EWCA Discussion Board

By Jovel Ananayo

Research Topic: Tourism and World Heritage Site Conservation: A Case Study of the Tourism Program of the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo) in Ifugao Province, Philippines.

Uhaj Kabataan Nursery

There are two major objectives of the field work that I conducted over the summer. First is to gather secondary and primary data for my research and second is to have firsthand exposure on the conditions in the project sites. In order to accomplish my first objective, I visited various offices such the SITMo, Ifugao Provincial Tourism Office, and the regional office of the Department of Tourism and gathered information from their reports, financial records, and other documents. Moreover, I conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants such as the Chief Operations Officer of SITMo, the organization’s eco-tourism coordinator and tour guides. I also went on field to the areas where the eco-tourism programs are actually being undertaken. While at the project sites, I did semi-structured interviews with community people who are actively involved with SITMo’s tourism projects. Not only did the interviews provided me with rich and useful insights but my visit to the sites also afforded me an actual exposure which is very useful when writing my research. The informal interviews and interactions with local people provided me with interesting information and better understanding of prevailing local tourism situations which will enrich the content of my research.

Jovel Ananayo conducting an interview in Ifugao Province

From the above activities, I was able to collect data on tourist arrivals, tourism receipts, descriptions and status of ongoing heritage tourism projects, and the project impacts on the local culture, economy, and the environment. These are basically the necessary data that I need to accomplish my research.

By Kongkea Chhoeun

Kongkea Chhoeun interview with Her Excellency Ou Vuddy, Deputy General Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Council for Land Policy, July 30, 2008

I was doing a research project on “the determinants of Cambodian cultural values on the Civil Service Reform” during the summer. It was an enriching learning experience and had further deepened my interest and knowledge in Public Sector Reforms in Cambodia. It was a very successful project. Based on the result, I am strongly encouraged to build on this work and include it as part of my thesis. Continue Reading »

By Mayco Santaella

Mayco next to famous Megalith, characteristic of Central Sulawesi

There are a number of accomplishments that I was able to achieve this summer in relation to my field of study. After taking five planes, I arrived in Palu, the capital city of Central Sulawesi.

During my stay, I was able to experience first hand the culture of the region focusing on its music. I was invited to participate in a concert held in Jakarta that functioned as a tourist and economical promotion of the region to other investors and ambassadors that attended the event. Continue Reading »

This year, 10 EWCA travel grants were awarded to deserving students to pursue their research or attend conferences during the summer to further their education. Four grants were funded by the EWCA Hawaii Chapter and the remaining six from the EWCA.

We will start a series called TGS (Travel Grant Series) to feature the write-ups of the travel grant recipients. Today we start with Mayco Santaella of Argentina, who traveled to Indonesia to research the area’s traditional Sulawesi music.

Enjoy!

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Richard A. Via, former East-West Center Visiting Fellow and Research Staff, on August 13, 2008.

From the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, Richard Via’s life centered on Broadway theatre, both as actor and stage manager. It was during the “Hello, Dolly!” run in Japan that Via became enamored with Japanese culture, and subsequently applied for and received a Fulbright award to teach in Japan. Continue Reading »

By Beryl Yang

Students showing off their purchases from the bazaar

This week, with the arrival of almost 160 new students, the EWCA Hawaii Chapter, the Friends of EWC and the EWC Alumni Office organized a bazaar of gently-used kitchen and household items at the EWC Friendship Circle. Most items sold for less than a dollar and, near the end of the event, remaining items were even given away for free.

Many new EWC students walked away with boxes and shopping bags filled with kitchen supplies and useful items. Below, a group of students show off their new stuff; it looks like they are all set to cook up some onolicious grinds for this year’s potlucks!

There is a wonderful post on the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony up on the East-West Views site by EWC alumna Barbara Bornet Stumph (’65-’66), current chapter leader of the EWCA Northern California chapter.

To view the post click here.

Special thank you to Garrett Kam who resides in Bali and provided the following information.

Indonesian electric current is 220 volts, so make sure you bring a transformer for any electrical equipment. The sockets here have two round plugs, so you should bring an adaptor as well. The hotel may have a few, but with so many people coming they may be in short supply so better to bring your own.

Indonesian plug and socket

Continue Reading »

By Itsuko Suzuki (’62-’64)

It’s that time of the year - when new participants arrive at the East-West Center to begin their respective programs. The excitement is palpable at the Center as things gear up in anticipation of their arrival.

This year 160 students will be arriving this weekend and will take part in various orientation programs scheduled by the East-West Center Education Program. Here is a sample of the types of activities going on at the East-West Center in the upcoming weeks:

August 9 - 11: Welcome Reception by current students and Hawaii Chapter alumni volunteers will be ongoing as each student arrives during this time.

August 11, 4:00 pm: Hawaii Alumni and Friends of the East-West Center are putting on a Bazaar Sale of used kitchen items for arriving students to help them furnish their rooms for a nominal price (10 - 50 cents per item). The small profit that is made will be given to the EWCPA to be used for student activities.

August 12 - 22: The Education Department is putting on a two-week student orientation chaired by Laurel Dudley.

August 13: The Alumni Office is hosting a pizza lunch to welcome new students and give them an opportunity to meet with alumni.

August 23, 11 am - 2 pm: The EWCA Hawaii Chapter will be hosting their annual picnic at Kapiolani Park, giving the opportunity for alumni to mingle with new students. Approximately 250 people, including participant’s families, will be gathering for this event.