HUPF Deepens Harvard’s Ties to the Philippines Through 2026 J-Term Trip

A two-week immersion spanning Manila, Dumaguete, and Davao connected students with alumni, grassroots leaders, and Indigenous communities through culture, education, and service.

By Laurinne Eugenio ‘26

Every January, the Harvard Undergraduate Philippine Forum (HUPF) leads a two-week journey through the Philippines, inviting a small group of undergraduates to experience the country not as tourists but as learners and community members. Guided by the program’s pillars of culture, education, and service, the 2026 trip brought students to Manila, Dumaguete, and Davao, where they engaged with institutions, host families, and grassroots organizations in ways that reshaped how they understood the Philippines and themselves.

The trip began in Manila, where students explored the capital’s layered cultural and political life. They walked through Intramuros, toured Sarao Motors to learn about the history of the jeepney, and met with journalists, professors, and public officials who shared insights on how media, education, and finance shape the country. Conversations with Harvard alumni and members of the Harvard Club of the Philippines Global extended these lessons. Over shared meals, alumni reflected on building careers that connect Harvard and home. For many participants, Manila offered a vivid look at how memory, identity, and modernity come together in Filipino life—a country experienced not only through heritage but also through creativity, struggle, and hope.

In Dumaguete, the focus turned to everyday life and community immersion. Students visited Silliman University, met with youth organizations, and took part in homestays that quickly became the heart of their experience. Families welcomed participants into their daily routines, from morning trips to the market to late-night conversations around the table. The warmth of these moments made Dumaguete’s reputation as the “City of Gentle People” feel real. Small acts of care, such as neighbors stopping by or grandparents joining family meals, led many to reflect on the quiet labor that sustains families across generations and the strength of relationships that bridge distance and migration.

The final part of the journey brought the group to Davao and Davao de Oro, where they spent time with rural and Indigenous communities. At Davao de Oro State College and among the Mandaya people of New Bataan, students saw how education, tradition, and resilience are woven into local life. Shared meals, music, and dancing created genuine connections that emphasized listening and humility as foundations of learning. Visits to local organizations and farming communities revealed how people adapt to climate change and navigate development challenges, grounding global issues.

One of the most meaningful moments came when trip co-organizer Aryenne Ysabelle Rodrigo ’27 welcomed the group into her ancestral home in Compostela, Davao de Oro. Relatives, neighbors, and former teachers gathered to share food, laughter, and stories. For Rodrigo, the visit brought together family and scholarship, while for others it became a reminder that learning can also mean coming home. Evenings filled with karaoke, lechon, and dancing with younger cousins offered lighthearted spaces for joy and reflection after days of travel and discovery.

Throughout their reflections, students highlighted the extraordinary hospitality they encountered from boardrooms to barangay halls. Many were struck not just by people’s generosity but by its consistency. The trip challenged common assumptions about Filipino identity as quiet or deferential, revealing instead a culture that is proud, open, and resilient. Warmth and humor often accompanied conversations about serious national issues, reminding students that hope can flourish even in difficult times.

The experience also sparked new commitments. Several students planned to take Harvard’s new Filipino language class to build stronger ties across generations and distance. Others imagined future research, internships, or extended stays in the Philippines. Many expressed a desire to remain involved in HUPF and other student organizations focused on Southeast Asia, hoping to continue the relationships formed during the trip.

The success of the 2026 HUPF J-Term was made possible by a wide network of partners, including Harvard alumni, the Harvard Club of the Philippines Global, host families, and community organizations that opened their homes and workplaces to the students. Their generosity created an experience marked by depth, reflection, and care. For organizers, hosts, and participants alike, the program reaffirmed that Harvard’s connection with the Philippines is not only historical but also active and evolving, built on shared learning, gratitude, and the continuing promise to return and give back.

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Founded to create community and cultural visibility on campus, the Harvard Undergraduate Philippine Forum (HUPF) has long served as a home for Filipinos, Filipino Americans, and friends at Harvard. Guided by its mission to celebrate and share the vitality of Philippine culture and tradition, HUPF organizes a wide range of programming each year, including traditional dance performances, socials with Filipino food, speaker events that address issues affecting Filipinos, and an annual service trip to the Philippines during J term. Through its cultural, educational, and service initiatives, HUPF continues to foster dialogue, representation, and a uniquely Filipino Harvard experience.