DR. CHRISTINA A. GABRILLO, Professor V of the Visayas State University Department of
Development Communication (VSU-DevCom) in Baybay City, Leyte, becomes the first Filipina to take part in the World Shiology Forum, which is one of the world’s emerging platforms shaping the global governance of food systems.
Held from October 28–31, 2025 in Haikou, China, the 5th World Shiology Forum
convened more than 500 leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from more
than a hundred countries to explore the emerging interdisciplinary field of Shiology.
This is an emerging interdisciplinary field that examines food as a holistic system not only as something we eat, but as a fundamental intersection of culture, ecology, health, behavior, economy, and governance.
The term draws from the Chinese word “shi” meaning food or eating, and expands it into a comprehensive scientific framework that views food as central to human well-being
and societal development.
In this global biennial event, Dr. Gabrillo was invited not only as a participant but also as one of the official panelists, engaging in high-level discussions on food systems, sustainability, and the social dimensions of food behavior and governance.
Coming from her background in development communication and drawing from years
of work in agricultural communication and rural development across Eastern Visayas, Dr. Gabrillo brought a deeply grounded and people-centered perspective to the discussions.
Her insights helped surface the lived realities of Filipino farmers, coastal communities,
and disaster-affected households that amplified the Philippine narrative in a forum often dominated by perspectives from larger and more resource-rich regions.
By participating in a global forum traditionally dominated by economists, agronomists,
nutrition scientists, and policymakers, she demonstrated how development
communication contributes crucial insights to food-systems thinking especially in understanding human behavior, cultural narratives, information ecosystems, and participatory governance.
A global SDG book report with a Filipino voice
Not only did Dr. Gabrillo represented the Philippines as the first Filipina to engage in Shiology but she also made history by serving as the lone Filipino co-author of the landmark book called Global Food Systems & SDGs Report 2025: A Systematic
Stocktake of Food System Issues and Solutions.
Published by the Research Center for Shiology at Renmin University of China and the
Beijing Shiology Research Institute, this book that was launched in the said forum outlines the five dimensions of food needs, which includes basic sustenance, dietary diversity, food safety, healthy longevity, and sustainable supply.
As a co-author, Dr. Gabrillo provided key insights on food cultures, communication, and
human behavior, grounded in her experience working with farming communities, youth
groups, and disaster-prone areas in the Philippines.
She highlighted the complexities of food access in archipelagic regions, the influence of cultural identity on food choices, and the role of communication in shaping food governance.
Dr. Gabrillo’s contribution ensured that Filipino narratives, especially those that are
coming from rural and climate-vulnerable communities, are embedded in a global report
expected to inform future international frameworks on food systems transformation.
In an interview, Dr. Gabrillo expressed her thanks to the Secretariat of the World Shiology Forum for inviting her to take part in this unexplored transdisciplinary field that is very new for Filipinos.
She then continued by explaining how this will be particularly beneficial for her home institution and how VSU could affirm its unique place in international movements that transform global food systems.
“My participation in the 5th World Shiology Forum opens new pathways for VSU to engage with global conversations on food systems and sustainability. It allowed me to bring home fresh perspectives, new frameworks, and potential partnerships that will strengthen our research, enrich our academic programs, and empower our communities in Eastern Visayas,” Dr. Gabrillo said.
Dr. Gabrillo is the Director for Student Affairs and Services of VSU and the concurrent
Station Manager of a community development campus radio called DYDC 104.7 FM.
She also served as Head of the VSU Department of Development Communication for 10 years and presently the communication specialist of Abaca Coalition, which is an intergovernmental alliance that seeks to revive the vibrant abaca (Manila Hemp) industry in Southern Leyte.
Dr. Gabrillo was also chosen as an Innovative Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Leadership
Program (APLP) at the East West Center based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States from
2019 to 2021 and an alumna of the Radio Nederland Training Center on community
broadcasting in 2017. By Ulderico Alviola
