The UST Department of Filipino and the UST Sentro sa Salin at Araling Salin (Center for Translation and Translation Studies) together with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) (Commission on the Filipino Language) held a three-day national conference on translation at the University of Santo Tomas. Titled “Hasaan 7,” the conference was held from August 5 to 7, 2019 at the UST-AMV Multipurpose Hall.
UST Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, delivered the welcome remarks and KWF Chair and National Artist Hon. Virgilio S. Almario was the keynote speaker. He emphasized the need for clear-cut agenda that will set the direction and orientation of translation in the Philippines. This agenda may start with the use of Filipino as target language of translation while strengthening the other indigenous languages in the country.
With the conference theme “Ang Papel ng Pagsasalin sa Interaktibong Ugnayan ng Wikang Pambansa at Mga Katutubong Wika,” (The Role of Translation in the Interactive Relationship of the National and Indigenous Languages), the event was held in celebration of the Buwan ng Wika 2019 (National Language Month), which itself had the theme of “Wikang Katutubo: Tungo sa Bansang Filipino” (Indigenous Languages: Toward a Filipino Nation).
The following experts served as plenary speakers of the conference: National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Philippines Academician and UST Professor Emeritus Fortunato B. Sevilla III, Ph.D., on the topic, “Ang Halaga ng Katutubong Wika sa Pagsasalin sa Agham” (The Value of the Indigenous Language in the Translation in Science); University of the Philippines Professor Galileo S. Zafra, Ph.D., on the topic, “Ang Ambag ng Pagsasalin sa Pagpapaunlad ng Wikang Pambansa” (The Contribution of Translation in the Development of National Language); UST Associate Professor Arthur P. Casanova, Ph.D., on the topic, “Mga Praktika ng Pagsasalin ng Dula mula sa Cebuano/Binisaya Tungong Filipino” (The Practices of Translation of Play From Cebuano/Binisaya to Filipino); UP Diliman Assistant Professor Jayson D. Petras on the topic, “Ang Pagdalumat ng Katutubong Kamalayan sa Pagsasalin sa Sikolohiya” (The Conceptualization of the Indigenous Consciousness in the Translation in Psychology); UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Professor Maria Minerva P. Calimag, M.D., Ph.D., on the topic “Ang Papel ng Wikang Katutubo sa Pagsasalin para sa Literasing Pangkalusugan” (The Role of the Indigenous Language in the Translation for Health Literacy); UST Department of Filipino Chair Asst. Prof. Alvin Ringgo C. Reyes on the topic, “Ang Pagsasalin Bilang Estratehiya sa Pagtuturo” (Translation as a Teaching Strategy); and National Bureau of Investigation Lawyer Atty. Rolando A. Bernales, Ph.D., on the topic, “Mga Legal na Perspektiba: Ang Pagsasalin Bilang Propesyon” (Legal Perspectives: Translation as a Profession).
The three-day conference culminated with a panel discussion on the current state of translation in the country led by Asst. Prof. Wennielyn F. Fajilan, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Center, and participated in by Filipinas Institute of Translation Chair and UP Diliman Associate Professor Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr., Ph.D., KWF Translation Division Chief John Enrico C. Torralba, Cultural Center of the Philippines Senior Culture and Arts Officer Beverly W. Siy, and LEXCODE Country Director for the Philippines Christine T. Ignacio.
During the conference, Filipino Department Chair Asst. Prof. Reyes led the launch of the journal named Hasaan. It is an annual, interdisciplinary, refereed, open access journal in Filipino that shares the same name as the national conference.
Hasaan 7 convened translators, Filipino teachers, language researchers, media practitioners, and concerned government employees to discuss the latest issues, problems and trends in translation practice, assessment of translation quality, and professionalization of translators in the Philippines. An election of interim officers who will work on the cause of the professionalization of translation in the country was also held on the last day.
