News of the fire that destroyed the Faculty Center in UP Diliman shook many of us as the AAS conference opened in Seattle. Upon the suggestion of Ric Trimillos, a letter of collegiality was drafted on behalf of PSG members and meeting attendees. Below are excerpts of the letter sent to UP President Pascual. Read the full text (written by Ric) and signatories PSG_Letter_Collegiality-UP
“The members of the Philippine Studies Group of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), gathered at the 75th annual meeting of the AAS in Seattle, Washington on 1 April 2016, wish to convey our concern and our sympathy to colleagues, friends and family members at UP Diliman in the wake of the tragic fire that ravaged the Faculty Center on Friday 1 April 2016. In many ways the Faculty Center is the heartbeat of the campus; it is a symbolic repository of both scholarly and creative output and—for many of us—is a physical locale embodying our own professional and personal trajectories for Philippine Studies.
“At this early point in time we express our collective sentiments of collegiality, support, and comfort. In the coming days each of us will determine as friend, colleague, or kababayan how best to provide help and tangible support. Special thoughts and prayers are with those whose losses encompass a lifetime of work and personal commitment.”
Read the April 20th response from UP President Pascual
Philippine Studies Group 