2 faculty members elected to NCCA subcommittee

Far Eastern University (FEU) strengthens its presence in the national cultural landscape as two of its faculty members, Dr. Emmanuel Gonzales and Dr. Juanito Anot Jr., were recently elected as members of the Executive Council in the National Commission for Culture and the Arts National Committee on Language and Translation (NCLT).

For Dr. Gonzales, who also serves as FEU’s Chair of the Department of Language and Literature under the Institute of Arts and Sciences, this election marks a continuation of his commitment to the field.

“This is actually my second term. I’m very happy for the chance to serve another term in this national committee that cares for, forwards, and strengthens our national language and the discipline of translation. It is a privilege to serve, not just the academe, but also the broader cultural community of the Philippines that actively advances these advocacies,” he said in Filipino.

Dr. Anot, who also serves as the director of FEU’s University Research Center, shares that his journey to the committee was marked by a pleasant surprise. After receiving an invitation to participate in the election, he decided to take a chance. He remarked that the competition was formidable with distinguished figures from the field across the country vying for positions.

“I was surprised because among those seeking to be elected were national artists, members of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and other well-known figures in language and translation, and people from other top schools [all over] the Philippines. Eventually, I got elected and I was happy, of course. Because before, I was just attending organization meetings as a member, but this time, I became a part of a national committee, not just as a member but as a part of the executive committee that makes decisions and policies,” Dr. Anot said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The role of NCLT members extends far beyond honorary titles. Dr. Gonzales outlined the committee’s significant responsibilities in advancing Filipino languages.

“The responsibility entails active participation in shaping national cultural policies, particularly in language and translation. Included in this is the analysis and recommendation of research grants which, in effect, gives direction to language and translation research. It’s also a part of our responsibility to represent the committee whenever there are discussions or programs on language and translation. We’re also given the privilege to build organizations of, for instance, teachers of language or translators,” he explained in a mix of English and Filipino.

“The responsibility of a committee member that I resonated with the most was that of research because that is my responsibility now in FEU,” said Dr. Anot in Filipino.

Dr. Gonzales views this appointment as an opportunity to advance both his professional growth, as well as FEU’s interests.

“This new role opens up new avenues for my professional growth by allowing me to engage with national level discourses and research initiatives, which also allows me to represent FEU. Being a part of this committee enhances my perspective as an educator as it broadens my knowledge in cultural, linguistic, and policy contexts that I can bring to the classroom…and helps me develop curricula that align with national priorities. It also enriches my teaching, research capacity, and community engagement. I know this is aligned with the FEU mission and vision of excellence, especially in the field of the humanities,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

A key priority for Dr. Anot is advancing the recognition and fair compensation of translators in the Philippines.

“While this may not be a new insight in the field, I support the professionalization of translation. Because when you go to other countries, they regard their translators highly and [these] are well compensated. Unlike here in the Philippines, when you ask someone to translate something for you, all you’re given is a simple token when the task of translation isn’t that simple or easy. In fact, our head, Dr. David San Juan, has drafted a policy on the professionalization of translation that they’re lobbying in [Congress],” said Dr. Anot in a mix of English and Filipino.

Dr. Gonzales shared that for this term, he wanted to focus on emerging translators and linguistic diversity, alluding to continuity and sustainability in the field.

“It is my hope to help projects that strengthen translation literacy and support the professional development of translators so we can allow for better accessibility of Filipino works. Apart from this, I also hope to discover and support programs that aim to document regional languages and preserve indigenous knowledge systems through translation. We are a multilingual country so it is necessary for us to create translations which will become the source of future generations of students of indigenous languages,” he said in Filipino.

Both faculty members emphasized their responsibility as representatives of FEU in this national platform.

“This allows me to represent FEU in the field of language and translation,” Dr. Gonzales said. Dr. Anot echoed this, adding that the position transcends personal achievement. “Even if it is our names that are written as members of the committee, we will always bear the university’s name,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Dr. Anot also highlighted how this aligns with FEU’s role as carers of heritage. “While FEU is known for being rich in tangible cultural heritage for housing many paintings and buildings, this might be an opportunity to make known that the intangible aspects of culture such as language are also upheld and protected here through our representation of the university in the field of language and translation,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.