By:  Marjorie Sapin

A public lecture co-hosted by the Philippine Sociological Society and sponsored by the Sociology-Anthropology department of the Mindanao State University – Marawi City was held last 27 February at the IPDM Convergence Hall in MSU Main Campus, Marawi City. The lecture was part of the celebration of the Socio – Anthro days headed by Prof. Maylanie Sani Boloto, the current chairperson of Sociology – Anthropology Department.

Dr. Nicole Curato and Dr. Jayeel Cornelio presented back-to-back presentations followed by an open forum. Dr. Cornelio, a sociologist of religion, lectured on the topic “Is religion dying? An invitation to the sociology of religion”. Dr. Curato a political sociologist, on the other hand, discussed on “ The Presidency in the age of Misery: Discursive Legitimacy in Contemporary Politics.”

An audience of more than 200 consisting of faculty members and students of related disciplines in the said university attended the lectures. The number of participants was overwhelming, such that sociology majors had to close the door of the main lobby as the venue could no longer accommodate more participants in what had become a ‘standing room only’ event. The public lecture was also interactive which kept the audience engaged with the lectures presented by the speakers.

Truly no amount of words can describe how amazed students like myself were with both speakers. We are astonished and grateful by the overwhelming energy of the crowd who remained with us from the start to the end. Never had we expected a crowd of such enthusiastic listeners like that. The speakers were brilliant and their lectures were thought-provoking. Jenalyn Majestrado, a 3rd year sociology student, added that “ It was an amazing experience and we still could not get over with it. It was indeed a fruitful session for us and we are ever thankful for the knowledge that Dr. Curato and Dr. Cornelio have imparted to us.”

Majorie Sapin is a sociology student at MSU-Marawi.