Llenel de castro
Hi! I'm ellie.
I believe in the power of awesome memories
and hands-on experiences to
inspire conservation.
I also like seeing how archaeology can change lives. My thesis, Placemaking: the Impact of the Palawan Island Palaeohistory Research Project (PIPRP) on the Dewil Valley, was an examination of the social impact of the PIPRP in the community which has hosted the project for two decades.
It was a result of five years of Action Heritage (Johnston and Marwood, 2017)--building relationships, taking time to listen, and sharing knowledge, both inside and outside academia--and placemaking in pursuit of landscape protection.
I'm diggin
archaeology
I recently finished my MS in Archaeology from the University of the Philippines Archaeological Studies Program. As someone from a country that has difficulty remembering most of its distant past, I like archaeology because of the chances it opens up for us to know more about who we are.
I've spent most of my time in the past five years on two heritage initiatives that I am heavily invested in. The Handi Project, based in Kiangan, Ifugao, has taught me the importance of establishing trust and good communication lines. All my experiences in Dewil have taught me patience and perseverance in working towards long term goals.
Before archaeology, I did a BS in Basic Medical Sciences after graduating from Philippine Science High School. While I found all the hard science stuff at Pisay incredibly cool and interesting, the social sciences have always been my favorite. I've always been fascinated by personal histories and culture. My first memory of staying up late for school was to do my grade 4 history scrapbook project. Even now, some 20 years later, I believe that the sleep I lost that night was time well spent.
I've also always liked school and learning. I was born to, and raised by, two university professors who believe that each and every experience is an opportunity to learn. My upbringing has led me to my view that
exploration starts at home,
and curiosity begins where we are.
I've also always liked school and learning. I was born to, and raised by, two university professors who believe that each and every experience is an opportunity to learn. My upbringing has led me to my view that
My childhood was full of lessons, both in and out of the classroom. I tagged along to many work trips with side-visits to museums, and listened in to a lot of social science discussions. Growing up in the university campus, I've also seen how fond memories of years spent learning on campus have led graduates to keep on coming back, participating in and contributing to the development of a place they consider as their own.
All of these experiences have led me to the work that I do today. I focus on finding ways to bring archaeology to the children who live closest to the sites that I’ve worked in. I believe that by linking archaeology to everyday experiences of heritage and creating opportunities for learning, we stand a better chance in conserving our archaeological sites and protecting the places that we call home.
