Dr Manuel R Enverga III, Director of Ateneo de Manila University’s European Studies Program, is the first Philippine academic to have been conferred the prestigious Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies by the European Union, and is only the fourth in Southeast Asia since the title was awarded over 30 years ago. The distinction is awarded to academics who have made recognizable contributions to research and teaching in the field of European Studies. During his three-year term as Chair holder, Dr Enverga will be working to expand European Studies in the Philippines through visiting lectures, organization of events, teaching courses, publishing research, and producing episodes for his online show, The Eurospeak Podcast.
The Jean Monnet Chair is the latest in a series of awards given by the EU to Ateneo de Manila. Since 2016, the university’s European Studies Program has consistently received Module and Project grants under the Jean Monnet scheme. Unlike other EU grants, such as the Erasmus Mundus, the Jean Monnet awards are given to individuals and academic units that demonstrate high levels of competence in the field of European Studies. To date, Ateneo de Manila University is the only Philippine higher education institution to have received any Jean Monnet awards.
About the ateneo de manila's Jean Monnet Chair
Dr Enverga completed a Doctor of Social Science degree from the University of Leicester, in the United Kingdom. His research and teaching have focused on topics, such as EU integration, digital diplomacy, and global flows. His publications have appeared in prominent specialist journals, such as the Journal of Contemporary European Studies, the International Journal of Cultural Policy, and Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. Outside of his work in the university, Dr Enverga also shares his expertise by writing articles for mainstream media, providing insights on television news, or conducting workshops, seminars, or lectures for international organizations, diplomats, multinational corporations, or agencies of the Philippine government.
The Eurospeak Podcast
On this show, Dr Enverga (using his nickname, BJ) talks to his guests about various things European, and how they may impact our lives, even if we’re not actually in Europe. From Game of Thrones to Brexit, and from populism to Netflix’s Money Heist. Dr Enverga and his guests uncover connections to Europe in some of our everyday experiences.
Visiting Lectures Conducted in Philippine Universities
De La Salle University Manila, November 2025
De La Salle University Manila, November 2025
De La Salle University Manila, November 2025
At De La Salle University Manila, I delivered “Anti-Corruption as a Social Construct: Lessons from Europe for the Philippines,” highlighting how Europe’s modern anti-corruption system was shaped by centuries of political upheaval, social change, and the slow construction of an anti-clientelist worldview. Students from the European Studies Association explored how these historical trajectories differ from the Philippine context and what they might mean for future reforms.
University of San Agustin, October 2025
De La Salle University Manila, November 2025
De La Salle University Manila, November 2025
In “Bytes and Bites: The Politics of Food in a Digital World” at the University of San Agustin, Iloilo, the lecture explored how food becomes a site of politics and identity, including debates over geographic indicators. Students also examined how digital foodscapes and place branding shape cultural narratives and influence global perceptions of taste and place.
Ateneo de Davao University, September 2025
De La Salle University Manila, November 2025
Mindanao International Studies Society Convention, February 2025
In “Digital Diplomacy: Surfing Through Borders, Navigating International Relations” at Ateneo de Davao University, the lecture unpacked key themes such as two-way communication, digital “listening,” disinformation, and online political behavior. Students from the Association for International Studies Students joined an engaging discussion on how digital platforms reshape the practice of diplomacy today.
Mindanao International Studies Society Convention, February 2025
Mindanao International Studies Society Convention, February 2025
Mindanao International Studies Society Convention, February 2025
At the 2025 Mindanao International Studies Society Convention, "Memes, Ministers, and Mediation" explored the evolving role of social media in shaping international relations. Students from Mindanao’s top universities engaged in an insightful discussion on how digital culture influences diplomacy and global communication.
De La Salle University Manila, February 2025
Mindanao International Studies Society Convention, February 2025
De La Salle University Manila, February 2025
In "Memes, Money, and 'Magne" at De La Salle University Manila, the lecture delved into how everyday actions and digital culture reinforce the concept of the European Imagined Community. Students explored the subtle ways in which memes, consumer habits, and media shape collective European identities and solidarity.
Academic publications
“EU got that rizz”: Discursive contestation in Comments about the European Commission’s Use of Memes for Government Communication
The Social Construction of European Studies in the Philippines: A Case Study of Research Produced in the Ateneo de Manila University
“EU got that rizz”: Discursive contestation in Comments about the European Commission’s Use of Memes for Government Communication
Published in the European Journal of Humor Research
European Digital Diplomacy and the Sino-Philippine Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea
The Social Construction of European Studies in the Philippines: A Case Study of Research Produced in the Ateneo de Manila University
“EU got that rizz”: Discursive contestation in Comments about the European Commission’s Use of Memes for Government Communication
Published in Geopolitical Risks in Europe and the Indo-Pacific Region: Perspectives of National Security
The Social Construction of European Studies in the Philippines: A Case Study of Research Produced in the Ateneo de Manila University
The Social Construction of European Studies in the Philippines: A Case Study of Research Produced in the Ateneo de Manila University
The Social Construction of European Studies in the Philippines: A Case Study of Research Produced in the Ateneo de Manila University
Published in Asia Pacific Journal of EU Studies
Events organized
Panel Discussion on Election Observation
The European Studies Program hosted a panel discussion on the value of election observation featuring EU Election Observation Mission to the Philippines 2025 Deputy Chief Observer Manuel Sánchez de Nogués and Nicole Paterno, Quezon City Coordinator of Namfrel.
