The University of the Philippines (UP) welcomed the Harvard–Philippine Forum (HPF) J-Term delegation on Wednesday, 07 January 2026, as part of HPF’s annual academic and cultural immersion program in the Philippines. The visit, held at the Japan Hall of the Asian Center, UP Diliman, was organized in coordination with the UP Office of International Linkages (OIL) and was conducted smoothly and successfully.
Seventeen (17) Harvard University students participating in the HPF J-Term Trip attended the UP leg of the program, which forms part of their broader immersion from 03 to 14 January 2025. Anchored on HPF’s core pillars of education, culture, and service, the visit aimed to provide students with deeper insight into Philippine society through engagement with the country’s national university.
The program opened with a welcome message from Dir. Dolores Cecilia Madrid, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Director of OIL, as well as greetings of well wishes by AVP Shari Oliquiño, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Student Affairs), followed by an overview of the University of the Philippines. A key highlight was the lecture on UP’s long-standing tradition of student activism and civic engagement delivered by Francesca Mariae M. Duran, 41st Student Regent of UP, which prompted an active exchange during the open forum.
The visit concluded with a guided campus tour led by the UP Diliman Information Office, offering students historical and cultural perspectives on the university. The engagement builds on HPF’s previous visit to UP and further strengthens academic and cultural ties between UP and Harvard University, reaffirming UP’s role as a vital partner in international student learning and exchange.
