Heo/Geo Lecture Series 2026-02: Mike Pretes on sovereignty resources and the "economic space" of small states

For the first onsite Heo/Geo Lecture Series for 2026 (and the second for the year), the UP Department of Geography and the Philippine Geographical Society (PGS) are co-sponsoring the talk Sovereignty Resources and Economic Development in Small Island Countries by Dr Michael Pretes on Monday, 23 February 2026 at 10:30AM in Pavilion 2246-2248 (Conference Room).

Dr Pretes' presentation explores how small, isolated island states have made use of “sovereignty resources” such as postage stamps, passport sales, fisheries rights, satellite slots, offshore banks, tax haven status, and internet top-level domains to achieve relatively high levels of economic development. The presentation identifies various kinds of sovereignty resources and examines how the revenues derived from them have been invested in global financial markets using sovereign wealth funds, thereby enlarging the “economic space” of these small states. Case studies from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans illustrate both how marginal island states can engage with globalization to their own advantage and how sovereignty itself can create new resources.

Michael Pretes, PhD, a native of San Francisco, California, is Professor of Geography at the University of North Alabama in the United States, and Research Fellow in Geography and Environmental Studies at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He holds degrees from the University of California-Berkeley, Northwestern University, and the Australian National University. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Geographers and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. His research interests include economic development in islands and remote regions, tourism, national parks, the history of geography, and geopolitics, with a regional focus on North America, Polar Regions, southern Africa, and Australia and Pacific Islands.

The Heo/Geo Lecture Series is a monthly lecture given by academic scholars, field-based geography practitioners, members of the local community, and spatial justice advocates to share their knowledge- and practice-based research undertakings. Jointly presented by the UP Department of Geography and the Philippine Geographical Society (PGS), the Heo/Geo Lecture Series which previously underwent several iterative rebranding positions geography as a discipline that not only straddles the realms of natural/physical and social sciences, humanities, political ecologies, regional and area studies, GI technologies and geospatial storytelling, it is also a vibrant and convivial space that welcomes multiplicities and plural voices. The name Heo/Geo is itself an accommodation to the various understandings, meanings and pronunciations of geography in its indigenous and vernacular forms and the Anglicized name that has since been adapted in the local lexicon. 

This Heo/Geo Lecture is presented by the Human Geography (HUG) and the Environment and Development Geographies (EDGE) research groups of the UP Department of Geography and is in line with the SDG #4 (Quality Education) and #15 (Life on Land) of the United Nations.

Heo/Geo Lecture Series 2026-01: Enrique Gallardo on sustainable energy pathways in the Philippines

A global energy transition is well underway. 

Fueled by dystopian scenarios of the climate crisis, governments, big business, and civil society organizations around the world have been on overdrive to rapidly scale sustainable energy. On all fronts, sustainable energy is being mainstreamed — from efficient cook stoves to green buildings, from LEDs to ocean energy, from rooftop solar to low-enthalpy geothermal. The Philippines itself is on an aggressive trajectory in increasing its renewable energy capacity, with a target to source at least 50% of all its energy needs from renewables by 2040, and 70% by 2050. This includes major portfolios on biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, and wind, with increasing explorations in ocean energy. 

On Friday, the 30th of January 2026 at 5:30PM via Zoom, Enrique Gallardo will deliver a talk with a title Renewable Energy and Geographic Contestations in the Philippines for the first Heo/Geo Lecture Series for 2026. Presented by the UP Department of Geography and the Philippine Geographical Society (PGS), this Heo/Geo Lecture is the first among many diamond celebrations of PGS which turned 75 last December. 

Enrique Gallardo Jr has over 20 years of renewable energy work experience, ranging from missionary electrification initiatives to the launch of the first green energy auction program in the Philippines. He has worked extensively with the Department of Energy, various distribution utilities / electric cooperatives, international development organizations, and the private sector. He obtained a Master of Science degree in Renewable Energy Systems and is currently completing his PhD in Philippine Studies, with a research focus on the global energy transition and its impact on Indigenous communities and geographies. At present he is teaching a course on the concepts and principles of land use at the UP Department of Geography. 

The talk provides a glimpse how the pursuit of so-called sustainable energy pathways is fomenting rapid land conversion, encroachment into critical spaces, and social conflict. On balance, the presentation also explores the necessity and benefits of renewable energy development in the country, specifically in the context of building energy resilience and security in an increasingly volatile world. Attention is also accorded to possible solutions, or at least convergences, that enable the pursuit of energy resilience while mitigating its impact on vulnerable communities and spaces.

The Heo/Geo Lecture Series is a monthly resource talk / lecture given by academic geographers, geography-adjacent scholars, practitioners working in geospatial industries, and partners that engaged in multiple publics, and based locally and abroad. The talk ranges from the sharing of research findings to pedagogical practices and field-based experiences. This month's Heo/Geo Lecture Series is facilitated by the Environment and Development Geographies (EDGE) research group of the UP Department of Geography. The talk  is in line with the SDG #3 (Good Health and Well Being), #7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), #13 (Climate Action) and #15 (Life on Land) of the United Nations.

To participate in the lecture, click this link to register or just paste this link to your URL: https://tinyurl.com/44fthdye

Department of Geography and Faculty Get Recognition for 2025

The U.P. Department of Geography and faculty were recently recognized for various awards and achievements in quality assessment (QA), One UP professorial chairs and faculty grants, and as University Scientist.

The UP Department of Geography has earned recognition as a Data Champion from the UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office (UPD-QAO) for its significant contribution to the University's rankings. The recognition was conferred on 5 December 2025, during the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings Symposium. 

Meanwhile, 10 members of the faculty received the One UP Professorial Chair and Faculty Grant recognition for teaching and research excellence and public service. This is for the One UP 2025-2027 cycle.

Finally, UP conferred Jake Cadag the Scientist 1 recognition for his excellence in research and innovation, and scholarly leadership.