The Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), also known as the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, recently celebrated its 78th anniversary, marking nearly eight decades of strengthening educational exchange and mutual understanding between the Philippines and the United States.
The reception, held at SPACE at One Ayala, gathered more than 300 partners, alumni, scholars, and representatives from the business community and the Philippine and U.S. governments to celebrate the impact of the Fulbright Program and recognize the individuals and institutions that have contributed to its legacy.
Among the guests were First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos; U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Y. Robert Ewing; Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Dr. Arsenio Balisacan; Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis; Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Christine Joy Cari; and Ayala Corporation President and CEO Cezar Consing.
“For 78 years, PAEF has supported generations of scholars and innovators – a network of more than 4,000 U.S. and Filipino alumni – who have returned home to shape their societies. These individuals prove that enduring alliances are sustained by people-to-people connections,” Chargé d’Affaires Ewing said.
Making a compelling case for deeper private sector engagement with Fulbright, Consing, also PAEF Board Member, said, “Fulbright represents excellence, intellectual rigor, global exposure and impactful leadership — these are precisely the attributes that companies look for when we hire technical specialists, middle managers or senior leaders.”
Consing underscored how industry-supported knowledge exchange creates a talent pipeline that keeps the Philippines competitive on the world stage. “Businesses that want to contribute to nation building would find alignment with Fulbright and what the scholarship stands for,” he added.
Balisacan, another PAEF Board Member, delivered the closing remarks on behalf of the Philippine government, affirming the state’s deepened commitment to the Fulbright partnerships. “Academic exchange is far more than a privilege or a fleeting opportunity – it is a strategic investment in human capital, institutional strength, and the country’s long-term development,” he said.
Balisacan also noted that through the combined efforts of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines has doubled its annual contribution to PAEF’s budget, reflecting the government’s belief that merit-based opportunities are among the most effective means of building world-class institutions.Â
Established in 1948, PAEF administers the Fulbright Program in the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine and the United States governments. Over the past 78 years, the foundation has supported thousands of Filipino and American scholars, researchers, students, and professionals in pursuing academic and cultural exchange opportunities that have contributed to leadership development, research advancement, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Fulbright Philippines operates in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines; Department of Foreign Affairs; Department of Economy, Planning and Development; and the Commission on Higher Education. Partner government agencies include the Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Space Agency, and the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority.Â
