Another Social Science Major Bags Study Grant in Europe

John Paul Fabricante, a junior Social Science major with a minor in Cultural Heritage, has been awarded a slot in the Junior Term Abroad (JTA) Programto study in Europe for the Spring Semester of 2015.  He will join several students in the School of Social Sciences who will enroll, tuition free, in a school of their choice. Paolo will spend his Spring Semester (January-August 2015) atthe Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, one of the best in the country, to take courses on the history and culture of Spain.  He hopes that these courses will enable him to grasp Filipino cultural identity better, particularly aspects of Filipino identity drawn from the Iberian heritage.

Paolo’s interest in cultural identity grew out of his experience with the Ateneo Cultural Laboratory field school in Batangas last summer.  The field school participants explored several aspects of local heritage, tangible and intangible, and recently completed a public presentation of their findings both in Batangas and on campus.  Paolo centered his work on local architecture, documenting the grand houses built by the local elite over past centuries.

Paolo’s academic record, co-curricular experience, leadership potential, and rationale for study abroad earned him a slot in this year JTA competition.  His desire to be a pilot (at one time assisting in flights to Laoag and around Pampanga) as well as his work as a member of the ground crew, monitoring air safety on the ground and on flight,  for the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2013, boosted, we hope, his credentials.

Paolo Fabricante joins Erasmus Mundus scholar Patrick Balisong as our two social science majors whose achievements to date make The Department extra proud.  We look forward to more social science majors applying for international study programs in the coming years.