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DPH’s Mansueto presents paper on Higaonon farmers of Sumilao at int’l conference

by Boylie A. Sarcina, CASS | Sep 19 2025

The halls of Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, echoed with vibrant intellectual exchange as the International Ethics Conference unfolded on September 5-6, 2025. Drawing over 50 delegates from across Asia and Eurasia, including scholars from the Philippines, Turkey, and Japan, the event became a crucible for ethical inquiry and cross-cultural dialogue.

Among the participants was Asst. Prof. Menelito P. Mansueto of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities (DPH), College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), ÌÔÁÏÊÓƵ. His paper, “Antonio Gramsci’s ‘Organic’ and ‘Traditional’ Intellectuals: Their Role in the Mobilization of Walking, Protest in the Sumilao Farmers’ Walk for Land Walk for Justice,” resonated deeply with the conference’s theme, offering a grounded, indigenous perspective on ethical practice and community life. It applies Antonio Gramsci’s theory of organic and traditional intellectuals to the Sumilao farmers’ protest walk, revealing how grassroots and institutional voices helped transform a physical journey into a powerful symbol of resistance and justice. By bridging theory and activism, it uplifts Filipino social movements, challenges Western-centric academic paradigms, and urges scholars to engage more deeply with lived struggles and ethical action, making it a vital contribution to both philosophy and peace studies. 

Hosted by the Center for International Education of Waseda University, under the leadership of Prof. Juichiro Tanabe and Dean Maji Rhee, the conference was co-organized with the Center for Humanities and Philosophy at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and the Social Ethics Society (SES). Dean Rhee expressed heartfelt appreciation to all collaborators and shared her vision for future partnerships, including a potential student exchange program that would further deepen international academic ties.

Waseda University, founded by former Prime Minister ÅŒkuma Shigenobu, remains one of Tokyo’s most prestigious institutions. It welcomed delegates from leading universities such as the Social Sciences University of Ankara, Toyo University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, University of San Carlos, Ateneo de Davao University, North Valley College Foundation, Notre Dame of Marbel University, St. Louis University, National University, and of course, Mindanao State University, among others.

With MSU-IIT’s vision to advance research, publication, and enterprise, Asst. Prof. Mansueto is preparing his research for submission research in top-caliber and Scopus-indexed journals, with anticipated publications in The Palawan Scientist and the Southern Philippines Journal of Research and Development.

Asst. Prof. Mansueto’s participation in the conference embodied MSU-IIT’s enduring commitment to justice, cultural resilience, and ethical scholarship. By grounding philosophical inquiry in the lived experiences of the Sumilao farmers, his research bridges the gap between theory and activism, offering a compelling model for socially engaged scholarship. 

As his work moves toward publication in respected journals, it continues to affirm that philosophy, at its most vital, walks alongside the people. From Mindanao to Tokyo, the journey of ethical reflection and academic solidarity carries on.

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