By: Sophia Pacheco
Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila along with collaborators The Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) and NCR Representative hosted its 4th Lecture Caravan on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025, at St. Thomas Hall. Photo Courtesy: Julia Iris Eguillano.
The Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA), in collaboration with its NCR Representative and Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila, hosted its 4th Lecture Caravan on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025, at St. Thomas Hall, with the theme ‘Geopolitics in Action: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections’.
The event began with opening remarks by Assoc. Prof. Eric N. Awi, PhD, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, emphasized the need for good government, active citizens, and informed involvement.
“As students, scholars, and future leaders, may we take today as our opportunity to critically engage, to question, and commit ourselves to the ideals of good governance, active citizenship, and informed participation.”
Ms. Dionessa Bustamante, PPSA Board Member, also presented an introductory statement, laying the groundwork for the upcoming 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections.
“As we look ahead in the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections, may today’s exchange sharpen our insights, challenge our assumptions, and ultimately, deepen our collective sense of responsibility to democratic rights.” she stated.
Following that, Professor Aries A. Arugay, Chair of the University of the Philippines Department of Political Science, gave a detailed presentation that linked the country's domestic policy environment to larger geopolitical developments to explain how global power shifts are shaping the Philippine context.
“So geopolitical conflicts are just theatres of conflict between major powers. So from the realist world, small countries like us do not matter, we simply follow what the major powers decide to do.” Arugay stated.
Arugay further stated that, while national interests remain stable, the global background surrounding them is continuously evolving due to emerging security flashpoints and geopolitical zones prone to conflict or instability.
“In the realist world, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. In a liberal world, it’s less pessimistic, it’s all about cooperation is possible because states are embossed with interests.” Arugay added.
He also noted that geopolitics, which had momentarily retreated following the Cold War, has resurfaced amid fresh competition for hegemony not only in terms of military might but also in terms of geographic control.
The lecture also discussed the growth of minilateralism, specifically the developing security cooperation between the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.
Following the keynote speech, a panel discussion with Ms. Gilda Quiñones and Dr. Amr Solon Sison of Far Eastern University discussed how the current elections in the Philippines address challenges such as trade, political, and strategic differences.
“So connector economies are actually intermediary links when it comes to global and trade investments between larger economic blocks such as the US and China. Now, the Philippines, as of the moment we cannot really consider it as a connector economy to the extent of what Vietnam is doing right now,” Ms. Quiñones stated.
“However, of course there are possibilities, however I think there are also technicalities when it comes to our constitution in terms of allowing just as how Vietnam is currently allowing diba ‘yung foreign investments sa kanila. So I think that is also the challenge with the Philippines itself is the constitution as well the technicalities when it comes to our legislations. One of the hindrance at barrier din talaga na mayroon tayo is ‘yung ating batas.” she added.
Dr. Sison also added the importance of aligning policy initiatives with the evolving international political and economic environment. He emphasized the need for forward-looking policy responses to external shifts.
“In terms of policies, it’s also very important that we think about the initiatives on policy outcomes in terms of how we deal with this changing international and political economical region.” Dr. Sison added.
Following the panel discussion, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), Prof. Danilo K. Vilena, PhD, delivered his closing remarks to the students, professors, and administrators in attendance.
“As we look ahead to the 2025 midterm elections and navigate the uncertainties of both local and global politics let us continue to view Political Science not just as a subject, not just as a course to study, but as a way of thinking and building a better nation.” Prof. Villena said in his closing statement.