Fulbright PHL marks 78 years of educational exchange and bilateral cooperation

The Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), also known as the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, celebrated its 78th anniversary on March 24, 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 – 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 Mr. Cezar Consing – to celebrate the enduring impact of the Fulbright Program and recognize the individuals and institutions that have contributed to its legacy.

2026 marks several milestones for the United States and its longstanding ties with the Philippines: the 78th anniversary of PAEF, the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine diplomatic relations, the 80th anniversary of the global Fulbright Program, and the 250th founding anniversary of the United States. Together these milestones underscored PAEF’s transition from managing scholarships to forging strategic, high-impact partnerships.

“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,” said Chargé d’Affaires Ewing. “The Fulbright mission – rooted in innovation, academic freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge for the benefit of all – reflects the enduring American ideals that we celebrate and uphold, especially this year as we mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence,” he added.

Mr. Cezar Consing, PAEF Board Member and President and CEO of Ayala Corporation, made a compelling case for deeper private sector engagement with Fulbright. “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,” he said. Consing added that “businesses that want to contribute to nation building would find alignment with Fulbright and what the scholarship stands for,” underscoring how industry-supported knowledge exchange creates a talent pipeline that keeps the Philippines competitive on the world stage.

Dr. Arsenio Balisacan, PAEF Board Member and Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, 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,” Balisacan said. He 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.

The presence of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos lent special significance to the occasion, reflecting the high level of support from the Philippine government for the Fulbright Program and the broader U.S.-Philippines partnership in education and human capital development.

The anniversary highlights the continued commitment of Fulbright Philippines to expanding educational opportunities, fostering academic excellence, and promoting people-to-people connections through international exchange. Through its programs, Filipino and American scholars have engaged in graduate studies, research collaborations, teaching, and professional development across a wide range of disciplines.

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, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the 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.

As the world’s longest-continuing Fulbright Commission, PAEF continues to serve as a cornerstone of bilateral educational cooperation between the two countries. Honoring the past while strategically designing the future of the Philippine-American excellence.