DILIMAN, Quezon City — In observance of International Human Rights Day, the University of the Philippines (UP) Padayon Public Service Office and the UP Bangsamoro Studies Group hosted a webinar titled Silang mga Walang Pangalan: Narratives of Stateless Persons from the Sulu Archipelago. The event, held on December 10, 2024 via Zoom, aimed to spotlight the struggles of stateless persons in Sabah and explore potential solutions.
In a press release, the UP Padayon Public Service Office said the forum sought to raise awareness of the socio-historical and political contexts that led to the mass exodus of individuals from the Sulu Archipelago to Sabah, while also advocating for policies that support their welfare.
Dishan Pilar, Junior Project Associate of the UP Padayon Public Service Office, highlighted the university's public service mission, stating, “[UP] must confront the issues that are often sidelined and maximize the university’s platform to work towards the full realization of human rights, including those deprived of citizenship and nationality.”
The UP Padayon Public Service Office, under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, leads initiatives to mobilize university resources for public service while fostering collaboration with stakeholders. Its involvement in the event underscores its commitment to addressing systemic inequities.
Shariful Hashim Mansul, founding member of the UP Bangsamoro Studies Group, emphasized the significance of focusing on people’s lived experiences: “Mahalaga ito kasi we’re talking about the real lives of people. We're not talking about concepts, ideas attached to people. We're talking about and we're beginning with people.”
Mansul also underscored the invisibility of stateless persons in public discourse and the urgency of drawing attention to their struggles. “We’re trying to look at authorities and say, ‘you have to put your attention to this.’ Kasi ang dami nilang problems na largely invisible sa atin ngayon. At kailangan nating bigyan ng boses ‘yun,” he said.
The UP Bangsamoro Studies Group, a platform for collaboration among scholars and advocates on the Bangsamoro and related issues, partnered in the webinar as part of its mission to advance understanding and advocacy for marginalized communities.
Live-streamed on the official Facebook and YouTube pages of UP Padayon Public Service Office, the forum also extended its reach to a wider audience. It included a Q&A session that allowed attendees to discuss actions and engage with the speakers.