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Center for Southeast Asian Studies > Projects

Projects

This page lists past and ongoing projects conducted or supported by the Center.


Ub-Ufok Ad Fiallig: Tales of Enchantment from Barlig, Philippines (Ongoing)

Still image from Ub Ufok ad Fiallig video 'Siblaw Taraw'
Still image from Ub Ufok ad Fiallig video ‘Siblaw Taraw’

Barlig is a remote town in Mountain Province, Northern Philippines. The written word did not reach the Ifiallig (the people of Barlig) until the early 20th century. Hence, for thousands of years the traditions of the people in the region were handed down orally through generations.

In an effort to preserve Barlig oral folklore, Pia Arboleda conducted a retrieval and translation project of Ifiallig tales in 2001. The stories were transcribed, translated and re-narrated into Filipino and English. In recounting the tales, the original structure of the narrative was preserved. In keeping with the times, Pia Arboleda and Jorge Andrada turned these stories into digital comic books narrated in Filipino with English subtitles. The stories come alive with powerful illustrations by Wrachelle Calderon Cablog, an artist from Baguio City. These digital comic books are the basis for teaching modules.


Religion and Diversity Initiative (Ongoing)

The mission of the Religion & Diversity Initiative is to create educational resources on diversity in Southeast Asia.

To accomplish this, from 2014-18 the Center for Southeast Asian Studies partnered with the Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS), Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, to develop social media resources in English and produce documentary films exploring a wide range of issues related to religion and diversity across Indonesia. The final resource in this iteration of the Religion and Diversity Initiative — the Voicing Diversity Film Project — is set to be completed in 2019.

Voicing Diversity Project (Ongoing)

The Voicing Diversity Project is an examination of religious diversity and cultural change in Indonesia through the medium of film. It includes two documentary films: Our Land is the Sea (2018) and Adat Maluku [Working title] (Forthcoming, 2019).


Old Kiyyangan Village Teacher’s Archaeology Manual (2018)

Old Kiyyangan Village Teacher's Archaeology Manual

This manual is a collection of web-based modules designed to assist elementary school teachers in teaching early Filipino history/social studies in Ifugao, Philippines. The target audience is upper-level elementary social studies courses but the manual can be modified to suit other academic levels.

The manual provides an overview of the archaeological findings of the Old Kiyyangan Village and instructional guidelines for teaching Ifugao history through archaeology. The modules provide materials to explain archaeological concepts, terms, and methodologies.

This manual was written by Charmaine Ledesma (MA, Anthropology, University of Hawaiʻi).


Theatre Performance (Ongoing)

Over the years, the Center has worked to develop or help fund Southeast Asia themed theatrical productions and related educational outreach materials (particularly in the case of Wayang Listrik). This page includes overviews and supplemental materials for past and ongoing projects.


Wayang Listrik Educational Outreach (2014-16)

Wayang Listrik is a modern Balinese theatre genre based on traditional shadow puppetry (wayang kulit) with accompanying dance and music, all transferred to a large 30 x 15 foot screen.

Subali and Sugriwa, two principal characters, in shadow relief
Production still from Subali-Sugriwa: Battle of the Monkey Kings (2016)

This project was a major undertaking for the Center and culminated in a theatre production, performance workshops in Hawaiʻi K-12 schools, and an educational resource for K-12 teachers which meets Common Core standards.

Additional productions and outreach are planned for the future under the banner of Wayang Listrik.


KADAGATAN: A Curriculum on Filipino Culture and Marine Ecology (2012)

KADAGATAN is a set of teaching modules which incorporate Filipino culture and core values in teaching tropical marine ecology, with an aim to teach students not only about their environment but also about environmental stewardship.

Illustration of two people steering a colorful canoe in the ocean

KADAGATAN is a collaborative project of the Asia Collection at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hamilton Library and the University of Hawaiʻi Center for Southeast Asian Studies. It was funded by the University of Hawaiʻi Vice-Chancellor for Research and Training. The teaching modules are available for public access by schools across the United States.