faculty news

Lee presents papers at world congress on sexology

Dr. Romeo Lee, Behavioral Sciences Department chairperson and associate professor, presented two research-based papers at the 16th World Congress on Sexology held from March 10 to 14 in Havana, Cuba.
His first paper discussed the status of and challenges to men’s access to sexual and reproductive health in the Philippines. He argued that while Filipino men have been given some access, the provision, through the public health system, has been limited to family planning and STD/AIDS. Lee recommended to encompass other interrelated concerns such as gender violence and testicular and prostatic cancer. He stressed the need for crafting a national framework and guiding principles with which men’s access can be pursued further. Lee leads a Philippine and regional group tasked to strengthen men’s participation in sexual and reproductive health.

Lee’s second paper talked about the community-based provision of circumcision in which data derived from interviews with non-medical circumcisers were discussed. In particular, he presented profiles of circumcisers and clients; process and design of circumcision; and effects. He concluded that the community-based circumcision—assessed as quick, simple, easy, inexpensive, and generally safe—would remain pivotal in the continued entrenchment of circumcision as a socio-cultural practice in the Philippines.

The Department of Reproductive Health and Research of the World Health Organization in Geneva sponsored Lee’s attendance.

La Salle faculty conduct course for foreign affairs and AFP officers

La Salle faculty members conducted a basic course in International Relations to Foreign Service officers and employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from February 25 to March 6.
Sponsored by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), the course was intended to assist government employees and officials acquire a rudimentary knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of International Relations (IR).
Dr. Renato Cruz de Castro designed the course and delivered the lectures on the theories, concepts, and issues in IR. Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta discussed the IR of East Asia. Atty. Chito Gascon talked about International Law, while Gerardo Largoza taught International Political Economy.
This class is the first of four classes in basic IR that will be conducted for DFA employees and Foreign Service officers by DLSU-Manila faculty this year. Meanwhile, De Castro delivered lectures recently on the nature and instruments of foreign policy in a course on Policy Analysis conducted by the FSI.