Ian Christopher B. Alfonso
Assistant Professor of History
University of the Philippines Diliman
About
Ian Christopher B. Alfonso is an Assistant Professor at the Department of History, University of the Philippines Diliman. He is a Board Member of the Philippine Historical Association and a member of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program in the Philippines. He is a PhD in History candidate at UP Diliman, where he also obtained his MA History degree. Among his latest books are Dogs in Philippine History (2023), a National Book Awards’ awardee (Best Book Design) and Finalist (Best Book on History); A History of the Sarangani Islands 1521-1921 (2023); and The Burning of Macabebe (2024).
Academic Background
Master of Arts in History
University of the Philippines Diliman
University of the Philippines Diliman
Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Studies
Bulacan State University
Bulacan State University
Research Interests
- Philippine precolonial and early colonial history
- Philippine Revolution
- Toponymy
- Cultural heritage management
- Local history of Bulacan and Pampanga
- Animal history
Undegraduate Courses Taught
- KAS 1: Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas (History of the Philippines)
- Kas 116: Philippine Nationalism
Books
- Munting Aklat ng Baybayin (Quezon City: Philippine Historical Association; City of San Fernando, Pampanga: Alaya, 2024).
- The Burning of Macabebe (Angeles City: Holy Angel University Press, 2024).
- Dogs in Philippine History (Quezon City: Philippine Historical Association; Project Saysay; Cabanatuan City: Alaya Publishing, 2023).
- A History of the Sarangani Islands 1521-1921 (Quezon City: Project Saysay; Zambonga City: Ateneo Zamboanga-Mindanao Institute; Cebu City: Cebuano Studies Center, University of San Carlos, 2023).
- Muling Pagbasa sa Jocelynang Baliwag: Paglutas sa Problemang Historikal ng Tinaguriang “Kundiman ng Himagsikan” (Los Baños, Laguna: Philippine High School for the Arts, 2017)
- The Nameless Hero: Revisiting the Sources on the First Filipino Leader to Die for Freedom (Angeles City: Holy Angel University Press, 2016).
- Bulakan: Pag-alaala sa mga Biyaya ng Nakaraan, Unang Tomo (Malolos, Bulacan: Center for Bulacan Studies, Bulacan State University; Bulakan, Bulacan: Parokya ng Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, 2012).
Book Chapters
- “The Ancient Place Names of Upper Manila Bay,” in 1521 Revisited: The Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, vol. 4, eds. Roderick C. Javar and Ian Christopher B. Alfonso, 35—82 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2024).
- “India in the Heart and Soul of the Filipino,” in A Journey of Enduring & Soaring Partnership: 75 Years of Philippine-India Diplomatic Relations 1949-2024 (New Delhi: Philippine Embassy in India, 2024), 23—30.
- “Filipino Natives in Simon de Anda’s Government During the British Invasion of Manila, 1762-1764,” in The 1762 British Invasion of Spanish-Ruled Philippines: Beyond Imperial and National Imaginaries, ed. Maria Christina Martinez-Juan, 1-26 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines; London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 2024).
- “Connection and Contention: The 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines,” in Arrivals, Conflict & Transformation in Maritime Southeast Asia, 1400s-1800s, ed. Fernando A. Santiago, Jr., Jose Victor Z. Torres, and Ian Christopher B. Alfonso, 220-281 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines; Quezon City: Philippine Historical Association; Manila: De La Salle University - Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub, 2023).
- “From Mabini to Mabuti: The Rise of Portuguese Products in the Philippine Market,” in 1521 Revisited: The Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, vol. 2, 1-6 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2023).
- “Revival of Hope: The First Contact of Our Ancestors with the Magellan-Elcano Expedition in Guiuan, Eastern Samar,” in 1521 Revisited: The Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, vol. 2, 82-104 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2023).
- “Departing from Magellan, the Rise of Manila,” in 1521 Revisited: The 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, 43-63 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Quincentennial Committee, 2022), Vol. 1.
- “A Nation Inspired,” in Illustrious: The Museums of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 9-19 (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2022).
- “Manila Fifty Years After Magellan,” in Colonialism in the Malay Archipelago: Civilisational Encounters, edited by Osman Bakar, Ahmad Murad Merican, and Wan Ali Wan Mamat, 123-156 (Kuala Lumpur: ISTAC-IIUM Publications, 2020).
- “Luther Parker: An Unsung Champion of Local History Work in the Philippines,” in The Malay World: Conference Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference of the International Council for Historical and Cultural Cooperation-Southeast Asia (ICHCC-SEA) & 2017 Annual Conference of the Philippine Historical Association 14-16 September 2017 Manila, Philippines, edited by Fernando A. Santiago, Jr., Ph.D. and Ian Christopher B. Alfonso, 37-44 (Manila: Philippine Historical Association, 2019).
- “‘Macabebe A Rizal’ ng 1919 at ‘King of Macabebe’ ng 1934: Mga Bantayog ng Pagyakap ng mga Macabebe sa Kamalayang Bayan noong Ika-20 Dantaon,” sa Lansangan-Liwasan: Pampublikong Espasyo sa Pagaaral ng Kasaysayan at Kalinangang Pilipino (Ikalawang Edisyon), pat. Vicente C. Villan, Randy M. Madrid, at Ryan V. Palad, 223-246 (Maynila: ADHIKA ng Pilipinas, Inc.; National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2019).
- “Sinlaki Lang ng Kokomban ang La Sol: Pagtunton kay Rizal Online,” in Diskursong Rizal: Mga Lektura tungkol kay Rizal at sa Pagtuturo ng Kursong Rizal, edited by Jonathan Balsamo, Mark Boado, and Xiao Chua (Manila: Knights of Rizal Sucesos Chapter, 2017).
- “The State of Philippine Toponymic Heritage,” in Pamanang Lokal: Essays on Local Heritage Preservation, edited by Emmanuel F. Calairo and Palmo Iya (Cavite: Cavite Historical Society and Kapisanan ng mga Bahay-Saliksikan sa Bansa Inc., 2017).
- “Heroes Envisaged in Everyday Life,” with Maria Serena I. Diokno, in A Sense of Nation: The Birthright of Rizal, Bonifacio, and Mabini, edited by Maria Serena I. Diokno (Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2016).
- “Legendary,” in Apu Ceto: The Shepherd and His Flock, edited by Robert P. Tantingco (Angeles City: Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, 2013).
- “Ulat Ukol sa Isyu ng Pagkakatatag ng Lalawigan ng Bulacan at ang Paglilinaw sa Koneksyong Pangkasaysayan at Pangkalinangan Nito sa Pampanga,” in La Primera Provincia: Mga Tinipong Papel Hinggil sa Pagkakatatag ng Lalawigan ng Bulacan, with Agnes D.R. Crisostomo, Reynaldo S. Naguit, and Jaime B. Veneracion, (Malolos, Bulacan: Center for Bulacan Studies, Bulacan State University, 2010).
Journal Articles/Conference Proceedings
- “Tapping the Wisdom of Our Ancestors: An Initial Survey of Some Place-Names in Pampanga and Bulacan.” The Journal of History 69 (2023): 1-21.
- “Visualizing the Quincentennial, Combating Misconceptions.” The Journal of History 68 (2022): 13-48.
- “Establishing a Pre-Isabellan Spanish Colonial School: The Case of Colegio de Bacolor, 1861-1898.” Journal of Philippine Local History and Heritage 8, no. 2 (December 2022): 129-164.
- “The Philippine Revolution in Macabebe, Pampanga, and Its Aftermath.” Philippine Studies 70, no. 3 (September 2022): 403–22.
- “Halimaw na Nilikha ng mga Manghihimagsik at mga Amerikano: Pagpapalaya sa Macabebe mula sa mga Mito at Maling Impresyon,” Historical Bulletin 54 (2020): 11-47.
- “Visualizing Philippine History: The Case of Project Saysay,” Historical Bulletin 53 (2019):
- “Review and Evaluation of Sources on Oroquieta City as WWII “Capital of Free Philippines.” Historical Bulletin, 52 (January-December 2018).
- “Ayuntamiento: From Colonial Legacy to National Heritage.” Espasyo: Journal of Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts 7, no. 1 (2016).
- “Revisiting the Provenance of the Very Strange 1589 Last Will and Testament of Don Fernando Malang Balagtas.” Historical Bulletin 50, no. 1 (January-December 2016).
- “Panananaliksik Pangkasaysayan sa Tanggapan ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas: Ang Kaso ng Petsa ng Pagkatatag ng Lalawigan ng Pampanga.” Historical Bulletin 49, no. 1 (January-December 2015): 123-140.
- “Revisiting the Sources on the Founding of an Early Spanish Town: The Case of Calumpit, Bulacan.” Journal of the Local Historical Committee Network 1, no. 1 (February 2015): 79-125.
- “Ang Mararangal na Sagisag ng Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.” Historical Bulletin 48, no. 1 (January-December 2014): 159-204.
- “Parker’s Fernando: A Critique of Luther Parker’s Will of Fernando Malang Balagtas of 1589.” Alaya: The Kapampangan Research Journal 6, no. 1 (2010-2011): 219-277.
View Curriculum Vitae
