PRESS RELEASE No. 36- 2025
Consul General Talbo (first row, 2nd from left) joins the students, chaperones, and supporters of the 2025 Sister State Spring Study Tour to the Philippines.
21 April 2025, Honolulu – Consul General Arman R. Talbo extended his appreciation for the fourteen (14) students who joined the study tour to the Philippines during a Study Tour Presentation at FilCom Center last April 19. From March 15-23, the students were immersed in the language, music, and culture of the provinces and cities they visited including Manila, Vigan, and Laoag.
In his remarks, the Consul General observed that the close relationship between the Philippines and Hawai’i stems from the strong sense of responsibility of their peoples, their shared values, connected histories, and intertwined futures. He invited students to continue sharing stories of their experience to their families, friends, and communities, and to be the bridge, “not made of steel and stone but of understanding, trust, and respect.” He further emphasized the value of investing in the youth by creating opportunities for meaningful exchange, service, and learning.
During her remarks, Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) Executive Director Niki Shishido shared that PAAC has taken hundreds of Hawai’i students on study tours across the region, which allowed participants to establish lifelong friendships, build connections across cultures, and develop “empathy, awareness, and leadership that our world urgently needs today.” Meanwhile, East-West Center Executive Administrative Officer Zachary Espino expressed his pride for the students who represented Hawai’i with “grace, curiosity, and aloha” at the recent study tour to the Philippines.
The students shared their experiences during the 2025 Spring State Study Tour in the Philippines last month, wherein they visited Manila, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte. With the theme, “Weaving our Interconnected Stories,” the students not only learned about the intricate art of inabel weaving but also deepened their knowledge of Philippine culture and history, which would not have been possible in a classroom setting. The students also shared stories of friendship, community, and the lessons they have learned throughout the journey.
Also joining the presentation were Hawai’i State Senator Samantha DeCorte, Honolulu City and County Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, East-West Center Chief Operating Officer Tracey Omori, parents and supporters of the student participants. The Sister State Study Tour was organized by PAAC, with support from the State of Hawai’i and the East-West Center. (END)
Consul General Talbo encourages students to be a bridge between cultures by sharing their insights and uplifting their communities in whatever field they choose in the future.
