PHOTO RELEASE NO. 48-2024

Shown in the photo are (left to right) Dr. Lorenzo Perillo, Consul General Emil Fernandez, and Dr. Patricia Halagao.

30 April 2024, Honolulu – Two dynamic young leaders have assumed the helm of the Center for Philippine Studies (CPS) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH-Manoa) early this year after Dr. Pia Arboleda concluded her term as Director of the esteemed institution.  Dr. Patricia Halagao and Dr. Lorenzo Perillo will serve a three-year term as Co-Directors of CPS, which will celebrate its 50th year anniversary in 2025.  Drs. Halagao and Perillo met with Consul General Emil Fernandez earlier today to discuss the goals they envision for the Center as well as areas for collaboration with the Consulate.

Dr. Halagao, who served on the Hawaii State Board of Education (2013-2016), is concurrently Professor and Chair of the Department of Curriculum Studies at UH-Manoa, while Dr. Perillo is an Associate Professor for Theater and Dance with previous positions in several prestigious colleges, including UC Berkely, UCLA, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Cornell University.  CPS has played an important role in promoting interest in the Philippines and Filipinos in the diaspora as an academic field of study.  It was originally established as a program in 1975 by an Act of the Hawaii State Legislature to recognize the contributions of Filipinos to the history of Hawaii.  (END)