Below is PSS President Dr. Filomin Candaliza-Gutierrez’s concluding address at the 2015 PSS National Conference. 

The 2015 National Conference of the PSS hosted more than 250 registrants, 85 paper presenters, 40 institutions, 10 faculty local organizers, 40 student volunteers, 3 plenary sessions, 2 featured panels and 21 parallel sessions.

As an indication of how engaged the participants are in this year’s conference, our plenary sessions were flooded with questions and comments from the floor. Moreover, despite the 3 to 4 parallel sessions, the parallel session rooms were packed with audience participants. The presentors were impressive but highly prepared; challenged and tested by the audience but ultimately encouraged.

I personally believe that the conference was dynamic, vibrant, sometimes emotional, but definitely engaged. As paper presentors, we should never get disheartened upon seemingly critical comments. Whenever we present a paper, write a manuscript for peer-review, we boldly step forward, risk making a fool of ourselves. But this is what we do, this is what we strive to transcend in order better ourselves as sociologists and social researchers.

I am particularly impressed by quality of participation of very young sociologists in this conference. From undergraduate paper presenters who delivered their first conference papers, to MSU-IIT undergraduate students who published a piece at the Philippine Sociological Review, to the most dedicated volunteers who devoted their time and effort in making the conference the most enjoyable experience to all participants — I have every reason to believe that the future of sociology in the Philippines is bright.

To all PSS Members, conference participants, paper presenters, and to our generous hosts, MSU-IIT Chancellor, Department of Sociology faculty and students, on behalf of the PSS Board, congratulations and thank you for your commitment to the objective of the conference.

See you next year, but hopefully, much sooner.

Kalinaw!

Ging Gutierrez, PSS President