Manila Studies conference highlights culinary history, heritage sites

With the theme “Entanglements and Engagements,” this year’s conference of the Manila Studies Association (MSA) will offer a fresh look into the history, built environment, and heritage of Manila and its environs.

The conference, the 33rd since MSA’s founding in 1989, is going to be held on 10 and 11 November at the Celso Al Carunungan Memorial Library of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), this year’s institutional partner, in Intramuros, Manila. It has the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

A total of 15 papers will be presented during the two-day event. Felice Prudente Santa Maria’s landmark book, When Mangoes and Olives Met at the Philippine Table, will also be launched on the second day.

Topics of papers to be presented will include the built heritage of Sampaloc, Manila, by Lester Calunsod of PLM; lost wetlands of Manila by Romeo Galang Jr. of the Far Eastern University; the morphology of rowhouses in Santa Mesa, Manila of the group of Jared Aaron Cruz of PLM; Protestantism in Manila by Christine Dulnuan of NHCP; and the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Charlie Carlos of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Raul Sebastian of the Polytechnic University of Manila will be presenting a paper on the devotion during the recent pandemic; Sarah Jane Pahimnayan-Pagador of the Intramuros Administration (IA) on post-war Intramuros; Arturo Tablan also of IA on the multi-cultural history of Intramuros; and Ramil Tibayan of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on the modernist architecture of Intramuros.

Quiapo’s Muslim town’s heritage is going to be discussed by Lorelei de Viana of UST and the University of the Philippines while Katlyn Pamintuan of UST and Wilven Infante of the Pedro G. Guevarra Elementary School will be sharing their studies on the ABS-CBN Film Archives and the Alcaiceria de San Fernando respectively.

Lorenzo Bukas of Libreria Filipiniana will impart his research on the heritages of Malabon; the group of Cherylyn Concepcion will be presenting their paper on the “exploitative spaces” for Filipinas in colonial Binondo; and Sta. Maria will share about her knowledge and studies on the country’s culinary history.