We normally go about our day thinking of the tasks that we have to accomplish, oblivious of the pavement that we walk on or the spaces that we navigate. What if these physical and social structures affect our mobility and our engagement with the city? How can we enrich our understanding of the city and reimagine it?
These questions were among those answered in “Sensing the City: A Panel Presentation on Recent Research on Philippine Cities and Space” conducted by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) on March 30 via Zoom. The presentation aimed to highlight “the changing faces, phases, and facets of modern metropolises from intersecting perspectives culled from theory and practice in anthropology, sociology, history, and from the emerging field called urban humanities as an attempt to make sense of urban spaces, designs, imaginaries, spectacles, and specters.” 
“This panel arose as a result of initial conversations among colleagues in the College following a colloquium last February where Dr. Philip Peckson presented his study on Urban Humanities,” said Dr. Grace Liza Concepcion, event moderator. “After that presentation, we realized that we had intersecting research interests that converged within the concepts ‘cities’ and ‘spaces.’”
These intersecting research interests reflected in the case studies (abstracts of which may be read in the links provided) were presented in two panels by six faculty members from CAS.
Panel 1. The City Within Walking Distance.
The first panel expounded on walking and mobility whether directly or metaphorically: walking as hampered by closed systems, walking as a partner to thinking about the city; and, metaphorically perhaps, walking and its partner footwear industry as a hermeneutic key to understanding the city in its own terms.
“Manila, Interrupted: How Closed Systems Keep Our City Dull” by Dr. Philip Samuel Peckson
“Mapping out an Anthropology of Walking” by Dr. Carmita Eliza Icasiano
There are three ways by which to regard cities, all of them pivot around walking: (1) pilgrimage, (2) walking as a phenomenological experience, and (3) seeing cities as things or objects. – Dr. Mitzie Icasiano
“Marikina City: Expanding Urban Knowledge Production through Transdisciplinary Study” by Dr. Ma. Concepcion Lagos
Panel 2. Reimagining the City Space.
The second panel discussed the people- and state-led reimagination of the city, the frameworks that guide their reimagination, and the tools utilized in this process.
“Ang Proyektong City Beautiful Katambal ng Manila Carnival” by Dr. Moreal Camba
Karaniwang itinuturing bilang nyutral na konsepto ang espasyo: isang lugar kung saan maaaring magkita-kita at makisalamuha ang mga tao sa kanyang kapwa subalit malayo ito sa realidad. Ang mga espasyo, kasama ang mga imprastraktura ay produkto ng nagtutunggaliang pwersa sa lipunan. – Dr. Moreal Camba
“Nayong Pilipino: Citizen-led Urban Regeneration” by Dr. Laya Boquiren-Gonzales
“Building Disaster Resilience in Coastal Cities” by Dr. Philip Michael Paje
“We hope that this initial presentation will open avenues for future exchanges and collaboration on this research topic. And hopefully, the conversation continues beyond the University of Asia and the Pacific,” Dr. Concepcion remarked.
Banner photo by Greg Shield on Unsplash.
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