Teng Catong is the general manager and proprietor of SKUL Specialist Enterprises---manufacturer/producer of quality garments and printing services in Southern Philippines.
Prof. Catong is finishing a Ph.D. in History, Cognate in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. He holds an M.A. in History, Cognate in Political Science; a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; and a Bachelor of Laws.
While at the Law School, Teng was overwhelmingly elected president of the WMSU Supreme Student Council in S.Y. 1997-1998 and served as the first Student Regent pursuant to R.A. 8292 (otherwise known as the Commission on Higher Education Modernization Act), where he authored and co-sponsored various resolutions at the state university's highest policy-making body, the Board of Regents. He successfully defended his constituents who practically belong to the poor and disadvantaged members of the Philippine society in opposing all tuition fee increases and nullified other onerous students fees without much clash with the university administration thru negotiations, tact, and diplomacy.
During his stint as USC president and Student Regent, he opened linkages with different colleges and universities in Southern Philippines. He organized the first Mindanao-wide Debate Competition, and eventually became chairperson of the Mindanao Collegiate Debaters Association.
Aside from introducing innovative and pro-student policies and programs in the university, he represented the student body in various regional, national, and international conferences to include: the Association of Law Students of the Philippines Conference, the 6th ASEAN Law Students Conference, and the International Youth Conference on Human Rights.
Aware of his humble beginnings and having been raised in Mindanao, Teng is an advocate of indigenous and cultural communities' rights. He is a member of an indigenous yet dynamic ethno-linguistic tribe in Southern Philippines and the Malay world---the Iranun---a community advance in civilization and way of life that inspired them to resist colonialism. Being exposed to the cultures and traditions of various cultural communities, Teng speaks in Cebuano/Bisaya, Chavacano, Ilongo/Hiligaynon, Filipino/Tagalog, Iranun, M'ranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, et. al.
As an alumnus of the country's premier academic institution, the University of the Philippines, Teng is looking forward to serving humanity in his modest capacity as an educator and scholar. He was speaker/presenter in national, regional and international academic conferences, and the most recent of them were the 2006 Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) International Conference held on October 27-28 in Zamboanga City in Mindanao, Philippines, and the Third AMAN Assembly 2006 and International Interfaith Peace Forum held on November 15-18 at the UIN in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Recently, he participated in the 1st Convention of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)Professors held last May 16-18, 2011 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City, Philippines under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Prof. Catong presented a lecture on Federalism titled "Revisiting Federalism in the Philippines: An Analysis" before the Philippine Information Agency Officials composed of Assistant Secretaries and Regional Directors, November 27, 2007 at the Lantaka Hotel, Zamboanga City. He also presented the initial output of a working paper entitled "Review of Western Mindanao Peoples’ Development Agenda: Towards A Multi-Sectoral Regional Anti-Poverty Partnerships Program" at the Forum on the National Poverty Map and Regional Anti-Poverty Partnerships on December 4, 2007 at the Seameo-Innotech
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
Prof. ESNAEN M. CATONG appeared on TV as a socio-political analyst at ABS-CBN’s ANC “Crossroads” hosted by a witty TV/Broadcast journalist TONY VELASQUEZ on the critical issue of socio-political concern---the Proposed Implementation of the National ID System in the Philippines. LIVE! on January 11, 2008 (Friday) ---8:00 to 9:00 pm. Recently, he appeared Live on TV Patrol Chavacano as Socio-Political Analyst on the occasion of President Aquino III's State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2011.
Currently, Esnaen (Teng) M. Catong is finalizing his book entitled "Philippines-Saudi Arabia Diplomatic Relations: A Socio-Cultural, Political, Labor and Economic History"---a revision and an updated version of his thesis submited at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy of UP Diliman; and another book being co-authored by him on the Comparative Police System with Dean Estipona of WMSU is about to be published. Some of his research interests are Diplomatic History (West Asia and Southeast Asia); Energy Crisis; Oil Diplomacy; Labor Migration; Philippine Foreign Relations; Ethnohistory; Islamic Studies; and Conflict Resolution.
In 2003, one of his research works won in the Research Fellowship Programme for Young Muslim Scholars under the auspices of the Asian Muslim Action Network and the Rockefeller Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand. Moreover, Teng received various scholastic, sports, service, and leadership awards.
Teng is passionate in information and communications technologies (ICTs) and information societies; and is concerned with the digital and knowledge divide. He is also passionate in understanding the phenomenon of global warming as well as ecological / environmental issues and concerns.
He plays lawn tennis (Champion: the 2001 UP Community Tennis Open organized by UP-CHK and the 2004 "Halo-halong Palo" organized by UP-ACES), table tennis (1st Runner-up, SMASH 2002 organized by UP-KEM), and the Lawn Tennis Men Doubles (Champion) in the "2007 Battles of the Champions Cup" and the "2008 Battles of the Champions Cup" both held at the Zamboanga City Lawn Tennis Association. Teng is also engaging in other sports activities occasionally.
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