UK-Based Filipino Academics and Scholars Gather at Phl Embassy

Dr. Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III informs the audience of the objectives of the UP Alumni Association and its vision to bring together Filipino academics and scholars in the UK.

The Philippine Embassy in London recently hosted the first large gathering of top Filipino academics and scholars based in the United Kingdom.

Entitled “Pinoy At Its Best – An Afternoon with Authors, Artists and Academics”, the event brought together Filipino academics, researchers and scholars from top universities around the United Kingdom.

It was organized by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of the UK (UPAA-UK), led by its President Dr. Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III.

The event participants were either alumni or students from such renowned universities as Oxford University, Cardiff University, University of Liverpool, University of Birmingham, University College London, King’s College of London, Swansea University and the Royal Northern College of Music.

In his remarks, Embassy Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Reynaldo Catapang said that it was important for the Filipino community to become more aware of the contributions of Filipinos in various scientific and artistic fields as “they are the country’s intellectual ambassadors to Britain.”

He reiterated the Embassy’s keen interest to tap Filipino academics in the effort to further broaden the areas of collaboration between the Philippines and Britain.

“These Filipino intellectuals are already making significant inroads towards raising the profile of the community in this country, and they have a continuing role in deepening the people-to-people linkages and the broader ties between the Philippines and Britain. This is, of course, on top of their fundamental duty to help in the national development of the motherland,” added CDA Catapang.

For his part, University of Liverpool academic Dr. Prisno emphasized the UPAA-UK’s vision to “bring together the many Filipino intellectuals in the UK for cooperation and partnership for the benefit of our homeland. This is also an avenue for expanding the paradigm of the Filipino as an excellent worker in the British healthcare and engineering industries, towards one where the Filipino also shines in Britain’s high-level academic research and technological pursuits.”

A highlight of the event was the informative and entertaining lecture on Philippine endemic birds by UP Los Baños and Oxford University researcher Juan Carlos Gonzales.

One of the rising stars of Philippine ornithology and conservation, Gonzales was recognized as this year’s Outstanding Young Scientist of the Philippines at ceremonies organized by the Department of Science and Technology in Manila last month.

The Embassy also took the opportunity to award certificates of recognition to some of the researchers and scholars, as well as several authors of academic publications.

The event was capped by performances from Filipino artists such as soprano Karlene Hayworth and poet Mark Oliver Llangco, and an exhibition of the latest works of painter Madame Cristy Catapang, the spouse of CDA Catapang.