The Colegio de Santa Isabel High School Class of 1965 in cooperation with the non-stock, non-profit voluntary Association of Social Science Educators, Researchers and Trainors, Inc. (ASSERT, Inc.), the Extramural Studies Program of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy of the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, and the Universidad de Santa Isabel (USI) in Naga City cordially invite you to attend and participate in the Bicol Studies Conference to be held on 21-23 October 2009 at the venerable campus of Universidad de Santa Isabel. There will be Poster and Commercial Exhibits and a post-conference tour of Naga City’s historical and cultural sites.
Our Conference theme will be “Bicol History and Culture: Illuminating the Path to the Future.” The Conference aims to foster, promote and advance Bicol Studies; to contribute to the greater knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Bicol history and culture; to gain insights into Bicol’s past and broaden our understanding of the present; to develop awareness of Bicol’s origin and heritage for the appreciation of the living symbols of the Bicol people and preservation of these symbols as well as historical structures; and to make this constructive historical awareness of Bicol history and culture contribute toward developing a vision of what we want Bicol to be in the future.
In this connection, we are pleased to issue a call for papers focusing on the following topics:
Bicol Studies: Methodology and Approaches
Bicol Studies: Trends, Directions, Agenda for Future Research
Bicol Archaeology and Prehistory
Bicol History: Spanish, American, Japanese Periods
Bicol Folklore and Oral History
Bicol Linguistic Studies
Bicol Festivals
Bicol Music and Dance
Bicol Religion and Popular Religiosity
Bicol Economic and Demographic History
Bicol Churches
Bicol Heritage Preservation
Bicol Food and Culture
Bicol Politics
Bicol Gender Studies
Bicol Health Issues
Bicol Herbal Medicine, Beliefs and Customs
Bicol Environment: Forest and Marine
Please submit your abstracts for screening and approval by mid-July 2009 and your full papers for reproduction by the end of September this year. A registration fee of PHP3,500.00 shall be collected from each delegate to cover the cost of the conference kit, secretariat, snacks, meals and other essentials.
Meanwhile, below is the initial list of speakers and their respective topics:
Dr. Eusebio Z. Dizon (Archaeology Division, National Museum of the Philippines, Manila) — “A Burial Site in Tikiw-na-saday, Casiguran, Sorsogon”
Prof. Edwin C. Valientes (Department of Anthropology, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Diliman, Quezon City) — “Tiwi Ceramic Ethnoarchaeology: Report from the 2009 UP Anthropology Field School”
Dr. Danilo M. Gerona (Director, Institute of Bikol History and Culture, Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City) — “Bicol Under Spanish Rule”
Dr. Francis A. Gealogo (Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City) — “Epidemics and Public Health in Late Colonial Kabikolan”
Dr. Vicenta Mendoza Escobar (Chair and President, Sol y Viento Phytotherapy Research Center, Manila) — “Bicol Herbal Medicine”
Dr. Jesus Federico C. Hernandez (Department of Linguistics, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Diliman, Quezon City) — “Usad na Gab-i: Evaluating Rinconada”
Dr. Nestor T. Castro (Director, Extramural Studies Program, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Diliman, Quezon City) — “Who are the Indigenous People of Bicol (Agta, Cimarron, Tabangnon)?
Prof. Clarinda L. Berja (Department of Political Science, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Diliman, Quezon City) — “Measuring Human Security in a Philippine Community: The Case of Albay Province”
Leslie E. Bauzon (Retired Professor of History, University of the Philippines and University of Tsukuba, Japan) — “Methodology and Approaches Toward the Study of Bicol Local History”
A complete program will be announced in the second and third circulars. You all take care and have merry hearts always. Do let us hear from you. Please address all communications to:
Dr. Cleotilde Hidalgo-How or, Prof. Carmencita T. AguilarProfessor, Department of Pharmacology President, ASSERT Inc.
and Toxicology 14 Villa Socorro Street
College of Medicine, UP Manila 1106 Project 8, Quezon City
547 Pedro Gill, Ermita, Manila Tel/Fax (632) 920-2780
Tel/Fax (632) 521-8251
E-mail: tellyhow@yahoo. com
Mobile: 09185315119
www.biklish.com 
http://pinkthorn.wordpress.com/
I’m Annilee villamarzo from Quezon province. I am currently writing a book about Mauban’s connection to Bicol region. Our food is very similar to yours like pinangat and kinunot. This may be a coincidence because Bicol and Quezon both have lots of coconut. However, it fascinates me that we have binalawan and we import balaw from Bicol. We even have pili (called pilaway in Mauban), while none in nearby towns. It was said in our local history that galleons would dock here and passengers would then walk going to Manila. I also read somewhere that galleons would stopover to Bicol before going to Manila. However, I want more proof that would prove or disprove our Bicol connection. I’m planning to go to Bicol. Can you recommend contacts who are well versed in your local history, especially in galleon trade?
Hi Annilee. Thanks for visiting. Your claims are plausible. Just a note: Bicol’s northernmost province, Camarines Norte, is divided into two: The Tagalog District, and the Bikol District. This is because of the strong influence of Quezon in the province.
I met one resource person from Ateneo De Naga. The name is Prof. Dan Gerona. In one of my paper presentations, we talked a lot about the Bicol Region during the Spanish period. I would recommend you contact him.
Hi, I’m Rosa Pilar de Guzman.I’m one of the organizers of a conference on “Bicol History and Culture: Illuminating the Path to the Future and Colegio de Sta. Isabel batch 65. It is very interesting to know that a lot of people are interested of our roots. Probably it would be great to have a South Luzon conference so people can get together and learn more about our history. Mr. Danny Gerona is now residing in Naga City. If you want to set an appointment with him, I would be glad to assist you. Many thanks.
Thanks for dropping a note Ma’am Rosa. I think it would be great if USI sponsor South-Luzon conference. I would love to present a paper 🙂