Language
How emotions are structured, named, and negotiated across Philippine languages.
Update02 August 2026: The conference webpage is now live!
Damá Emotions Research Group · 1st National Conference
Centering emotions in Philippine culture and society.
When4–5 September 2026
WherePalma Hall · University of the Philippines Diliman · Quezon City
01 / About
Emotion is not background.
It is how social life moves.
Filipino Feels brings together scholars examining the words, histories, politics, spaces, and relationships through which emotion becomes meaningful in the Philippines.
Across two days and six parallel-session blocks, the conference creates a shared space for work in the humanities, social sciences, language, health, education, and cultural studies.
02 / Themes
Six ways into feeling
Politics
Digital affect, polarization, political judgment, protest, and collective action.
Care
Health, mental well-being, grief, empathy, motherhood, and emotional labor.
Memory
Archives, colonial encounters, nation, commemoration, and literary feeling.
Belonging
Queer life, migration, home, displacement, ecology, and more-than-human affect.
Culture
Music, film, popular romance, festivals, and the everyday life of emotion.
03 / Program
Two days.
One conversation.
Times and speakers are based on the 28 July working draft and may still change.
Day oneFriday
Friday
04 Sep
Opening program
- Welcome RemarksRuth R. Lusterio-Rico, PhDDean, College of Social Sciences and PhilosophyUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
- Introduction to the Conference ThemeRhodalyn C. Wani-Obias, PhDDepartment of HistoryCollege of Social Sciences and PhilosophyUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
- Introduction of Keynote SpeakerJayson D. Petras, PhDFaculty of EducationUniversity of the Philippines Open University
Keynote Session
- Prof. Jesus Federico "Tuting" C. HernandezDepartment of LinguisticsCollege of Social Sciences and PhilosophyUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
Snacks
Parallel sessions 1
- Five rooms
Lunch
Parallel sessions 2
- Five rooms
Snacks
Parallel sessions 3
- Five rooms
Day twoSaturday
Saturday
05 Sep
Parallel sessions 4
- Five rooms
Lunch
Parallel sessions 5
- Five rooms
Parallel sessions 6
- Five rooms
Snacks
Plenary session
- Damá Emotions Group, UP Diliman
Closing remarks
- Alwin C. Aguirre, PhD
04 / Keynote
Keynote
Jesus Federico "Tuting" C. Hernandez
Department of Linguistics
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of the Philippines Diliman
05 / Venue
University of the Philippines Diliman
Quezon City
Room assignments will be announced with the final program.
Request conference updates ↗Organization
Conference Committee
Convener
Rhodalyn C. Wani-Obias, PhDDepartment of History
University of the Philippines Diliman
Program
Aaron Abel T. MallariDepartment of Political Science
University of the Philippines Diliman
Scientific
Jayson D. Petras, PhDFaculty of Education
University of the Philippines Open University
Alwin C. Aguirre, PhDDepartment of Broadcast Communication
University of the Philippines Diliman
John Andrew G. Evangelista, PhDDepartment of Sociology
University of the Philippines Diliman
Logistics
Warren H. FranciscoDepartment of Anthropology
University of the Philippines Diliman
Lou Angeli A. Ocampo, PhDDepartment of Geography
University of the Philippines Diliman
Publicity
Michael S. ManahanDepartment of Linguistics
University of the Philippines Diliman
Finance
Rhodalyn C. Wani-Obias, PhDDepartment of History
University of the Philippines Diliman
Secretariat
Christie P. Sio, PhDDepartment of Psychology
University of the Philippines Diliman