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Why Join the SES Conference?



The Social Ethics Society (SES) Conference is the annual philosophy conference organized by the Social Ethics Society, the first professional organization of philosophy teachers, researchers, and graduate students primarily based in Mindanao (Southern Philippines). Its current President is Fr. Dexter Veloso, a priest and academic leader known for his charismatic approach. Founded in 2010 by the late Dr. Romulo Bautista and Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc in Davao City, the SES has grown into a significant platform for philosophical discourse, with its conference typically held every year (historically in October, though recent editions like the 16th in 2026 shifted to February at venues such as Holy Cross of Davao College), an event chaired by Dr. Rogelio Bayod.

Its contributions to philosophy in the Philippines include:

  • Decentralizing and regionalizing philosophical activity — Philippine philosophy has long been Manila-centric, dominated by elite institutions in the capital. The SES Conference provides a dedicated venue for researchers from Mindanao and the Visayas to present, discuss, and publish work, fostering a more inclusive national philosophical community. It highlights regional voices, concerns (e.g., peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas like Bangsamoro/Mindanao, structural injustice, and local ethics), and helps elevate Mindanao-based philosophers in broader discourse.
  • Promoting applied philosophy and social ethics — Conferences focus on timely, practical themes such as Philippine politics and democracy (e.g., radical democracy critiques during the Duterte era), ethics in contemporary society, marginalization, COVID-19 ethics, peace and conflict studies, education/moral education failures, global justice, AI ethics, and sustainable development. Past examples include "Political Philosophy in the Time of Terror" (2017) and recent ones addressing moral education's role in responsible citizenship. This emphasis on applied and socially relevant philosophy bridges academic theory with real-world Philippine issues.
  • Encouraging scholarly output and publication — Many papers presented at SES conferences are developed into publications in the affiliated Social Ethics Society Journal of Applied Philosophy (an open-access, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal founded alongside the organization, publishing biannually and indexed in sources like the ASEAN Citation Index). The conference serves as a pipeline for emerging and established scholars to refine ideas, receive feedback, and contribute to journals, books (e.g., edited volumes like Ethics in Contemporary Philippine Society), and national/international visibility.
  • Building community, mentorship, and international linkages — It gathers ethics/philosophy educators, graduate students, and researchers for plenary lectures, concurrent sessions, and discussions. It has featured prominent Filipino thinkers (e.g.,  Dr. Jeffry Ocay on critical theory) and international scholars (e.g. Wataru Kusaka, Juichiro Tanabe, John Weckert, Goran Collste, and Daniel Mishori). It has expanded through collaborations, including international events (e.g., the 2025 SES-PUP International Ethics Conference at Waseda University, Tokyo, co-organized with partners like the Polytechnic University of the Philippines). This fosters mentorship for younger scholars and positions Mindanao philosophy within global conversations.
  • Advancing underrepresented perspectives — By prioritizing themes like marginalized voices, Southern theory, and issues affecting underrepresented groups/regions, the conference contributes to diversifying philosophical inquiry in the Philippines beyond traditional Western-centric or elite-focused approaches. Key and emerging figures include Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera, Dr. Arnel Morte, Dr. Sheldon Agaton, Menelito Mansueto, Dr. Rogelio Bayod, Dr. Ian Clark Parcon, Benjiemen Labastin, Ruben Balotol, Dr. Randy Tudy, and Gerry Arambala, all of whom have produced and published notable works on social and political philosophy, radical politics, peace education, and public health.

Overall, the SES Conference has played a key role in nurturing a vibrant, ethically oriented philosophical scene in Mindanao and the South, supporting the production of contextually relevant knowledge, and helping make Philippine philosophy more pluralistic, engaged, and impactful beyond traditional centers of power. It continues actively, with ongoing calls for papers and events reflecting its commitment to truth, social action, and societal betterment.

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