UPM CAS Manila Studies Program

🇵🇭 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
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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. ✨️

Nakikiisa ang UPM CAS Manila Studies Program sa pagdiriwang at pag-alala ng bansa sa Araw ng Kagitingan. Ang araw na ito ay ipinagdiriwang bilang araw ng pagkilala sa mga sundalong naging bahagi ng Bataan Death March noong Abril 9, 1942.

Mula Mariveles sa Bataan, pinagmartsa ng mga Hapones ang mga Pilipino at Amerikanong Prisoners of War (POWs), patungong San Fernando sa Pampanga. Dahil sa matinding pagpapahirap, init at kawalan ng pagkain at tubig, maraming sundalo ang nasawi sa martsang ito.

Ngayong araw, ating kinikilala ang kanilang sakripisyo at kabayanihan. Atin ding kinikilala ang kagitingan ng bawat Pilipinong nagsisilbi para pangalagaan ang kapayapaan sa ating bansa. 🕊

𝐒𝐢 𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐚 𝐔𝐏 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚: 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐛𝐚𝐲-𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥 📖

Ngayong araw, nagsagawa ng isang makasaysayang lakbay-aral ang UPM CAS Manila Studies Program, kasama sina Prop. Atoy Navarro, Prop. Jerome Ong, at ang mga mag-aaral ng PI 100 (Life and Works of Jose Rizal). Sa kanilang paglibot ng kampus binigyang pansin ang iba't ibang parte ng UP Manila na nagbibigay pugay sa buhay at kabayanihan ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

Binigyang pokus sa lakad-aral ang mga gusaling may kaugnayan kay Rizal at sa kabayanihang Pilipino tulad ng Rizal Hall, Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal, Philippine General Hospital, Alvior Hall, Quisumbing Hall, at Dela Paz Hall. Tinalakay din ang mga likhang sining sa UP-PGH tulad ng Oblation, Progress of Medicine in the Philippines, Celebration of Life, at ang Triumph of Science Over Death. Sa mga espasyo, gusali, at likhang sining na ito patuloy na nabubuhay ang pamanang iniwan ni Jose Rizal hanggang sa susunod na henerasyon.

Maraming salamat sa mga nakilahok sa lakbay-aral ngayong araw. Nawa'y ating patuloy na bigyang buhay ang alaala at mga pangarap ni Rizal para sa ating bansa. ✨

R-TALKS IS FINALLY HERE! ✨️📣

Dive deep into the stories that shape our city with a new installment of our quarterly heritage discussion series. This session brings together experts to explore the intersections of culinary traditions, clothing, and the structures we inhabit.

We are honored to feature Ms. Trisha Anne Mataac on Culinary Heritage and IDr. Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi PhD on the vital practice of Adaptive Reuse. Ar. Gerry Torres will also join us to discuss the fascinating world of Fashion History and Conservation.

Join us for a full day of learning as we advocate for a more conscious and culturally rooted future for Manila.

​R-TALKS 2026
April 18, 2026 (Saturday) | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Instituto Cervantes, Intramuros
Tickets: ₱200 Adults | ₱100 Students
Poster by Kyle Livelo

​Register via the link below: https://forms.gle/yip4VqKSBwGJ79yv9