The UPV Center for West Visayan Studies in collaboration with the Division of Social Sciences held a public lecture by Mr. Francisco Gonzalo "Frank" Villanueva titled "Why Hispanic Culture Matters: Saving our Hispano-Filipino Heritage" at the UPV Little Theater, Iloilo City campus. Mr. Villanueva is a well-traveled independent researcher and historian whose works include a revisiting of sources on historical figures such as Juan Luna and Iloilo's very own Graciano Lopez Jaena.
CWVS Director Asst. Prof. Frances Anthea Redison gave the opening remarks and the overview of the activity. His Excellency Miguel Ultray Delgado, Ambassador of the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines also sent a message in Spanish which was read by Prof. Fe Dureza.
Mr. Villanueva’s lecture made a similar revisit on the nuances of the legacy of Hispanic culture in Philippine society. Transcending the negative stereotype of the "black legend" ascribed to the Spaniards, Mr. Frank presents various all-to-familiar features of Philippine society that have been shaped by reactions and negotiations between the native inhabitants and the Hispanic culture they interacted with. The presentation was filled with snippets of primary sources pertaining to Spanish influences and contributions to our national history -- from the documentation of native scripts and languages; cartography; botanical studies; architecture; to the visual and liberal arts.
It was attended by scholars and students from UP Visayas, West Visayas State University (WVSU), and the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U). UPV students taking up Cultural History of the Philippines, Maritime History of the Philippines, and Colonial Philippines I also attended the lecture. The lecture ended with an insightful and engaging question-and-answer portion where the role of Hispanic culture and language in historiography, daily life, and personal experiences were discussed.
Also present in Mr. Frank's lecture were retired Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza and Ilongga historian and former UPV faculty Melanie Padilla, his high school classmates from UP High School in Iloilo class of 1965. Mr. Gabriel Gagno of the UPV History Cluster, Division of Social Sciences served as the moderator of the afternoon lecture.