Professor Patricia Espiritu Halagao, in the UH Mānoa College of Education (COE), was named a 2026 Bayanihan Gala Steward of Hope. She will be honored at this year’s Filipino Community Center Bayanihan Gala on October 10, 2026 for her dedication and contributions that have left an indelible mark on the Filipino community.
“It’s been my lifelong honor to serve the Filipino community in the field of K–12 education, and I am so excited about the future!” Halagao said. “One of my greatest joys is working with the next generation of Filipino teacher-scholars, like Dr. Ivee Cruz and Dr. Phillippe Fernandez-Brennan, who recently earned their PhDs in Curriculum & Instruction.”
A COE Department of Curriculum Studies (EDCS) Professor, Halagao is also Co-Director of the Center for Philippine Studies. Her work advances Filipino K–12 education through research, policy, community partnerships, and the co-development of curricular programs like Pinoy Teach, Smithsonian’s Filipino American Story, Sistan Alhambra Filipino American Education Institute, and iJeepney.
“Filipinos comprise one of the largest ethnic groups in the state (25%) and in public schools (22%) in Hawaiʻi; however, they remain underrepresented at UH (15%) and among HIDOE teachers (10.3%),” Halagao said.
With the COE since 2001, Halagao is the director of the college’s Multilingual Multicultural Professional Practice Graduate Certificate, and she is co-editor of the University of Hawaiʻi Press’ Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Journal. While serving on the Hawaiʻi State Board of Education, she was at the helm of cultural and linguistic policies, like the Seal of Biliteracy and Multilingualism for Equitable Education.
“Dr. Patricia Halagao’s dedication to education and community empowerment has made a profound difference in Hawaiʻi and beyond,” said FilCom Board Chair Edmund Aczon. “She has consistently used her voice and leadership to create pathways for student success while honoring the diverse cultures and experiences of those she serves. This recognition celebrates a career defined by excellence, service, and the spirit of collective uplift.”
Halagao has received a Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching and the Global 100 Most Influential Filipina Women award. She helped to launch the nation’s first statewide Filipino social studies course in Hawaiʻi high schools with the student-led Filipino Curriculum Project.
The Gala, held during Filipino American History Month, is FilCom’s largest annual fundraiser, helping to ensure that the FilCom Center remains a home for the community’s services and culture. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit the 2026 Bayanihan Gala website.
