Sisa Journal

Sisa Journal is an interdisciplinary periodical that publishes research on Philippine social issues, cultural studies, and regional politics. Founded in 2010, the journal has positioned itself at the intersection of scholarship and public debate, featuring articles by academics, activists, and practitioners. Its articles engage with historical events, legal developments, and contemporary movements across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

History

Sisa Journal was launched in Manila in 2010 by a group of scholars and civil society figures seeking alternatives to established outlets such as Philippine Studies, Asian Journal of Social Science, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Manila Bulletin, and Philippine Daily Inquirer. Early editorial board members included faculty from University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and visiting scholars affiliated with SOAS University of London, Australian National University, and University of California, Berkeley. The launch coincided with national debates surrounding the Maguindanao massacre investigations, the Reproductive Health Bill (Philippines), and anti-corruption cases involving figures linked to the Plunder charge against high-profile politicians. During its first decade the journal hosted special issues on the Moro conflict, the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, transitional justice in the aftermath of the People Power Revolution (1986), and urban land disputes in Metro Manila prompted by infrastructure projects tied to the Build! Build! Build program.

Scope and Focus

The journal emphasizes qualitative and mixed-methods work addressing Philippine society, with comparative studies involving Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Its focus areas include indigenous rights and customary law dialogues linked to the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997 (Philippines), analyses of labor movements connected to unions such as Kilusang Mayo Uno and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, studies of migration involving Overseas Filipino Workers and host-country policies in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, and research on electoral politics involving parties like Lakas–CMD, Liberal Party (Philippines), and personalities associated with the Aquino family and the Marcos family. Sisa Journal also features interdisciplinary work on heritage conservation tied to sites such as Intramuros, examinations of media ecology referencing outlets like ABS-CBN and GMA Network, and cultural analyses engaging with the literary legacies of figures such as José Rizal, Nick Joaquin, Carlos Bulosan, Edith Tiempo, and F. Sionil José.

Publication and Editorial Practices

Published quarterly, the journal accepts peer-reviewed original research articles, essays, book reviews, and policy briefs. Its editorial board has included academics from University of the Philippines Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Silliman University, University of San Carlos, and international scholars from Columbia University, Harvard University, London School of Economics, University of Oxford, National University of Singapore, and University of Melbourne. Submissions undergo double-blind peer review typically involving reviewers affiliated with institutions such as Stanford University, Yale University, University of Toronto, McGill University, and Seoul National University. The journal follows publication ethics aligned with standards set by organizations such as Committee on Publication Ethics and maintains policies for data availability and conflicts of interest similar to those of periodicals like The Lancet and American Journal of Sociology. It offers a mix of open-access and subscription-based content, with selected special issues released under Creative Commons licenses modeled after practices in journals like PLOS ONE and Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association members.

Indexing and Impact

Sisa Journal is indexed in regional bibliographic databases and institutional repositories, and its articles are discoverable through aggregators used by libraries at University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, and international institutions including Australian National University Library and Harvard Library. Citation metrics show growing attention in literature on Philippine studies, migration studies, and Southeast Asian political sociology, with citations appearing in works published by presses such as University of California Press, Cornell University Press, Routledge, Palgrave Macmillan, and Oxford University Press. Its pieces have influenced policy briefs in think tanks like Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Asia Foundation, International Crisis Group, and regional advocacy organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Controversies and Criticism

Critics have questioned editorial impartiality at times, citing controversies surrounding pieces that addressed the administration of Rodrigo Duterte and responses to the War on Drugs (Philippines), with commentaries sparking debate among academics affiliated with University of the Philippines and activists linked to Bayan. Allegations emerged in certain cycles about the acceptance of op-eds by contributors associated with political networks tied to Pulong] and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan sympathizers, prompting calls for clearer disclosure of affiliations from readers and contributors representing institutions such as Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and Supreme Court of the Philippines observers. Scholars and editorial critics drawing from debates in journals like Philippine Studies and Critical Asian Studies have pressed for more rigorous methodological transparency and broader international reviewer participation; the journal responded by revising peer-review procedures and strengthening conflict-of-interest policies in subsequent issues.

Category:Philippine journals