Katipunan-USA encourages Filipino-Americans
to participate in Lakbay Aral
From Weekend Balita, 02/21/2002

Lakbay-Aral:A Philippine Immersion Experience

Visit the Philippines and earn college credit through the Lakbay-Aral: A Philippine Immersion Experience.

Starting in summer 2002, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, USA will offer a unique opportunity for Filipino American and other students to learn firsthand about the Philippines and its people PH 400, or Lakbay-Aral: A Philippine Immersion Experience.

The program combines three weeks of coursework of St. Norbert College and two weeks of study tour (Lakbay-Aral) within the Philippines. This will be the first time that Lakbay-Aral, a two-week study tour implemented by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas since 1983, will contribute to academic credit in the United States/ The program is also designed to bring about a renewed interest in the Philippines, a country with an Asian culture that is steeped with tradition, and has close historical ties with the United States.

Students in Philippine studies at St. Norbert College and those enrolled in other colleges and universities in the United STates who share an interest in the Philippines, have the option to earn academic credit (4 semester hours) for their participation in the program. Others not interested in academic credit but would like to experience and gain insights about Philippine life may still join the Lakbay-Aral program.

Course duration: July 1 to August 5, 2002. The coursework, which may be taken either at St. Norbert College campus or via the Internet, is scheduled on July 1-18, 2002. The travel portion of the course will follow on July 19-August 5, 2002.

Program cost: US$2,500 (includes tuition, roundrip international airfare and Lakbay-Aral fees which cover lodgings, meals, and local transportation in the Philippines) The fee does not include room and board for students taking the pre-travel portion at St. Norbert campus.

US$1,600 for students taking the pretravel portion of the course over the Internet. US$800 for those who will be joining only the Lakbay-Aral within the Philippines. The cost of roundrip international airfare is not inclluded for the Internet course and Lakbay-Aral within the Philippines.

Registration deadline is on April 15, 2002. For further information, contact:
Dr. Hohn Holder, chair, Philippine Studies Program, St. Norbert College, 100 Grant ST. De Pere, WI 54115-2099, tel. (920)403-3104, e-mail: john.holder@snc.edu
Jose Molcano Jr., executive director, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 1345 Citigold Center, cor. South Superhighway, Manila, Philippines 1007, tel. (632) 561-8327, e-mail: cfodfa@info.com.ph.

Katipunan-USA note: Co-Founder Donna Delfin went on a Lakbay Aral tour in 1996 with four other Filipino-American students. It's a chance to see historical monuments such as the birthplace of Jose Rizal and the ruins of Corregidor Island plus experience the beauty of the Philippines on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.