Today, we remember and celebrate a well-lived life of a rural sociologist, Dr. Gelia T. Castillo, national scientist, of the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, who inspired generations of sociologists and social scientists here and abroad. Her passing yesterday afternoon, August 5, 2017, left many of us sad but with the voluminous significant works and researches she left behind, her academic legacy lives on.

As with many of her excellent engagements, Ma’am Gelia’s love and passion to our sociology profession was remarkable. She served our organization as PSS President (1965-1968), Vice-President (1968-1969; 1972-1973), and board member (1986-1988;1997-1999); as editor, contributor and international board adviser to our Philippine Sociological Review; and as PSS Honorary Member. Over the years, Ma’am Gelia’s presence in our PSS national conferences may be regarded as a testimony on what it truly means to be locally and deeply-grounded to Filipino social realities. This is her genre of thinking, teaching, and practicing sociology.

Our Philippine Sociological Society will continue to honor her academic legacy!

PAALAM po Ma’am Gelia at salamat sa inspirasyon ng sosyolohiyang inyong hinabi na nagbigay kulay at buhay sa ating propesyon.

Clarence M. Batan
PSS President 2017
**Thanks to Faye Gutierrez for providing PSS archival data.

WAKE/VIEWING UPDATES from Nina (daughter of Ma’am Gelia):

“There will be a mass on August 8, 2017, Tuesday, 11:00 AM at the Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory (12 G. Araneta Avenue, Brgy. Doña Imelda, Quezon City, Metro Manila). The mass will be followed by cremation.

“Nanay’s ashes will then be brought to the Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (inside University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus) for a wake in the afternoon.

“Tentative date of the funeral (pending National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) arrangements with Libingan ng mga Bayani) is on August 11, 2017, Friday, 12:00 noon.

“We ask for your prayers for Nanay. Thank you for your love and support through the years for my late Tatay (Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez Castillo) and my late Nanay (Gelia Tagumpay Castillo)!

“In lieu of flowers & as may be deemed fit by mourners — a donation to the Philippine Sociological Society (PSS) in Nanay’s honor is appreciated.”

PSS BANK DETAILS:
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Loyola Branch
Account name: Philippine Sociological Society
Current Account number: 3081-0840-32

For more information on PSS bank details, please contact Faye Gutierrez
@ 0917-621-7584 (Globe) or 0933-364-0836 (Sun).