Volume 4 No. 1 November 2011The Official Newsletter

SDRC Conducts Discussion on RH Bill during Health Social Science Conference

SDRC Conducts Discussion on RH Bill during Health Social Science Conference

Dr. Dennis D. Trinidad, Associate Professor of the International

Studies Department of the College of Liberal Arts, has been

appointed Director of the Social Development Research Center

beginning AY 2011-2012.

Dr. Trinidad obtained his Ph.D. in Law from the University of

Tsukuba. His research and teaching interests are in Japan-Southeast

Asia/ASEAN relations, Japanese politics, the political economy of

East and Southeast Asia, the politics of economic reform, and

development assistance.

Trinidad Appointed New Director

see page 2

The Social Development Research Center organized a panel discussion on the Reproductive Health Bill (HB 4110) held during the Scientific Conference on Health Social Science on October 14, 2011 at the CSB Hotel. Chaired by Center Director Dennis D. Trinidad, the SDRC formed the panel in order to provide a venue where the

issue on the Reproductive Health Bill can be discussed by academicians and practitioners alike from a multidisciplinary perspective. With this objective, Dr. Trinidad assembled a panel of resource speakers who came from different academic disciplines, namely from religious education, philosophy, gender and population studies to discuss and explore the opportunities and risks of adopting a national policy on reproductive health.

Opening the discussion was Prof. Josefina N. Natividad, Director of the University of the Phil ippines Population Institute, whose presentation “A Demographic Backgrounder on the RH Bill Debates” began by informing participants that the Philippines had the most

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SDRC Conducts Discussion on RH Bill during Health Social Science Conference, from page 1

dense population in the ASEAN region, had the highest growth rate, and since the 1950s has also had the highest fertility rate. In his presentation “Responsible Parenthood Bill in the Philippines: Sources of Conflict Between the Church and Various Sectors,” Dr. Rito Baring of the Theology and Religious Education Department meanwhile identified the Bill's anti-life stance and problematic attitudes towards issues affecting religious expression as the reasons behind the Church’s opposition to the Bill. Dr. Jeane Peracullo of the Philosophy Department, providing “A Filipino Feminist Perspective on Reproductive Health Bill Debates,” in contrast pointed out that women are not part of the anti-RH Bill arguments, and asked how the Bill, which will change women’s lives for the better, can be considered to be “anti-life”. Lastly, Mr. Anastacio Marasigan of the International Studies Department, speaking on “Localizing the Response of HIV and AIDS and its Implications for the RH Debate,” called attention to the Philippines’ being one of the seven countries in the world with an increasing incidence of HIV, and the need to know the epidemic and to formulate a localized and culturally appropriate (including gender and age) response in order to address the problem.

The forum concluding the session gave rise to questions on whether a resolution to differences between Church and State on the issue was possible, and what the implications of the Bill were within a global context. Among the other ideas discussed were that the Philippines cannot meet the agenda for the Millennium Development Goals, which it has committed to attaining, until the Bill is passed; that “overpopulation” is dependent on what resources are available to and can be absorbed by the public; and that sexual education can also be viewed as a tool for empowerment as it reduces risk behaviors.

Research fellows, associates and researchers also taking part in the Conference were Stella P. Go,

Conference Convenor; Pilar Ramos Jimenez (representing the Philippine Health Social Science Association), who was a discussant in the plenary session on “The Philippine Health Social Science Association: Beginnings, Accomplishments, Challenges, and Future Directions”; Executive Director for Human Resources Jesusa M. Marco, who spoke on “Health Social Science in De La Salle University” for the panel discussion on “The Teaching of Health Social Science” (which was chaired by Romeo B. Lee); Graeme Armecin, who delivered a paper entitled “Is the School-Based Population in Southeast Asia Healthy? Findings from the 2007 Global School-Based Health Survey” for the panel discussion on “Health of Adolescents and Elderly”; Exaltacion E. Lamberte, who was a discussant during the plenary session on “Millennium Development Goals: Meeting the Health Agenda”; Cristina Rodriguez, who chaired the panel discussion on methods and techniques; and Ma. Elena Chiong-Javier, who led the plenary discussion on synthesis and action agenda.

The Scientific Conference on Health Social Science was sponsored by the Behavioral Sciences Department of the College of Liberal Arts, and had as its theme “Health Social Science: Practices, Policies and Prospects.” The Conference primarily aimed to identify and describe interventions in health programs, projects and policies carried out in the Philippines and in the South East Asian region.

recommendations to move toward social

transformation.

§ Selected Studies in Environment and Health,

edited by Dr. Lamberte. The collection

primarily features some of the major research

and creative works of the DLSU-Manila

faculty, from the Science and Engineering,

Social Sciences, and Humanities perspectives.

They demonstrate the growing interest

among the faculty in research and advocacy in

the environment and health.

§ Filipino Colonial History and Legacy, edited by

Dr. Dagmang. This volume contains seven

essays by faculty of the History and

International Studies departments of the

College of Liberal Arts, discussing various

aspects of the Philippine experience through

Spanish and American colonization and the

Japanese Occupation.

The Centennial Set is the latest product of the

innovative business model adapted by DLSU’s

Academic Publications Office to publish books.

Realizing that its core competency is doing

research, not marketing or selling books, DLSU

formed a consortium of the leading commercial

publishers in the country and now publishes

academic books through them.

SDRC Research Fellows Exaltacion E. Lamberte

and Ferdinand D. Dagmang authored and/or edited

three volumes included in the DLSU Centennial

Set, a limited edition of 17 books representative of

the scholarly output of the university’s faculty and

students. Launched on June 17, 2011 at the

Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the books are

part of a series of publications celebrating the

centennial of DLSU. They are aimed at informing

readers about DLSU's contributions to national and

international development in the 20th century. The

Centennial Set consists primarily of books

recounting the history of DLSU and books

summarizing in non-specialist language some of the

research projects funded by DLSU's University

Research Coordinating Office.

The three books by SDRC Research Fellows are:

§ Rethinking Perspectives and Practices: Thriving,

Moving Out of Poverty in Cities by Dr. Lamberte.

This work builds on the primary concern of

addressing gaps in knowledge about poverty

that will ultimately provide insights into ways of

confronting poverty in urban areas in the

country. The end goal of undertaking the

research is to obtain a comprehensive

understanding of the phenomenon of urban

poverty and to l ink it with action

SDRC Fellows Published in DLSU Centennial Series

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New Projects, Plans, Research Thrust Discussed During Fellows Meeting

The first meeting of the SDRC Research Fellows

and Associates was convened by Dr. Dennis

Trinidad on June 15, 2011 at Br. Connon Hall. In

the meeting, Dr. Trinidad said that one of his

priorities was to foster multidisciplinary and

collaborative studies at the Center. In line with

this goal, he suggested the formation of research

clusters from different disciplines who would

constitute the Center’s pool of researchers for

future externally funded research projects. He

also added that discussion with LSIG on a project,

“LGU and MDG targets” was currently underway.

SDRC fellow Ms. Myla Arcinas would also

collaborate with PhD visiting fellow Ms. Hanne

Borgersen of Grieg Shipping Group and University

of Bergen, Norway. Ms. Borgersen will stay in

Manila for 6 months from November.

Dr. Trinidad also unveiled his plan of setting up the

Center’s own website, sdrc.org.ph, which he

hoped would promote SDRC research and other

activities to a much broader audience anywhere in

the world. He also informed the group of plans to

conduct a conference on the occasion of the

Center’s anniversary in March 2012, the

digitization of previous completed projects and

other SDRC publications, and the proposed SDRC

volume on health which will be edited by

Dr. Romeo Lee and Ms. Stella Go.

Initial discussions on whether the Center’s

research thrust should be revised, the need to

define the Center’s niche in social science

research, and possible approaches to project

proposal development were also held during the

meeting.

SDRC Director Presents Paper during

SEA Regional Conference

Dr. Dennis Trinidad, SDRC Director and concurrent Coordinator of the Japan Studies Program of the Internat ional Studies Department, presented a paper entitled “Chinese and Japanese Economic Cooperation in the Mekong Region: Complementary or Competition?” during the Regional Conference on Community-Building in East and Southeast Asia held on August 15, 2011 at the New World Hotel in Makati. Sponsored by the Japan Studies Program, International Studies Department in cooperation with the Japan Foundation, the Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA), and the Yuchengco Center, the Conference sought to bring together scholars and specialists from Japan, the Philippines and the rest of the region to discuss the institutional, political-security, and the socio-economic pillars of community-building in East and Southeast Asia. Dr. Trinidad’s paper was delivered as a presentation for the panel on “Socio-Economic Dimensions of Community-Building in Asia.”

Closing remarks for the Conference were given by former SDRC Director and current Yuchengco Center President Dr. Trinidad S. Osteria.

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Roundtable Discussion Held on “Research @ DLSU”

A presentation on the preliminary findings for

“Research @ DLSU,” a study conducted under

the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for

Research and Learning on the occasion of DLSU’s

Centennial anniversary, was held on June 23, 2011

at Andrew Hall 1602. The research team led by

University Fellow Dr. Exaltacion E. Lamberte and

with members College of Liberal Arts Vice Dean

Feorillo Demeterio, Behavioral Sciences faculty

member Cristina Rodriguez, SDRC Publications

and Research Dissemination Coordinator Connie

Maraan, and College of Liberal Arts staff member

Katerina Gonzales discussed their findings on the

history of research centers under CLA, the nature

of research that has been conducted at the

College, and issues and concerns that the research

centers have dealt with. Attending the meeting

were SDRC Director Dr. Dennis Trinidad, the

Center’s research fellows and associates.

Feedback provided on the presentation will be

incorporated in the formal presentation to be

made by the research team during the school year.

SDRC Coordinator for Project Support Services for Fellows and Visiting Researcher Program Rommel M. Billena is currently among the DLSU Faculty Association (FA) representatives sitting on the 2011 Technical Panel that will determine

Core Staff Take Active Roles in Faculty Manual Revision and DLSU-EA CBA

revisions in the University Faculty Manual. Representing the Administration on the Panel are Vice Chancellor for Lasallian Mission and Alumni Relations (VCLMAR) Br. Bernie Oca, FSC, Vice Chancellor for Academics Dr. Myrna Austria, Executive Director for Human Resources Dr. Jesusa Marco, College of Education Dean Dr. Roberto Borromeo, College of Engineering Dean Dr. Pag-asa Gaspillo, and Student Affairs Dean Ms. Fritzie de Vera; and representing the FA are Association President Mr. Dante Luis Leoncini, Dr. Ricardo Puno, Dr. Roberto Raymundo, Dr. Jose Tristan Reyes, Dr. Susan Roces, and Dr. Laurene Chua-Garcia (Observer). Ms. Marife Torres and Ms. Maiden Dejuras act as official Secretaries for the Panel. Mr. Billena is currently the FA Executive Board Secretary.

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see page 6

The Social Development Research Center ndcelebrated its 32 anniversary on April 7, 2011

with a program entitled “Forging New Avenues in

Social Development Research” at the Yuchengco

Building. The program was highlighted by a

research dissemination forum during which the

findings from two on-going research studies were

presented.

Behavioral Sciences faculty member and project

director Leah Veneessa Valbuena gave the

opening presentation entitled “Kraft Foods

Philippines' Corporate Reputation Survey:

Infusing Cultural Sensitivity with Market

Research,” during which she discussed findings in

relation to the consumer sector. Based on

knowledge and awareness of Kraft products as

opposed to competing brands, the Kraft Foods

study established that the concept of a product

was directly related to its mother company, and

the brand of a product was directly related to the

company ’s reputat ion. Advert isements

promoting products resulted in knowledge of the

products and what they were associated with,

which then established the company’s reputation.

Ultimately, consumer preference and the decision

to purchase a product, based on the study, were

determined by the product’s price.

Anniversary Program Features Forum on Kraft and Peace Corps Projects

The first meeting of the Technical Panel was held on January 22, 2011 and it is currently in the process of finalizing the revisions for the manual.

Meanwhile, the Center’s Secretary Lolita Rosell was among the signatories during the DLSU Employees Association (EA) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Contract Signing which took place on August 22, 2011 at Lorenzo’s Way in Greenbelt 5, Makati City. Ms. Rosell signed the CBA in her capacity as Secretary of the EA, a position she has held for the past three years. Also present during the contract signing were DLSU President Br. Narciso Erguiza, FSC, Human Resources Executive Director Dr. Marco, University Controller Ms. Ma. Inores Palmes,

see page 7

Core Staff Take Active Roles in Faculty Manual Revision and DLSU-EA CBA, from page 5

Legal Affairs Director Atty. Enrico Lusica, and officers and members of the EA Executive Board.

Ms. Rosell was re-elected to the position of EA Secretary in the Association elections held on October 26.

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The discussant for the Kraft Foods study was OIC

for the Office of the CLA Vice Dean and Filipino

Department faculty member Dr. Feorillo

Petronilo Demeterio III. He noted that while the

Kraft Foods study centered on its marketing

survey, the work of the team was commendable

as a means of supporting the company’s efforts to

improve its corporate social responsibility (CSR)

program.

The second presentation, “Pagiging ‘Natural’ sa

Usaping ‘Pangkultural’: Isang Pagbabahagi sa

Ginawang Impact Assessment Tungkol sa

Proyektong Pang-Edukasyon ng Peace Corps

Philippines,” was made by project director

Dr. Ma. Teresa de Guzman, also of the Behavioral

Sciences Department. Through the presentation,

Dr. de Guzman shared the experiences of the

research team in conducting the impact

assessment of the Peace Corps education project.

Among the significant points shared was the

team’s utilization of a “natural” approach to data

gathering, which helped in making respondents

feel more relaxed in sharing information, as well as

in enabling them to remember more and reflect at

a deeper level with regard to their experiences in

participating in the Peace Corps project.

Anniversary Program Features Forum on Kraft and Peace Corps Projects, from page 6

Dr. de Guzman also cited problems the team

encountered in the data gathering, including the

informants’ providing responses through “liminal

calibration,” or answers that were vague or

inexact; and the difficulty of interpreting non-

verbal responses such as physical gestures or facial

expressions.

Reacting to her study was Theology and Religious

Education faculty member and SDRC Director Dr.

Ferdinand Dagmang, who affirmed the finding

that, in the Philippine context, researchers must

look beyond what an informant says, and seek the

underlying meaning in responses that are given.

Among the guests in attendance during the

anniversary program was Ms. Anya Nuyda-Mayor,

Program Assistant of Peace Corps Philippines.

Coinciding with the dissemination forum was an

exhibit on current SDRC projects, held at the

Yuchengco Lobby.

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The Center hosted two dialogues between DLSU and members of the Pundasyon Hanunuo Mangyan School to discuss plans after school operations were disrupted due to regional politics and a change in the community leadership. Representing DLSU during the first meeting held on August 12 at the Office of the President were University President Br. Narciso Erguiza, FSC, Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Carmelita Quebenco, SDRC Director Dr. Dennis Trinidad and Disbursement and Operation Liaison Officer Lyndia Navarro, and La Sallian Schools Supervision Office (LASSO) administrator Sr. Teresita Octavio. The PHMS, Inc. was meanwhile represented by board chairman Lope Santiago, administrator Anhing Maligday, members Nicolas Mabuhay, Jerry Santiago and Vernie Lingin, PTA president Laurel Malucon, and PHMS teacher Liling Madrigal. The follow-up meeting held on September 26 at the office of the Chancellor Emeritus was attended by Dr. Quebengco and Sr. Teresita, and the PHMS board chairman, administrator, members Mabuhay and Rommel Ilagan, the PTA president, and teachers Madrigal and Glenie Rivas.

Dialogue Between DLSU and PHMS Hosted by SDRC

Prior to the dialogues, the board members and the community had expressed that they would prefer that DLSU make decisions on their behalf, but Dr. Quebengco explained to them that this was not possible and that they must determine their own future.

In relaying the events that took place in the community to resolve pending issues, Bapa Lope reported that a meeting was held during which those concerned were asked to choose between the school's continuing to operate under the advisory of DLSU through LASSO, or to fall under the supervision of the Department of Education. In attempting to arrive at a decision, the group was divided, with those from Umabang generally in favor of continuing under DLSU, and those from Bailan unable to reach a consensus. An agreement that would have allowed for a turnover to LASSO, so that classes could resume in September, was thus not reached. The PHMS group is currently set to hold a follow-up meeting to discuss their final decision, the results of which will be sent to DLSU by Ms. Rivas.

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Research Associate Lee Delivers Lecture on Gender, Edits SDRC Volume on Health

SDRC Staff Join Co-Academic Personnel Events

Disbursement and Operation

Liaison Officer Lyndia E. Navarro

and Secretary Lolita P. Rosell took

part in the University’s CAP (Co-

Academic Personnel) Day 2011,

sponsored by the Human

Resources Development Office.

The two core staff members

participated in the “One Million

T r e e s … a n d B e y o n d

Mangrove/Tree Planting Activity” held on March 11 in Lian, Batangas; and in the “Flower Arrangement

Seminar Workshop” held on March 19 at the E. Razon Sports Building at DLSU. The theme of this

year’s CAP Day festivities was “One Cause, One Act, One Purpose.”

SDRC Research Associate and Behavioral Sciences faculty member Romeo B. Lee delivered a lecture entitled The Social Construction of Gender on August 5 at Y508-509. The lecture highlighted the manner in which gender is being constructed in everyday setting and reproduced in routine situations. It was the inaugural lecture under the BSD Senior Lecture Series, which aims primarily to promote a collaborative learning and teaching experience consistent with an effective professional learning community envisioned by DLSU.

Dr. Lee, together with Behavioral Sciences chair and research fellow Stella P. Go, will edit the proposed SDRC Volume on Health. The two met with Center Director Dr. Dennis Trinidad on June 22 at SDRC to brainstorm on this book

project, the objective of which is to showcase SDRC’s research agenda and to make research findings relevant to current issues in particular to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

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SDRC Publications Coordinator Participates in BNS Centenary

Research Dissemination and Publications

Coordinator Connie J. Maraan rendered a

testimonial during the centenary celebration of

writer Bienvenido N. Santos held on March 22,

2011 at the Yuchengco Seminar Rooms. The

event was sponsored by the Bienvenido N.

Santos Creative Writing Center, the CLA

Department of Literature, the Academic

Publications Office, and Anvil Publishing, Inc.,

which also launched the book Ben on Ben:

Research Dissemination and Publications

Coordinator Connie Maraan and Research and

Information Assistant Maria Catherine Domingo

attended the “E-Books and E-Readers” lecture

sponsored by the College of Computer Studies

on July 6, 2011 at the Intellect Seminar Room of

Gokongwei Hall. In his lecture, Mr. David Cruz of

Neugent Technologies gave a working definition

of what an e-book is, spoke on why e-books and

e-readers are making news, relayed his

experience in achieving successful e-book/e-

reader implementation, and discussed how the

right e-reader can be built for the Philippines.

SDRC Research Dissemination Staff Attend “E-Books and E-Readers” Lecture

Mr. Cruz’s company, Neugent Technologies, is

the Philippines’ first and only Closed Circuit

Television CCTV manufacturer and has

developed surveillance systems and exported

them to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Notably, their first product is now marketed as

the PLDT Telpad, an android-based tablet

integrated with a landline phone. The product

was customized for the Philippine Long Distance

Telephone Company, and was a world’s first. The

lecture was part of CCS's Technology Hub for

Innovation and Incubation Program’s Industry

Speaker Series.

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Conversations with Bienvenido N. Santos by Leonor

A. Briscoe during the program.

Prof. Santos wrote the introduction to Ms.

Maraan's first book, Transient: Stories 1977-1994,

published by the DLSU Press.

The event was also participated in by DLSU

President Br. Narciso S. Erguiza, Jr., who gave

the opening remarks; Dr. Carmelita I.

Quebengco, FSC, Chancellor Emeritus and

SDRC Research Fellow, who gave the closing

remarks; University Fellow and Department of

Literature faculty member Dr. Marjorie M.

Evasco, who was a presenter in the awarding of

the Premio Santos; and incoming BNSCWC

Director Dr. Shirley O. Lua.

Bookkeeping Seminar-Training Attendedby Core Staff Members

SDRC Assistant for Administration and Budget

Relly P. Limliman and Disbursement and

Operation Liaison Officer Lyndia E. Navarro

attended the seminar-training on Bookkeeping

held on July 19 and 20, 2011 at the conference

room of Max’s Restaurant in Glorietta 3, Makati

City. Among the six modules were sessions on

“Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue and Expense

Accounts”; “T Accounts, Expense Accounts,

Debits and Credits, Trial Balance, and Financial

Statements”; “The General Journal and the

General Ledger”; and “Adjusting Entries and the

Work Sheet.” The seminar-training was

conducted by the Asian Institute of Certified

Bookkeepers, Inc., with Fe Violeta Baluran as

resource person and Faustino Evangelista as

training director.

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SDRC, represented by its Director Dr. Dennis

Trinidad, recently hosted two brainstorming

sessions on possible projects with research

associates and faculty members at the Center’s

conference room. The first, held on September

23, was conducted with the research cluster on

education and was attended by research

associate Dr. Teresa de Guzman of the Behavioral

Sciences Department, College of Liberal Arts

faculty members Dr. Robert Javier of the

Psychology Department and Dr. Lars Raymund

Center Hosts Brainstorming Sessions for Project Proposals

Ubaldo of the History Department, and

Dr. Maricar Prudente of the Science Education

Department of the College of Education. The

group discussed community-based, research

and extension, and produced a concept paper

that was submitted to the Commission on

Higher Education (CHED).

During the second session held on October 7,

Dr. Trinidad met with research associates

Mr. Marlon Era, Ms. Judy San Juan and

Dr. Ramon Felipe Sarmiento of the Behavioral

Sciences Department to discuss how to increase

participatory local governance processes,

participatory planning and budgeting practices;

and ensure proper functioning of the local

development councils and sectoral committees.

The output was to be a concept paper to be

submitted by the end of October to an external

funding agency.

a c t i v i t i e s a s

determined by the

SDRC Director;

and supervises the

Center's project

r e s e a r c h a n d

s u p p o r t s t a f f

concerning project

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

matters.

She is married to

Ricky Limliman and is mother to daughters

Patricia Mae and Camille.

DR. DENNIS D. TRINIDADDirector

For comments and inquiries, we may be contacted at:

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER3/F William Hall Building, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004 Philippines

Website: www.dlsu.edu.ph/research/centers/sdrc E-mail: sdrc@dlsu.edu.phTelephone No. (632) 524-5349 Telefax No. (632) 524-5351

CONNIE JAN MARAAN Editor

MARIA CATHERINE D. DOMINGO Creative Design/Layout Artist

SDRC UPDATE is published on a semi-annual basis

New Book by Publications Coordinator Off the Press

Better Homes and Other Fictions: Collected Prose by SDRC Research

Dissemination and Publications Coordinator Connie J. Maraan is one of

the 400 titles being launched this year by the University of Santo Tomas

Publishing House as part of its quadricentennial celebration. The book

includes a lecture delivered during Ms. Maraan's term as holder of the

Henry Lee Irwin Chair in Creative Writing at Ateneo de Manila

University, and fiction previously published in Philippine Studies,

Philippine Graphic, and Mirror Weekly.

The UST Publishing House launched its quadricentennial project “400

Books at 400!” in 2001, producing books in a range of disciplines, from

theology to literature to medicine, written in both Filipino and English.

SDRC signed on a new Assistant for

Administration and Budget in April this year in the

person of Relly P. Limliman, former College of

Liberal Arts Assistant to the Dean for Fund

Management and Capital Expenditures

Monitoring. She obtained her BS in Accountancy

from the University of Pangasinan at Dagupan

City and previously worked as Accounting

Assistant for SM Cinemas (West Avenue

Theatres Corporation). As Administration and

Budget Assistant, Ms. Limliman oversees the

planning, controlling, handling and coordinating

of the Center's administrative and human

resources, financial requirements and research

Center Welcomes New Administrative Assistant