The SHS Committee, in cooperation with the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters and the Philippine Academy of Philosophical Research (PAPR) organized the Philippine celebration of World Philosophy Day 2009 on 22 November 2009 at the Rizal Conference Hall, St. Raymund’s Building, University of Santo Tomas.

With the theme “Philosophy in Dialogue with Cultures,” the celebration was attended by eight luminaries from the field who held two round table discussions and open forums.  The discussants were Natcom SHS Committee Commissioner Dr. Rainier Ibana, PAPR President Dr. Alfredo Co, Dr. Leovino Garcia, SVD Bro. Romualdo Abulad, Dr. Tomas Rosario, SVD Fr. Leonardo Mercado, Dr. Manuel Dy Jr., and Dr. Florentino Timbreza.  Dr. Josephine Pasricha, who was abroad at the time of the conference, virtually joined the discussion by having her paper read. Dr. Michael Anthony Vasco, Dean of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, welcomed the guest speakers.

Attended by guests from various universities together with junior and senior students of artlets philosophy, the activity has opened various avenues of understanding of the postmodern role of integrating philosophical wisdom with the complexities and multiplicities of global culture. 

Inaugurated as “Philosophy Day at UNESCO” in 2002, the event was institutionalized as “World Philosophy Day” in 2005.  Moreover, the theme precedes the 2010 commemoration of the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.