Top PH Universities Visit New York to Promote Higher Education

NEW YORK, 03 June 2025 – Five of the Philippines’ premier academic institutions namely, Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Cebu Institute of Technology–University (CIT-U), De La Salle University (DLSU), University of the Philippines (UP), and University of Santo Tomas (UST) engaged with students, parents, and local educators in New York from 31 May to 02 June 2025. The series of activities, co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), showcased Philippine higher education as a competitive and reputable option for Filipino-American and international students in the United States.
The engagement began with the first Philippine University Fair held at the Philippine Center in New York on 31 May. Participating institutions delivered presentations on their academic programs, international collaborations, and student experiences. These were led by Dr. Maria Luz C. Vilches, Vice President for Higher Education (AdMU); Engr. Bernard Nicolas S. Villamor, President (CIT-U); Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, President (DLSU); Dr. Leo DP Cubillan, Vice President for Academic Affairs (UP); and from UST, Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., PhD, Rector and President; Dr. Philipina A. Marcelo, Assistant to the Rector for UST Santa Rosa; and Assoc. Prof. Jacqueline O. Lopez-Kaw, DCL, Dean of the Graduate School of Law.
A Q&A session followed the presentations, where guests inquired about application procedures and requirements, as well as opportunities for campus visits tailored for prospective enrollees from the Filipino-American diaspora.
On 01 June, the universities joined the Philippine Independence Day Parade along Madison Avenue and set up booths at the accompanying street fair to spotlight Philippine higher education to a broader and more diverse audience. The booths drew interest from many attendees, including their alumni communities based in the U.S., as well as local and international visitors who inquired about academic programs and student life in the Philippines.

The outreach continued on 02 June, as the delegation visited two public high schools in Brooklyn: The High School for Global Citizenship and Clara Barton High School for Health Professions. During their meetings with school officials, the university officials discussed the quality, accessibility, and affordability of Philippine higher education. Several students in attendance expressed interest in exploring the Philippines as a future study destination and said they would share the information with their peers.
This multi-day initiative served as a platform to reintroduce Philippine higher education to a new generation of learners and families in the United States. It also marked a meaningful step in strengthening academic partnerships, cultural linkages, and institutional collaboration between the Philippines and U.S.-based communities. END
