The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) through the International Affairs Office (IAO) and College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) officially welcomed the cohort of international students, participants of the International Filipino Language and Culture Program and Green and Global Philippines: Language, Culture, and Sustainability during the PASINAYA: a Welcome Program and Courtesy Call on June 15, 2026 at the New Administration Conference Room of CLSU.

The prestigious exchange programs bring together an elite assembly of eight delegation students hailing from top-tier universities. This year’s selective cohort includes four from Harvard University, one from the University of California, Berkeley, and three from the University of Illinois. Over the course of their stay, these international students will engage in cross-disciplinary tracks that combine intensive Filipino language and cultural immersion with field-level exposures to sustainable agricultural development and cultural preservation projects of Central Luzon.

Reflecting the deep institutional significance of the occasion, university officials were present to personally greet and welcome the visiting students. University President, Dr. Evaristo A. Abella along with Dr. Ravelina R. Velasco, Vice President for Academic Affairs, delivered formal welcome messages. The university leaders expressed their absolute enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing that the confluence of heritage language study and sustainability paradigms positions the Philippines and CLSU specifically as a vital, living laboratory for global education.

The PASINAYA program commenced with opening remarks from Dr. Parsons N. Hail, Director of the International Affairs Office, underscoring CLSU’s expanding internationalization footprint and its steadfast commitment to fostering high-impact global learning alliances.

To orient the students regarding their specialized academic timelines, formal program and schedule overviews were delivered by the respective academic leads. Mr. Junior M. Pacol, Program Manager of IFLCP 2026, outlined the cultural competencies and linguistic structure the students will master. Following this, Dr. Ken G. Calang, Program Coordinator for the Green and Global Philippines project, synthesized how ecological paradigms will be woven into the cultural curriculum offering a holistic perspective on the nation’s contemporary socio-ecological landscapes.

The event was also graced by Dr. Emil F. Ubaldo, Chief of Mobility and Intercultural Exchange Division, and Dr. Ella Joy A. Ponce, Chief of Engagement and Collaboration Division of IAO. Joining them were esteemed faculty members, Dr. Baby Jean VC. Jose, Department Head of Filipino, and Dr. Angelica C. Bautista, Language Program Head.

The session culminated in an interactive “Kamustahan at Pagpapakilala” (Meet and Greet) where the IFLCP and GGPh students engaged with their language teachers, cultural immersion staff, and other committee members of the program. Following a collective photo opportunity that captured all participants and administrators, the students were treated to a traditional Filipino Merienda, officially marking the beginning of their multi-week academic journey.