The 25th World Congress of Philosophy in Rome allowed Filipino academics to connect with each other not only in terms of exchanging ideas but of forging trust among themselves in the sense of a "personal making present," to quote Martin Buber. While the gaps and distance are apparent, it's worth noting that we can all draw from each other that sense of commonality in terms of our important job as educators.
Developing critical thinking in our students remains to be our crucial task. The different philosophical associations in the Philippines must continue to fulfill their role while maintaining the unique identity of each. Noticeably, some Filipino academics elect to pursue a more difficult endeavor internationally and we must support them.
As what Dr. Jove Jim Aguas has suggested, we should be able to do what we want without being judged for our personal choices when it comes to what we write about. Kudos to our leaders from the PAP, namely, Dr. Ruby Suazo, Dr. Jeremiah Joaquin, and Dr. Jove Jim Aguas for keeping intact the true spirit and vision of Philosophy in this part of the globe.