the historian’s intent and purpose, as writers determine what to compare, which similarities or differences to emphasize, and what conclusions to draw. According to him, comparison should not merely be treated as a procedural tool, but as an argument and contextual logic that helps “shine a light” on the subjects being examined. Dr. Aguilar is widely recognized for his book Clash of Spirits, which explored power relations and hegemony within a sugar plantation setting in Negros.
Meanwhile, Dr. Pante and Dr. Lacson, chief and associate editors of PSHEV, led a roundtable discussion on the publication process in the journal. The discussion focused on the standards, requirements, and evolving direction of Philippine Studies through the years.
The event also featured an open forum participated by BA (History) students and alumni. Also among the attendees were Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, PhD, former CAS Dean Ma. Luisa Mabunay, PhD, and Professor Emeritus Alicia Magos, PhD.
The program concluded with the turnover of PSHEV issues from 2020 to March 2026 to the History Cluster of the UPV DSS. According to the cluster, the donated materials will be indexed and made available for student and faculty use.
The event provided valuable insights not only for history students, but also for other members of the university community interested in academic research and scholarly publication.
Written by Rhea Nava, UPV Kamaragtas
Photos by DSS History Cluster
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