Gaddang Filipina Graduates Summa Cum Laude in NYU
Summa Cum Laude. Janelle Panganiban waves the Philippine Flag during her graduation from New York University on 18 May 2018 (New York PCG photo)
NEW YORK 25 May 2018 — Twenty year-old Janelle Micaela S. Panganiban graduated summa cum laude last week from the New York University with three majors: Global Public Health, Public Policy, Sociology (Honors). She is a member of the Gaddang indigenous group from Isabela.
During her graduation, Panganiban was the recipient of the prestigious Alexander L. Shluger Award for Excellence in Sociology. This is awarded to a senior student who has majored in sociology and who has excelled in his or her study of this subject. She was likewise a consistent Dean's Lister and a Founders Day Awardee of her graduating class.
With her achievements, Panganiban said that, "As a Filipino, I feel like I have the obligation to bring all of these back to the Philippines and at the same time, as a descendant of the Gaddangs, I find myself impassioned for indigenous resurgence as a step to combat the long and embedded history of colonization."
Asked what her secret to academic excellence is, she said, "Academic success is the time when I read a book that confronted my perspectives or when my professor and classmates challenged my opinions and debated with me. In other words, I achieved academic excellence by constantly questioning the norm and expanding my mindset. This is what I’ve learned to love and enjoy."
And her advice to Filipino students? "Remain curious, step out of your comfort zone, and engage in conversation. In our world that’s growing more and more divided, I still have hope that we can find ways to transcend our differences."
"Never forget that you are a Filipino—huwag kalilimutan ang pinanggalingan. Saan mang bahagi ng mundo tayo makarating, ang Pilipinas pa rin sana ang ating balikan. Mangarap nang hindi lang para sasarili, kung hindi na rin para sa bayan," she added.
Panganiban is the daughter Representative Jose T. Panganiban, Jr. of ANAC-IP Party list and Mayor Lourdes S. Panganiban of Angadangan, Isabela.
Panganiban will be one of the awardees in the 6th annual Philippine Graduation (PGRAD) on Saturday, 9 June 2018 at the Philippine Center. PGRAD is a flagship project of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, in cooperation with UniPro,
Another Filipina, 21-year old Lara Andrea Montales likewise recently graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in BS Economics major in Finance and Business Analytics.
Montales was the valedictorian in elementary at the Colegio San Agustin-Makati and she graduated with honors at the Philippine Science High School before enrolling in Wharton School, the no.1 in the Forbes 2017 Best Business Schools in the US. END
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/
Janelle (center) is joined by her proud parents Rep. Jose T. Panganiban, Jr. (left) and Mayor Lourdes S. Panganiban (right). (New York PCG photo)
Consul Arman R. Talbo (left) and Cultural Officer Olive Magpile (right) congratulate Janelle (center) after her graduation from NYU. (New York PCG photo)