Social Shifts
Love, Courtship, and Marriage in the Philippines: Social and Familial influences in Maramag, Bukidnon
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Julian Madison
A fascinating part of the human experience is the number of traditions societies adhere to. This is particularly true in small and mid-sized towns. Traditions may die in cities because of all the outside influences in these places. However, traditions and cultural influences remain strong in areas with little media influence and few visitors. This is particularly true in the Philippines. Here, familial and cultural influences can control who a person courts and who marries whom. This research details how these influences affect courtship and marriage in Maramag, Bukidnon, a town of about 108,000 people, located in the center of Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippine archipelago. In many Western societies, courtship is straightforward. Two people meet, date, and if all goes well, they marry. Although it happens from time to time, families are not too involved when adults date and marry. The Philippines is different in that parents (especially mothers), money, and social status, are significant factors as to whether a courtship and/or marriage takes place. This is certainly true of Maramag, a place whose culture and societal influences, mirror other small and mid-sized towns in this country. In many instances, love is just part of the reason to marry but may not be enough for parents to approve a possible wedding. This investigation delves into the factors, processes, and influences a couple may have to navigate to marry.
“Crossing the River”: A Curious Case of Migration from Laos to Thailand
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Le Thao Chi Vu
Migration is often a significant decision for individuals and families. However, when crossing a border is as simple as "crossing the river," as in the case of migration from Laos to Thailand, it can become a daily activity. People move for necessities, jobs, leisure, or even as a means of escape. Over the past three years, severe inflation in Laos has further driven an exodus of people, including government officials, seeking better opportunities abroad. This phenomenon challenges the traditional concept of the nation-state and raises questions about the meaning of national identity. It also underscores critical issues regarding the Lao government’s capacity to address the needs of its citizens. When people find it easier to pursue opportunities abroad rather than rely on domestic systems, it reveals significant gaps in governance, economic development, and social support. This research examines Lao migration through historical and social perspectives, exploring what borders mean to the Lao people and how cross-border mobility influences their lives. It also aims to highlight the challenges faced by the Lao government in adapting to these dynamics and meeting the expectations of its citizens.
From Campus to Community: The Role of UWI Student Volunteers in Fostering Wellbeing and Integration for Migrant and Refugee Children in Trinidad and Tobago
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Nicole Roberts
While refugee and migrant children in some Caribbean countries (for example Guyana and the Dominican Republic) have access to basic schooling, this is not the case in Trinidad and Tobago despite its status as a signatory to the 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child (as well as the later ratification in 1991). In July/August 2023, the Centre for Language Learning (CLL) and the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (DMLL) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in collaboration with UNICEF, worked on a project to test over 300 migrant kids to determine their level of readiness for entering primary schools in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite this assessment and its results, migrant children continue to exist in a restrictive environment in Trinidad and Tobago; barred from accessing government schools. Following the testing initiative and coming out of a need signalled therein, the CLL and the DMLL organised a community-based project to engage migrant kids in the St Augustine area in English, Reading Comprehension (in English) and Mathematics thus promoting their social development while at the same time enhancing university/community collaboration. This paper analyses the work conducted by the 40 volunteer university students in a planned sixteen-week pilot learning project with migrant kids from the St Augustine area; evaluating the project as well as the volunteers both from a community perspective as well as the process. The paper also provides recommendations for improvement as well as continued work in this area.
