Filipino graduates at FILGRAD ceremony (Photo by Darren Sana)
by Federico V. Magdalena and Belinda A. Aquino
The Center for Philippine Studies (CPS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Let us guide you through it, highlighting CPS’s history, achievements, and initiatives.
CPS, established in 1975 by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, is the only comprehensive academic center for Philippine studies in North America.
It fosters interdisciplinary research, teaching, and community outreach while promoting Filipino identity and heritage globally.
Historical Context Philippine Studies originated during the early 1900s when the Philippines became a U.S. colony.
Early American scholars like Dean C. Worcester and H. Otley Beyer conducted ethnological studies on indigenous tribes, and linguists developed grammar books and dictionaries for Philippine languages.
Interest in Philippine Studies grew during World War II as U.S. policymakers recognized its strategic importance. Postwar efforts institutionalized Philippine Studies in American universities such as Cornell and Michigan.
The 1930s saw increased academic interest, thanks to Joseph Ralston Hayden and Filipino writers like Serafin Macaraeg and Carlos Bulosan.
Filipino Diaspora The Filipino diaspora is central to Philippine Studies, offering insights into migration, labor exploitation, transnationalism, and cultural hybridity.
Overseas Filipinos contribute significantly to the Philippine economy. They sent home $38 billion in remittances, about 8% of the 2024 GDP.
However, their experiences vary widely, from precarious labor conditions to identity struggles among second-generation immigrants.
UH faculty member Joyce Zapanta Mariano examines diaspora philanthropy in her book Giving Back: Filipino America and the Politics of Diaspora Giving.
She critiques remittance-focused narratives and exposes contradictions in corporate social responsibility and global inequality, highlighting how such acts sustain Filipino identity.
Role of UH The University of Hawaiʻi has been instrumental in the development of Philippine Studies since the 1960s through courses on Philippine Anthropology and Tagalog.
Hawaiʻi’s large Filipino population (25% as of the 2020 Census) makes it a natural hub for these studies.
The liberalization of U.S. immigration laws in 1965 led to rapid growth in Filipino communities across America, especially in Hawaiʻi.
This demographic shift necessitated a broader focus on Filipino American identity and experiences. Philippine Studies emerged as a complementary field addressing cultural identity, labor history, and community resilience.
CPS does not grant degrees. It collaborates with UH departments offering courses on Philippine languages, American/Asian Studies, History, and Ethnic Studies.
A notable program is the BA in Philippine Languages and Literature (major in Filipino or Ilokano), the only program in the U.S.
Key Initiatives
Here are samples of significant Philippine Studies initiatives:
International Conference on Philippine Studies (ICOPHIL): Established in 1980 by Drs. Belinda Aquino and Bernardita Churchill, ICOPHIL, encouraged interdisciplinary discussions on history, politics, economics, and diaspora studies.
Its last conference was in 2016 at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, because of the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020 conference in Spain. Nevertheless, ICOPHIL remains vital for global scholarship.
Additionally, CPS has hosted seven international conferences, including ICOPHIL 1981, and the 75th and 100th Anniversaries of the Filipinos in Hawaiʻi.
National Alliance for Knowledge and Meaning (NAKEM): Launched by Dr.
Aurelio Agcaoili, in 2006 under the University of Hawaiʻi’s Ilokano Program, NAKEM promotes critical discussions on linguistic liberation, inclusion, culture, education, and diversity through storytelling, academic research, and community engagement. The 20th Conference of NAKEM will be held on November 19-21, 2025.
Advanced Filipino Abroad Program (AFAP): From 1991 to 2011, AFAP
enhanced Filipino language proficiency through immersive summer programs in the Philippines. Participants lived with host families and engaged in cultural activities.
Drs. Teresita Ramos and Ruth Mabanglo, program authors, trained 110 Americans in the advanced Filipino language. Though discontinued after 20 years due to the retirement of the organizers, AFAP left a lasting legacy in language education for Americans and Filipinos.
Endowments Supporting Research: CPS has created four endowments funded
by Alfonso Yuchengco, Ligaya Fruto, Corky Trinidad, and Belinda Aquino to support scholarships, research grants, and faculty initiatives.
50th Anniversary Celebration CPS has lined up several activities for its golden age, namely:
Arts and Culture Exhibit, Kulturang Makulay (Colorful Culture): The
celebration kicks off with this exhibit from September 28, 2025, to January 16, 2026, in collaboration with the East-West Center.
The exhibit, curated by renowned fashion designer Iris Gil Viacrusis, will showcase the rich diversity of Filipino culture, featuring an extraordinary collection of fashion, art, music, and artifacts.
iJeepney, an Interactive Community for Filipino History and Culture
Empowering the Next Generation: This updated version is more than just a revamp—it’s a dynamic, user-friendly platform designed to reflect the latest in technology, offering interactive lessons, engaging formats, and increased accessibility.
iJeepney is an online K-12 curriculum that features Philippine history and culture, empowering next-gen youth. It will be launched in October 2025.
Philippine rare collections: UH Hamilton Library proudly houses one of the
most extensive Philippine collections outside the Philippines, focusing on the Philippines and Filipinos in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
On October 15-23, 2025, there will be workshops and tours of the rare and unique collection of Philippine Revolutionary Papers (1898-1900), and Philippine underground Papers during the Ferdinand Marcos Regime (1965-1986).
CPS Anthology: Continuing the longstanding tradition of scholarly work
produced by CPS faculty and affiliated scholars, CPS will publish the Anthology to document and critically reflect on its 50-year history.
It consists of the history of Philippine Studies, writings from former CPS directors, faculty, and community partners, and envisioning the future. The book launch is in November 2025.
Cultural Production: Dancing in the Diaspora: This event draws from the
Center’s history, mission, and vision. International and local choreographers from the Philippines, Hawai’i, and beyond will host community workshops and collaborate with UHM students, faculty, and staff to co-create a transformative, multidisciplinary cultural production.
Watch the performances at the East-West Center Kennedy Theater on November 14-23, 2025.
Challenges Despite its achievements, Philippine Studies faces challenges, including funding constraints that compete with market-oriented disciplines like computer science, which limit its growth.
Limited faculty positions hamper growth. Retirements of key faculty members threaten program sustainability.
Decolonizing methodologies issue. Efforts to decolonize academic frameworks often face resistance within Western institutions that extol Eurocentric approaches.
Impressions
Philippine Studies has evolved from a colonial-era interest into a dynamic field, bridging homeland narratives with diaspora experiences.
While CPS has been at the forefront of this transformation through various initiatives like conferences, funding constraints, and community engagements are formidable challenges that require sustained advocacy to ensure its longevity as an academic discipline.
DR. MAGDALENAis an Associate Specialist and Assistant Director of the Center for Philippine Studies at UH.
DR. AQUINO, on the other hand, is an Emeritus Faculty and the founder of the Center for Philippine Studies. The duo is a Contributing Writer and a Contributing Editor, respectively, at Hawaiʻi Filipino Chronicle.
+ There are no comments
Add yours