PRESS RELEASE NO. 60-2025

 Consul General Talbo (center-right), MMSU President Manzano (center-left) with officials from MMSU, DepEd, Batac City, and Filipino community members in Hawaii.

30 May 2025, Honolulu – Consul General Arman R. Talbo welcomed officials from the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), led by Dr. Virgilio Julius Manzano, Jr., at the Consulate today. Dr. Manzano was joined by Batac City Councilor Bismark Quidang, MMSU Professor Jeanette Gaoat, Professor Krismary Agbigay, Department of Education Batac City Schools Divisions (DepEd Batac) Chief Education Supervisor Dr. Marilou Sales, DepEd Batac Chief Education Supervisor Nemalyn Ulep, and MMSU Global Association, Inc. officers led by Mr. Lawrence Patricio.

The officials are visiting Hawaii to support Ilocos Norte’s Samiweng Singers, who will perform at Farrington High School this May 31. MMSU also intends to sign a memorandum of understanding with the East-West Center to strengthen cooperation on student mobility, exchange and scholarships. Dr. Manzano conveyed the desire of MMSU to pursue enhanced coordination with the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures (IPLL) Department to preserve the Ilokano language.

 MMSU President Manzano explains areas of engagement that the university will pursue with the East-West Center and UH-Manoa’s IPLL Department.

Consul General Talbo expressed the Consulate’s steadfast support for MMSU as it deepens its engagements with academic institutions in the Aloha State. He also offered the facilities of the Consulate as a venue for activities, such as forums and roundtable discussions, to share information on relevant topics with a wider audience. (END)