BISU CAS Faculty Guest Speaker Calls for Theoretical Shift at PUP’s Saliklinang Research Workshop

BISU College of Arts and Sciences faculty member Mark Steven A. Pandan (MA candidate) was one of the four featured guest speakers at the Saliklinang Research Workshop on Trust and Media, themed “Writing Together, Thinking Together,” held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Library’s Silid Lakan Dayang from July 7–9, 2025.

Mr. Pandan spoke on Day 2 of the workshop alongside resource persons Miguel Victor T. Durian of UP Los Baños, Ena Marie O. Dizon of UP Mindanao, and Karl Patrick R. Mendoza of PUP. During his talk, Mr. Pandan urged attendees to frame raw field data through a critical theoretical lens. He advocated towards probing into structures that leave communities in his field site in Tagbilaran seemingly oblivious of the POGO scandal. “These findings are fecund for theoretical analysis,” he argued.

In the roundtable discussion that followed, PUP research heads, including professors Jomar G. Adaya, Agnes M. Sunga-Oblefias, Jenalyn Lai, and other institute chiefs under Director Joseph Reylan B. Viray, worked to develop ideas for collaborative research initiatives.

Following the workshop, Mr. Mendoza presented the research at IAMCR’s “Emotions and Journalism” pre-conference at the National University of Singapore in mid-July 2025, showcasing the project’s Global South perspective.

Mr. Pandan expressed his gratitude to CAS Dean Dr. Bernabe M. Mijares Jr. and BISU Main Campus Director Dr. Samuel M. Gulayan for their institutional support. Through this initiative, BISU CAS has positioned itself at the forefront of social sciences and humanities research.