EMP Memorial Lecture 2025: Dr. Shiela Java-Guinal on Power, Gender, and Agency

The Department of English at Ateneo de Manila University, in collaboration with the Linguistic Society of the Philippines, invites everyone to the Emy M. Pascasio Memorial Lecture on September 13, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Natividad Galang Fajardo Conference Room, G/F Dela Costa Hall, Ateneo de Manila University. The lecture will also be accessible online for participants from other parts of the country and abroad.

This year’s lecture, titled “The Language of Power: Gender and Agency in Filipino Muslimah Short Stories,” will be delivered by Dr. Shiela Java-Guinal, Assistant Professor at Ateneo de Davao University. Drawing from her research in literature, linguistics, and Islamic feminism, Dr. Java-Guinal explores how Filipino Muslimah short stories illuminate the complex dynamics of gender, identity, and power. Through these narratives, the lecture examines how Muslim women negotiate their lived realities, family roles, religious practices, and social expectations, revealing the deeply rooted assumptions society holds about Muslims and Muslimahs in the Philippines. By unpacking themes of agency, control, and representation, the lecture highlights how literary works challenge stereotypes and expose hidden power dynamics, offering new perspectives on voices often marginalized in mainstream discourse.

Dr. Java-Guinal holds a BA and Master’s in English Applied Linguistics from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) and a PhD in English Language and Literature from Ateneo de Manila University. Her research interests include Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), and Islamic feminism. She has published extensively, including works such as Tracing Colonized Writers: The Voices of Female Filipino Muslims and Hiyas Sa Kadayawan, Beautiful English and Identities. Her scholarship integrates critical sociolinguistic perspectives with the study of gender and literature, making her a significant voice in understanding power and representation among Filipino Muslim women.

The lecture promises to provide fresh insights into how stories become powerful tools for redefining agency and challenging preconceived notions about identity and religion. It is highly recommended for students, educators, researchers, and advocates interested in literature, sociolinguistics, gender studies, and Philippine cultural studies.