A PROFESSOR from the University of the Philippines-Diliman was conferred the honor of “sobresaliente cum laude” for her doctorate degree in Contemporary History at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain’s most prestigious academic institution.

She successfully defended her thesis entitled “Public Works, Sanitation, Order, and Social Control in Manila in the Second Half of the 18th Century to the 19th Century.”

The research discussed how Spanish colonial policies created public works like lighting, water systems and public streets in Manila.

It also produced original maps of 19th century Manila through the analysis of archival texts.

“Costelo’s defense panel composed of noted historians from both Spain and the Philippines lauded her work for its originality and importance to the study of colonial life in the waning days of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines,” UP said.

Costelo is an assistant professor at the UP Department of History.

She is also affiliated with the Institute of History-Center for Human and Social Sciences, Higher Council for Scientific Research.

Costelo obtained her Interuniversity Master in Contemporary History in 2016 also in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Her teaching interests are history of Spanish colonial public works, history of Spanish colonial engineering, history of urbanization, history of Leyte, history of Spanish colonial Philippines, and history of Spain and Europe.