 April 29, 2026 Follow us online Filipino Language Program Likely to End this Spring in UW-MadisonWith the closing of spring semester also comes the imminent termination of the Filipino language program in UW-Madison. At the forefront of saving the course offerings in UW-Madison is the Filipinx American Student Organization (FASO). Founded in 1991 by Filipino language students, FASO initiated several discussions with administrators to find ways for the Filipino program to continue in the fall semester. Outgoing FASO co-president Charlie Woller, who is also a PAMANA board member, sat down for an interview with the biweekly newspaper The Capital City Hues to explain the current situation of the Filipino program.  Read the full-page article on the newspaper's latest issue (April 20, 2026) that just recently hit the stands. Pick up a free copy at various Madison-area locations, including libraries, grocery stores, coffee houses, and bookstores. Tagalog-based Filipino courses, which have been offered for the past 50 years and consistently drawn high student enrollments compared to other Southeast Asian languages, are among the casuality of UW-Madison's financial belt-tightening due to budget cuts. This unfortunate outcome seems to be contrary to current trends. Based on latest census estimates, Tagalog is now the third most spoken non-English language in the U.S. (after Spanish and Chinese). In the last two years, Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale have acknowledged the growing market of heritage learners wanting to learn Tagalog and invested in opening new Filipino language courses. Overture Community Tickets: May Shows Through Overture Center's Community Ticket Program, PAMANA members can purchase tickets for select performances for just under $5!
The shows below will be available for Community Ticket purchase starting tomorrow, April 30, at 11:00 a.m. Madison Symphony Orchestra: Voices Eternal 4 tickets per patron, no seat restrictions, recommended for ages 6 and up Friday, May 1st - 7:30pm Saturday, May 2nd - 7:30pm Sunday, May 3rd - 2:30pm Children's Theater of Madison: Newsies 2 tickets per patron, no seat restrictions Venue: MyArts Center, 1055 E Mifflin St. Madison, WI Recommended for all ages. Saturday, May 2nd - 2:00pm 2 tickets per patron, no seat restrictions, recommended for ages 6 and up Friday, May 8th - 7:00pm Saturday, May 9th - 2:00pm Saturday, May 9th - 7:00pm Sunday, May 10th - 2:00pm ICYMI: In Case You Missed ItPAMANA recently unveiled our summer programming of Filipino arts and culture called Pinoy Sama-Summer 2026.  This project is supported by Dane Arts with additional funds from Diane Ballweg and the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation. Below we highlight one of the program's main events. Filipino Summer Day CampJuly 18 and 25, August 1, 8 and 15, Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. Wil-Mar Neighborbood Center 504 S Brearly St, Madison  For five consecutive Saturday afternoons, the Filipino Summer Day Camp welcomes kids between 7 to 18 years old. The camp features two parallel sessions for younger and older kids. Campers will learn basic Tagalog language, while being introduced to Filipino music, regional cuisine, Filipino customs and values, hands-on art projects, popular literature and folklore, and traditional Filipino games and pastimes. Lesson plans have been developed by Filipino American education experts and licensed professionals, who will also act as camp counselors. Registration is now open. If you plan to register more than one Camper, you will need to fill up the form separately for each attendee. Volunteer OpportunitiesJoin the PAMANA Choir! We are looking for people interested to join our group for a performance on June 21 for Make Filipino Music Madison.
Practice sessions are ongoing every Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm.
Volunteer for Brat FestMay 17-25, 2026 Willow Island 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison  Brat Fest proceeds will go to PAMANA in exchange for volunteers willing to grill or wrap brats, be a cashier, stock condiments, or ensure the grounds are clean. For every hour of volunteer work, $12 goes to PAMANA. Volunteers also receive:
Pick your role and availability. Note that positions quickly fill up. Tag along your friends and family to volunteer (minimum age: 14).
When signing up, select "PAMANA" as your charity organization. Post ScriptsConsul General Visit with Rep. Tenorio On April 17, PAMANA attended the courtesy visit of Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano (third from right) of the Philippine Consulate in Chicago at the State Capitol with Rep. Angelito Tenorio (fourth from left). PAMANA board members and supporters who were present during the event included (from left) Dave Thompson, Jun Gonzales, Bobby Pagas, Rollie De la Cruz, Mary Kerr, Charlotte Deleste, Marechiel Santos-Lang, and Floresa Balondo. Stephanie Syjuco at UW-Madison Some PAMANA and FASO members got the chance to meet Stephanie Syjuco (in red) after her talk at the Chazen Museum of Art on April 22. Syjuco was invited by the UW-Madison Art Department for a colloquium with art students, yet the auditorium was packed by mostly non-students interested to hear from her. The visiting artist possesses the rare ability to effectively explain her conceptual works in a grounded manner, making her art relatable to the general audience. A prolific Filipino American artist, Syjuco is currently an Associate Professor in Sculpture at the University of California, Berkeley. Her works have been mounted in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, The Getty Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others. Forward this email to your friends. Visit our website for our full lineup of activities. Follow us online PAMANA P.O. Box 5013 Madison, WI 53705-0013 Email: pamana.madison@gmail.com Website: pamanamadison.org EIN: 39-1849861  About PAMANA
The Philippine-American Association of Madison and Neighboring Areas is a registered non-stock, nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity that aims to foster unity and harmony among Filipino, Filipino-American, and other communities throughout Madison and nearby areas of Wisconsin. In Filipino, "pamana" means inheritance or legacy. Philippine-American Association of Madison & Neighboring Areas (PAMANA) You are receiving this email because you are either a member, were a member, attended our events, donated to our causes or have signed up to receive emails from PAMANA. |
