Kebart001 @kebart001 - Tumblr Blog

From Policy to Academe...

In the academe, writing is a constant exercise. Yet depending on its purpose, it can be complex and demanding. Having worked in policy research for four years, I found the transition from academic to policy writing particularly challenging. There were times I got into “trouble” for being too theoretical or analytical when writing for policymakers. It took me years to learn the craft of policy writing — being concise, impartial, and relevant.

There are many references on how to shift from academia to policy practice, especially in terms of writing style. But now that I have returned to academia, I find myself struggling with the reverse, transitioning back from policy to academic writing. At times, I have even been told that my writing sounds too conservative or restrained, a habit I developed from years of policy work. Unfortunately, fewer materials guide this kind of transition.

I wish I could easily switch writing styles as needed, especially with final papers coming up. I hope this makes sense, just sharing my thoughts and frustrations. If you know of any good reference materials that could help, please share them.

I had a productive consultation with my supervisor today. His guidance to put more voice into my work, take ownership of it, and have confidence in the contribution I am making to the field is truly encouraging. This supportive environment reaffirms why I chose ANU and our department.

Renewed sense...

After returning from my Singapore trip, I realised how much I had discovered about myself. Taking a short break from HDR work gave me the time to pause, reflect, and regain a sense of clarity about why I chose this path. Three months into my PhD journey, I am surprised by the progress I have made. Although the pace feels slow at times, I can now see the steps I am taking. Today, I completed my supervisory panel and wrote two documents with over 2,000 words each. I also feel more energised attending my audit class, reading the materials, and participating in discussions, which I struggled with earlier in this journey.

This experience reminded me of the importance of taking breaks, especially in moments when I feel stuck or doubtful. My challenges may seem small compared to what others face in their PhD journeys, but I am learning to acknowledge and appreciate my own progress. Someone once told me that a PhD is like a marathon, and what matters most is keeping a steady pace. I hope I can sustain the routine I have built and carry this renewed sense of energy forward in the coming months.

It is true, indeed, that as writers, we are rarely satisfied. After completing one good article, essay, poem, story or any other piece of…

Came across this article today, and I could not help but relate.

Last week, I submitted the third draft of my literature review. I gave it everything I could, yet I still felt dissatisfied. I knew what needed to be improved, but I could not put it into words. The article reminded me that sometimes, we are our own harshest critics.

When I started my PhD, I made it a habit to write every day. It was my way of learning how to write academically and to embed the arguments into my system. But last week felt different. I lacked the motivation to revise, and my creative juice was nowhere to be found. I submitted the draft expecting the worst.

To my surprise, the feedback was the opposite. I was told to move on to the next phase and start testing the theory with empirical data.

Sometimes our frustration with ourselves blinds us to the fact that we are already doing the work. We just don’t feel it. But maybe dissatisfaction is not always something to run away from. Maybe it is a quiet reminder that we care, and that we want to grow.

The article said it best:

"Remember, do not let your dissatisfaction prevent you from sharing some amazing ideas with the world. For who knows, your unoriginal and boring idea can actually turn out to be a remarkable idea."

The broad, Weberian definition of science I have sketched in the previous chapter is designed to accomplish two tasks. First, it effectivel

Earlier in our research writing class, our facilitator introduced the "Philosophy of Science" as the foundation of scholarly inquiry. I observed that much of the discussion was grounded in Western intellectual traditions. As someone from the Global South pursuing a PhD in a Global North institution, I believe it is important to question and challenge the Eurocentric framing of this conversation. The topic invites us to select our philosophical positions or logics of inquiry as if these are freely available choices. However, from my perspective, such an invitation overlooks the structural realities that shape academic decisions. Without confronting the colonial foundations of knowledge production, this gesture toward pluralism risks becoming merely symbolic. To genuinely rethink the Philosophy of Science from a non-Western standpoint, we must ask deeper questions: What does science mean? Who is allowed to produce knowledge? And for what purpose is it produced?

I appreciated that many of my peers shared that Eurocentrism continues to dominate and that there is a pressing need to decenter and diversify both knowledge systems and the structures that sustain them.

Today has been an intellectually productive day. I signed up for the “Shut Up and Write” sessions, even though I am still in the early stages of my dissertation writing. I know I should probably chill, just like the chilly weather here in Canberra. Still, I managed to finish writing the first section of my literature review. I never took the Pomodoro technique seriously before, but this time it worked. You just need accountability buddies to keep you on track.

Then I realised it is Labour Day today. It feels fitting to be productive on a public holiday in the Philippines, even if it is not one here in Australia. I have been engaged in thought-work since 2017, after shifting careers from BPO to academe. No regrets at all.

I hope to see the day when intellectual labour and manual labour are valued equally, both in wages and in how society perceives them.

Happy Labour Day!

Exactly a month into my PhD journey, and I am proud of my progress. I have started my literature review, which is a core assessment in my research writing class. Today, I was given another reading task, this time the work of Ed Aspinall on Aceh. Tales of two post-conflict societies. It is enriching to read studies on post-conflict societies. There is so much to learn from their experiences.

Both Mindanao and Aceh are often cited as success stories in conflict transformation. My dissertation will explore how wartime social orders shape post-conflict governance. It is valuable to revisit, read, and reflect on these cases.

Just like Mindanao and Aceh, I hope sumakses din ako.

The Art of Slowing Down...

As you may have noticed, I have not been writing any thoughts or reflections over the past week, not because it was Holy Week, but because I honestly did not know what to talk about. I suppose it is also a way of holding back, of refraining from sharing words that might not be necessary on social media. I also think I might be experiencing what they call writer's block, that moment when a writer simply cannot translate their thoughts into writing.

The usual idea of productivity teaches us that we need to accomplish something to feel relevant in society. For a writer, that means writing. And when we do not, we feel a certain guilt, as if we have failed.

But what happened over the past few days, I think, is simply a moment for me to pause. To reflect on what life is offering. Life and death, and death in particular, remind us that productivity loses all meaning when the Creator chooses to take away that one precious life.

It has been almost a month since I moved to Canberra, and I still carry the guilt of not doing enough. Back in the Philippines, I was shaped by the culture of the labour force to hustle hard, to always strive toward something. Life in Canberra, by contrast, is calm. The balance between work and life, as Gen Z would say, is really BALANCING. I am still learning the art of slowing down, of not rushing, of being present in the moment.

And I hope you are learning that too.

Reflection for the week

I apologize if I have been posting many reflections or thoughts on this wall, especially about my PhD journey. I am trying to follow the advice that encourages writing every day. It is a helpful discipline, particularly for those of us who are still in the early stages of our PhD. I have been sharing my thoughts on various matters, whether political, social, or simply part of daily life. As seen this week, I have posted almost every day to document this process.

Today, I felt so tired that I did not plan to post any reflection. Perhaps this can be one.

I devoted my entire day to just two activities: writing a book chapter on decoloniality and attending class. I realize that writing about decoloniality awakens something deep. It brings out passion, but also a kind of rage. It is exhausting, yet necessary. I have come to understand this: when writing about decoloniality no longer feels difficult or unsettling, it may no longer be truly decolonial. The struggle against colonial structures is a continuous tension between resistance and reality. Resistance means the refusal to be absorbed by systems that continue to dominate and marginalize. Reality means the recognition that these systems remain deeply rooted, not easily dismantled, though always open to challenge.

Today, I also learned what it means to write with reflexivity and positionality in practice. These are not abstract ideas but necessary responsibilities we carry as scholars.

Read. Read again. Write. Resist.

#phd life #decolonial

Today, I finally met my primary supervisor, Prof. Paul Hutchcroft, in person. We had an informal conversation about Philippine politics, Mindanao, and ANU. He then gifted me a book on Mindanao. It is both a privilege and an honour to know that I am his first PhD student working on Muslim Mindanao. Looks like this will be my first reading assignment.

I will not rub salt to the wound, but allow me to share a few reflections on the recent issue surrounding Heidi.

Democracy, in all its contradictions, is both beautiful and painful. It allows pluralism, voices that may not always agree, yet must find space to coexist. In moments like this, it’s easy to cancel, to disengage, to burn bridges. But democracy demands more from us. It requires dialogue, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable. We must learn to sit with our truths and theirs, and reflect deeply on what true healing actually means.

A fight for the oppressed will always be a collective struggle. But we also need to take a step back and see the bigger picture. This moment isn’t just about one person. It reflects a much deeper illness: the structural injustices that continue to plague our society. And those cannot be resolved by rage alone. They require persistence, courage, and compassion.

As one of my professors once said, “Politics, at its core, is about making decisions, oftentimes, the unconventional ones.” And maybe, just maybe, this is one of those moments.

Vote for someone who truly represents your values and interests because in a representative democracy, your voice is only as strong as the person you choose to speak for you.

Marginalised communities; Telling their stories – From war to peace, Bullets and ballots, Guns to governing, Stories of how they survive.

Of all the HDR Induction Week sessions, Simon Clews’ Research Communications Workshop was the most engaging. We were asked to describe our research in 20 words and let others guess the topic, a fun and meaningful way to practice clarity.

The quote is what I wrote.

It summed up both my research project and my week. With much humility, my partner picked mine as one of the most “beautifully” written pieces, and I got to share it with the group.

#phd life #phdjourney #phd research

Networking

Networking in the context of a PhD often means repeatedly explaining your research project to a wide range of audiences —those within your field and those far outside of it. Interestingly, the reactions I get from academic peers aren’t so different from those of my family and friends. Most are intrigued by the idea of studying former revolutionary, or so-called rebel, groups in a post-conflict society. It’s a topic that sparks curiosity, questions, and sometimes strong opinions, which makes for great conversation starters. hehe

#phd life #networking

Today, I joined the Research Project Management Workshop, and it was an eye-opener. I realized that pursuing a PhD is not just about research; it's equally about managing timelines, expectations, and resources. It’s part academic, part administrative, and fully a test of discipline and organization.

As a neurodivergent PhD student, I found this session particularly helpful. Having structures and strategies in place makes a huge difference in how I approach tasks and sustain focus. One line that resonated with me today was: "Planning is more important than the plan." It’s not just about sticking to a roadmap, it’s about being adaptable and intentional in every step of the journey.

#phd research #project management #research project management

Yesterday marked the beginning of the ANU HDR Induction Week. The day began with a traditional smoking ceremony, grounding us in the Indigenous philosophy of Yindyamarra, a Wiradjuri term that embodies respect. This meaningful welcome served as a powerful reminder of the importance of honouring Country and community as we embark on our research journeys. The sessions that followed introduced the broad range of support ANU offers to Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, from academic resources to well-being services, which is reassuring for anyone navigating a new academic environment. I capped off the day with a refreshing glass of Bentspoke Barley Griffin, taking time to unwind and connect with fellow HDR students from various disciplines.

Our Research Design and Writing class formally began today with a discussion on diversity. The University strongly advocates for decolonization and diversity. As part of the session, a video was shown, accompanied by the question: “Is it appropriate to throw this kind of joke?”

As a neurodivergent, first-generation scholar from the Global South, I responded by noting that this kind of joke could easily be used by white individuals as a form of so-called "reverse racism." However, I contend that reverse racism does not exist. While the joke may seem funny and relatable to people like me who come from colonized backgrounds, I view it as a manifestation of lingering coloniality; a reflection of how we continue to see ourselves through the lens of inferiority. Frantz Fanon once said that violence can be a tool to resist coloniality. In this context, dark humour is a form of symbolic violence. To me, a joke like this is a mere pinch compared to the deep wounds left by the legacies of colonialism. For colonized peoples, even a simple apology from colonizers would carry immense meaning, but perhaps apologies are not for the weak.

We were also asked how colonized individuals might respond to the video. Fellow students from the Indian subcontinent shared how many still believe that colonialism was a “blessing.” This is a sobering reality, and one we must begin to unpack from our collective subconscious.

So, back to the original question. My answer is a rhetorical question: Do I have the license to make that kind of joke? Yes. But just because I can, should I? More importantly, if that joke makes colonizers feel uncomfortable, then so be it. That, after all, is part of what decolonial activism seeks to do: to unsettle the comfortable.

#phd life #decolonizing #diversity #Youtube

My home department (Dept of Political and Social Change) is housed in the Hedley Bull Building, named after the renowned Professor of International Relations whose works are considered foundational in the IR field. Hedley Bull is best known for his concept of the “society of states,” arguing that even in an anarchical international system, a form of order and cooperation among states exists.

It’s an honour to be given office space in this iconic building, where I’ll spend most of my time working on my thesis and other academic pursuits.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Kebart001