Welcome to UH Mānoa Filipino Language & Culture Program (UHMFIL)!

UHMFIL is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion of peoples from diverse backgrounds. While rooted in our Filipino heritage, we strive hard to continue to develop curricular and pedagogical innovations that honor students’ funds of knowledge and lived realities in the context of Hawaiʻi, the Philippines, and the continental US. We honor the rich history and diverse cultures of Filipinos in the Philippines and in many diasporic communities around the world.

At UHMFIL, we are proud to have Filipino teachers who come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They represent the diversity of Filipinos' complex history and lived experiences. Besides speaking (Tagalog-based) Filipino, we have teachers who speak Cebuano, Ilokano, Tagalog, Kinaray-a, and Hiligaynon, among others. Our program offers language, literature, culture, and sociolinguistic classes which provide opportunities for appreciation and critical awareness of our rich traditions, diverse cultures, and lived realities. We strive to provide a learning environment that is conducive to all types of students regardless of ethnicity, race, language, gender, class, and religion.

We commit to be your kaakbay sa pangarap or companion in reaching your dream while at UH Mānoa. In different Philippine languages we say: Kauban sa pagkab-ot sa imong pangandoy. Tulungandakayo a manggun-od dagiti arapaapyo. Kaupod sa imong panghandum.

Recognizing our Filipino Heritage

Filipino in thought, word and deed. These words serve as cornerstones to one of the aspirations of UHM-FILIPINO. The program aims to enrich the consciousness and thoughts of students to enhance their identity development as Filipinos and Filipino Americans and to strengthen their abilities for meaningful discourse in Philippine language and culture. At UHMFIL, we aim to cultivate Filipino values such as: respect, word of honor, integrity and sense of community.

What our graduates say about UHM-Filipino

Close-knit community. Instructors and advisors who care about you and want you to succeed.

Faculty was always available for consolation. There were many activities throughout the semester.

The history aspect is very strong. It is very encouraging and gave me a lot of confidence to be proud of my heritage and to believe in myself as a Filipino and as a person.