A lecture on Homo luzonensis, the newly discovered hominid species in the Philippines, was held at Humboldt University (HU) on July 29, marking the launch of a joint Philippine Embassy-HU program to promote Philippine Studies.

The lecture, organized with the support of the Philippine Embassy, UP Alumni Association-Germany, and Philippine Studies Berlin, was delivered by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Armand Mijares, the Filipino scientist behind the recent discovery of Homo luzonensis.

A lecture on Homo luzonensis, the newly discovered hominid species in the Philippines, was held at Humboldt University (HU) on July 29, marking the launch of a joint Philippine Embassy-HU program to promote Philippine Studies.

The lecture, organized with the support of the Philippine Embassy, UP Alumni Association-Germany, and Philippine Studies Berlin, was delivered by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Armand Mijares, the Filipino scientist behind the recent discovery of Homo luzonensis.

According to Prof. Mijares, the discovery adds a new member to the genus Homo, which modern humans are part of. Along with archeological discoveries in other countries in the region, Homo luzonensis, which is estimated to be between 50,000 to 67,000 years old, makes Southeast Asia “an important evolutionary region.”

In her remarks during the event, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega said that the program’s launch is a “proud moment for the Philippines.” It coincides with the 250^th birth anniversary of German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, one of two namesakes of HU, as well as the 65^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Germany.

The Ambassador also highlighted the long history of academic/scientific exchange between our two countries, which goes all the way back to Dr. Jose Rizal’s visit to Germany in the late 19^th century. The Philippines’ National Hero referred to Germany as his “scientific mother country”, where he engaged in various intellectual pursuits, even becoming the only Asian member of the Berlin Anthropological Society.To this day, items donated by Dr. Rizal, such as fabrics and other cultural items, form part of the Berlin Ethnological Museum’s extensive collection of artifacts from different parts of the world.

Ms. Britta Baron, International Department Director, stressed HU’s commitment to the world, adding that “the Philippines is a very special, very remarkable part” of the University’s academic agenda. She expressed appreciation to the Philippine Government “for its dedication in fostering Philippine Studies”.

The program to promote Philippine Studies at HU is funded by a five million-peso Philippine Government grant made possible through the initiative of then Senator and now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Its implementation is being overseen by Dr. Rosa Cordillera Castillo, a Filipino associate professor at HU and active Philippine Studies advocate, under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Vincent Houben, Chair for Southeast Asian History and Society at HU’s Institute of Asian and African Studies.

The joint Philippine Embassy-HU program is composed of a series of projects to be implemented within a three-year period, which include academic conferences, Filipino language courses, lectures, and other similar activities. END