07/05/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐จ-๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ 2
On April 21, 2026, the Philippine Sociological Society, in partnership with the Polytechnic University of the Philippinesโ Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Philippine League of Sociology Students - PUP Chapter, PUP Sociology Society, and SocioChronicles, held the PUP Socio-Caravan 2026 at the Claro M. Recto Hall of the PUP Main Building. The event featured talks from 6 faculty members of the department, detailing their own experiences as they took up their respective research journeys and highlighting how, as students, they too had the same โmessyโ struggles.
Throughout the event, members of the faculty who shared their insights and stories included Assoc. Prof. John Paolo Dalupang, who opened the event with a talk on how research is not symmetrical and, in the process of it, sociology researchers should always be mindful of the ethics that are in play with going into the field. Instructor Kristopher M. Tarca, on the other hand, expressed the struggles he had in conducting research, especially as a researcher in a changing academic scenery brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and a few personal reasons. Through his talk, Instructor Tarca highlighted how, as a researcher, one is expected to face a lot of emotional struggles and prevail. Assoc. Prof. Minami O. Iwayama followed, as she started teaching the students how to start their research papers, instilling the idea that outlining and knowing what you want as your thesis will benefit you greatly and most especially, will bring you joy throughout the whole process.
On the latter part of the event, Prof. Mark Anthony Quintos shared a lot of personal anecdotes throughout his undergraduate journey. Ultimately, he talked of how, in the process of making your thesis, one will be forced to reflect on what it is that they want, whether they can sustain their curiosity, and if they envision themselves contributing to the field of study in the future. Assoc. Prof. Ricky Rosales added to the discussion shortly after, exposing the demands of research, which involve a lot of sacrifices, sometimes in the form of forgotten social events and spiraling self-doubt. Assoc. Prof. Rosales also emphasized how being a researcher is an occupation grounded in humility where nothing is set in stone, and how students should always be open to change and learning, balancing things out quite well. Lastly, Prof. Clarence M. Batan set the scene for how sociology can be used as a tool for uncovering the hidden aspects of society and social life, challenging students to think of instances where they could make use of this tool and help the general public make sense of the unknown in the familiar.
The PUP Socio-Caravan 2026 is one of the first events that featured the real behind-the-scenes experiences of our esteemed faculties in doing research. This event is a reminder that even the best of us have bad days and to achieve what we aspire to be, we have to rise above, choose our battles, and maybe shed some tears.
In partnership with:
PUP Sociology Society
SocioChronicles
