Among the major activities conducted by Filipino students is organizing the yearly FilGrad, where they are recognized and receive their graduation diplomas after years of working on their degree programs at UH.
Those who graduated, at long last, were rewarded for their efforts, making their parents and loved ones very proud. Kudos also to the student organizers, including Jensen Villaflor, an honoree who received a scholarship grant from the Center for Philippine Studies CPS is a major sponsor of this year’s FILGRAD.
The significance of this event, which started only in 2017, is discussed by Jonathan Y. Okamura in a recent article published by Civil Beat. In that article, titled “Jonathan Okamura: Filipino UH Ceremony Creates a Cultural Space to Honor Graduates, Families and Community,” Dr. Okamura is quoted as follows:
“While some graduation exercises at universities in the continental U.S. were disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests or were canceled, the 7th Annual FilGrad commencement was held on Friday at the Kennedy Theatre on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus.
“One might wonder why the students would want to participate in another lengthy formal ceremony just a day before the main university graduation.
“The answer is that FilGrad enables the Filipino UH and larger community to celebrate and recognize the achievements of their graduates in a Filipino cultural way. Filipino culture, including language, is an integral part of the graduation ceremony, evident in the performance of dances and music and in the expression of significant cultural values, including for higher education.”
“As remarked by the FilGrad Committee: “Surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones, the students who participate in FilGrad are thanking those around them for the help, support, love and inspiration they received in their lives. It celebrates both the graduates and their families and communities.”
“In addition, the commencement speakers, including students, professors and community leaders, are all Filipino. I very much doubt that this has ever been the case at the 113 UH Manoa graduation exercises but, for Filipinos, FilGrad provides an opportunity to showcase the accomplishments and talents of members of their community.” Read the full article in Civil Beat.