On May 31, 2025, I reached a milestone I will never forget: my very first academic presentation. And it happened at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Asian Center).
For context, UP is the national university of the Philippines, and the Asian Center is one of its leading institutes for regional and cultural studies. To present there felt both humbling and deeply meaningful, because it was like returning home while stepping into a new chapter.
I introduced my original framework on Culturally Intelligent Storytelling (CIS) — a model born from three decades in media and my current PhD research. For years, I’ve been asking: How can Southeast Asian stories travel globally without losing their roots? This framework is my answer, and sharing it with fellow scholars, students, and practitioners for the first time was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating.
What stood out most was the audience. They didn’t just listen; they engaged, challenged, and responded with insights that made the session feel less like a presentation and more like a dialogue.
Walking out of that room, I carried a quiet joy. This was not just the debut of an academic framework. It was a confirmation that the questions I’ve been pursuing resonate beyond me.
And so began NedTalks – my own journey of sharing ideas in spaces that bridge cultures, disciplines, and audiences.
