Patricia Halagao and Lorenzo Perillo, the new co-directors of the Center for Philippine Studies (CPS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, recently connected with international scholars, presented research, and discussed new collaborations in the Philippines. Halagao and Perillo are leading efforts to expand Philippine studies in Hawaiʻi and globally. Their work recently took them to the Philippines, where they connected with international scholars and presented research.
As part of their visit, Halagao, a professor in the UH Mānoa College of Education’s Curriculum Studies Department, and Perillo, an associate professor in the College of Arts, Languages and Letter’s Department of Theatre and Dance, participated in the “Dialogo: Philippine Studies Goes Global“ conference at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
The CPS co-directors organized discussions, including a roundtable with academic leaders from Australia, Germany, China and the Philippines on the challenges and future directions of Philippine Studies.
“It was gratifying to see how our Center fits into the long legacy of Philippine Studies, witness its global growth, and explore opportunities to collaborate with regional centers in the Philippines to elevate local perspectives and Indigenous knowledge,“ shared Halagao.
Strengthening global, local ties
At Ateneo de Manila University, the UH Mānoa duo shared their vision for CPS and upcoming projects, including the center’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2025, which will culminate in the first Filipino-centered mainstage production at Kennedy Theatre in November.
Perillo moderated and presented in a panel on Filipino identity in performance, sports and travel writing, showcasing his research on Filipino dance communities in Hong Kong, Hawaiʻi and Sweden.
“Artists and everyday migrants dance to mitigate the negative impacts of Filipino migration like anxiety, loss, and disconnection and embody Filipino migratory states of being and belonging as sources of genuine Filipino identity,“ Perillo said.
Halagao focused on making Philippine Studies more accessible to K–12 teachers. She also visited UP Diliman Integrated School and the Raya School, both committed to fostering Filipino identity in education.
At CPS, Halagao is leading a professional development program through the Sistan Alhambra Filipino American Education Institute. This initiative supports the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education’s Filipino history and culture course, currently offered at five high schools in Hawaiʻi, with plans for expansion.
