UNITAS Journal

The latest issue of Unitas, Volume 97, Number 1, presents a diverse array of scholarly articles exploring fields like constitutional law, literature, sociology, environmental studies, and architecture. Leading the issue is Jose Duke Bagulaya’s “Time as Constitutional Constraint: Temporal Limits and Emergency Powers in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.” His article explores the complex interplay between time and constitutional governance, explicitly examining the nuances of time constraints placed on emergency powers within the framework of Philippine law. Amado Anthony G. Mendoza III’s “Collating the Nation: The Disruption of the New Order and New Society’s National Narratives in the Novels of Seno Gumira Ajidarma and Edel Garcellano” examines how contemporary Filipino literature grapples with societal upheavals and the reconstruction of national identity. Susan Refalda Mercaida’s “Metonymy and Sociological Imagination in the Narratives of Filipino Migrant Workers” offers a sociological analysis of migrant experiences through the lens of metonymy. Her analysis explores how these narratives reflect broader societal structures and dynamics. Mylene C. Milan’s “Climate, Creativity, and Calamity: A Postcolonial Ecocritical Approach to Joanna Vasquez Arong’s To Calm The Pig Inside (2020)” tackles an ecocritical inquiry in film. Her article examines the intersections of climate change, creativity, and postcoloniality in contemporary Philippine cinema. Karlo Mikhail I. Mongaya’s “Letters from the Underground: Ang Bayan and the Construction of a Counterhegemonic Subjectivity during the Anti-dictatorship Struggle” continues the exploration of Philippine history and resistance. His article examines the role of underground publications in shaping counterhegemonic narratives during a significant period. The issue continues into a special section on architecture, beginning with Antonio L. Fernandez’s “Opening Doors to Transdisciplinarity in Architecture.” His critical introduction advocates for a holistic approach to architectural education and practice. Tan Chia Chia contributes to “Building Resilience from the Ground-Up: Making Places to Nurture Happy and Grounded Communities,” emphasizing the importance of community-centered design in sustaining resilience and well-being. Rene Francis Dimalanta and his co-authors deal with the challenges and opportunities of preserving urban heritage amidst rapid urbanization in “An Assessment of the Preservation of Calle Hidalgo as a Cultural Heritage Site in Quiapo District, Manila.” Finally, Rosheilla May S. Malit and Yi Yin Tsai’s “Regeneration of Dong Men Market in the Old Hsinchu City through Activity-Based Learning and ‘Local Linking’” explores innovative approaches to revitalizing historic urban spaces through community engagement and cultural preservation initiatives. UST’s UNITAS Journal, which celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2022, is the oldest academic multidisciplinary journal in the Philippines published by a modern university. UNITAS is indexed by the Modern Languages Association (MLA).