THE REPVBLIC, THE professional organization of the Department of Political Science of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), held their fifth annual Congress last October 23 at the Jonathan Sy Auditorium and united a diverse assembly of students, educators, and seasoned political science professionals with a “drive to reimagine political perspectives.”
Governed by the theme “Politics Reimagined,” San Beda University’s (SBU) Department of Political Science sought to illuminate matters within today’s political landscape, redefining students’ role in shaping the future of their discipline.
The Repvblic’s Vice Chairperson of Research and Publication, Sean Audric Uy, who also served as the Co-Activity Chair, elaborated that they “took a lot of inspiration from the success of last semester’s Tayo ang Soberanya Voters’ Education program. We wanted to transform this general assembly into an engaging forum not just between the speakers, but so too between them and students from San Beda and other invited organizations.”.
Because of its respected advocacies, the event was able to bring prominent institutions together, including from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), represented by the Political Science Forum, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ (PUP) Political Science Society, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun) Political Science Society, and Politeia from Arellano University.
Accordingly, the program began with a warm welcome from hosts Cenio Padilla and Marian Malhi, and was followed by an earnest opening remark delivered by Asst. Prof. Kerwin Mark Dencel Martinez, the Department Chairperson. The event’s highlight was a roundtable discussion featuring two distinguished panelists, Dr. Maria Ela L. Atienza Ph.D., a professor for undergraduate courses on qualitative research and political science at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and Dr. Julio Teehankee, Ph.D., a political analyst and professor of Political Science and International Studies at De La Salle University (DLSU).
Highlighting the panelists’ credentials, Uy asserted that “Dr. Atienza and Dr. Teehankee are two of the most competent authorities in Philippine Political Science. They’ve had massive contributions to the discipline and it’s only fitting that we seek their insights.”.
In the “capable hands” of Kyrelle Dianne Tolete, a senior of the Department, who stood as a Bedan student moderator, the panelists embarked on a “timely and substantive political dialogue.” The discussion spanned a range of critical topics such as the dynamics of elections, party politics, the prevalence of political dynasties, the inherent constraints within our current political systems, and the imperative to foster political awareness among Filipinos. The co-activity chair shared that they “wanted to create a coherent narrative. The questions were widely consulted and we made certain that it would attempt to reimagine our misconceptions, or at least our shallow understanding, of Philippine Political Science.”
Within this dialogue, Tolete also posed “thought-provoking” questions touching on activism, the contentious issue of red-tagging, and the prevailing developments under the current Marcos administration. Dr. Atienza, in response to the burgeoning influence of social media in the dissemination of information, outlined the significance of fostering a culture of dialogue rather than condescension with an urgency for fact-based explanations and a commitment to providing well-grounded information to the public.
Echoing Dr. Atienza’s points, Dr. Teehankee delved into the complex dynamics of leadership and the factors that draw individuals to specific political figures. He advocated for a shift from traditional voter education to a more encompassing citizen’s education, contending that a deeper understanding of civic responsibilities and active citizenship is essential for a thriving democracy.
Following the discussion, an engaging open forum ensued, where students enthusiastically interacted with the esteemed panelists, promoting intellectual exchange. The Repvblic also utilized the occasion to unveil and formalize forthcoming projects, offering a glimpse into how they envision a politically empowered Bedan community, solidifying their position as catalysts of transformative change.