Lilia Q. Santiago: “LiQuid Sunshine” in Hawaii

May 2008

At 59, Lilia Santiago (AB ‘71, MA ’79, PhD ’91) – wife to Jesus Santiago, mom to four grown-ups, writer, researcher, teacher, American Field Service scholar, political detainee - moved to Hawaii to quench her thirst for travel. Having been in UP all her academic life, she was ready to tackle being Instructor in Ilokano language and literature at UH-Manoa for a change.

Lilia has taught in three UP campuses – Baguio, Los Banos, Diliman – at different times of her life. “I was in UP during the First Quarter Storm (FQS) which ignited the historical protest against fascism and dictatorship in the Philippines,” writes Lilia. “This experience contributed to defining my person. I was called LQS because of that. Now, there is another meaning to LQS - Liquid Sunshine in Hawaii - and I am now basking in that,” Lilia laughs.

A true Maroon, Lilia has always been giving of her time and skills. She was Associate for Fiction at the Likhaan: UP Creative Writing Center. She’s led poetry, fiction and writing workshops for various groups and given lectures and teacher training seminars on language, translation, Philippine, and feminist literature. Her involvement in the women’s movement has taken her to various parts of the world. At UH, she looks forward to doing a more definitive, collaborative research on the intersections/interactions of race, class, gender, and ethnicity.

Always the iskolar ng bayan, Lilia thoughtfully reflects, “I think UP activism has spread the world over. In the 1970s, it was consciousness of service to the nation, thus, “Serve the People,” or Paglingkuran ang Sambayanan. Now, apart from the twin hallmarks of a UP education – academic freedom and academic excellence - UP alumni in the diaspora are adding a third hallmark, ie, dedicated service to the human community, wherever that may be.”

E komo mai, Lilia!

Jon Ellis Pangilinan on Jon Ellis Pangilinan

May 2008

I grew up in Taytay, Rizal although born in Sta. Cruz, Tondo in 1981, the eldest son of Marciano, an engineer and Elizabeth, a banker. Accepted to the UP-Diliman School of Economics in 1998, I became active in numerous community and socio-civic activities of the Economics Society, taking to heart its motto, “Excellence. Service. Tradition.”

In 2000, I joined my family in Hawaii. I continued my studies at UH-Manoa where I was inducted to the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society in Economics. For two years, I was editor-in-chief of Katipunan Magazine (the official publication of the UH Filipino and Philippine Literature Program) and set standards for succeeding student editors. I graduated with a BA in Economics and Minor in Filipino in 2004.

After graduation, my fighting maroon attitude and warrior instinct helped as I became a Budget Analyst for the Hawaii State Senate Ways and Means Committee (WAM) where I helped craft the State budget. At age 23, I joined the Office of the Ombudsman as its youngest analyst/investigator. Knowing government and Filipino language/culture helped me assist residents, many of them Filipinos, with grievances against the government. After two years plus of investigative experience, I returned to WAM as a Budget Analyst in the midst of a very challenging economy. I plan to apply for admission to the UH William S. Richardson School of Law.

My UP socio-civic awareness always burning, I helped organize the NAFFAA Region XII Conference. I volunteer for fellow UP’ian Ime Gasmen’s Filipino for Kids Program, every summer since 2005. When asked, I share my expertise in Baybayin, the ancient Filipino script, and sipa, our national sport.

I enjoy playing music, writing, surfing, basketball, darts and lately, golf. A devout Catholic, I am a servant leader of the Singles for Christ-Hawaii, as well as its music ministry coordinator.