Early in the Spring 2025 semester, the Center was approached by the Office of the Philippine Consular General in Chicago inviting us to submit a proposal to fund various activities related to the Philippines. In June an agreement was signed by the Philippine Consul General and representatives of the Center and UW’s International Division, at which time the funds were received. This generous gift was allocated to two UW graduate students in support of their summer research in the Philippines. The recipients of these awards were: Inigo C. Acosta (Dissertator in Anthropology) and Brandon Thierry (MA student in the Center). Below are their brief descriptions of the projects they are pursuing in the Philippines.
Inigo gifts Archbishop Ledesma with UW-Madison coffee mug
I conducted field research in Bukidnon, Philippines on the topic of Indigenous Peoples’ Ancestral Domain Claims. I conducted several interviews with stakeholders including members of the Manobo-Pulangiyon Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC), landowners, plantation managers and, employees of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). In particular, my research relied heavily on contacts in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and Diocese of Malaybalay. Both dioceses are the primary actors assisting the Indigenous claimants. Iwas thrilled to work closely with Archbishop Emeritus of Cagayan de Oro and alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, His Excellency The Most Reverend Antonio J. Ledesma S.J. D.D. Bishop Ledesma shared numerous important insights from his decades of work on land tenure in Mindanao with me. I took part in the Manobo-Pulangiyon’s legal consultations with the church, attorneys and government officials. Finally, I paired ethnographic work with archival research at Bukidnon State University, Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan and, the Lopez Musuem collections in Manila. – Inigo
Brandon with Rose Ann Leonor, Project Evaluation Officer III, Policy and Planning Division, Agricultural Training Institute – Department of Agriculture (Quezon, Philippines)
This summer, I traversed the captivating history of the Philippines. I am particularly interested in the rich stories of Mindanao and the connections that Cebuanos have to its northern coast. Upon my arrival in the Philippines, I conducted archival research in Metro Manila at major repositories, including the Ortigas Library, the Filipinas Heritage Library, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Agricultural Training Institute Central Office, Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines Diliman, and the National Library of the Philippines. From Manila, I traveled to Cebu, where I consulted the National Archives, University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies Center, and several other universities and government divisions associated with agriculture. From Cebu, I chartered a boat to Iligan City to begin consulting the archival collections in Northern Mindanao. First, I examined repository materials at Dansalan College, Xavier University, and other universities in Cagayan de Oro City. Then, I concluded my time in Mindanao with a 4-H Club retreat in Malaybalay. I returned home after my phenomenal experience, and I am filled with anticipation for my return to the Philippines. – Brandon