For 117 years, the University of the Philippines has done more than educate — it has shaped leaders, forged values, and instilled in its graduates a deep sense of responsibility to their communities and to the world. As Filipino-Americans, we carry that legacy with us across oceans and borders. And through the Friends of the University of the Philippines Foundation in America (FUPFA), we continue to honor it.
A Legacy of Leadership, Rooted in Excellence
The University of the Philippines has long stood at the forefront of academic excellence in the Philippines, producing generations of leaders who have stepped up at every critical moment in the nation's history. As UP alumni living and working in America, we have carried that same spirit of leadership into our adopted homeland — adapting, evolving, and rising to meet the unique challenges of life as immigrants in a new country.
We did not arrive with everything handed to us. We navigated unfamiliar systems, faced workplace barriers, and confronted cultural differences head-on. Yet we persevered — because UP gave us the intellectual tools, the critical thinking, and the moral compass to do so. That foundation has never left us, and it is precisely that foundation we seek to strengthen and sustain through FUPFA.
FUPFA: More Than a Fundraising Vehicle
FUPFA's mission has always been clear — to channel the generosity of U.S.-based donors toward programs, infrastructure, and organizations that advance the goals of the University of the Philippines. But FUPFA's vision extends beyond financial support.
FUPFA envisions itself as a beacon — not only for the university it serves, but for the broader Filipino-American community that surrounds and sustains it.
As immigration attorney and FUPFA Executive Director Atty. Lourdes Santos Tancinco has witnessed firsthand, the Filipino immigrant experience is layered with challenges that go far beyond academics. From workplace discrimination and human trafficking to domestic abuse and the everyday struggles of building a life in a foreign land, Filipino-Americans have often found themselves navigating these hardships with little institutional support.
FUPFA stands committed to changing that. In the years ahead, FUPFA will collaborate with U.P. Alumni organizations, advocacy groups and community organizations to address these complex issues through:
- Educational campaigns that inform and empower community members
- Webinars and online resources that make critical information accessible
- Community forums that bring voices together and drive meaningful dialogue
This is the UP spirit in action — not confined to lecture halls in Diliman or Manila, but alive and active in the Filipino-American communities across the United States.
Why Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
The University of the Philippines continues to be the premier institution of higher learning in the Philippines — training doctors, engineers, lawyers, artists, scientists, and public servants who go on to shape the nation. Your support through FUPFA directly strengthens that pipeline of excellence.
When you donate to or partner with FUPFA, you are investing in:
- Academic programs and professorial chairs that attract and retain the best faculty minds
- Student scholarships and financial assistance that ensure no deserving student is left behind due to financial hardship
- Research grants and thesis support that push the boundaries of Filipino scholarship
- Infrastructure and facility improvements that give students the environment they deserve
- Community education initiatives that extend UP's values beyond the campus and into the world
Every contribution — whether financial, professional, or in-kind — carries forward the torch that UP first placed in our hands.
An Invitation to Join the Mission
We are at a meaningful crossroads. The Filipino-American community is growing, maturing, and wielding increasing influence in American civic, professional, and cultural life. The question before us is not whether we have the capacity to make a difference — we clearly do. The question is whether we will choose to act on that capacity with intention and purpose.
FUPFA extends an open invitation to every UP alumnus, every friend of the Philippines, and every believer in the power of education to join us in this mission. Together, we can:
- Support programs that align with UP's educational mission and values
- Fund infrastructure that gives UP students and faculty the resources they need to excel
- Champion advocacy that uplifts the Filipino-American community and reflects the social consciousness that UP has always stood for
This is not just philanthropy. This is social responsibility. This is the fulfillment of a moral obligation — to give back to the institution that made us who we are, and to the communities that surround us today.
Carrying the Torch Forward
As we traverse our immigrant journey in America, let us not forget what we carry within us — the values of academic excellence, critical leadership, and service to the common good that the University of the Philippines instilled in each of us.
Let FUPFA be the vehicle that carries that spirit forward. Let it be the bridge between what UP gave us and what we now give back — to UP, to our community, to our adopted nation, and to humanity at large.
The future is bright. The mission is clear. And together, we can make a lasting impact that honors the university that started it all.
We invite you to support FUPFA's programs and initiatives. Your tax-deductible donation through our 501(c)(3) foundation ensures that your generosity reaches the University of the Philippines and the communities we serve. To learn more or to donate, please reach out to us.
"Let us continue to make a positive impact on the world, just as the University of the Philippines has inspired us to do."
Mabuhay ang Pamantasan ng Pilipinas! Long live the University of the Philippines!
Friends of the University of the Philippines Foundation in America (FUPFA) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible under U.S. law.
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