Matibag crosses boarders

Jamie Lange
February 9, 1999

Through his work abroad, Eugenio Matibag, associate professor of foreign language and literature, said he hopes to become an “agent of cross-national understanding.”

From Jan. 15-18, Matibag shared his research at a conference in Havana, Cuba, where he spoke on Afro-Cuban religion and civil society. At the conference, he promoted his book “Afro-Cuban Religious Experience: Cultural Reflections in Narrative” and spoke about religion and its impact on Afro-Cuban society.

While in Cuba, Matibag said he didn’t limit himself to the academic realm — he crossed over to the spiritual side.

He said he visited a babalawo, what Americans would consider as a psychic.

The babalawo told him to “beware of envious people around me and continue to work hard, and I’ll meet success,” he said.

Throughout his research and studying abroad, he has jumped many boundaries.

“I see myself as a border-crosser … my research takes me into social and cultural [realms] that are different from the ones in which I am most at home,” he said.

Though he was born in the Philippines, Matibag spent his formative years in San Diego, Calif., which borders Tijuana, Mexico. He said he is glad to have been a part of the synthesis of cultures located there.

“Growing up in San Diego, I could call on my Mexican neighbors next door, the Chavez family, or eat the kim chee prepared by the Korean mother a couple doors down,” Matibag said.

Matibag’s extensive cultural background has provided him with expertise in cross-cultural studies, which carried him to the foreign language department at Iowa State.

“It is in the expansive world of academe that one can range across borders, both geographical and intellectual, and return home to enrich one’s own culture — or to demonstrate how that culture is already ‘infiltrated’ by the practices, artifacts, traditions and symbols of other cultures,” he said.

Other professors say he is a conduit of cultural information, relaying his vast store of experience to his students and colleagues.

“Professor Matibag makes connections among different cultures and ideas, exposing students to ways of thinking they might not have encountered before. He is a wonderful colleague as he exhibits excellent academic citizenship,” said Madeleine Henry, associate professor and chairwoman of foreign languages and literature.

Besides teaching Spanish, Matibag serves as an adviser and member of the Representative Assembly.

“He doesn’t just stay in the boxes of classroom and office,” Henry said. “He isn’t afraid to stick his neck out and try new things. He has a passion for what he does.”

Matibag has participated in several study abroad programs and has traveled to conferences concentrated in the Caribbean area promoting his writings.

He currently is finishing up a historical and literary study on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

He also is coordinating two study abroad programs.

Over spring break, Matibag will be visiting the Universitas Castella in Valladolid, Spain, to check on students enrolled in the ISU program directed by professors Ricardo de la Fuente and Cristina Iglesias. There are currently 14 ISU students enrolled at the university.

“The program is a great way to get to know Spanish and the beauties of Spain while earning ISU credits,” Matibag said.

Matibag recently was awarded an LAS Faculty Development Grant enabling him to carry out research on the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

“The grant will support my project to learn the Tagalog language and purchase materials related to my research topic, which connects nicely with my background in Spanish-American literature and culture,” he said.

Matibag will share stories of his recent travels and classes in a lecture titled “From Cuba With Love” tonight from 4:10 to 5 p.m. in Room 309 of Pearson Hall.

Eugenio Matibag

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