USC, Kyoto University begin urbanization seminar

THE University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies Center (USC CSC) and Kyoto University Center for Southeast Asian Studies will hold the 36th Southeast Asia seminar on Nov. 20 and 23 at the College of Architecture and Fine Arts Theater, USC Talamban Campus.

The theme of this year’s seminar is “Cities and Cultures in Southeast Asia.”

The seminar looks at the social and cultural processes and practices out of which cities emerge, grow, decay and change.

Southeast Asia has some of the world’s largest and most vibrant cities.

Manila is one of mega cities that is home to more than 10 million people, and serves as administrative and financial centers as well as migration, transportation and communication hubs.

Secondary cities, such as Cebu, are also very important, having histories and cultures that are as rich as the natural capitals from whose shadows they are emerging as part of larger, polycentric urban system, including corridors, and networks across the region.

Speakers are Chris Baker, J.E.R. Bersales and Hope Sabanpan-Yu on history and heritage; Kenta Kishi, Loh Kah Seng and Nathan Badenoch on cities and communities; and Pasuk Phongpaichit, Masaki Okamoto and Wataru Kusaka on economic transformation and political negotiation.

Keynote speech will be given by Dr. Resil Mojares, Professor Emeritus of USC, and a leading social anthropologist, historian and critic in the Philippines, and urban development specialist Florian Steinberg.

More than 30 academics from Southeast Asia and all over the world will be participating during the three-day discussions.

A field trip to relevant groups working for Cebu’s development is slated on the third day.

Participants are to visit the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and Mactan Export Processing Zone Authority, among others.

For more information about the seminar, visit www.cebuanostudiescenter.com.