Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand 
why the old poets of China went so far
and high 
into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

In partnership with the Japan Foundation Manila, the UP Asian Center is now accepting submissions for the 5th Japanese Studies in the Philippines Research Competition. Filipino graduate students—MA and PhD—may submit any Japan-related research papers (except topics that focus solely on natural sciences, medical sciences, and engineering); undergraduate students may enter essays addressing the topic, “Learning from each other: Disaster Resilience and Recovery in Japan and the Philippines.

APPLICATION PERIOD

The application period will run from 10 October 2022 to 3 February 2023. Deadline of submissions has been extended to 3 February 2023, 5 PM, PHT.

ELIGIBILITY

1.   Must be a Filipino citizen currently enrolled in a BA/BS, or an MA/MS/PhD program in a university in the Philippines or abroad*
2.   Must be between 18 and 35 years old

GENERAL PAPER AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1.   Must be unpublished, solo-authored and written in English.
2.   Must not be under consideration in another publication.
3.   Format must be single-spaced, on an A4 size paper, using the latest APA citation style.
4.   Must use size 12, Times New Roman font.
5.   Should contain an abstract of a maximum of 300 words
6.   Must be recommended by a FACULTY ADVISER via accomplishing and submitting this form.
7.   To submit the documents, fill out this online application form.
For BA/BS Student Submissions
1.   Should be 10 to 15 pages.
2.   Must present a clear, if not novel argument addressing the theme:

“Learning from each other: Disaster Resilience and Recovery in Japan and the Philippines”

The Philippines annually receives an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year, according to PAGASA, with 70 percent of them developing into a typhoon between July and October. Meanwhile, approximately 2000 earthquakes strike Japan annually. About 200 earthquakes, with seismic intensity value of 1 or more, had occurred in Japan in 2019 alone, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Located along the Pacific Ocean, both countries endure economic and social shocks that these natural disasters bring. With these shared geographical realities that are exacerbated by ongoing global climate change, what lessons can each country teach the other? How can risk reduction and disaster management cooperation between Japan and the Philippines (other than ODA and relief operations) be further strengthened now and in the coming years?
For MA/MS/PhD Student Submissions
1.   Should be 15 to 20 pages;
2.   Paper topic could be anything Japan-related except those that focus solely on the natural sciences, medical sciences, and engineering. It must have a social science or humanities component.
3.   Must establish its relationship to and contribution to the literature (e.g. what is new in the paper?)

COMPETITION PRIZES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Winners of the competition will receive:
1.   The latest iPad
2.   A Plaque
3.   Opportunity to publish in the Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia

NOTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF PAPERS

1.  Selected papers shall move on to the final round of the Research Competition (March 2023).
2.  Finalists shall be notified via email and must also submit the following documents:
          o   Photo of Current School ID
          o   Any valid government-issued ID indicating date of birth
          o   Proof of enrollment in current semester (any of the following):
                 •   Signed/validated enrollment form, OR
                 •   Letter from the Office of Admissions/Registrar/College Secretary, or equivalent office.
3.   During the final round, finalists must give a 15-minute public presentation of their research (via Zoom or on-site depending on the circumstances)
4.   Failure to present their papers means ineligibility for the competition prizes. Presentations by proxies are not allowed.
5.   All finalists must prepare their papers for publication in Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, and must commit to the entire review and revision process.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The research competition aims to encourage Japan-related research among Filipino students, to disseminate knowledge, and exchange perspectives on Japanese Studies. It is organized by the UP Asian Center and the Japan Foundation, Manila.

For inquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 8 981 8500 local 3580.
The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website.