Benjiemen Labastin (full name often Benjiemen A. Labastin or Benjiemen Aban Labastin) is a Filipino philosopher, academic, and administrator based in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines.
Key details about his profile:
Current Position: Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at La Salle University (LSU) in Ozamiz City (as of AY 2025-2026). He is also an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy department/program.
Academic Expertise: Specializes in political philosophy, democratic theory, Philippine democracy/politics, hermeneutics, post-modernism, and related areas like critical engagement, radical politics, and applied ethics. His work frequently analyzes contemporary Philippine issues, especially the Duterte era (e.g., "Dutertismo" as a contested form of populism/authoritarianism vs. substantive democracy).
Notable Publications:
"Two Faces of Dutertismo: Two Visions of Democracy in the Philippines" (2018, Social Ethics Society Journal of Applied Philosophy – his most cited work, exploring authoritarian vs. substantive democratic interpretations of Duterte's leadership).
Co-editor/author of Radical Politics in the Philippines: A Reader (2022, with co-authors like Menelito Mansueto, Gerry Arambala, etc.).
"Feenberg's Instrumentalization Theory or MASIPAG's Struggle against Corporate Control of Agricultural Technologies?" (2019, Kritike).
Book review and articles on Habermas's deliberative democracy applied to the Philippines, moral dilemmas, and critical models.
Active in journals like Budhi, Kritike, and Social Ethics Society publications.
Professional Networks: Involved in Philippine philosophy circles, including the Social Ethics Society (SES) since its early days (mentioned in its history as an early member. He is advising papers on local issues like Subanen displacement in Ozamiz). His work connects to broader Mindanao/Northern Mindanao academic networks.