The pandemic and historical events in webinar series
The PNHS Board has assembled papers that highlight several historic events taking place, namely the quincentennial commemorations in 2021 (the first circumnavigation of the world, the introduction of Christianity and the victory in the Battle of Mactan),
The Philippine National Historical Society (PNHS) is holding its 41st National Conference on Local and National History this year as a three-part webinar series this month and in November.
The webinar, co-sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC), is scheduled for 24 October, 14 November and 28 November, from 9 to 11:30 in the morning.
This year, as the organization keeps the fire burning amidst this challenging health crisis, the “PNHS Board has assembled papers that highlight several historic events taking place, namely the quincentennial commemorations in 2021 (the first circumnavigation of the world, the introduction of Christianity and the victory in the Battle of Mactan), the commemoration of the end of World War II, and other topics that are relevant to the pandemic,” said PNHS president and convenor Dr. Bernardita Reyes Churchill.
Papers to be presented on the first day are “Revisioning Philippine History, Knowing the Philippines” by Dr. Churchill, and “Research in the Time of Pandemic: The Tale of Philippine Archaeology” by Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia of the National Museum.
Second day presentations include “The Philippines and Pandemics in World History: An Overview” by Mercedes Planta of the University of the Philippines in Diliman; “The Jungle University 1942-1945: Silliman University During the Japanese Occupation in Negros Island” by Earl Jude Paul Cleope of Silliman University; “Juana Manahin, Bulacan Heiress, and Her 1694 Will” by Regalado Trota Jose and Edgar Allan Sembrano of the University of Santo Tomas; and “Tuloy po kayo sa Virtual Classroom ko: Teaching Philippine History Online” by Maria Nela Florendo of the University of the Philippines in Baguio.
On the last day, papers and presenters are “San Pedro Calungsod: The Bisayan Saint from Leyte” by Dr. Rolando Borrinaga of the University of the Philippines-Manila School of Health Sciences; “Cholera and the Rise of the Dios-Dios Movement in Leyte, 1882-1890” by George Emmanuel Borrinaga of the University of San Carlos-Cebu; and “Liberation and Retaliation: How the Japanese Occupation Ended in Laguna” by Marcelino Macapinlac of the De La Salle University.
The webinar, which is free of charge, is going to be held via Zoom and streamed live on the PNHS Facebook page.
The PNHS is the country’s oldest organization of historians and scholars having been established in 1941. It enjoins old members to renew their membership this year. The fee is waived for old members. The link for the registration is