Arch Capistrano is an assistant professor of political science at the University of the Philippines Cebu and serves as coordinator of the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH). Under her leadership, OASH conducted the First Responders’ Drill on Anti-Sexual Harassment (#ASH1st2022) which earned UP Cebu a Special Citation on Gender Mainstreaming in the Education Sector awarded by the Philippine Commission on Women and by the National Anti-Poverty Commission in October 2022. In the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) Cebu Chapter, she is also the Committee Officer for the Welfare of the College of Social Sciences Faculty.

Her article entitled "Traversing the intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking" published in Third World Quarterly earned her a spot in the International Affiliate Network of the Bauman Institute, University of Leeds UK (click on the location pin pointing to the Philippines on the map to verify). In 2022-2023, Arch served as president of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO), the pioneering professional organization dedicated to the promotion of International Relations as well as the interdisciplinary scholarship of the “international” from the Global South perspective. She also serves as a Trustee at the Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP) as well as the White Hills Foundation Inc. (WHFI). Her research interests include liquid modernity, human trafficking, gender, and human rights in international relations.

In terms of community engagement, Arch serves as chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Legal Bureau, Inc. (CLB) a longstanding pro-children and pro-women non-governmental organization based in Cebu. As an advocate of safe learning and work spaces, Arch is part of the Digital Rights Coalition, and a volunteer of the Movement Against Disinformation (MAD). She is also a co-convener of PAMINSAR, a network of Cebu-based educators, researchers, academics, teachers, scientists and artists, historians, intellectuals, administrators of educational institutions, and education students with the aim to advance academic freedom as fundamental in knowledge and artistic production, and forward a truthful representation of history.

Arch obtained her Master of International Relations degree at Monash University in Victoria, Australia as an Australian Leadership Awards grantee. She earned her degree in Political Science (Magna Cum Laude) as well as her Law degree at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. She is also a member of the Philippine Bar and a lifetime member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cebu City Chapter. 

Faller-Capistrano, A. N. (2025). Traversing the intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking. Third World Quarterly, 1-19. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01436597.2025.2456821  

Faller-Capistrano, A.N. (2024). Global citizenship. In Cruz, Adiong, Capistrano, Israel, & Gamas (Eds.) The Contemporary World (pp. 299-316). C&E Publishing Inc. https://cebookshop.com/product/8051190 

Raguindin, L., Capistrano, A.N.F, & Adiong, N.M. (2023). Decolonial approaches to legislation in the Bangsamoro context (Policy Brief 2023-06). Decolonial Studies, University of the Philippines Center for Intergrative and Development Studies. https://cids.up.edu.ph/policy-brief/decolonial-approaches-legislation-bangsamoro-context/ 

Faller-Capistrano, A. N. (2022). Fluid violence and the human rights of children in the Philippines: Through the lens of developmental legal aid. In Marginalisation and Human Rights in Southeast Asia (pp. 167-186). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003331858-13/fluid-violence-human-rights-children-philippines-archill-ni%C3%B1a-faller-capistrano 

Faller-Capistrano, A.N. (2020). Sexploitative human trafficking in, out of, and beyond the Philippines: A liquid problem in a cosmopolar international system. In Adiong & Cruz (Eds.) International Studies in the Philippines: Mapping New Frontiers of Theory and Practice (pp. 226-244). London: Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429056512-16/sexploitative-human-trafficking-beyond-philippines-archill-ni%C3%B1a-faller-capistrano 

Faller-Capistrano, A.N. (2014-2015). Cebu's 'Glocal' Challenge: How Non-state Actors can Better Assure the Rights of Child Victims of Sex Trafficking in the Philippines. International Journal of Sustainable Human Security (IJSHS), 2(1), 72-98. http://www.weinstitute.org/uploads/9/9/2/1/9921626/capistrano_ijshs_2014-2015_anti-human-trafficking.pdf  

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2025, February 26). Gender and International Security during the Mindanao International Studies Society Convention at the Pinnacle Hotel & Suites, Davao City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. & Jacot, J. R. (2024, November 28). Ang ugnayan ng disimpormasyon at kolonyalidad bilang hamon sa pagtutol: Isang pagtingin sa kalinangan at kasaysayan ng Martial Law  (Trans. The disinformation-coloniality nexus as a challenge to resistance: A scrutiny of history and culture of Martial Law)  during the ADHIKA Ng Pilipinas Pambansang Kumperensya ng Kasaysayan at Kalinangang Pilipino, University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2024, November 13). Digital sexual citizenship in (re)claiming safe spaces online during the Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines Annual International Conference, Southern Luzon State University, Lucban, Quezon Province.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2024, November 11). The White Man’s Cause: Tracing epistemic violence in the Trafficking in Persons discourse during the International Conference with the theme Resisting Intellectual Imperialism and Epistemic Violence: Towards Autonomous Knowledge Production, Center for Integrative and Development Studies Decolonial Studies Program, University of the Philippines, via Zoom.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2024, March 20). Privacy & Digital Sexual Citizenship during the Digital Rights Conference, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2023, December 2). Bartending from Canon to Fanon: Initial thoughts on Decolonizing Legal Studies in the Philippines during the Decolonizing Legal Studies Roundtable Discussion, UP CIDS Decolonial Studies Program, Diliman, Quezon City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2023, November 22). From vulnerability to empowerment: Capacitating first responders on anti-sexual harassment as rights holders and duty bearers in combatting gender-based violence during the Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines Annual International Conference, Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2023, November 18). IR as “intergenerational responsibility” for the online safety of children in Southeast Asia during the 2023 PHISO Virtual International Conference.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2023, April 18). Liquid modernity on the Lumad Community displacement in the International Studies Regional Conference by the Josenian Junior Diplomats, University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2023, January 14). Traversing the intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking in Dialogues on Epistemic Justice by the Centre for Critical Peace Studies, University of Management and Technology, Lahore Pakistan. (online)

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, December 3-4). Decolonial Approaches to Legislation Seminar-Workshop organized by the UPCIDS, DSRN, and Bangsamoro Transition Authority Policy Research and Legal Services, Em Manor Hotel, Cotabato City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, December 1). The Safe Spaces Act: A look at fluid violence in learning spaces (Part 2) during the Year-end Evaluation and 2023 Target Setting of Cebu Normal University, Azia Suites & Residences, Cebu City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, November 28). The Safe Spaces Act: A look at fluid violence in learning spaces (Part 1) during the Opening Program of Cebu normal University for the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, November 24). Beyond the pandemic: Prospects for restorative feminism against endemic gender-based violence in liquid modernity, awarded as Best Paper during the Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines Annual National Conference 2022, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, November 12). Power(lessness) of women and girls in liquid modern consumerism: Reflections at the nexus between gender justice and sustainability during the 2022 PHISO Exploratory Workshop, Miriam College, Quezon City.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, October 20). The University of the Philippines First Responders’ Drill on Anti-Sexual Harassment (#ASH1st2022) during the Gains and Challenges of Gender Mainstreaming: The Philippine Commission on Women and the National Anti-Poverty Commission Sectoral Multi-Stakeholder Conference.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, October 4). Liquid modern consumerism of disinformation: Reflections from online content creation about Martial Law during the UP System General Education Conference (online).

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, August 31). Power(lessness) of women and girls in liquid modern consumerism: Reflections at the nexus between gender justice and sustainability during the Women Sustainability Forum 2022 organized by the Women Sustainability Academy and the University of the Philippines Open University.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, May 30). Revisiting Cebu’s ‘Glocal’ Challenge: How non-state actors can better assure the rights of child victims of sex trafficking in the Philippines for the Visayas-wide Summit of Advocates against Trafficking in Persons organized by the Children’s Legal Bureau.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2022, March 26). Sexual harassment and COVID-19: A look at fluid violence in learning spaces for the DAHAS: Anti-hazing and Sexual Harassment Webinar by the Centro Escolar University School of Dentistry and the Association of Dentistry Students in the Philippines.

Capistrano, A.N.F. (2022, February 23). Fluid violence and human rights of children in the Philippines: Through the lens of developmental legal aid presented for the Specialized Training Course on Child Protection by Miriam College.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, December 09). Luwas nga kawanangan sa kada kawani og lingkod bayani (Trans: Safe spaces for every civil servant and servant-hero) for the Virtual Gender Sensitivity Training of the Bureau of the Treasury Region VII.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, December 1). Traversing the intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking. Central Visayas Studies Center 2021 UP Cebu Faculty Research and Creative Work Virtual Presentation.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, November 17). Bantay luwas kawanangan: Padulong sa Pagkab-ot sa ‘Bawat Kawani, Lingkod Bayani’ (Trans: Guarding safe spaces: Towards achieving ‘every civil servant, servant-hero’) for the Virtual Gender Sensitivity Training of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Region VIII.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, November 7). “Intergenerational responsibility” vs. consumerist anthropoSIN: Reflections for global citizenship during the PHISO Free Virtual International Conference.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, October 29). Gendered intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking during the International Extramural, University of the Philippines Cebu.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, September 2). Responsible parenthood in the face of child trafficking in the digital age. A talk on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act organized by the Public-Private Partnership Center.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, July 28). Powering up leadership against child abuse and trafficking. 2021 Regional Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Leadership Summit’s concurrent session on Children’s Protection Against Abuse and Trafficking by the Australian Embassy.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, March 12). Frontline yet Marginal: (Non-)leadership & (non-)participation of women & children in pandemic times. Para Sa Kabataan (Trans: For the Youth), Children’s Legal Bureau’s Blended Forum and Quarterly Meeting of the Cebu Against Child Sex Exploitation (CAST), Cebu City, Philippines.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2021, March 3). Ang pagtudlo nga gikinahanglan: Para sa kabataang Lumad nga tinun-an, dili sa mapanghusgang katungdanan (Trans: The needed educational instruction: For the Lumad Youth Leaners, not for censorious state authority). Para Sa Kabataan (Trans: For the Youth), Children’s Legal Bureau’s blended forum, Cebu City, Philippines.

Capistrano, A.N.F. (2020, December 2). Fluid violence and human rights of children in the Philippines: Through the lens of developmental legal aid. Online Book Chapter Symposium: Marginalisation and Human Rights in Southeast Asia by the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism & Migration, University of Jember, Indonesia.

Capistrano, A. N. F. (2020, September 12). Traversing the intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking. University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies 2020 International Conference, Philippines (virtual conference).