Group photo with FEU academic officials and top representatives of international schools participating in the 1st Bintana International Conference. Photo by Zymon Bumatay.
With the theme “Humanities at the Second Advent of the Age of AI: Adoption, Integration, and Collaboration,” scholars spoke on language, literature, and philosophy and responded to the challenges of artificial intelligence during the 1st Bintana International Conference: “Studies, Analysis, Research Initiatives in the Humanities” last April 22 to 24 at Far Eastern University (FEU).
Prof. Kornwipa Poonpon of Khoen Kaen University-Thailand presented her lecture on “Language Assessment in the Age of AI”; Prof. Andrew Moody of the University of Macau lectured on “Pop Culture Enregisterment of McCartney’s R: British Bands and American Audiences”; Professor Emeritus Jose Dalisay of the University of the Philippines-Diliman presented his lecture on “Literature in the Time of AI”; Prof. Nurul Fateha of INTI International University and Colleges presented, via hybrid modality, a paper on “Contemporary Trends in Malaysian and Filipino Speculative Fiction in the Age of AI”; and Prof. Paolo Bolanos from the University of Santo Tomas presented a critical remark on AI with his lecture, “AI-Obsession and the Decline in Thinking”.
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Maria Teresa Trinidad Tinio welcomed the attendees, composed of 133 researchers and 57 participants who were present both in-person and hybrid modalities. Diego Jose R. Abad, dean of Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS), opened the conference. Dr. Dennis Pulido, conference chair, talked briefly about the conference rationale—highlighting the importance of research on the humanities, especially at the dawn of AI.
Hosted by FEU’s Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS) and its Department of Language and Literature (DLL), the conference saw the establishment of partnerships through a memorandum of agreement with several universities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Among the universities are Chung Hua University, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Sarasas Suvarnabhumi Institute of Technology, INTI International University and Colleges, Adamson University, Isabela State University, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Bukidnon State University, and Mindanao State University-General Santos City Campus. The ceremonial signing was held during the cultural night.
Faculty members of DLL also presented their papers. Ivan Dolph Fabregas, on “Students’ Perceived Usefulness and Satisfaction with ChatGPT in Writing: A Quantitative Analysis”; Fely Rose V. Manaois, on “Water, Water Everywhere”: The Cost of Transgression in Legends from Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija”; Mark Earvin Cervantes, on “Byung-Chul Han on the Dying Politics of Visibility”; Marko Antonio Da Silva, on “Tolerance and the Harm Principle”; Greg Dulay, on “The Non-Existence and Nothingness of the Self”; Carl Vincent Ong, on “It’s not Funny Anymore: A Defense of Michael Clark’s Incongruity Theory of Humor”; and Patrick Andre Mencias, on “The Ethical Charge of History: Emmanuel Levinas’ Concept of the Immemorial Past”.
“Bintana” was formally closed by DLL chair, Dr. Emmanuel Gonzales, who thanked the participants, the faculty members who supported the event, and the student organizations, as its co-organizers.
“Bintana” is an initiative of DLL for newly-hired faculty members to share their expertise among their colleagues, introduce their research interests, and invite collaborations for future research projects.
