Conference Theme

The Role of Literature and Language in Cultural Capital

Cultural capital, as defined by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, encompasses the non-financial social assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means. Literature and language are integral components of cultural capital, shaping identities, values, and worldviews. On the one hand, the study of literature enables individuals to gain insight into the human experience, fostering cultural appreciation and sensitivity. Language education, on the other hand, equips learners with the skills to communicate effectively, capacitating them to engage with diverse perspectives and navigate complex social landscapes. By bringing together diverse perspectives on literature and language teaching and learning, this conference will contribute to a deeper understanding of how literature and language can serve as powerful tools for social transformation and cultural preservation.

ICLE 2025 SPEAKERS

Dr. Jazmin B. Llana

College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University, Manila

Jazmin Badong Llana is a professor of drama, theater and performance studies at the Department of Literature, De La Salle University. In Philippine academia she pioneered the teaching and practice of performance studies and has organized academic conferences and other events that explored the productive uses of the performance paradigm in the context of the Philippines. She is the president of Performance Studies international and is an associate editor of Performance Research, the Routledge journal of the performing arts. She is a member of the Executive Council of the National Committee on Dramatic Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. She is a member of the CHED Technical Panel for the Performing Arts. Her research interests are in the areas of cultural performance, religion and performance, performance and politics, and the radical potentials of performance as method

Dr. Aneeta Sundararaj

Author, Taperstry of the Mind and Other Stories
Penguin Random House Southeast Asia

Aneeta Sundararaj is an award winning short story writer and a number of her stories have been included in a collection called 'Tapestry of the Mind and Other Stories' (Penguin Random House SEA, June 2024). Aneeta trained and practised as a lawyer before pursuing her dream of writing. She has also been published in many magazines, ezines and journals, including more than 250 feature articles in the Malaysian newspaper, the 'New Straits Times'. Her book projects include her bestselling novel, 'The Age of Smiling Secrets' which was shortlisted for the Anugerah Buku 2020 organised by the National Library of Malaysia and is currently being translated into Bahasa Indonesia. She has spoken at various festivals such as Ubud Readers and Writers Festival 2024, Bangalore International Literature Festival 2024, Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, India 2025 and Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2025. Throughout, Aneeta continued to pursue her academic interests and, in 2021, successfully completed a doctoral thesis entitled ‘Management of Prosperity Among Artistes in Malaysia’. To know more about her work, visit her websites:http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com and http://aneetasundararaj.com.

Dr. Ma. Rhodora Ancheta

University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Dr. Maria Rhodora G. Ancheta is a professor at the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines at Diliman and is currently the coordinator for the English Studies: Literature (Anglo-American Literature) Program, teaching American literature. She specializes in humor studies, especially on humor and popular cultural forms in Filipino and American culture, and in everyday life and domestic cultures, sociology of the body, and the Bakhtinian carnivalesque. Her book, Halakhak: National Humor in Filipino Popular Cultural Forms (2017), was nominated for the National Book Award for Best Literary Criticism, and she contributed to the National Book Award winning books, Philippine Modernities: Music, Performing Arts, and Language, 1880-1941 (2018), and Saysay Himig: A Sourcebook on Philippine Music History 1880-1941 (2018).

She was a past research fellow at the Center for Popular Cultural Studies at Bowling Green State University at Bowling Green, Ohio. She was a fellow of the USIS Summer Institute at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She was also a Visiting Professor at the National Huaqiao University in Quanzhou, China, and was deputy director for editorial at the University of the Philippines Press, and was president of the American Studies Association of the Philippines.

Dr. Ravelina Velasco

Vice President for Academic Affairs, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija

Dr. Ravelina R. Velasco is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and former Dean of the College of Fisheries at Central Luzon State University (CLSU). An esteemed researcher in aquaculture, she has contributed to tilapia breeding, sustainable fisheries, and technology commercialization. With a Doctorate in Aquaculture, she led the Philippine National Tilapia Breeding Program and initiatives on probiotics in pond culture. Her leadership helped CLSU achieve AUN QA certification, develop new programs, and expand global partnerships. Dr. Velasco’s work bridges research and industry, advancing fisheries science and higher education in the Philippines.

Dr. Christopher P. Monterola

Asian Institute Management, Makati City

With over a decade of dedicated service at PSHS-MC, Dr. Christine Joy Aguila is a Special Science Teacher V in the Filipino Unit of the Humanities Department, while also serving as the QMSO Internal Quality Lead Auditor. Having earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Filipino as a DOST scholar in 2020, she has been honored with prestigious awards, including the Metrobank Outstanding Filipinos for Teachers in 2022, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Ulirang Guro National Awardee in 2018, and Gawad Sulo for Outstanding Public Service and Excellent Performance Awardee from Philippine Normal University.

Her contributions have been recognized within the PSHS System, receiving accolades such as the Cleofe M. Bacungan & PSHS Foundation Natatanging Guro Awardee in 2021 and the Sinagtala Teaching Awardee in 2020.

Beyond her professional endeavors, she is an active advocate for the Filipino language,

engaging in local and international platforms as a resource speaker, researcher, mentor, and trainer, contributing significantly to the enhancement of educational programs and outreach initiatives across the country.

Dr. Christine Joy DR Aguila

Philippine Science High School - Main Campus

Beyond her professional endeavors, she is an active advocate for the Filipino language,

Mr. Michael Jude C. Tumamac (Xi Zuq)

University of Mindanao and UP Open University

M.J. Cagumbay Tumamac, also known as Xi Zuq, is an author, translator, editor, and consultant of children’s books in the different languages and from the different regions of the Philippines. Some of his works were awarded the National Children’s Book Award, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino’s Talaang Ginto, and the Severino Reyes Medal for Outstanding Books for Children. A product of the University of the Philippines Diliman, he currently teaches at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UP Mindanao and the Faculty of Education at the UP Open University. He is also the administrative head of the independent publishing house Aklat Alamid and a member of the Sarangani Writers League. Lastly, he practices bibliotherapy for children affected by disasters and armed conflicts, as well as anthropology to understand childhood and the cultural productions in his home region of southern Mindanao.

Dr. Joel M. Torres

Central Luzon State University

Dr. Joel Mayo Torres is a distinguished scholar and educator whose contributions to the field of Applied Linguistics have been both profound and far-reaching. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics degree from De La Salle University, which he completed in less than three years.

His professional career is a proof to his dedication and expertise in the field of education. Currently Dr. Torres is a Full-Professor VI at the Department of Language, Culture and Arts Education, College of Education, Central Luzon State University.

A prolific researcher with an impressive portfolio of more than 30 published works in reputable international journals. His research interests span a wide range of topics, including the composing processes of students, pandemic teaching experiences, and the phonological features and acceptability of Philippine English. His scholarly contributions have not only advanced the field of linguistics but have also provided practical solutions to contemporary educational challenges. His work is characterized by its depth, rigor, and relevance, making him a leading voice in his field. In 2021, his research paper was recognized as one of the most Scopus-cited research articles in the humanities, arts and education cluster. He is always invited as research evaluator and speaker in universities’ in-house reviews for on-going and completed projects.

He has delivered numerous lectures and workshops on various aspects of language education, research methodologies, and educational leadership. His ability to engage and inspire audiences is well-documented, and his presentations are known for their clarity and practical applicability. His expertise and eloquence make him an invaluable resource for educators, researchers, and students alike.

He is also a reviewer in Scopus indexed and internationally-refereed journals. His indexes as author are as follows: Google Scholar 13 h-index and 14 i10-index; and Scopus 6 h-index. His wealth of knowledge, coupled with his passion for education, promises to make his session both enlightening and invigorating.

Dr. Joey Andrew L. Santos

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

A sociocultural linguist, Dr. Joey Andrew Lucido Santos writes primarily in the areas of language and gender/sexuality, linguistic/semiotic landscape, and (critical) discourse analysis. He draws theoretical ideas from queer theory, multi-modality/semioticity, and intersectionality to interrogate the discursive formation of gender identities in place/space and their intersection with other lived experiences. Recently, he develops interest on applied sociolinguistics in language education, particularly on the embodiment of meaning-making process in EMI classrooms, and on the sociolinguistics of queer nightlife. His papers have been published in peer-reviewed and scopus-indexed journals. Dr. Santos holds a competitive straight PhD in English as an International Language, a 4-year program which he completed in 3 years, from Chulalongkorn University under the ASEA Doctoral Scholarship. He has served as a visiting scholar at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Currently, he is assistant professor at the Language Center, and a researcher at the EMI Research Division, Office of Bilingual Education Initiatives, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.