The Social Ethics Society was founded in 2010 by the late Dr. Romulo Bautista, a professor at Ateneo de Davao University who did his doctorate on Marx at the University of Madrid in Spain, and Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc, then a young teacher at Ateneo de Davao. The first SES Conference was held at the University of Mindanao. Its original membership was only 15, consisting mainly of the masters students of the two founders. While in the peripheries of academia, the SES pursued its goals of helping teachers in Mindanao develop their craft in ways that is consistent with philosophy as an exercise of the human will and as the highest expression of the human intellect.
When its proponents presented the concept, it was suggested that the Union of Philosophical Societies and Associations in the Philippines (USAPP) will lobby for a new bill that will professionalize philosophy in the country. That was in 2018. Top UST philosophy academics, upon the invitation of Peter Elicor, attended the conference of the Social Ethics Society at Lake Sebu (Bro. Karl Gaspar was the keynote speaker). So far, that proposal has been moribund. The idea of being an umbrella organization for all philosophy associations in the country is ideal but it is not compulsory. The legal mandate is not there although we acknowledge the efforts and sincerity of USAPP.
Fr. Dexter Veloso, President of the SES, says that USAPP as a whole does not share the attitude and behavior of some members of its affiliate philosophical associations. There have been calls for USAPP to give guidance to these groups to police their own ranks, specifically on social media where personal attacks have been frequent. Prof. Migs Mansueto has explained that the reason for the attacks tends to be ideological and is due to political bias. Yet, the Board of Directors of the SES insulated itself from these things and considered such as personal issues involving some people. Meanwhile, USAPP has provided the SES with assistance in the past by sending speakers to two or three SES conferences at the expense of the former. Dr. Jove Jim Aguas has been kind and open to everyone. This the SES recognizes.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the SES was precisely founded to provide opportunities to academics in Mindanao most of whom had no chance to present their research papers in national conferences. As the SES grew, it also opened itself to scholars from other parts of the country. This started when Fr. Veloso entered the society and served as its president. A charismatic and a resourceful leader, he motivated the group to do more and even go international. SES members with the support of the good priest have joined events in Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. The SES also established linkages with top scholars abroad including Dr. Daniel Mishori (Tel Aviv), Dr. Juichiro Tanabe (Waseda),, Dr. Wataru Kusaka (Tokyo University), and Dr. Darryl Macer (AUSN). With Dr. Rogelio Bayod as the lead organizer of many of its events, SES achieved greater heights. The above scholars have come to Mindanao to deliver lectures in outlier universities and colleges. All of these happened without institutional funding from the said schools, except providing the venue. The SES, through Fr. Veloso, financed these activities.
The SES has nothing against USAPP but it actually wants to dissociate itself with some members of the other philosophical associations in the country. In fact, the SES as a whole has had fruitful relationships with other nstitutions. It has existing Memorandum of Agreements with various universities, including the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Bohol Island State University, and North Valley College, and has collaborated with MSU-IIT, Waseda University, Cor Jesu College, MSU - General Santos, the University of Southern Mindanao, Notre Dame of Marbel University, Nagoya University, and the University of Mindanao. As of the moment, the SES Board of Directors respects the decision of its President to hold things in abeyance. The recent malicious attacks against it only proves the point as to why it seeks to maintain its independence from any institutional attachments. Philosophy should be about the free conduct of inquiry away from the prejudice of any single ideology. The SES has members with different political leanings but it is tolerant, open, and respects the political opinion of each.
- Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD (Chairman, SES Board of Directors)