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| Anthropological Society of the Philippines | |
|---|---|
| Name | Anthropological Society of the Philippines |
| Formation | 1948 |
| Founder | F. Landa Jocano |
| Type | Learned society |
| Headquarters | Manila |
| Location | Philippines |
| Leader title | President |
Anthropological Society of the Philippines is a professional association of scholars, researchers, and practitioners focused on the study of human societies, cultures, and biological variation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It brings together specialists from universities, museums, research institutes, and government cultural agencies to advance ethnography, archaeology, physical anthropology, and applied anthropological work. The society collaborates with national and international institutions to disseminate research, train new scholars, and inform cultural policy.
The society traces institutional roots to post‑World War II scholarly reconstruction linked with University of the Philippines Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, and the National Museum of the Philippines; early conveners included figures associated with F. Landa Jocano, H. Otley Beyer, and researchers trained at Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and University of California, Berkeley. Formal constitution occurred amid contemporaneous developments such as the founding of the Philippine Historical Association and constitutional debates reflected in the 1946 Philippine Republic period. Through the 1950s–1970s the society hosted symposia that intersected with projects sponsored by the Ford Foundation, United States Agency for International Development, and regional collaborations with Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization partners. Key historical moments include methodological shifts influenced by debates at venues like American Anthropological Association meetings and collaborations with field sites in Cordillera Administrative Region, Mindanao, and the Visayas. During the Marcos era interactions with agencies such as the National Cultural Heritage Act framers and post‑1986 constitutional reforms shaped advocacy roles tied to heritage protection at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
The society's stated aims align with scholarly associations such as International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences: to promote anthropological knowledge, support ethical research, and apply findings to cultural resource management. Objectives include building capacity through links with University of the Philippines Los Baños, Silliman University, Mindanao State University, and museum partners like the Ayala Museum and Museo ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon. The organization emphasizes interdisciplinary ties with institutions such as Philippine National Police heritage units for community archaeology, collaborations with UNESCO sites like Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, and policy engagement that intersects with laws administered by the National Museum and National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Membership comprises faculty, graduate students, curators, and independent researchers affiliated with bodies including De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Philippine Science High School System alumni, and international scholars connected to Australian National University and SOAS University of London. The society is governed by an executive council with roles mirroring structures in organizations such as Royal Anthropological Institute: president, vice‑president, secretary, treasurer, and committee chairs for publications, ethics, and outreach. Regional chapters coordinate with provincial offices and cultural workers in regions like Ilocos Region, Bicol Region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Honorary membership and awards have been bestowed upon scholars associated with Carlos P. Romulo, Alfredo E. Evangelista, and other prominent Filipino and international anthropologists.
The society publishes peer‑reviewed journals and bulletins patterned after outlets like Asian Perspectives and the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies; flagship serials include annual proceedings and monographs on archaeology, ethnography, and biological anthropology. Regular conferences include national congresses held in conjunction with universities and museums, thematic workshops paralleling forums at International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, and special sessions tied to UNESCO heritage nominations such as the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. Proceedings often feature contributions on topics connected to fieldwork in Palawan, Ifugao, Tawi‑Tawi, and comparative studies engaging scholars from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The society has coordinated projects in archaeological survey and excavation at sites like Tabon Caves and material culture studies in maritime interactions involving Galleon Trade contexts. Research programs address indigenous knowledge systems among groups including the Kalinga, Igorot, Bagobo, T'boli, and Palawan people, and investigations into biological variation referencing comparative collections akin to those at Smithsonian Institution. Collaborative grants have engaged funders such as the National Science Foundation and regional networks connected to ASEAN heritage initiatives. Applied projects include community archaeology, cultural mapping for indigenous land claims under frameworks similar to Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997, and museum curation projects with institutions like National Museum of Anthropology (Philippines).
The society contributes to public education through partnerships with museums, cultural festivals, and media programs aligned with broadcasters and cultural agencies including the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and provincial cultural offices. Impactful interventions include technical assistance for heritage inventories used in environmental impact assessments in sites affected by extractive projects involving corporations and government agencies, and advocacy for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage similar to UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage processes. Training initiatives for teachers, community researchers, and local museum staff have linked the society with teacher training colleges, provincial museums, and international capacity‑building partners like British Museum and Smithsonian Institution.
Category:Learned societies of the Philippines