Laya Boquiren-Gonzales

Dr. Laya Boquiren-Gonzales has a Ph.D. in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines Diliman Tricollege Program with a dissertation on the wood-carved heritage of Betis, Guagua, Pampanga. She acquired her Master of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Arts Studies from the same university. She was a scholar under the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative and completed short-focused programs in Managing the Creative Industries at Keio University (Kanagawa, Japan) and the Advanced Media Program at the Institute of Media and Entertainment (Manhattan, New York). She was a 2021 Fellow at the People-Centered Approaches for the Conservation of Nature and Culture of the World Heritage Leadership Program of ICCROM and IUCN.

Dr. Boquiren-Gonzales engages in research and creative projects that underscore the interlinkages of tangible and intangible cultural heritage for sustainable development. She co-created programs and projects of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation and was instrumental in institutional reforms. She previously served as a curatorial consultant for various government institutions like the Museo de Intramuros and provided curatorial services to artist-run initiatives. She has authored several books on arts and culture and is a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Philippines.