Research & Publications

Owing to the interplay of the critical and the creative that characterizes the nature of the humanities and its various disciplines, the School of Humanities is not limited to the production of new knowledge via research work and publication of academic essays and books. It is also actively engaged in the production of creative or artistic works, such as poems, short stories, novels, films, as well as theatrical plays, stage designs, and art installations.

The vibrant scholarly and artistic scene in the School of Humanities can be gleaned, for example, in Kritika Kultura, a pioneering electronic journal of language and literary/cultural studies in the Philippines and indexed in Thomson Reuters [formerly known as ISI] and Scopus. Apart from serving as a venue for the publication of the faculty’s research works, Kritika Kultura, under the dynamic leadership of its chief editor, Ma. Luisa T. Reyes, also regularly hosts conferences and roundtable discussions with visiting scholars.  The School also has two other journals:  The Asian Perspective in the Arts and Humanities, edited by Jovino Miroy and Budhi – under the long time leadership of Luis David, S.J. and now co-edited by Jean Page-Tan and Remmon Barbaza.

The School of Humanities prides itself for being home to Jesuit mentors whose works and dispositions have remained pivotal points for scholarly endeavors: Horacio V. de la Costa, S.J. – eminent historian and brilliant writer –; Miguel A. Bernad, S.J., man of eloquence and literary prowess; Roque J. Ferriols, S.J. –wise thinker and champion of Filipino philosophy.  They have inspired the success of alumni scholars like Antonio G. Manuud, Reynaldo Ileto and Vicente Rafael. Today, scholarship continues to flourish in the School of Humanities through the works of noted scholars including Professor Emeritus Soledad S. Reyes, Ma. Luisa T. Reyes, Leovino Ma. Garcia, Jonathan Chua, Maria Isabel P. Martin, Maria Luz C. Vilches, Marita Concepcion Guevara, Agustin Martin Rodriguez, Remmon Barbaza, Ruben Mendoza, Oscar Campomanes, and Rene B. Javellana, S.J., to name a few. Their works in national and popular cultures, Philippine literature, colonial studies, political philosophy, interreligious dialogue, ethical perspectives on environmental issues, world englishes, English language education, and Filipino cultural heritage have helped shape the School into a center of research and scholarship in the country as well as the region.

In the field of artistic production, the School of Humanities has been profoundly enriched by the presence and works of the late National Artist for Theater Design, Professor Salvador F. Bernal, whose lasting influence continues to inform the works of theater directors Ricardo Abad, Glenn Mas, Ron Capinding, Jerry Respeto, and Jethro Tenorio. The long-standing humanistic tradition of the Ateneo is also seen in the acclaim garnered by national award-winning creative writers, for example,  poets Eric Torres, Benilda S. Santos, Rofel G. Brion, Danton Remoto, Lawrence L. Ypil, Mark Cayanan, and Vincenz Serrano;  fictionists/essayists Edgar Samar, Michael Coroza, Cyan Abad-Jugo, Exie Abola, Rica Bolipata Santos, and Miguel Syjuco.

Some creative writers flourish in more than one genre.  The poet Alvin B. Yapan has also directed indie movies, including Rolyo (2006) – which was URIAN’s Best Short Film in 2007, Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe (2009) – which won the CINEMALAYA Jury Award in 2009 and the Golden Award at the International Film Festival in Cairo in the same year, and Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (2011).  Just recently, the latter has garnered Dr. Yapan the name Best Director, given by the 35th Gawad Urian Awards (2012).  Urian also named the film for six other awards:   Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Music.  The children’s story-writer Christine Bellen also wrote the stage play, Batang Rizal (2007) and after having retold Severino Reyes’ Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang (2005) in illustrated children’s book versions and made all the more popular by by Ballet Manila in Lisa Macuja’s Ballet rendition (2008).  

All this signaling the many rich possibilities that lie in the future of the School of Humanities.

Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Governing the Other: Exploring the Discourse of Democracy in a Multiverse of Reason. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2009.

Jonathan Chua (ed.), The Critical Villa: Essays in Literary Criticism. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2002.

First anthology of Villa’s essays written from the 1920s to the 1950s, which created a canon of Philippine fiction and poetry—essays counting as among the most significant in Philippine literary criticism in English. Includes the famed annual Villa selection of best short stories and poems, occasional critical essays and letters to the editor, and unpublished pieces. With extensive explanatory and bibliographic notes.

Winner, 2002 National Book Award, for Editing.

Mark Anthony Cayanan, Narcissus. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2011.
 

Alvin B. Yapan. Ang Sandali ng mga Mata. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2008.

Looks through the characters in the folk stories of the past and the Bikol people of the present. The use of folk stories to complete the action marks a striking technical innovation, blending past and present while keeping the narrative moving into the future. . . . runs together the time of the epic with contemporary time.

Winner, 2006 National Book Award, Juan C. Laya Award for Best Novel in a Philippine Language.

Adolfo N. Dacanay, S.J. Canon Law on Marriage: Introductory Notes and Comments. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2003.
 

Soledad S. Reyes, Rosario de Guzman Lingat 1924-1997: The Burden of Self and History. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2002.

Winner, 2003 National Book Award, for Biography.

Soledad S. Reyes. Narratives of Note: Studies of Popular Forms in the 20th Century. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2012.
 

Fr. René B. Javellana, S.J., La Casa de Dios: The Legacy of Filipino-Hispanic Churches in the Philippines. Pasig, Metro Manila: Ortigas Foundation, 2010.

L. Lacambra Ypil, The Highest Hiding Place: Poems. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2009.

Kritika Kultura. A refereed electronic journal of literary/cultural and language studies. Thomson Reuters (ISI) and Scopus indexed.