Mariano Marcos
State University

An alumnus of the MMSU College of Teacher Education (CTE) is set to leave for the United States this year after being selected for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers (DAI).

Mr. Dharen Jake Garcia, a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English graduate of the Class of 2011, was among the members of the 2026 cohort recognized during the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) Send-Off Reception on June 17 in Greenfield, Mandaluyong City.

A public school teacher in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Garcia will spend four months at the University of Rochester in New York from August to December 2026, where he will engage in professional development, academic coursework, and cultural exchange activities alongside educators from around the world.

The new DAI recipient adds to MMSU's growing Fulbright Program alumni. Over the years, the university has produced scholars who have pursued graduate studies, research, teaching, and academic exchange opportunities in the United States. Among them are Commission on Higher Education Chairperson and 7th MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis, who completed the Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture Scholarship Program at Kansas State University in 2011; Vice President for Academic Affairs Aris Reynold Cajigal, who earned his doctorate in Science Education at the University of Georgia through the Fulbright Foreign Student Program in 2010; and MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., who participated in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program at Columbia University in New York in 2014. More recently, Prof. Ryan Roi Domingo served as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) at Skyline College in California in 2022, followed by Dr. Jareason Fabre at Gonzaga University in Washington in 2023.

Garcia's interest in the Fulbright Program dates back to his years as an MMSU student.

In 2010, he attended a welcome program for Vice President for Academic Affairs Aris Reynold Cajigal, who had recently completed his Fulbright scholarship in the United States. The experience introduced Garcia to the opportunities offered by international academic exchange programs and sparked his interest in pursuing similar opportunities in the future.

A recipient of an academic scholarship, Garcia graduated Cum Laude from MMSU in 2011. He credits his years at CTE for helping develop the leadership, communication, and service-oriented values that have guided him throughout his professional career.

Since joining the Department of Education in 2013, Garcia has served as a teacher, campus journalism mentor, trainer, and learner advocate. He applied to the Fulbright Program three times before being selected for the 2026 cohort.

During the send-off reception, Garcia reunited with fellow MMSU Fulbright scholars. The group also had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Julio S. Amador III, Executive Director of PAEF, during the event.

Addressing the new Fulbright cohort, CHED Chair Agrupis described the international academic exchange as an opportunity to strengthen higher education institutions. From her experience as a Fulbright scholar, she shared how studying abroad broadened her perspective, expanded her professional networks, and contributed to research and institutional development.

President Manzano warmly congratulated Garcia and encouraged MMSU faculty members, staff, and students to pursue international scholarship opportunities.

He said the university hopes to further expand its community of Fulbright scholars and continue global engagement through instruction, research, and academic exchange.

Vice President Cajigal also expressed support to Garcia, saying he is happy to see one of MMSU’s alumni follow the same Fulbright path he once took: “It is truly fulfilling to witness someone from our own academic community pursue this same journey. I am happy to inspire Mr. Garcia, and I hope his experience will inspire even more educators to aim higher and serve better.”

The Fulbright DAI is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX. In the Philippines, this prestigious program is managed by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (Fulbright Philippines). It offers teachers opportunities to strengthen their expertise, enhance their teaching skills, expand their understanding of the United States, and engage in individual or collaborative projects. Through such programs, educators like Mr. Garcia have the chance to grow professionally and bring back valuable insights to their communities.

Garcia said he hopes his experience will encourage fellow educators and students to explore international learning opportunities and professional exchange programs.

"Fulbright is not just about studying abroad," he said. "It is about becoming a better educator and serving Filipino learners better."