Social Ethics Society

  Davao City's Dabawenyo DCplinado Program, a legacy project of Mayor Sebastian Duterte, which has been institutionalized by a City Ordinance, is anchored in the Philosophy of Self-Discipline. The concept of the self is studied in relation to social systems and social organizations. The human self is known by way of its interactions with others in society. The self is the product of self-awareness and self-image. The concept of self is the result of the reality of social interaction. Our social experiences enable us to construct an image of ourselves. The individual is not a passive participant in the formation of the self but an active one. Another aspect of Dabawenyo DCplinado, which has been integrated in the Department of Education Curriculum in Davao City, is the idea of the good life. “Life is here,” is the slogan of the City of Davao. But one can also say that “The good life is here.” The good life refers to human well-being or happiness. Let us examine the deeper meaning of...

  The Social Ethics Society continued to reach new heights in 2025, which is marked by the rise of dynamic Mindanao and Bohol based scholars. Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera leads the pack. She was elected as secretary of the SES in February this year. She was a speaker in the philosophy for women at an event hosted by the Philosophical Association of the Philippines. In September, she presented a paper in the SES-PUP International Ethics Conference at Waseda University in Tokyo. Dr. Rivera truly brings women power into the SES.  The two other up and coming scholars are Menelito Mansueto of MSU-IIT, who released his book on decoloniality early this year. Prof. Mansueto presented a paper in Marburg, Germany based on that book and in the SEP-PUP event in Tokyo. Another emerging researcher, who also hails from Bohol like Mansueto, is Assistant Prof. Francis Jeus Ibanez of the Bohol Island State University, who published his first paper on Paul Ricoeur. Together with Fr. Banny Pardillo, ...

  The University Research Council (URC) of Ateneo de Davao University has awarded Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc a research grant for his study on Artificial Intelligence and the Question of Indigeneity: A Marcusean Analysis of the Impact of Superintelligence on Tradition, Culture and Human Society. The study will investigate the influence and possible impact of AI on indigenous communities using the lens of critical theory and Luciano Floridi's ethics of information. The research team consists of Dr. Rogelio Bayod (North Valley College), Dr. Gleemore Makie (Benguet State University), Mr. James Bentayao (AdDU), and Ms. Eva Marie Maboloc, his research assistant. The researchers will conduct their study in Davao City and in Benguet. The research will also involve expert opinion on AI.

  CALL FOR ABSTRACTS  Is moral education failing in the Philippines? In 1970, Robert Youngblood said that the Philippines is characterized by 'strong demands' and 'weak institutions'. Recent events suggest that more than 50 years thereafter, the country has failed to improve the lives of Filipinos, especially those in the margins of society. Power has remained in the hands of the ruling class and the economic elite. Despite two peaceful People Power revolutions, the state of Philippine society is far from being just and equal. Where have we failed? One might look into what Clarita Carlos calls democratic deficits - the lack of transparency, poor policy, and the absence of public accountability. Freedom House also notes that the Philippines has a weak political culture. Civil society plays a critical role in promoting democratic values. But while the Church and the Academe, or what John Rawls calls 'background culture', has exerted strong efforts in helping shape...

  16TH SOCIAL ETHICS SOCIETY CONFERENCE [CALL FOR ABSTRACTS]  RATIONALE  Is moral education failing in the Philippines? In 1970, Robert Youngblood said that the Philippines is characterized by 'strong demands' and 'weak institutions'. Recent events suggest that more than 50 years thereafter, the country has failed to improve the lives of Filipinos, especially those in the margins of society. Power has remained in the hands of the ruling class and the economic elite. Despite two peaceful People Power revolutions, the state of Philippine society is far from being just and equal. Where have we failed? One might look into what Clarita Carlos calls democratic deficits - the lack of transparency, poor policy, and the absence of public accountability. Freedom House also notes that the Philippines has a weak political culture. Civil society plays a critical role in promoting democratic values. But while the Church and the Academe, or what John Rawls calls 'background cultur...

  Menelito Mansueto (#21) of MSU-IIT continues to rise in the AD World Scientific Index 2026 Rankings while Ruben Balotol (#34) of Visayas State University has also improved his ranking. The index measures the citations and scholarly achievements of academics. Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc (#1) of Ateneo remains at the top for the Subfield Philosophy in the Philippines. Dr. Ian Clark Parcon (#42) climbed up in his new position while Dr. Aldrin Quintero (#50) of NDMU enters the rankings for the first time. 1. Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc - #1 2. Menelito Mansueto - #21 3. Ruben Balotol - #34 4. Dr. Ian Clark Parcon - #42 5. Dr. Aldrin Quintero - #50

  The Holy Cross of Davao College will be the host of the 16th Social Ethics Society Annual Conference in Davao City come February 2026. This was revealed by Dr. Rogelio Bayod, the conference chair and head organizer. The SES will be meeting on October 11, 2025 to decide on the theme of the conference. The prospective keynote speakers include Dr. Wataru Kusaka (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies), Dr. Layne Hartsell (Chulalongkorn University), Dr. Jeffry Ocay (Eastern Visayas State University), Fr. Jose Conrado Estafia (Holy Name University), Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera (MSU Marawi), and Dr. Bernardo Caslib Jr. (UP Manila). The Call for Abstracts will be released next month. 

  Dr. Randy Tudy will deliver his research paper entitled "Students' Attitudes and Motives for Using Artificial Intelligence: A Structural Model Development" on October 26, 2025 in the  Annual Yale University Global Justice Program Conference.  The theme of the hybrid event is, “Sustaining Justice: Food, Environment, and New Technologies.” The annual conference gathers scholars around the world to discuss solutions to the problem of poverty. It is organized by Dr. Thomas Pogge.  Dr. Tudy has been chosen as one of the fellows of the Academics Stand Against Poverty - Yale Global Justice Program for 2025. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Southeastern Philippines. He is a member of the BOD of the Social Ethics Society. 

  Ateneo de Davao University has awarded a publication incentive to Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc for his book The Politics of Peace and the Mindanao Problem: Tracing the Roots of a Historical Injustice. The book was published early in 2025 under Elzystyle Publishing. The information about the award was relayed to the author by Dr. Lourdesita Chan, the chairperson of the University Research Council.  The book was launched in July this year. The work examines the historical and structural reasons for the exclusion of the Bangsamoro. It also investigated the causal factors of poverty in the region. Dr. Goran Collste of Linköping University in Sweden wrote the Foreword while Dr. Mansoor Limba, the book publisher, penned the Introduction to the latest work of Dr. Maboloc. 

  An active peace educator, Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera, who is a full professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi, is an inspiring moral voice to her students and colleagues at MSU as well as the Social Ethics Society. Dr. Rivera pushed for the research on narratives on the ground during the Marawi siege, resulting in a highly original paper that gave voice to the struggles of civilians and the heroic deeds of ordinary folks who helped their fellow human beings escape the war that lasted for six months. Dr. Rivera holds a master's in philosophy from Ateneo de Manila University and has a doctorate degree in language studies from MSU Marawi. Recently, she presented a paper at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. She was also a speaker in a talk organized by the Philosophical Association of the Philippines in March. Dr. Rivera has spoken about her peace advocacy in various venues, including events hosted by Ateneo de Davao University and the Social Ethics Society. She accepted ea...

The Board of Directors of the Social Ethics Society, in a meeting held last September 6, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, has passed a resolution to withdraw its membership from the Union of Philosophical Societies and Associations in the Philippines (USAPP).  The Board also expressed, in a letter sent to SES members, that it is grateful to have been a part of USAPP and that it recognizes the honest efforts of the organization to empower philosophical associations, scholars, and academics in the country.  The Board added that the decision does not prevent any member of the SES to take part in any USAPP sponsored event nor preclude them from leaving the SES should they want to do so. The resolution is up for ratification by the General Assembly in February 2026. 

  Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc will present his paper "Addressing Poverty in Muslim Mindanao: Perspectives from Thomas Pogge and Iris Marion Young" in the ASAP - Yale Global Justice Program Annual Conference, 23 to 26 October 2025.  Dr. Maboloc will be presenting under the theme Labor Rights & Social Justice. The hybrid event will be participated in by global experts and scholars. It is organized by Dr. Thomas Pogge, the director of the Yale Global Justice Program.   

  Dr. Rogelio Bayod (North Valley College and Notre Dame of Marbel University) will be conference chair in the forthcoming 16th Social Ethics Society Annual Conference to be held at Holy Cross of Davao College in February 2026. The invited speakers include Dr. Wataru Kusaka (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies), Dr. Layne Hartsell (Chulalongkorn University), Fr. Jose Conrado Estafia (Holy Name University), Dr. Bernardo Caslib Jr. (UP Manila and Ateneo de Manila University), Dr. Jeffry Ocay (Eastern Visayas State University) and Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera (Mindanao State University - Marawi). The proposed theme of the conference is The Future of Philippine Democracy as seen in different lenses (contemporary politics, feminism, critical theory, human development, and ethics). The Call for Papers will be released before the end of October 2025. 

The Social Ethics Society condemns the widespread and systemic corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways now highlighted by ghosts flood control projects worth billions of pesos that have gone to waste and into the pockets of corrupt government officials. The Philippines has suffered from institutional failures and the most recent scandal in the country will only exacerbate the already difficult situation of the Filipino people.  The investigations done by the Office of Senator Panfilo Lacson, the hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, and the recent creation of the Independent Commission om Infrastructure are important mechanisms in exposing the corruption in the DPWH. But the investigations must conclusively lead to the roots of the scandal, - the budgetary insertions done by some members of Congress meant to serve their selfish interests.  The SES, as an organization, supports the efforts of civil society in holding protests to maintain public vigilan...

  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...

  Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera stands firm as a woman's voice for the Social Ethics Society. "Mindanao has its own unique philosophical identity and we are proud of it," says the full professor from Mindanao State University in Marawi. Dr. Rivera is the secretary of the SES.  A trailblazer in Peace Education, Dr. Rivera said she will lead the initiative to promote local knowledge. She plans to bring her colleagues to Waseda in the next edition of the conference. The SES has truly found its strength and woman power from within as the organization moves ahead of its time. 

  The delegates of the Social Ethics Society in the SES-PUP International Ethics Conference at Waseda University enjoyed a day tour around Tokyo through the generosity of Dr. Juichiro Tanabe who acted as their guide. The group visited Shibuya Crossing, the Meiji Shrine, the Tsukiji Fish Market, the Imperial Palace Garden, and the Tokyo Tower. They enjoyed sashimi, grilled ill, ramen, and the famous Kobe beef barbecue. Dr. Godiva Rivera expressed her elation as the group walked around Tokyo's neat and busy streets such as Shinjuku and Takadanobaba. They used the subway and Tokyo's expansive train network to visit the prominent tourist spots in the metropolis. Tokyo is beautiful, clean, and the locals are eager to help whenever one needs to ask for directions. 

  Dr. Ian Clark Parcon, editor of the SES Journal of Applied Philosophy, announced the Special Issue on Conference Proceedings for papers presented during the SES-PUP International Ethics Conference at Waseda University. A separate announcement will be made on a Call for Chapters for a book to be edited by Dr. Parcon and Dr. Juichiro Tanabe. The book is indexed in Scopus. All submissions are subject to regular review.  For the SES Journal Special Issue, please visit the journal website for the format. Send your manuscript to icrparcon@addu.edu.ph on or before October 31, 2025. 

  The SES-PUP International Ethics Conference was successfully concluded today, September 6, 2025 at the Center for International Education at Waseda University in Tokyo. Two more plenary lectures were delivered and another dozen papers were presented in the concurrent discussions during the day. Dr. Juichiro Tanabe, Conference Chair, formally closed the event.  Papers presented during the conference will be published in a special issue of the SES Journal of Applied Philosophy. A Call for Book Chapters will be released. Papers presented during the conference can be submitted subject to regular review. Prof. Agnes Oblefias thanked Waseda University and the SES for the successful conduct of the event. Dr. Ian Clark Parcon and Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera served as event hosts.