DANTE ALIGHIERI TODAY
School of Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo Art Gallery
Societa Dante Alighieri—Manila
8:30-9:20 Opening Program
Escaler Hall
Jonathan Coo performs Franz Liszt’s Après un lecture du Dante—Fantasia quasi sonata, S161/7 .
9:30-10:20 Lecture 1
Escaler Hall
“Of Numbers, Love, and Stars: A Look into Dante’s
Divina Commedia
” by
Edward-David Ruiz (Department of English, Ateneo de Manila University)
The lecture will introduce readers to Dante’s use of numerology and to the overall themes of the Commedia . Special focus will be given to canto 5 of the Inferno .
10:30-11:20 Lecture 2
Escaler Hall
“Friendship in the
Divine Comedy
” by Jovino G. Miroy (Department of
Philosophy, Ateneo de Manila University; Medieval Society of the
Philippines)
The presentation will focus on two themes: first, the friendship between
Dante and Vergil, which scholars have described as derived from ancient wisdom (Aristotle’s
Nicomachean Ethics and Cicero’s De amicitia ) as well as from Christian notions of companionship. Second, the presentation will discuss that only lately have historians of ideas paid attention to friendship, insofar as modernity has understood it to be private and personal, and thus, exempt from public scrutiny. In our discussion we would like to suggest that personal friendship affects matters of state, justice, and politics. The presentation will conclude with implications for Philippine society of the notions of friendship in the Divine Comedy .
11:30-12:30 Lecture 3
Escaler Hall
“Dante and Art” by Ma. Victoria T. Herrera (Ateneo Art Gallery)
[Abstract in process]
12:30-1:30 Lunch
Leong Hall 301
1:30-2:30 Closing Program and Exhibit Viewing

Pardo de Tavera Room / Ateneo Art Gallery
Rizal Library, Special Collections Building
Awarding of prizes to the winners of the Dante video-making contest