The Cordillera Studies Center (CSC) of the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) turns 40 this month with online activities to mark its anniversary. For 40 years, the Center has advanced the university’s commitment to become a leading educational institution in Northern Luzon through conducting research, engaging community stakeholders, and disseminating information through public lectures and fora.
Established on June 26, 1980, the CSC was first housed in the Social Sciences Division of the UP College Baguio. The early research focus of the office was therefore within the realm of the Social Sciences. The center conducted action research on socioeconomic development issues in the Cordillera, trained young researchers and provided a research space for faculty, and promoted dialogue between sectors.
As the University itself grew and gained constituent status within the UP system, the CSC likewise grew to encompass research from other disciplines and fields as the official university research center. With increased resources, the CSC was able to expand its operations and support more researchers and UPB faculty through programs such as research fellowships.
The CSC Research Affiliates program provided an avenue for the CSC to welcome local and foreign researchers from other institutions. Later, the CSC also established the Interdisciplinary Team Research Grant (ITRG), enabling researchers and faculty to collaborate between disciplines, departments, and colleges. In 2013, the Knowledge and Training Resource Center was also launched, providing grants and encouraging multidisciplinary research work in the university.
Since its beginnings as a division research unit, the CSC has grown to become a fully-fledged university research center, recognized nationally and internationally for pioneering Cordillera studies as a research field. Today, the CSC continues its groundbreaking work through regular publications, scholarship development, information dissemination, partnership and collaboration, information dissemination, and community engagement.
Publications are a cornerstone of the CSC’s operations. The center regularly publishes The Cordillera Review, UPB’s refereed multidisciplinary journal devoted to research on Philippine culture and society, with a focus on the Cordillera region and Northern Luzon. The CSC also publishes books on Cordillera studies, ranging from literary to academic in nature. Some of the center’s publications were nationally recognized by the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle. Notable titles include the Tradition and Transformation: Studies on Indigenous Culture, the first edition (2015) of which was awarded as Best Book in the Social Sciences in the 35th National Book Awards (NBA). The book Histories in Memories: Remembering the July 16, 1990 Earthquake was nominated for Best Anthology in the 35th NBA. Another book, Saliksik-Kordilyera: Papers on indigenous practice, ritual life and oral tradition, was nominated for Best Book in the Social Sciences in the 37th NBA.
The Center has continued its scholarship development through the CSC Research Grant and the ITRG. Research from these grants have explored issues and phenomena in the fields of language, education policy, water security and governance, heritage mapping, resource valuation, among others. The CSC also provides a platform for the dissemination of these research outputs through regular public lectures and forums. On a larger scale, another flagship project of the Center is the International Conference on Cordillera Studies (ICCS), first organized in 2008 and most recently in 2017. In keeping with the main thrusts of the center, the ICCS brought together foreign and local researchers, academics, and practitioners to discuss pressing issues in Indigenous Studies and society.
Beyond the university, the CSC has also partnered with entities such as the UN World Food Programme, the Department of Education, and the International Institute for Environment and Development. The CSC also recognizes that it is part of a local community; as such, it has also conducted issue-specific training sessions and skill-building workshops for teachers, community leaders, and local government officials. For its contributions, CSC was recognized as among Builders of Baguio during the city’s centennial celebration in 2009.
This year, the Cordillera Studies Center is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary online. Following the directives set by local government, in lieu of the regular events and public lectures, all commemorative activities will be conducted through online activities. Every Monday, the CSC Reading Room will upload chapters and excerpts from selected publications of the center, free of charge. On Wednesdays, messages from former CSC directors, staff, and researchers will be published, tracing the 40 years of the center’s work. Readings and reviews of the 2nd edition of Traditions and Transformations: Studies on Cordillera Indigenous Culture by June Prill-Brett will be uploaded on Thursdays. Fridays will feature a podcast by the CSC and UPB faculty, discussing the realities and behind-the-scenes of research and fieldwork. Live lectures will be broadcast on June 26 to cap off the anniversary month. The CSC cordially invites the public to participate in these activities through its Facebook page (Cordillera Studies Center). **UP Baguio Release
