Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Hjayceelyn M. Quintana penned a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera who succumbed to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Baviera passed away early morning of Saturday, March 21 at San Lazaro Hospital from severe pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease. She was 60.
Ambassador Quintana said she was in deep sorrow by the news about Dr. Baviera’s demise.
Baviera, an international relations scholar, devoted 40 years on studying China, Asia-Pacific security, territorial and maritime disputes. She also served as editor-in-chief of the international journal, “Asian Politics & Policy” and one of the co-founders of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS).
Quintana recalled Baviera as her professor at UP Diliman and her colleague later in 2009 while serving as Director of China Division in ASPAC-DFA while Baviera was the Dean of the UP Asian Center.
“I considered myself then a budding “China watcher,” and the professor and I believed in the same vision,” she recollected.
The Ambassador said Baviera was not just known for her expertise in China studies but also her leadership.
“Her influence as a thought leader emanated from her vast body of scholarly work and academic humility. Her measured words revealed intense knowledge and deep thinking and a passion that left so many legacies,” the statement read.
“My most sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends,” it added.
Here’s Ambassador Quintana’s full message:
“So sad to read from the news about the sudden demise of Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera due to coronavirus. She was my Political Science professor at UP Diliman. I partnered with her later on in 2009, while she was the Dean of the UP Asian Center and I was Director of China Division in ASPAC-DFA, in getting private support for the setting up of a think tank that would help craft our country’s China policy. I considered myself then a budding “China watcher,” and the professor and I believed in the same vision. It was a memorable collaboration. I write this reflection to pay tribute to her. Her influence as a thought leader emanated from her vast body of scholarly work and academic humility. Her measured words revealed intense knowledge and deep thinking and a passion that left so many legacies.
“My most sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends.”
