DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- Some 15 Filipino-American students from Harvard University through its Harvard Philippine Forum (HPF) club joined this year’s community service, culture, and educational trip to the Philippines.

Part of their visit in the country is engaging with the locals through the Kapihan sa PIA forum held by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to share local service activities, expose cross-cultural competencies, and learn a sense of identity and community.

HPF Cultural and External Relations Director and Integrative Biology student, Marcky Antonio, from Dumaguete City migrated to the United States with his parents when he was still a young boy afflicted with hemophilia.

With his illness, Antonio aims to learn the delivery of healthcare services to the most underserved communities in far-flung regions through its medical missions.

“My ultimate goal here is to make medicines more affordable and accessible for all, by better understanding for all social determinants, and how I may use my studies and experiences to reduce those determinants,” said Antonio.

The HPF is working with various service organizations, from building homes for the poor (Gawad Kalinga) to helping conduct medical missions (with the New England-Philippine Medical Mission) to advising high school students on how to apply to universities in the US. 

“As Fil-Am, it is important for us to know our roots and for Americans to see the amazing Filipino culture more up close. We really want to immerse for cultural experience in order not to get culture shock and to slowly get the students the different aspects of Filipino culture,” added Antonio.  

In the same Kapihan, Kira Taylor from Dallas, Texas and Eleanor Wikstrom from Oakland, California shared the importance of education  and that they initiated mentoring sessions for senior high school students especially those who wanted to study in the US and apply for scholarship.

The group also held a book drive which they collected within the HPF community with the proceeds donated to Philippine schools.

These students from Harvard also have the chance to explore the Philippines, as they had been travelling from Manila, Dumaguete City, Aklan, Bacolod, and Boracay, learning about the culture of these islands. 

The goal of this year’s HPF service trip also develops a deeper understanding of the rich and diverse Filipino culture in Luzon and some parts of the Visayas. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)