Hawaii Community College has announced “Tulungan sa Kolehiyo,” a Filipino college outreach event designed to support Filipino students and families in their journey toward higher education.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Manono Campus Cafeteria in Hilo.
Tulungan sa Kolehiyo, which translates to “getting help with college” in Tagalog, aims to educate Filipino parents and community members about the advantages of attending community college while encouraging Filipino high school seniors to pursue their education at Hawaii Community College.
Filipinos make up the largest ethnic minority group in Hawaii, accounting for 25% of the state’s population. They also represent 23.4% of students in Hawaii’s public schools. However, their enrollment in the University of Hawaii system remains disproportionately low, comprising only 14% of the student body.
Recognizing this disparity, Hawaii Community College counselor and event organizer Jeanne Batallones developed “Abot Kamay na Pangarap” (“A Dream Within Your Reach”) — a Filipino parent and community outreach initiative.
Inspired by a report revealing a 29% decline in Filipino student enrollment at the college following the COVID-19 pandemic, Batallones emphasizes the importance of closing the educational equity gap.
“It is crucial to create culturally and linguistically responsive outreach and recruitment initiatives,” Batallones said in a press release. “Through these efforts, we hope to increase Filipino college enrollment, transfer rates, and degree completion, making higher education more accessible for Filipino students on Hawaii Island and beyond.”
The event will feature a keynote address by Allan Bartolome, a Hawaii Community College alumnus and executive aide to Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen.
Guests will also enjoy a complimentary Filipino lunch prepared by the Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts program.
The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance at https://go.hawaii.edu/bho.
For additional information, please contact Batallones at (808) 934-2558 or jbatallo@hawaii.edu.
