PhD ELS student wins research competition on Japan Studies聽

by Kassandra Buenafe, OfCom 聽 | Apr 06 2026

Diving into a cross-cultural conversation in the 8th Japan Studies Research and Development Competition (JSRDC) on March 21, 2026 at UP Asian Center, Diliman, a student from the Doctor of Philosophy in English Language Studies, Vincent Jhun O. Dorias, won first place in the graduate category of the competition with his ecolinguistics paper entry entitled, “Ky艒jo and Bayanihan in the News: An Exploration of Disaster Solidarity in Japan and the Philippines.”

Organized by the UP Asian Center and the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM), this intellectual gathering was composed of ten finalists coming from both undergraduate and graduate levels, bringing nuanced research undertakings exploring the culture of Japan and its intersections with the Philippine context.

Dorias’ paper put into focus the concept of resilience and collectiveness by comparing the practiced traditional aids in Japan and the Philippines. Competing against four other individuals, Dorias’ achievement was a result of his perseverance and grit. According to his Facebook post, this feat was “built through trust and faith.” He also expressed his gratitude to his adviser, Dr. Nelia Balgoa, a faculty member from the English Department, who helped in shaping his paper and introduced the said competition.

Dorias won an iPad mini as a grand prize. This win further proves the dynamic research interests of 91吃瓜-IIT students and demonstrates that when provided with the right opportunities and spaces, the IITian research branding consistently makes a mark and excels.

Topics :