Recent Research & Projects
Explore the context and background of his latest academic research and archaeological contributions. Below are key highlights of his recent work:
International (2025)
ISRAEL AT THE CROSSROADS OF CIVILIZATIONS: INTERACTIONS THAT SHAPED A NATION
(University of Oxford – Biblical Studies: The Bible, Its Content and Theology: An Introduction)
This study investigates how ancient Israel’s national identity emerged not through isolation but through sustained, multidirectional interactions with surrounding civilizations. As Tutor Stefano Salemi noted, the work provides a “rich, well-organised exploration” of Israel’s position as a cultural crossroads, demonstrating a strong grasp of historical, archaeological, and biblical evidence and integrating diverse scholarly perspectives with clear narrative flow . Using a phenomenological approach across curated materials from the Biblical Archaeology Society, the study identifies three thematic nodes: (1) Religious–Ritual and Material Exchange, reflected in Egyptian purification practices, wisdom traditions, administrative models, and the Phoenicians’ architectural, linguistic, and artisanal influence; (2) Political–Military Entanglements, seen in shifting alliances and rivalries with Philistia, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Assyria, and Babylonia, visualized in comparative tables summarizing geopolitical patterns (page 3) and reinforced by the map of Transjordan polities (page 3) ; and (3) Intellectual Cross-Pollination, expressed in the “alphabetic revolution” and the rise of prophetic critique, as discussed in Frank Moore Cross’ insights on the democratizing effect of alphabetic literacy.
Tutor Salemi observes that the analysis is “particularly strong” in its treatment of Egypt, Phoenicia, and Philistia and commends the tables for effectively distilling large bodies of data. He further highlights the inclusion of alphabetic literacy as an “insightful intellectual dimension” to the argument while suggesting future development through deeper exegetical engagement and dialogue with alternative scholarly perspectives .
Overall, the findings position ancient Israel as an active participant in a dynamic network of cultural exchange. Israel’s religious practices, political institutions, literary traditions, and daily life were continually shaped through negotiation, adaptation, and response to the civilizations surrounding it—revealing an identity forged within, and inseparable from, the wider ancient Near Eastern world.
Greece (2025)
The Epigraphy of the Aegean Islands:
Studying Greek Inscriptions on Paros
(Hellenic Education Research Center)
Participation in the Greek Epigraphy Seminar, conducted in Athens and on the island of Paros, provided immersive training in the study of inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman periods, with particular emphasis on the epigraphic record of the Aegean Islands. The program combined museum research, classroom instruction, and on-site fieldwork, including the study and copying of inscriptions directly from stone under the guidance of leading specialists. This hands-on approach developed skills in reading, interpreting, and contextualizing Greek inscriptions as vital sources for Ancient History. The seminar highlighted the role of epigraphy in reconstructing political, religious, and cultural life, fostering a deeper understanding of how inscriptions shaped identity, memory, and community in the ancient Mediterranean world.
International (2025)
Baybáyin in Context: Inscriptional Evidence of Precolonial Philippine Participation in Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean Cultural Exchange
(University of Oxford – World Archaeology)
This study examines what the archaeological record of inscribed artifacts bearing Baybáyin and its regional variants reveals about precolonial Philippine participation in Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean cultural exchange networks. Completed for the World Archaeology course at the University of Oxford, the project was noted by Professor Richard Jennings as “clearly presented,” “insightful,” and “faultless in its style and organisation,” with particular praise for how it highlights cultural interconnectedness in the ancient world.
Using a phenomenological approach and horizontalization of inscriptional data, the research identifies three core themes: (1) Transregional Scriptual Affinities, demonstrated through structural parallels between Philippine scripts and Old Javanese (Kawi) forms, indicating deep ties to Indianized Southeast Asian writing traditions; (2) Maritime and Administrative Connectivity, reflected in the linguistic choices, legal functions, and port-site provenience of artifacts such as the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Butuan Ivory Seal, and Metal Paleograph; and (3) Religious-Legal Entanglement, marked by Sanskrit-derived terminology, sÄ«ma land concepts, and Indic administrative-religious conventions embedded in the region’s epigraphic landscape.
Overall, the findings challenge narratives that portray Philippine writing as emergent only upon Spanish arrival. Instead, they reveal a cosmopolitan inscriptional culture shaped by long-standing participation in regional trade, governance, and spiritual exchange—affirming Professor Jennings’ observation that this topic “fits perfectly in the realm of World Archaeology” and underscores how ancient cultures were more interconnected than often assumed.
Israel (2023)
Hazor Lower City Excavation
(University of Haifa)
The participation in the archaeological excavation at Tel Hazor, Israel’s largest and most significant Bronze Age site, involved gaining direct experience in critical excavation techniques, ceramic typology, stratigraphy, and material culture analysis under the guidance of Dr. Shlomit Bechar from the University of Haifa. This hands-on fieldwork provided valuable insights into the socio-political and cultural contexts of ancient Levantine societies and their interaction with Biblical traditions. The project underscored the significance of integrating archaeology and textual studies, fostering an enriched understanding of identity, memory, and cross-cultural interactions in antiquity.
Cambridge (2021)
Baybayin: The Role of a Written Language in the Cultural Identity and Socio-Psychological WellBeing of Filipinos
(Harvard University)
Abstract
Colonial mentality and the growing dominance of global cultures continue to challenge Filipino identity. This study investigates the Baybayin writing system’s role in shaping cultural identity and the socio-psychological well-being of Filipinos. Using phenomenological methods, participants' insights were analyzed through horizontalization, revealing three key themes: 1) Baybayin serves as a national cultural symbol, 2) it fosters communal pride and social connection among Filipinos worldwide, and 3) it provides emotional expression and psychological upliftment. The research highlights Baybayin’s profound impact on the diaspora of advocates, artists, and scholars, while calling for further studies on its significance to groups like the Mangyan tribes of Mindoro.
Two Lover's Point, Guam
Guam (2019)
Relationships: On Ethnic Identity & Intermarriage
(Harvard University)
This paper investigates the relationship between ethnic identity and support for intermarriage across different racial or ethnic groups. Using a qualitative approach, it conducts in-person interviews with millennial Filipino Christians of varying genders to examine whether low levels of ethnic identity or weak connections to one’s ethnic group correlate with greater support for intermarriage. Additionally, the study explores gender-based differences in attitudes toward the relationship between ethnic identity and support for intermarriage. Finally, this research offers insights and recommendations for future studies on the impact of intermarriage on the preservation of ethnic identity post-marriage.
Cambridge (2018)
The Impact of Colonization on Mesoamerican Culture: a focus on Diet, Language, and Literature
(Harvard University)
While many studies highlight the valuable aspects of cultural intermingling, such as the expansion of food choices and the diversification of indigenous Mesoamerican diets during Spanish colonization, these benefits cannot outweigh the profound loss of cultural heritage, including native languages and literature. Furthermore, we cannot fully trust that the cultural damages endured by indigenous peoples are accurately documented in the colonizers' accounts and records, as these narratives are often shaped by an attitude of superiority and driven by self-serving agendas.
