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

The UP Asian Center will be holding a public forum, “People’s Mobility in the Time of CoVid-2019,” on 21 February 2020, 1–4:30 pm, at the UP Asian Center, QC. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served. Walks-in are welcome but participants are encouraged to sign up.

SIGN UP: YES, I WILL ATTEND!

ABOUT THE FORUM

The Corona Virus Diesease-2019 (CoVid-2019), which originated in Wuhan, China, triggered an emergency situation across a number of countries, a seeming tense relations between the US and China, and a set of nationalist responses via evacuations, repatriations, bans, quarantines, and medical protocols, among others. Various entities have since then articulated their views concerning prevention and control of the disease, while others are alleged to be capitalizing on the problem for political and financial gain.

This forum thus aims to contribute to the conversation by presenting the perspectives of the academe and other allied sectors, and by identifying the undertakings of the main stakeholders in addressing the issue of CoVid-2019. It examines the consequences of intensified mobility across Philippine borders, especially with the country’s increasingly close ties with China, and the efforts concerning tourism promotion and overseas employment. It looks back to relevant lessons from previous emergencies and assess our preparedness for the foreseeable future.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

              Atty. Ari Ancheta

Atty. Ancheta is the Chief of Staff of Anak-Kalusugan Party-List Representative Hon. Michael T. Defensor.             

              Director Ivy D. Miravalles

Ms. Ivy Miravalles is the Chief of the Migrant Integration and Education Division (MIED) of the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO).             

              Dr. Marissa Alejandria

Dr. Marissa Alejandria is a Professor at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, UP Manila. She also serves as Director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health, UP Manila.

              Ms. Sacha Bootsma

Ms. Sacha Bootsma is the Technical Officer for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.   

              Mr. Florencio D. Teves III

Mr. Florencio D. Teves III is the head of the Project Development and Monitoring Unit (PDMU) and the Officer-in-Charge of the Advocacy and Social Marketing Unit (ASMU) of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).   

INVITED SPEAKERS (For Confirmation)

Ricardo  Casco

Mr. Casco is the National Program Coordinator of IOM.

Please check this page for updates, or sign up (link above) to receive the final list of speakers.

INQUIRIES

                For queries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CURRENT ASIAN AFFAIRS LECTURE SERIES

The forum is part of the Asian Center’s “Current Asian Affairs Lecture Series,” which aims to tackle challenges arising from issues concerning progress, growth and development in 21st-century Asia. Involving scholars, policymakers and stakeholders, it seeks to provide varied perspectives and options for solutions that will be beneficial in addressing challenges in development in Asia and their implications on the Philippines.


The Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The 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. The Center 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. 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. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.