Headed by Principal Investigator Dr. Stephen B. Acabado (University of California, Los Angeles Professor of Anthropology; Chair of Archaeology Interdepartmental Program; and Director of UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies) and Project Field Supervisor Mr. Earl John Hernandez (UCLA IDP PhD Candidate), the Bicol Archaeological Project (BAP) 2024 Crew, which consists of faculty and students from UCLA and Partido State University (ParSU) including Ms. Karen Eyre Moshie Artiaga (Museum Director, Museo de Isarog) and MDI student volunteers, alongside Mr. Marlon Martin (COO, Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement), paid a courtesy call to SUC President III, Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus today, July 17, 2024, at the Office of the President, Sorsogon City Campus.
According to Principal Investigator Dr. Acabado, the visit signifies the beginning of BAP’s research in Sorsogon, with emphasis on the region’s archaeology and colonial history. He added that the initiative also intends to formally establish and strengthen the collaborative efforts between SorSU and UCLA, paving the way for academic partnership for future joint educational and research endeavors in the region.
The courtesy visit of Dr. Acabado, together with the BAP Crew, to SorSU President De Jesus was assisted by Dr. Michael John A. Jamora (Executive Assistant/SorSU-COEA faculty member) and Ms. Justeen Frances D. Manuel (SorSU-COEA faculty member), who previously both collaborated/coordinated with Dr. Acabado, with Dr. Jamora taking part at the three-week 2023 UCLA PEMSEA Archaeological Field School in Cambodia held from June 22-July 15, 2023, which was organized and directed by the latter as the Principal Investigator. Meanwhile, Ms. Manuel recently presented her study “Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) of the Agta Tabangnon of Donsol, Sorsogon for climate change adaptation” at the 2024 Contemporary Application of Indigenous Knowledge Workshop in Taiwan last March 29-30, 2024, to which Dr. Acabado extended the invitation.
SorSU, envisioning itself as an international research university, is driven to forge academic cooperation and collaborations on relevant academic undertakings, research initiatives, and other mutual activities between and among various universities/colleges and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), not just within local and national levels but as well as on a global scale. (SorSU PIO)
