The 21st annual International Law and Religion Symposium has concluded at Brigham Young University Law School in Provo, Utah. This year 80 invited delegates, from 40 countries, addressed the theme "Varieties of Secularism, Religion, and the Law."
The Symposium opened Sunday evening, 5 October, with welcoming remarks by Dean of the BYU Law School, James R. Rasband and President of Brigham Young University, Kevin J. Worthen, himself a former Dean of the Law School. The Keynote Address was given by United States Senator for Utah Orrin Hatch, who also was presented with the Center's Distinguished Service Award, by Professor W. Cole Durham, Jr., Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies.
This year's delegates included scholars, government officials, journalists, and religious and civic leaders from Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia and many more.
The Philippine delegation was represented by Malou Managahas and Cecilia “Che” de los Reyes.
MALOU MANGAHAS is the executive director and co-founder of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).
She hosts the weekly public affairs program "Investigative Documentaries" that airs Thursdays on GMANewsTV Channel 11.
Malou is a trustee of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance and the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, and country researcher of the Open Government Partnership-Independent Reporting Mechanism.
She was named "WikiPinoy of the Year" in 2011, "Journalist of the Year" of the Metrobank Foundation in 2013. She was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1998.
Malou has worked with media platforms -- as editor in chief of The Manila Times newspaper, radio program host, producer and host on TV, and editor-in-chief the news website of GMA Network.
As a student, she served as editor in chief of the Philippine Collegian, the first woman chairperson of the UP Student Council She was detained for three months as a political prisoner but graduated with honors in college.
CECILIA “CHE” DE LOS REYES heads the Training Desk of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. As Training Director, Che leads in designing and organizing training programs for journalists – both front liners and gatekeepers.
Her work focuses on building and enhancing capacity on journalistic craft, particularly investigative reporting, combined with substantive inputs on particular areas of concern such as governance, campaign finance, media safety, and media ethics and welfare.
She joined PCIJ in January 2010 as senior researcher-writer. Before that, Che was involved in various nonprofits in the Philippines, working in the areas of communication, research, and advocacy.
The Philippine delegates gave a presentation on their reflections on Journalism, Religion and Secularism.