FOREWORD
Dr. Leslie Bauzon

Wisdom, Heritage, and Scholarship
Dr. Leslie E. Bauzon on Jun Almeda’s Lifelong Cultural Mission

In the foreword of the landmark historical volume Surigao Across the Years, Dr. Leslie E. Bauzon—Vice President of the Department of Science and Technology and Chair of the Division of Social Sciences—delivers a powerful tribute to the author, Dr. Fernando "Jun" A. Almeda Jr., D.Litt., and his enduring legacy as a cultural and intellectual force in Surigao del Norte.

Honoring a Scholar and Cultural Advocate

Dr. Bauzon begins with heartfelt congratulations to Almeda for receiving a Doctorate in Literature, honoris causa, from St. Paul University Surigao in 2016. But beyond academic recognition, Bauzon emphasizes Almeda’s decades-long dedication to Surigaonon heritage, particularly through the Surigaonon Heritage Center, which Almeda founded and led.

Almeda, he writes, has transformed the study of Surigao's past from a quiet personal pursuit into a dynamic public mission—spanning literature, archaeology, history, and education.

The Escalon Man: Scientific Discovery and Global Dialogue

One of the most groundbreaking contributions highlighted in the foreword is the discovery and study of the Escalon Man—a Neolithic skeletal remain unearthed along the Escalon River Valley in Surigao City. Almeda and Bauzon, along with Japanese scientists, launched an unfunded, long-term joint research project that employed advanced mitochondrial DNA analysis. Their findings revealed that the Escalon Man was an agriculturist-hunter, radiocarbon-dated to around 2600 years Before Present (BP), and genetically linked to Austronesian-speaking migrants from Southeast Asia.

This discovery positioned Surigao at the center of scholarly discourse on prehistoric human migration in the Pacific.

“Escalon Man is the only archaeological skeletal evidence of a prehistoric Austronesian speaker in the Philippines,” Bauzon writes—a claim that underscores both the scientific and cultural magnitude of the find.

Why History Matters: A Case for the Humanities

In an era where funding and focus are often directed to technical fields, Dr. Bauzon passionately argues for the value of humanities and social sciences. He sees Almeda’s life work as proof that ethical, critical, and historical thinking is foundational to a just and reflective society.

“Technology produces workers,” he asserts, “but the humanities and social sciences produce thinkers.”

He further praises Almeda’s commitment to voluntary, unfunded scholarly work, noting that true wisdom lies in placing knowledge in the service of people—local and national alike.

A Call to Action: Be a Friend of the Province

More than a foreword, Dr. Bauzon’s essay is a manifesto for civic and cultural responsibility. He urges the reader not to leave the task of preservation and education to Almeda alone. Instead, he envisions a "grand continuity of human effort" where generations build on the sacrifices and visions of those who came before.

To have true wisdom, he says, is to be “a real friend of the province, of the nation, and of the world.”

About the Book

Surigao Across the Years is the definitive history of Surigao del Norte, from prehistory to post-liberation 1945. First launched on Adlaw nan Surigao in 1993, its sixth edition includes major archaeological updates and expanded research drawn from the Surigao Historical Commission and Surigaonon Heritage Center.