The lecture will discuss the vicissitudes and successes of the Cavite Studies Center (CSC) of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, in the province of Cavite,  Philippines.  This Center, formally started in the last quarter of 1990’s, has become a major player in Cavite heritage preservation up to the present. Discussion shall focus on reasons for documenting the past, institutionalizing annual programs, and building of linkages among the academe, the government, NGO’s and the community. A brief review of the state of local heritage promotion in the Philippines spearheaded by the government, national historical societies, and local agencies will also be presented and the paper will conclude with a discussion of attempts to link the various Philippine local studies centers with the aim of forming a national association of studies centers in the Philippines.

Dr. Emmanuel Franco Calairo finished his Doctor of Philosophy in History at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. From 1998-2007 he served as head of the Cavite Studies Center (CSC) at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas. As director of CSC, he launched an annual historical awareness campaign which assured the continuity of historical discourse in Cavite. Tributes to Cavite historians, annual seminars on local history, book launchings, and exhibits are part of this campaign.  He is now busy promoting the identity of Region IV through local studies. He has helped in establishing the Center for Batangas Studies (Lyceum of Batangas), Batangas Heritage Center (Univ. of Batangas), and the Center for Mindoro Studies (Divine Word College in Calapan, Mindoro). He has convened regional conferences and is often invited as a speaker on the value of local studies as an instrument in documenting national identity.  He is currently the PRO of the Cavite Historical Society and member of the Philippine National Historical Society and Manila Studies Association.

Dr. Calairo is an ardent advocate of local history. He has written 17 books on local history with specialization in Cavite history and culture.  In 2004, after the publication of his book Tanza: Bayang Sinilangan ng Pamahalaang Rebolusyonaryo ng Pilipinas, the Municipality of Tanza in Cavite formally declared him an Adopted Son. In addition to this, his book Saloobin: Sagot ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo sa mga Paratang ng Dakilang Lumpo was a finalist in the 2003 National Book Award of the Manila Critic Circle. Another book, Edukasyong Pampubliko: Ang Karanasan ng Kabite, 1898-1913, won the 2006 National Book Award for education also conferred by the Manila Critic Circle.

He was awarded the 2006 Lorenzo Tañada Chimes Award  by the former DLSU-System. In the same year, the Provincial Government of Cavite conferred him the Emilio Aguinaldo Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest civilian honor given to Caviteños,  for his contributions to the field of history and literary arts.

Cost : Free and open to the public.

www.international.ucla.edu/cseas/

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies