By Menelito Mansueto
The first International Ethics Conference held at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan last September 5 and 6, 2025 has been successfully concluded. The event was attended by over 40 delegates from across Asia and Eurasia, particularly, the Philippines, Turkey, and Japan. Joining the event are our very own delegates from the MSU System, Asst. Professor Menelito P. Mansueto of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities from the College of Arts and Social Sciences, of MSU-IIT, and Professor Godiva Eviota-Rivera of MSU-Marawi.
The International Ethics Conference was hosted by the Center for International Education of Waseda University. Professor Juichiro Tanabe served as Conference Chair. Professor Maji Rhee, Dean of the Center for International Education, gave the Keynote Address. Asst. Professor Mansueto presented what could be the first among a planned series of researches about the Higaonon farmers of Sumilao, Bukidnon. Professor Rivera, on the other hand, talked about the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur and the Concept of Peace as Healing, the topic of her dissertation.
Dean Rhee of the Center for International Education expressed her gratitude to the Social Ethics Society and the Center for Humanities and Philosophy of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), co-organizers. Professor Rhee also said that Waseda University is open for future collaboration. She also mentioned that the university has an, extensive international student exchange program. Waseda University is one of the most prestigious institutions in Japan. It was founded by Ōkuma Shigenobu, the former prime minister of Japan.
The universities that were represented in the recently concluded Ethics conference include the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Waseda University, the Social Sciences University of Ankara, Turkey, Toyo University, Keio University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, the University of the Philippines, University of San Carlos, Ateneo de Davao University, North Valley College, UP Los Banos, Notre Dame of Marbel University, Saint Louis University in Baguio, National University, and Mindanao State University-Main and MSU-IIT.
Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc organized the event together with the SES officers led by Dr. Rogelio Bayod and Fr. Dexter Veloso, and Asst. Professor Agnes Oblefias of PUP. The proceedings of the conference will be compiled into a book to be edited by Dr. Ian Clark Parcon and Dr. Tanabe. The book will be indexed in Scopus. It was announced that the Social Ethics Society Journal of Applied Philosophy and Mabini Review will also release separate Special Issues. Paper presentors can send their manuscripts to Dr. Ian Clark Parcon through his email address, icrparcon@addu.edu.ph.
(N B.) I would like to extend my gratitude to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise (OVCRE) headed by Dr. Ephrime B. Metillo for the generous travel grant, and to the Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan of MSU-IIT. I am thankful for the support of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities, especially to Associate Professor Boylie A. Sarcina.