PhISO Core Group: Ko Rej Torrecampo

Ko Rej Torrecampo is a graduate student of MA Foreign Service at the Philippine Women’s University-Taft. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies, specialization in International Politics with minor in Peace studies. His research interests are: Maritime Security in Southeast Asia, security associations in the 21st century, ASEAN maritime governance, ASEAN Political-Security Community and ASEAN regional security outlook.

PhISO Core Group: Norjanah Miro Ombra

Norjanah Miro Ombra is a student of International Studies in Far Eastern University. She is a member of the FEU College Youth Club and an Events Attache in Far Eastern University International Studies Society. She finished her high school at Boracay Island Global Academy as one of the Most Active students. She participated in various activities in PRISSAAP in Iloilo and Bacolod. She attended various seminars like "The Rise of Islamic states" lectured by Dr. Henelito Sevilla Jr.,  and Islamic State: perception and reality in the context of global power" talked with Dr. Hans Kochler at University of the Philippines. She finished her internship in Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service Department and She is one of the organizers on community extensions activities of Far Eastern University. A muslim at birth but exposed to liberal world of her hometown (Boracay Island). She finds great interest in studying Islamic scriptures as well as being familiar with Christian faith. 

PhISO Core Group: Moses Isaiah B. Palces

Moses Isaiah B. Palces is currently at his final year in a 4-year AB Foreign Service program of the College of International Relations of the Lyceum of the Philippines University. He has founded the LPU Project for Asian and International Relations (LPUPAIR), one of the only three Partner Organizations of the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) in the Philippines and currently serving as its Executive Director, and has participated in the annual HPAIR Asia Conferences under the Security and Diplomacy panel. He has also received the Award of Excellence of the Office of the Taguig City Mayor, Hon. Laarni “Lani” Cayetano upon graduation from secondary education. He has interned at the Department of Foreign Affairs under the Foreign Service Post Coordinating Center (FSPCC), which served as the main communication office of foreign posts to the home office, and has organized reports from 81 Foreign Service posts worldwide. He has participated in various IR events such as the annual DLSU-CSB Model United Nations, the LPU ASEAN Economic Community 2015 Conference, and a delegate of the Philippine Model Congress 2013.

PhISO Core Group: Abdulwahid Hadji Gafar Panganting

Abdulwahid Hadji Gafar Panganting was born on July 4, 1994 in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur. He finished his bachelor degree in International Relations at Mindanao State University-Main Campus with in three years and half. He became Philippine Delegate in Hiroshima,  Japan under JENESYS 2.0 "Mindanao Peace & Community Dev't", a short exchange student gathering of ASEAN+ India & Australia organized by the government of Japan. Furthermore,  he was an active volunteer in NGO and Semi-Academic Org., a conveyor of Rise Madrasah Operation and founding member/officer of MSU Muslim Toastmaster Club. In addition, he also had held different positions in several student organizations including Junior Diplomats' Club as an Auditor. Besides, due to his great contribution on making change in advocating peace and on being agent of providing informative ideas (I.e. Bangsamoro Basic Law) to the youth which had took a great part in community development, he was conferred  "Young Ambassador of Goodwill 2014."

PhISO Core Group: Satwinder Rehal

Satwinder Rehal is a faculty member in the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) Taft campus. He specializes in international relations studies, particularly in International Relations Theory and cultural diplomacy. He holds a double Master’s degree from University of Queensland, Australia. He is on the last stage of completing his Doctorate in Sociology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Originally from Kenya, he received recognition for Best Paper Award during the 1st University of Malaysia, Sabah International Sports Science Conference on his paper entitled: “Azkals Fever Phenomenon: Setting An Agenda on a Discourse in The Sociology of Soccer in the Philippines” and was the winner of the 17th OSSREA Science Research Grant for Young Scholars in 2003 for a study entitled “Mining-induced Resettlement Effects and Impoverished Risks: A case study of the Titanium Minerals Sands Project in Kwale, Kenya”.  He recently had a paper accepted and presented at the 2nd International Conference on ASEAN Studies held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand in August, 2015 entitled ‘Enhancing Cultural Diplomacy in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Strategy: case of The Philippines’ Bayanihan Dance Company and a proposed ‘Rizal Institute’(Instituto Rizalista)’.

PhISO Core Group: Mohammad Abdullah P. Lawanza

Mohammad Abdullah P. Lawanza earned his degree in Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies major in Shariah at the Mindanao State University, Marawi City in 2014 and has been recognized as one of Most Promising Young Counselors and Department Service Awardee. His undergraduate thesis entitled, ‘The Legal Value of Female Genital Mutilation as Perceived by the Ulama and Health Professionals of Mindanao State University’ was recognized as the Most Outstanding Thesis in December 3, 2014. At present, he is a student in the Certificate of Professional Teaching Program in the College of Education at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology with high hopes to pursue a career on teaching. He is quite interested in local and national contemporary Islamic issues primarily in political aspects and reforms movements. He is also concerned in Islamic Law and Islamic History.

PhISO Core Group: Grace Ann Marinelle Opeña

Grace Ann Marinelle Opeña is a student taking up International Studies at Far Eastern University. She is a consistent Academic Scholar and a member of the Oratorical and Debate Council. She was one of the representatives of the University at the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship held last summer at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is also the executive attaché for Publication and Documentation of the International Studies Society in her school. She joined various activities such as Model United Nations and Project for Asian and International Relations Panel Discussion. Grace takes great interest on studying topics related to the MENA region. In fact, she started her first day in FEU carrying a book about terrorism in Middle East which is not even related to anything they are studying by that time. She’s also interested in war strategies and tactics and how these are deployed in the past. She improves her writing and analytical skills by writing articles for the organization where she belongs and by working on online writing jobs. Now, she’s to finish her undergraduate thesis about the connection of war and ecology as well as the issues intertwining the two. After graduating, she plans to pursue a master’s degree on global studies abroad. 

PhISO Core Group: Romeo P. Peña

Romeo P. Peña is an Assistant Professor and the Chief of Center for Social History at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is also currently a PhD Philippine Studies student at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman. He has received various national and international awards like in the Filipino Migration to Hawaii Centennial Literary Prize (2006), UNESCO and Goi Peace Foundation of Tokyo Japan International Writing Contest for Young People (2007). He presented papers in various national and international conferences and seminars. He is currently the President of the Philippine Society of Young Educators of Languages and the Arts (PSYELA, Inc.).

PhISO Core Group: June Rose Sinajon

June Rose Sinajon graduated from the University of the Philippines, Diliman with a BA in European Languages (Major in German, Minor in French) in 2010. A few months later, she had been accepted as one of the international scholars of the Korean Government Scholarship Program and moved to Seoul. In 2014, she earned her MA in International Area Studies with specialty [sic] in European Union Socio-Cultural Studies from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Her MA thesis is entitled The Economic Progress of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the Throes of the Euro Crisis: A Comparative Analysis. The study describes the factors that have contributed to the different economic performances of Slovenia and Slovakia within the framework of the euro crisis in spite of their very similar historical and socio-cultural backgrounds.

PhISO Core Group: Julianne Kyla Pavon

Julianne Kyla Pavon is a student of International Studies at Far Eastern University. She is a full academic scholar, and a member of the International Studies Society and Oratorical and Debate Chamber in Far Eastern University. She participated in various activities like the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship and the International Youth Day Summit. She finished her high school in De La Salle Araneta University last 2012. Also, she was a student of Spanish language in Instituto Cervantes. She is now finishing her thesis focusing on the field of Warfare and Ecology in Far Eastern University. Her interests are international relations, environmental issues, poverty, languages, and volunteering. She dreams to start a non-government organization focusing on environmental action.

PhISO Core Group: Brian U. Doce

Brian U. Doce is currently studying MA in International Relations at Jilin University as a scholar beneficiary of the Chinese government. He finished his bachelor's degree in Political Science at the University of Santo Tomas with the honor Cum Laude. He was able to present research papers on international conferences. His research interests are conflict resolution, transnational issues, foreign policy analysis, public policy and development, sociology of religion and comparative politics.

PhISO Core Group: Patrick Earl Binua

I am Patrick Earl Binua, a student of International Studies of the University of the East, active member of UE's International Studies Society, and of gakUEn Realm (a UE-based Japanese organization). I aspire to become a diplomat or pursue an academic career. I am a delegate of Ateneo and UST Model United Nations, where in UE I became the outstanding delegate. I attended the following seminars on climate change discussed by Dr. Comisso of NASA, and Islamization talked by Dr. Nassef Manabilang Adiong. This also includes seminars on South China Sea dispute by the Navy general and Japanese culture at Adamson University. I am an alumnus of Colegio De Sta Cecilia.

PhISO Core Group: Kyle Christian D. Manejero

Kyle Christian D. Manejero is a student of Political Science and Public Administration in the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Science at Pamukkale University. He was granted a full scholarship to study here in Turkey under Yurt Dışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı – Türkiye Bursları. He finished his high school at Iloilo National High School last 2014. He was a scout for almost 8 years and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He had been a 4th Year Council Representative of the Iloilo National High School Supreme Student Government, a 2nd platoon leader of the INHS CAT and got trained by the INHS Junior Paramedics for the basic first aid course. He had also participated in various scouting and leadership activities namely the Asia Pacific Scout Jamboree in Laguna, the 2nd One Visayas Jamboree in Bacolod City, the 6th National Venture Camp in Pangasinan and leadership seminars for youth leaders in Iloilo. He had been a delegate to PANGEA Starting Point 2015, a global youth conference in Madrid, Spain representing the Philippines and Turkey. His areas of interest are international relations, politics, law, history, languages and volunteering. He dreams to become a Foreign Service Officer someday.

PhISO Core Group: Faozah Morad Uyan

Faozah Morad Uyan is a student of Journalism in the Faculty of Communication at Istanbul University. She finished her high school at Lupon National Comprehensive High School as one of the Girl Scouts of the Year, Journalists of the Year, With Honors and with a special award for having been one of the Supreme Student Government Officers (SSG) during her fourth year. She also participated in the various plenary and various break-out sessions and other activities during the National Leadership Training for Student Government Officers held at Teachers Camp, Baguio City last 2010. In 2011, she started attending college majoring in Journalism at Mindanao State University, Department of Communication and Media Studies- where she also became a member of UNICA or Union of Communication Artists. She also did a research on “The Causes of Cyberbullying” in her 2nd year. Communication research, different human behaviors according to whom they interact with, environmental issues, climate change, children’s growth, the galaxy and cultural differences are some of the topics that interests her. During her 3rd year in college, she got a scholarship grant in Turkey which led her to drop all her subjects and leave MSU.

PhISO Core Group: Hadje Cresencio Sadje

Hadje Cresencio Sadje is faculty member of the International Studies Department at the Far Eastern University, Manila and Social Sciences and Legal Studies Department of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila, Philippines. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Sociology at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He finished his Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the Institute of Formation and Religious Studies, Quezon City Philippines. He is also a recipient/scholar of the 2013 Bridging-Gaps Program of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He presently, pursuing his second Master in Intercultural Studies at the Protestantse Theologische Universiteit, Groningen The Netherlands. He is the member of the first batch in Certificate Course on International Relations and Diplomacy (CCIRD) from the Foreign Service Institute-Department of Foreign Affairs-Manila Philippines. He is also a visiting lecturer in International Relations Graduate School Program of the Universidadez Da Paz in Dili, Timor-Leste. Volunteer faculty member of the School of Global Studies of the Foundation University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is also an alumnus and peace activist for Free Palestine of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) of the World Council of Churches, Batch 2011-2012.

PhISO Core Group: Frances Antoinette Cruz

Frances Antoinette Cruz is an Assistant Professor of German at the Department of European Languages, University of the Philippines, Diliman, and an adjunct faculty of the Center for International Studies at the same University. Ms. Cruz is in her last year of her Master's in International Studies at UP Diliman. Her key research areas are soft power, middle power states, and migration in the Middle East. She has presented and written papers on the development of soft power in Northeast Asia, gender and sexuality in the Middle East, and responses to migration in the Gulf States. In addition to her work in International Relations, Ms. Cruz also holds a Master’s degree in German Philology from the Universität Bielefeld.

Open Letter: PhISO (Philippine International Studies Organization)

OPEN LETTER

Dear all,

I am calling out to all academics, practitioners and students of International Relations (or popularly known in the Philippines as International Studies) to join me in creating an association which I will call the Philippine International Studies Organization (PhISO). Most countries abroad have professional IR organization, which represents mutual collaborations among IR scholars, professionals, and students. I aspired the same venture in forming PhISO because there is a potential 'Philippine IR' to emerge from the Global South.

The primal mission of PhISO is to instill a culture of scholarship whose interest is on the theories and praxes of both International Relations as a discipline and international affairs of the Philippines.

PhISO's first step is to gather all Filipino academicians (scholars, teachers, and students) in the field of International Relations including related social/physical sciences and practitioners (diplomats, etc.) by convening e-meetings through Facebook and Gmail groups. The first project is to form a core group that aims to formally establish PhISO. Members of the Executive Committee (officers) will be selected from the core group. Invitations will simultaneously be emailed to selected Filipino IR scholars here and abroad.

The second step is to convene a conference at the end of 2016. The tentative schedule is on November 21-25 or early December, which includes panels, one or two plenary session(s), and meetings of the core group members. Papers presented will be collected, peer-reviewed, and published in a journal as a special issue or in an edited volume by early 2017.

The third step is to go global by participating in the 5th Global International Studies Conference 2017 at the National Taiwan University. PhISO's goal is to become a member of the World International Studies Committee (WISC). By late-2017 or after our participation at WISC, we will officially submit our interest to become a member (partner organization) of the International Studies Association (ISA), the highly respected and widely known scholarly association dedicated to international studies.

PhISO's fourth step is to contact prestigious publishing houses in order to find a host for the PhISO's flagship journal. In 2018 onwards, PhISO members are hoping to participate in the ISA and ISA-Asia Pacific conventions annually, and papers presented will be part of PhISO's publications.

Please email me at contact@nassef.info and if you have Facebook please join the group by clicking here.

I am looking forward to receiving your responses.

Yours truly,

Nassef