UPM CAS Manila Studies Program

Pagbati!

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝐓𝐎-𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒! ✨

MSP Convenor Dr. Wensley M. Reyes takes part in promoting Philippine education through back-to-back talks this June 2026.

At the upcoming UP System GE Conference 2026, Dr. Reyes will be delivering a talk entitled “Ang Kasaysayan 2 sa Harap ng mga Reporma sa Basic Education at Panahong Digital sa Ika-21 Siglo,” which tackles challenges and opportunities in teaching KAS2 (Kasaysayan ng Asya) in the context of Basic Education reforms and digital innovations. The conference will be held from June 4 to 5, 2026, at the Institute of Biology in UP Diliman.

During the commemoration of the 165th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, Dr. Reyes will serve as a resource speaker for the commemorative lecture entitled “Nasaan ang Rizz ni Rizal? Si Jose Rizal sa Banta ng Pagkalimot at Pagsasantabi.” This lecture is organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and will be held on June 19, 2026, at the NHCP - Museo ni Jose Rizal in Fort Santiago, Intramuros.

Congratulations po, Doc Wensley! The UPM CAS Manila Studies Program is proud of your dedication and achievements. 🎉✨

𝐌𝐒𝐏 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗 🌱🌳

𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔!

#𝐍𝐨𝐓𝐨𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗 #𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗 #𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬!

The UPM CAS Manila Studies Program stands in firm solidarity with communities, environmental groups, and other concerned organizations in the call to STOP SALEX and stop the further destruction of Manila’s green spaces. Recently, more than 200 trees have been cut along Quirino Avenue for the construction of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX). In response to public concern, the SMC has paused cutting operations temporarily to review its plans. While we welcome this move, temporary suspension is not enough to assure the protection of Manila’s trees. We call upon the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to heed its mandate, take accountability, and protect our environment by stopping the construction of SALEX. Public works and urban development are indeed important and necessary, but not at the cost of destroying our green spaces and leaving the city in further environmental decay.

In a city that already experiences extreme heat and frequent flooding, the recent tree-cutting activity was severely alarming. Trees have provided shade, reduced surface temperature, aided in air filtration, and mitigated flooding for decades, only to be cut down for an infrastructure project. In light of the worsening effects of climate change, we now more than ever need to be critical and conscious of the decisions that affect the environment. Continuing the construction of SALEX would be detrimental to Manila’s environs and would directly affect public health and the safety of communities in the years to come.

The MSP strongly condemns the cutting of over 200 trees along Quirino Avenue, an act of environmental injustice and neglect of community safety. We demand accountability from the DENR and an investigation of the process that permitted the tree-cutting activity. We stand firm in calling upon the department to ultimately stop the construction of SALEX to mitigate the project's long-term impacts. The department stated that approximately 600 trees will be affected by the project; with 200 already lost, let us not allow more to experience the same fate. Currently, trees along Roxas Boulevard are marked for cutting. We must demand the protection of these trees from further destruction.

Genuine urban development is rooted in creating systems that are sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered. Our city planners, local government, and national agencies are responsible for adopting environmentally conscious practices and nature-based solutions in development. We agree that public works and infrastructure are needed for a country to progress, but never at the expense of irreversible damage to our environment. This is not the development that our city deserves.

🇵🇭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟖 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🇵🇭

The UPM CAS Manila Studies Program proudly joins the nation in the commemoration of the National Flag Days from May 28 to June 12, 2026, leading to the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

This day marks the 128th anniversary of the historic victory at the Battle of Alapan and the first public display of the Philippine National Flag by General Emilio Aguinaldo on May 28, 1898. According to the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (Republic Act 8491), National Flag Days begins on May 28 until June 12, the celebration of the Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. During this period, all government offices, business establishments, and academic institutions are enjoined to display the Philippine Flag.

Let us show our love for the country and take pride and honor in displaying our National Flag. 🇵🇭

𝐄𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐥-𝐀𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐤!

The UPM CAS Manila Studies Program warmly greets our Muslim brothers and sisters with a blessed Eid al-Adha. 🕌🌙

Today, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the two major Islamic feasts, along with Eid al-Fitr. This celebration remembers Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son to God to prove his unconditional faith. May this joyous occasion bring our families and communities together, practicing the values of generosity, selflessness, and faith. 💖

🌳 MANILA CAN’T BREATHE ON SEEDLINGS ALONE 🔥
600 mature trees permitted to be cleared, and about 225 already lost today, cannot be replaced overnight by promises for tomorrow.

“Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live.”
— Laudato Si’, §139

Living Laudato Si’ Philippines expresses deep concern over the continued cutting of mature trees in Metro Manila in the name of infrastructure expansion and urban development. In a city already suffering from extreme heat, worsening floods, air pollution, traffic congestion, and shrinking public green spaces, the removal of hundreds of full-grown trees represents more than ecological loss. It is a climate justice, public health, and human dignity issue.

The narrative that tens of thousands of seedlings can simply compensate for the destruction of mature urban trees dangerously misunderstands ecological integrity. Seedlings are future possibilities. Mature trees are present protection. Established trees already provide critical ecosystem services: cooling urban temperatures, absorbing floodwaters, filtering pollutants, storing carbon, reducing stress, supporting biodiversity, and creating more humane and livable public spaces. These functions cannot be immediately restored through compensatory planting programs that may take decades before reaching ecological maturity.

As climate impacts intensify, urban trees must be recognized not as obstacles to development, but as essential living infrastructure for climate adaptation and resilience. A truly sustainable city cannot be measured solely by road widening, elevated expressways, or faster vehicle mobility while simultaneously making urban life hotter, harsher, and less walkable for ordinary citizens.

Living Laudato Si’ Philippines likewise reiterates the urgent need to separate the DENR’s regulatory and environmental protection functions. Ecological protection should never compete with project approval within the same institutional framework. The future of Manila will not only be defined by what is built, but by what society chooses to protect. 🌿🏙️

UPM CAS MSP Junior Research Associate, Ms. Trisha Anne Mataac, participated in the historical marker restoration workshop, provided by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and The Metropolitan Theater. NHCP conservators and cultural workers provided a discussion on NHCP historical markers, tools in conservation and restoration work, and a detailed examination of the guidelines on proper historical marker restoration. Participants were also given hands-on experience in repainting old NHCP markers. The workshop took place at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on May 18, 2026.

This activity is part of the development and training of MSP personnel. We are grateful to the organizers for the opportunity to learn more about the process of historical marker restoration. ✨

(Photo from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines page)

𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙑𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙈 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙐𝙋 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝙄𝙇𝘼 𝙈𝙐𝙎𝙀𝙐𝙈 𝙊𝙁 𝘼 𝙃𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 𝙊𝙁 𝙄𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙎!

Celebrate International Museum Day 2026 with the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas as we invite you to enrich our pride of place on Ermita.

Before WWII, Ermita was an exclusive, upscale residential district and a vibrant center of education and science. While the war left the district in ruins and displaced its community, the memory of the place remains latent but powerful.

Following this year’s global theme from the International Council of Museums - ICOM, "Museums Uniting a Divided World," we are using artifacts and reconstructed heritage to build bridges. By remembering where we started, we foster the unity and understanding needed to heal social and historical divides.

UP Manila Heritage Trails Schedule:

May 18, 2026
8:30 AM - Museum Walk and Talkback with Curator Dr. Achanzar-Labor
9:30 AM - UP Manila Heritage Buildings

Register Now!
https://forms.gle/SV2hX6F6wvsS3LMt5
https://forms.gle/SV2hX6F6wvsS3LMt5
https://forms.gle/SV2hX6F6wvsS3LMt5

Maligayang araw ng mga manggagawa! 👩‍🌾🧑‍🏫👷‍♂️

Sa araw na ito kaisa tayo ng mga manggagawang Pilipinong kumikilos para sa kabutihan at kaunlaran ng bansa. Kasama ang UPM CAS Manila Studies sa pagsaludo sa ating mga manggagawang patuloy na nagsisipag para sa sarili, sa pamilya, at sa bayan. Ating sama-samang palakasin ang kanilang panawagan para sa makatarungang pagpapasahod at disenteng trabaho para sa lahat. Mabuhay ang mga manggagawang Pilipino! 🇵🇭

National Heritage Month 🏛🏘

Ngayong buwan ng Mayo ating ipinagdiriwang ang National Heritage Month.

Ang Maynila ay tahanan ng mahahalagang gusali at istrukturang bahagi ng ating mayamang kasaysayan bilang isang bansa. Ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Manila ay pook ng siyam (9) na Heritage Buildings na kinikilala ng National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). Ang mga ito ay ang Rizal Hall, Calderon Hall, Salcedo Hall, Lara Hall, National Institutes of Health building (Ermita Science Community), Cancer Institute, at ang UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas (dating UP Infirmary). Ang mga gusaling ito ay saksi at may mahalagang papel sa paghubog ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas 🏛🏘

Bilang pagdiriwang ng National Heritage Month ngayong buwan, aming inaanyayahan ang lahat na makilahok sa pagkilala, pangangalaga, at pagpapayaman ng ating kultura, kasaysayan, at pamana. ✨️