ALAMAT: 1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MYTHS AND SYMBOLS November 25, 2008

Conference Begins On: 11/26/2008
Sponsoring Institution: University of the Philippines, Manila
Conference Will Be Held at: Manila, XX

ALAMAT : 1st International Conference on Myths and Symbols

Theme: "Flood Stories, Lost Lands and Drowned Continents"
(Rediscovering the Contemporary Significance of Ancient Myths and Symbols for Healing the Earth)

http://cas.upm.edu.ph/alamat

CALL FOR PAPERS

In celebration of the University of the Philippines' Centennial this
2008, the Department of Arts and Communication of the College of Arts
and Sciences, (University of the Philippines Manila) is pleased to
announce its holding of ALAMAT : The 1st International Conference on
Myths and Symbols, with the theme "Flood Stories, Lost Lands and
Drowned Continents" to be held on November 26-29, 2008 at the Bulwagang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

The University of the Philippines Manila, through the Alamat Conference and its theme, "Flood Stories, Lost Lands, and Drowned Continents" enters the international discussion on environmental and earth-healing to avert an impending repetition of a long past semi-mythical, semi-prehistorical event � great floods, lost lands, drowned continents, causing massive dispersals and migrations of people around the world. This mythical event might likely become a reality, once again, given the human-caused global warming phenomenon, resulting climate. To answer this problem, a new myth has to be discovered, or an old one re-discovered and re-invented to heal the divided consciousness of the people of the earth that is causing this great peril to the world. A healed consciousness might lead to a healed earth. To this end, the University of the Philippines Manila, as a Health Sciences Campus, sees the need to extend the concept of healing to "Healing the Self" and "Healing the Earth". To this end � the contemporary significance of ancient myths and symbols in healing might be re-discovered.
The Main Speaker for the Opening Program will be Dr. Stephen Oppenheimer, M.D. of Green College and School of Anthropology , Oxford University , England.

His book, Eden in the East : The Drowned Continent of Southeast Asia , has inspired the organizers to explore his thesis in line with the need to heal the earth through myths and symbols as a part of addressing the international concern on the perils of global warming and climate change.

The Closing Speaker will be Mr. Paul Kekai Manansala, an independent researcher and journalist from Sacramento , California , USA . Mr. Manansala has written books on the history and pre-history of Southeast Asia and related regions, namely, The Naga Race (1994), Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan (2006) and Sailing the Black Current (2007).

Selected panel discussants from other parts of the world, the ASEAN and Pacific regions, as well as the Philippines, will lead the framing the Conference resolutions by the participants, and gear them towards healing the earth in response to the perils posed by global warming and climate change.
In this connection, the Organizing Committee calls for papers from all interested parties in the local, national and international levels � from the academic and educational sector; business and industry sector; media and communications sector; arts, culture and creative industries sector; religious sector; civil society groups, NGOs, POs ; military and police sector; environmentalists; and governmental organizations and units - to participate in this international conference , as paper presenters, poster exhibitors, art exhibitors, or participants.

Any person or group that has an unpublished research work or study
on myths and symbols covering the Conference Theme (Flood Stories, Lost Lands and Drowned Continents), from the academe, independent researchers, and other sectors all over the world � is invited to participate. Moreover, those who can relate their own disciplinal studies with the Conference Theme and objectives, especially social engineers, visionaries, philosophers, whose works lead toward healing the earth or eco-therapy � are also welcome. Present-day narratives of mythical dimensions, from persons victimized by contemporary natural catastrophes, as well as from those concerned with environmental protection and safety by reporting on endangered sites and species - are most welcome to pass their abstracts. They just have to find their own appropriate panel session topics to write on, based on their on training, experience and orientation.

Abstracts of not more than 800 words must be
submitted by August 30, 2008 , based on a chosen topic given below.
The topics covered by the conference are as follow:

� The Theme of Flood Stories, Lost Lands, and Drowned Continents in the Myths and Symbols of the World : State of the Art, Case Studies, Area Studies, Comparative Studies

� Survivals, Remnants and Vestiges of Probable Ante-Diluvian Myths,
Symbols, and Artifacts in the Arts and Cultures of the World (Assumes
that there are surviving myths, symbols and artifacts that may be
traced from probable ante-diluvian "lost lands" revealed in the arts,
myths, religion, etc. of the world)

� Science and Social Science-Related Investigations, Issues and
Controversies Pertaining to the Myths and Symbols (evaluating scientific,
historical, geological, linguistic, astronomical, archeological,
genetics, anthropological evidence that serve as bases for the existence and survival of the myths and symbols - local, national,regional, international)

� Philippine-Based Myths and Symbols on 'Mu' , 'Lemuria' or Related 'Lost Lands' : Views, Visions, Prophecies, and Revelations from Traditional, Folk, or Urban-Based Groups (personal accounts and group narratives by folk religious leaders and members of esoteric, mystical, millenarian, "kapatiran" (brotherhood / sisterhood) popular movements in line with their interpretations of 'Mu' , Lemuria, etc.)

� Rediscovering the Ancient Myths and Symbols of the Flood, Lost Lands and Drowned Continents in the World for the New Millennium : Visions, Programs, Strategies, Projects, and Innovative Applications for Healing the Earth (Visions, programs,
and applications of these mythical themes and motifs for individual ,
national, regional, and global renewal, transformation, empowerment,
liberation for the new millennium)

� Contemporary Flood Stories, Lost Lands, and Endangered Sites / Species of the World : Reports and Personal Narratives
(Narratives of experiences by victims of contemporary natural catastrophes such of great floods, earthquakes, etc, as well as reports of endangered sites and species in the world caused by global warming and climate change)

The abstract must contain the following parts: Introduction (which
indicates the thesis of the paper and the methodology of the study),
Presentation of Data, Analysis and Interpretation , and Preliminary
Conclusion of the Study / Paper.

A 20-member Review Committee representing several fields and
disciplines of study, including some representatives from selected
sectors will evaluate the submitted drafts. Please submit all
abstracts as an e-mail attachment to the Coordinator of the Organizing
Committee by Aug. 30, 2008 :

Prof. Grace Odal-Devora
e-mail address : mutisalah@yahoo. com

For more information on this Conference, please log on at http://cas.upm.edu.ph/alamat.

There will be two screenings on the papers submitted. The first is the
screening of the abstracts submitted based on the Call for Papers. The
second is the screening of the completed paper sent based on the
approved abstracts.

Abstracts will be screened based on their adherence to the theme of
the conference, clarity of idea or thesis presented by the paper, and
orderly presentation of the data.

The completed papers will be evaluated based on their adherence to the
abstract approved by the Panel of Reviewers. Upon notification of the Panel's acceptance of the
abstract, the "Technical Guidelines in Paper-Writing" will be sent to
the participant, who then writes the paper in full, following the
technical guidelines set by the Panel of Reviewers. Deadline for the
submission of the completed paper based on the approved abstract is August 30, 2008 .

Since all completed papers will be pre-printed in one volume in time
for the Conference, approved papers by the Panel will be referred to
the Editorial Committee for copy editing.

Please e-mail the abstract accompanied by a one-paged resume of the
writer / scholar / researcher/ participant.

The accepted abstract (not over 800 words) must be completed as a full
paper with a maximum of 5,000 words. For the completed paper,
illustrations will be limited to a maximum of eight photos / pictures.
The photos must be numbered and be provided with a caption and photo
credits Each presenter will be given the maximum time of 30 minutes
per presentation using powerpoint as a tool for communication. Hence,
the presenter needs to bring a CD for his / her powerpoint presentation.

The Conference Program and further details on the conference will be
released only after all the approved abstracts have been fully
written, and the completed versions duly sent via e-mail to the
Over-All Coordinator, for submission to the Editorial Committee -
leading to their printing in one compiled volume which will be
available during the conference.

Since only 24 speakers will be accommodated for oral presentation
during the four-day conference, (inclusive of the Opening Program, the
Poster Exhibit and the Closing program), all abstracts received will
be ranked from 1-24. Those whose abstracts have been approved but did
not make it to the group of 24 paper presenters, will be accommodated
as Poster Exhibitors, instead. However, they will also be asked to
submit their completed papers for inclusion in the pre-printed volume
of papers approved and compiled for the conference. Once the approved
abstracts are released, guidelines to the technical requirements to be
followed in writing and submitting the completed paper will be
e-mailed as " Technical Guidelines for Paper-Writing / Printing", or
put in the website, together with a letter of consent to be signed by
the writer to authorize the Organizers to have a pre-printed copy of
the conference papers. Approval of the abstract for paper-reading does
not necessarily make it a part of the pre-printed copy of papers. It
merely becomes a candidate for publication. The quality of the
completed papers will determine the final choice of papers for
publication � according to the criteria already given. The papers
finally approved by the Panel of Reviewers will then be passed on to
the Publication Committee for copy editing.

Because of the tight budget of the Conference, there shall be no
financial assistance provided for the speakers or paper presenters.
However, to help them make it to the conference, the Organizing
Committee members have decided to waive off their registration or
conference fees. Furthermore, each presenter and poster exhibitor will
receive one free copy of the pre-printed volume of conference papers
in their conference kits.

Regular conference kits will include the conference program, souvenir
program, name tags, the abstracts of papers, a pen and sheets of blank paper.

There are available hotel accommodations within the area of Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex. These can be can be personally and directly arranged by the presenters by phone, e-mail, letter, etc., or can be arranged for them by the
Organizing Committee, upon request. Details on these housing accommodations, with their corresponding cost per day shall be provided in April 2008.

Transport from the airport to the venue, and from the venue back, can
also be arranged personally upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport or the Centennial Airport , through the airport
transport system. However, if the presenters so request, they can be
picked up from the airport at their specific time of arrival and then
driven back to it at their specific time of departure, by a private
vehicle hired by the conference staff, at a cost regularly charged for
such private pick-up arrangements.

Food preferences (vegetarian diet or not) must also be communicated to
the Coordinator of the Conference.

Optional post-conference tour packages for the participants are also
being arranged through the assistance of the Department of Tourism, at
a certain cost. Details on these specific tour packages (connected and
not connected to the conference theme) will be announced after the
final list of speakers and poster exhibitors for the conference is
released by April 2008.

Details on the Poster Exhibits shall also be given in April 2008.

For the local participants, endorsements from the Commission on Higher
Education and the Department of Education will be provided to all
participants upon request.
Please watch out for periodic Conference updates in the web.

NOTES:

1. The word "kapatiran" is a Philippine term from the lexeme "kapatid"
(brother / sister) formed from the prefix "ka" (partner, double) and
the root word "patid" (to cut off, as from a tie or cord; hence,
literally, cut off from the same umbilical cord). This word applies to
groups of mixed Christian and indigenous beliefs, operating based on
the principle of brotherhood and sisterhood, whose members claim to be
guardians of a secret ancestral wisdom revealed to chosen individuals.
They claim to have a hidden revelation on the Philippines being once a
part of a ancient civilization that vanished - that will one day arise
and reveal its renewed former glory to the whole world)

Please forward to interested parties.

Official Website: http://cas.upm.edu.ph/alamat/