By Randy T. Nobleza, Ph.D.
Dasmariñas, Cavite – The collaboration between De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU Dasma) Cavite Studies Center and University of Batangas hosted the first Cavite-Batangas conference in November 21 (Friday). The said conference featured at least four sessions with eight lectures on various fields of history, cultures, arts and development in both provinces.
In behalf of DLSU Dasma president Bro. Iñigo Riola and Cavite Historical Society chair Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, the university provost Dr. Christian George Francisco and deputy provost for research provided inspirational talks. The one day Cavite-Batangas conference started with the development and political economy of both provinces, Dr. Jan Philip Mallari, Director of Cavite Studies Center presented “The Political Economic Development: The Cavite Experience” and Ms Maru Babes Santiago, program head of BS Business Administration and Entrepreneurship at the University of Batangas shared “Batangas Economy: A historical overview and contemporary transformation.”
The next session is about church history in Cavite and Batangas with lectures by Mr Philip Medina and Dr. Lionel Buenaflor. The Silang Historical Society president, Mr. Medina imparted “Ugnayang Simbahan ng Balayan at Silang: Mga ilang piling datos,” Then Dr. Buenaflor from UB discussed “The colonial churches of Batangas: A hermeneutical analysis.”
After lunch, the Cavite-Batangas conference pivoted to Tagalog language with researches by Hon. Aidel Paul Belamide, “The Sound of Heritage: Linguistic markers of Cavite Tagalog” and Dr. Amabella Gamara, “Pagsusubi: A morphological and lexical analysis of the Batangueño-Tagalog dialect.”
Then to cap off the Cavite-Batangas conference, the last session dealt with traditional medicine and anting-anting with Dr. Jeffrey Lubang, the Cavite Studies Center events, linkages and networking coordinator elaborated on “Encoded Salvation: Symbols and Sacred Texts in anting-anting tradition.” In addition, Ms Judith Amazona of UB BS Physical Therapy program head provided a discussion about “Folk Medicine practices in Batangas Province: A documentation of albularyos and herbularyos.” ##