About me
Teng, as his friends call him, teaches political science and history while serving as Dean of the College of Social Sciences at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City, Philippines.

He served as Chairperson of the WMSU Political Science Department, and a Faculty Regent (2008-2010)--- a member of the university's Board of Regents Pursuant to R.A. 8292 being the President of the Faculty Union.

Prof. Catong is pursuing a Ph.D. in Development Studies (Cognates in Sociology, and Public Policy) at UP-Los Banos. He already completed all the academic requirements for the Ph.D. in History, Cognate in Political Science at the UP-Diliman, Quezon City and about to take the exams in December 2013; however, the war/crisis in September 9, 2013 erupted in the center of the City of Zamboanga that lasted for 21-day that he was the only government scholar from Zamboanga who was recalled in the exigency of service to become CSS Dean and he was among the few privileged public servants who were responsible for the planning and execution of strategies and some responses that the leaderships of DSWD, DND/AFP, DILG/PNP, DPWH, City Government of Zamboanga, and various International Aid Agencies and organizations that thereafter embraced their platform for mitigation and normalcy. Hence, he was on appeal after he was subjected to the Maximum Residency Rule of the University of the Philippines (MRR).

While serving as Dean and concurrent chair of the university's committee for conflict resolution and social development, he supported and reinforced the strategic leadership of WMSU President Milabel E. Ho to further optimize the university resources for the wider public in times of war. The Gym was converted as hospital and it housed the health professionals of the Zamboanga Regional Hospital which was directly affected due to proximity to the fierce fighting area. The university was the center of crises management, disaster mitigation, and post-war psychological/trauma engagements with various partners as part of it extension services to the community where she purports to serve.

Thereafter, Teng was chosen by the Development Academy of the Philippines in partnership with PASUC and supported by CHED as among the first batch of scholars sent for the Executive Development Program for SUC Deans (EDPS-Deans) with his final paper entitled, WMSU Moving Towards the Center of Excellence in Conflict Resolution and Social Development.

He also holds an M.A. in History, Cognate in Political Science at UP-Diliman; a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; and a Bachelor of Laws. While at the Law School, Teng was overwhelmingly elected president of the WMSU Supreme Student Council in S.Y. 1997-1998 and served as the first Student Regent pursuant to R.A. 8292 (otherwise known as the Commission on Higher Education Modernization Act), where he authored and co-sponsored various resolutions at the state university's highest policy-making body, the Board of Regents. He successfully defended his constituents who practically belong to the poor and disadvantaged members of the Philippine society in opposing all tuition fee increases and nullified other onerous students fees without many clashes with the university administration thru negotiations, tact, and diplomacy.

During his stint as USC president and Student Regent, he opened linkages with different colleges and universities in Southern Philippines. He organized the first Mindanao-wide Debate Competition, and eventually became chairperson of the Mindanao Collegiate Debaters Association.

Aside from introducing innovative and pro-student policies and programs in the university, he represented the student body in various regional, national, and international conferences to include: the Association of Law Students of the Philippines Conference, the 6th ASEAN Law Students Conference, and the International Youth Conference on Human Rights.

Aware of his humble beginnings and having been raised in Mindanao, Teng is an advocate of indigenous and cultural communities' rights. He is a member of an indigenous yet dynamic ethnolinguistic tribe in Southern Philippines and the Malay world---the Iranun---a community advance in civilization and way of life that inspired them to resist colonialism. Being exposed to the cultures and traditions of various cultural communities, Teng speaks in Cebuano/Bisaya, Chavacano, Ilonggo/Hiligaynon, Filipino/Tagalog, Iranun, M'ranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, et. al.

As an alumnus of the country's premier academic institution, the University of the Philippines, Teng is looking forward to serving humanity in his modest capacity as an educator and scholar. He was speaker/presenter in national, regional and international academic conferences, and the most recent of them were the 2006 Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) International Conference held on October 27-28 in Zamboanga City in Mindanao, Philippines, and the Third AMAN Assembly 2006 and International Interfaith Peace Forum held on November 15-18 at the UIN in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Recently, he participated in the 1st Convention of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)Professors held last May 16-18, 2011 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City, Philippines under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Prof. Catong presented a lecture on Federalism titled "Revisiting Federalism in the Philippines: An Analysis" before the Philippine Information Agency Officials composed of Assistant Secretaries and Regional Directors, November 27, 2007, at the Lantaka Hotel, Zamboanga City. He also presented the initial output of a working paper entitled "Review of Western Mindanao Peoples’ Development Agenda: Towards A Multi-Sectoral Regional Anti-Poverty Partnerships Program" at the Forum on the National Poverty Map and Regional Anti-Poverty Partnerships on December 4, 2007 at the Seameo-Innotech
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Prof. ESNAEN M. CATONG appeared on TV as a socio-political analyst at ABS-CBN’s ANC “Crossroads” hosted by a witty TV/Broadcast journalist TONY VELASQUEZ on the critical issue of socio-political concern---the Proposed Implementation of the National ID System in the Philippines. LIVE! on January 11, 2008 (Friday) ---8:00 to 9:00 pm. Recently, he appeared Live on TV Patrol Chavacano as Socio-Political Analyst on the occasion of President Aquino III's State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2011.

Currently, Esnaen (Teng) M. Catong is finalizing his book entitled "Philippines-Saudi Arabia Diplomatic Relations: A Socio-Cultural, Political, Labor and Economic History"---a revision and an updated version of his thesis submitted at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy of UP Diliman; and another book entitled Historical Revisionism?: The Supreme Court Decision in the Duterte's Marcos Burial Controversy with the FOREWORD of Professor Dr. Clarita R. Carlos is about to be published. Some of his research interests are Diplomatic History (West Asia and Southeast Asia); Energy Crisis; Oil Diplomacy; Labor Migration; Philippine Foreign Relations; Ethnohistory; Islamic Studies; and Conflict Resolution.

In 2003, one of his research works won in the Research Fellowship Programme for Young Muslim Scholars under the auspices of the Asian Muslim Action Network and the Rockefeller Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand. Moreover, Teng received various scholastic, sports, service, and leadership awards.

Teng is passionate in information and communications technologies (ICTs) and information societies and is concerned with the digital and knowledge divide. He is also passionate in understanding the phenomenon of global warming as well as ecological/environmental issues and concerns.

He plays lawn tennis (Champion: the 2001 UP Community Tennis Open organized by UP-CHK and the 2004 "Halo-halong Palo" organized by UP-ACES), table tennis (1st Runner-up, SMASH 2002 organized by UP-KEM), and the Lawn Tennis Men Doubles (Champion) in the "2007 Battles of the Champions Cup" and the "2008 Battles of the Champions Cup" both held at the Zamboanga City Lawn Tennis Association. Teng is also engaging in other sports activities like Golf (Class A) occasionally. Teng, as his friends call him, teaches political science and history while serving as Dean of the College of Social Sciences at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City, Philippines.

He served as Chairperson of the WMSU... (more)

If I could change one thing about the world...
End conflict, and engage for lasting peace, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.