The Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao Inc., or The Anthropological Association of the Philippines, held its 28th annual national conference at Silliman University, in Dumaguete City last week.

Silliman was also host to the 4th UGAT conference in 1981. About a hundred participants researchers, anthropology graduate students, teachers, and other related practitioners interested in the discipline, attended the conference.

The three-day conference was sponsored by the Philippine Social Science Council, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the UP Department of Anthropology.

Apart from holding annual national conferences and round-table discussions, UGAT sponsors symposia on various issues affecting indigenous peoples and related problems confronting the peasantry and the urban poor. It also undertakes research training to government organizations and non-government organizations, and seminar-workshops on health, literacy, nutrition and food technology, and people's advocacy affecting national policies.

The speech of Silliman University president Dr. Ben Malayang III was anchored on the theme, "The Philippines Unbound: Anthropological Critiques of Globalization." Welcome messages were given by Dr. Betsy Joy Tan, SU vice-president for academic affairs; City Administrator Engr. Dominador Dumalag Jr.; Vice-Governor Jose Baldado; and, Dr. Eufracio Abaya, UGAT president.*RG

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