APRU

APRU MH 2025

APRU Multi-Hazards

APRU Manila

APRU Philippines

APRU UP

APRU MH20

APRU MH

20th APRU Multi-Hazards Conference


OVERVIEW


While the Philippines is the number one country in the 2021 and 2023 World Risk Index due to its location in the Asia Pacific Ring of Fire and Typhoon Belt, the country has been able to improve its performance across the various pillars of disaster risk reduction and management. The Sendai Framework 2023 Midterm Report however concludes that despite many gains in disaster risk reduction over the last 8 years, risk creation continues to outpace risk reduction. This symposium provides a venue for an urgent stocktake of how the country and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region can build upon existing gains and address persisting and emerging challenges through global cross-disciplinary exploration, research and collaboration. Join us this year in Metro Manila for the 2025 Multi-hazards Symposium and Conference, celebrating 20 years of resilience research, practice, experiences, and experiments across the Asia Pacific Rim Universities. Hosted by the University of the Philippines College of Architecture in Diliman, this landmark event will take place at the U.P. Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila from November 26th to the 29th, 2025. As we reflect on two decades of resilience in the Asia-Pacific region, we also look ahead to the next 20 years. This is your opportunity to shape the future of resilience research, education, and practice. We are accepting submissions of paper and poster abstracts!
Deadline of paper and poster abstract submission: June 30, 2025
(EXTENDED to August 1, 2025 for paper and poster abstracts)

ABOUT APRU


As a network of leading universities linking the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) brings together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on practical solutions to the challenges of the 21st century. We leverage our members’ collective education and research capabilities into the international public policy process. In the post-pandemic era, our strategic priorities focus on: 1. providing a neutral platform for high-level policy dialogue;
2. exploring innovative solutions for a sustainable future; and
3. supporting diversity, inclusion, and minorities. APRU’s primary activities support these strategic priorities, focusing on critical areas such as disaster risk reduction, women in leadership, indigenous knowledge, virtual student exchange, e-sports, population aging, global health, sustainable cities, artificial intelligence, waste management, and more.


APRU-MH20 THEME
Resilience: Reviews and Projections

Multi-hazard entanglements of society, environment and technology in space, time and place


SUB-THEMES
Click on the sub-themes below to view their scope.


Complex
Disasters


Resilient Design
and Technology


Citizen
Science


Climate
Justice
and
Health


Measurements
of Resilience


Intersectionalities


Heritage
Environments


Policies and
Governance


Designing
for Resilience

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Speaker Image

Beatrice Tulagan
350.org + Bionote

Beatrice Tulagan is a Filipina writer, climate justice organizer and movement facilitator. She designs spaces for activists, youth and collectives to build solidarity and people power, aiming to inspire collective care and while resisting and rebuilding through social, political and environmental shocks.

Beatrice has led the design and facilitation of various international trainings and convening spaces for more than a thousand activists, leaders and advocates from over 50 countries over the past decade. She has also written and spoken extensively on women-led and youth-led resistance against fossil fuel interests in the Philippines, the power of intersectional movement-building, and eco-anxiety, mental health and finding hope in a burning world through climate justice organizing, among others.

Speaker Image

Jeffrey Hou
National University of Singapore + Bionote

Jeff Hou, PhD, FASLA, is Provost’s Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore. His work focuses on community design, civic engagement, public space for democracy, and empowerment of marginalized communities. In a career that spans the Pacific, Hou worked with indigenous tribes, farmers, fishers, and villagers in Asia and inner-city immigrant youths and elders in North America on projects ranging from wildlife conservation to bottom-up community placemaking. Before joining NUS, he was Professor of Landscape Architecture and director of the Urban Commons Lab at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Speaker Image

Alfredo Coro
Municipality of Del Carmen
Province of Surigao del Norte + Bionote

Hon. Alfredo Matugas Coro II served as the Municipal Mayor of Del Carmen in Siargao Islands for 9 years, 3 years as Vice Mayor and now back as Municipal Mayor. The transformation of the Municipality of Del Carmen and Siargao Islands with an environmentally balanced and community-based development approach has been recognized by various national and international organizations. He is a father first, and then a public servant.

Speaker Image

Christine Kenney
Māori Disaster Research Centre
Massey University + Bionote

Distinguished Professor Christine M. Kenney Distinguished Professor Christine Kenney is the inaugural Professor of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at Massey University, Director of Te Toi Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa (National Māori Disaster Research Centre), and a member of the governance council of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Dr Kenney is Māori and has a dual background in disaster sociology and health. This diverse background has shaped her research and policy work on disaster risk reduction in relation to natural hazards, Indigenous Peoples, climate change, gender, health, terrorism, and humanitarian issues. Her expertise encompasses leading projects in North America, China, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as working with colleagues in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the broader Asia- Pacific region.

REGISTRATION


Registration will open soon!

Early Bird
01 SEPT 2025 - 15 OCT 2025
Regular Rate
16 OCT 2025 - 03 NOV 2025
LOCAL PHP 8,000. 00 PHP 10,000. 00
FOREIGN USD 175 USD 200

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

Start End Day 1 (Nov 26 | Wednesday) Day 2 (Nov 27 | Thursday) Day 3 (Nov 28 | Friday) Day 4 (Nov 29 | Saturday)
8:00 8:15

Registration
60 minutes


Registration
30 minutes
8:15 8:30
8:30 8:45
Registration for
Technical Tour
8:45 9:00
Plenary Session 3:
Mayor Alfredo Coro II
(Local Government)
45 minutes
9:00 9:15

Opening Program
45 minutes






Technical Tour
UP Resilience Institute
9:15 9:30
9:30 9:45
Plenary Session 4:
Distinguished Professor Christine Kenney
(Social Science)
45 minutes
9:45 10:00 Break
15 minutes
10:00 10:15
Plenary Session 1:
Ms. Bea Tulagan
45 minutes
10:15 10:30 Break
15 minutes
10:30 10:45






Registration



APRU Org Sessions
60 minutes
10:45 11:00
Plenary Session 2:
Dr. Jeffrey Hou
(Built Environment)
45 minutes
11:00 11:15
11:15 11:30
11:30 11:45



Lunch Break
60 minutes




Lunch Break
60 minutes




Lunch Break
90 minutes
11:45 12:00
12:00 12:15
12:15 12:30
12:30 12:45



Parallel 1
90 minutes





Parallel 1
90 minutes




Parallel 1
90 minutes




Parallel 4
90 minutes





Parallel 4
90 minutes




Parallel 4
90 minutes
12:45 13:00
13:00 13:15













Professional Organization
Development Event









Technical Tour

13:15 13:30
13:30 13:45
13:45 14:00
14:00 14:15 Break (15 mins) Break (15 mins)
14:15 14:30



Parallel 2
90 minutes




Parallel 2
90 minutes




Parallel 2
90 minutes




Parallel 5
90 minutes




Parallel 5
90 minutes




Parallel 5
90 minutes
14:30 14:45
14:45 15:00
15:00 15:15
15:15 15:30
15:30 15:45
15:45 16:00



Parallel 3
90 minutes




Parallel 3
90 minutes




Parallel 3
90 minutes
Break (15 mins)
16:00 16:15
Special Session:

Dr. Mahar Lagmay
Resilience Institute
Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards
(NOAH) Center
University of the Philippines
75 minutes
16:15 16:30
16:30 16:45
16:45 17:00
17:00 17:15
17:15 17:30
Poster Viewing
2nd Flr, Hallway
45 minutes
17:30 17:45


Free Time
60 minutes
17:45 18:00
18:00 18:15




Welcome Reception
90 minutes
18:15 18:30
18:30 18:45



Closing Dinner
90 minutes
18:45 19:00
19:00 19:15
19:15 19:30
19:30 19:45
19:45 20:00

VENUE

University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City

The University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City (UP-BGC) Campus is a satellite campus of the University of the Philippines System, located in Taguig City, Metro Manila. Established as part of UP's mandate to offer advanced education and promote research in key areas of national development, the BGC campus serves as a hub for professional and graduate-level education. The campus fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with industries, policymakers, and international institutions, taking advantage of its location in one of the country's premier business districts.

UP BGC
UP BGC

ACCOMMODATIONS

Seda BGC
Seda BGC offers stylish accommodations and seamless service designed to meet the needs of today’s business and conference travelers. Just a short walk from key corporate offices and event venues, Seda provides the ideal home base for participants attending conferences, seminars, or executive meetings.

Website: www.sedahotels.com
Address: 30th Street cor. 11th Avenue, Taguig City 1634, Philippines
Distance from UPBGC: 900m (12min drive, 13min walk)
Average Room Rates per Night: $157 - $227 (Php9,000 - Php13,000)

Accommodation Accommodation

Red Planet The Fort
Red Planet The Fort offers clean, modern, and affordable accommodations just minutes away from UP-BGC, corporate offices, and lifestyle hubs. Designed with the practical business traveler in mind, the hotel provides essential amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable beds, power showers, and 24-hour front desk service.

Website: www.redplanethotels.com
Address: 10th Avenue corner 40th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1630
Distance from UPBGC: 1.4km (4min drive, 18min walk)
Average Room Rates per Night: $45 - $105 (Php2,500 - Php6,000)

Accommodation Accommodation

Other Recommended Accommodation Option: The Ascott BGC


COMMITTEES

+ APRU-MH20 Secretariat

Luis Maria Bo-ot PhD
Maria Antonia Tanchuling PhD
Carmen Bettina Bulaong PhD
Leonido Gines, Jr.

+ Scientific Committee

Pamela Cajilig PhD (UP Diliman)
Gil Cruz PhD (UP Diliman)
Nicolo Del Castillo PhD (UP Diliman)
Gerard Rey Lico PhD (UP Diliman)
Norio Maki PhD (Kyoto University)
Isidoro Malaque III PhD (UP Mindanao)
John Arvin Manaloto PhD (UP Diliman)
Nappy Navarra PhD (UP Diliman)
Suan Ee Ong PhD (NUS)
Grace Ramos PhD (UP Diliman)
Mae Celine Vicente PhD (Ateneo)
Erich Meira Wolff PhD (Utrecht)

+ Program Committee

Jayson Banaston
Matthew Oliver Barboza
Marie Edraline Belga
Robert Jed Castillo
Vic Dul-loog
Patricia Anne Grafil
El Fred Habacon
Kamille Noriel Katague
David Xander Lacson
Cathe Desiree Nadal PhD
Cindy Pornelos
Richard Martin Rinen
Christian Tapiod
Maria Vio Bianca Yumikura

CONTACT US

For abstract submission and acceptance inquiries, please contact the APRU-MH20 Scientific Committee at apru_mh20_sc.upd@up.edu.ph.
For all inquiries including registration, fees, the program, and tour itinerary, please contact APRU-MH20 Program Committee at apru_mh20_af.upd@up.edu.ph.
Phone Icon (+632) 8981 8500 local 3138 / +639 17 715 5330