Ligaya Fruto Endowment Fund

Award: up to $1,000

About the Endowment Fund


The endowment is funded by a financial gift to Philippine Studies from the PAMANA Foundation of Hawaii in honor of the late Honolulu resident Ligaya Fruto, who was a novelist, short story writer, journalist, social critic, diplomatic officer, political analyst, and community leader. She belonged to the first generation of Filipino writers in English called the “Veronicans” and worked with various Philippine institutions, the Philippine Consulate in Honolulu and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Who are eligible? 

Full time graduate students with a 3.0 or better GPA in Arts and Humanities with a focus on Philippine Studies and preferably of Philippine ancestry. In addition to Arts and Humanities, major field of applicant may be in Journalism, Education, Political Science, Asian Studies, Ethnic Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Women Studies, Public Policy, Social Work, Community Development, and Public Policy.

*Applicants from other countries and institutions are not eligible to apply.

Application Materials

  1. A 3-5 page research proposal outlining how the grant will be used to advance Philippine studies.
  2. 2-3 academic reference letters
  3. Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills, specifically a writing sample
  4. A detailed timeline and budget of proposed project
  5. Grant recipients only must submit a report about how they used the award at the end of the grant year and share their research findings in a lecture/talk for the CPS Colloquium Series.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Send application (by email) to: 
Dr. Patricia E. Halagao or Dr. J. Lorenzo Perillo
Director, Center for Philippine Studies
University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa
1890 East-West Road
Moore Hall 416
Honolulu, HI 96822
For further information, call 956-6086 or email  CPS Directors.

Deadline: April 2 (or first Monday after Spring Break)

More about Ligaya Fruto