Global Asia Research Centre Seminar by Dr. George Radics

On 21 October 2026, the Global Asia Research Centre (GARC) at NTU’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CoHASS), in collaboration with NTU Sociology, hosted Dr. George Baylon Radics, Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS), as part of the GARC Seminar Series, for a book talk about his newly published Emotional Filipinos.   

The seminar examined the relationship between emotions and social action in the Philippines, with particular attention to Mindanao. Situating emotions within broader histories of race, modernity and colonialism, Dr. Radics explored how emotional experiences are shaped by social and political structures, and how these experiences influence relationships, conflicts and collective life. 

A central theme of the seminar was the relationship between race, modernity and colonialism in shaping Filipino experiences. Colonial histories can leave lasting imprints on social institutions, cultural understandings and the ways people relate to one another. 

The lasting effects of American colonialism in Southeast Asia formed another important dimension of the seminar. By connecting colonial history with emotions and social action, the seminar highlighted the value of examining how historical legacies continue to inform contemporary experiences. This approach offers a way to consider the relationship between past and present, while recognising the complex ways in which individuals and communities navigate inherited social structures. 

The seminar contributed to ongoing conversations about the historical forces shaping societies across Asia and the importance of examining how these forces continue to influence social relationships today. Through its focus on the Philippines and Mindanao, Emotional Filipinos highlighted the potential of studying emotions to deepen our understanding of social action, conflict and the enduring legacies of colonialism in Southeast Asia.