Filipino student Mcaine Andrei Carlos has been selected as the principal candidate of Fulbright Philippines for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) in the US this year!
Carlos, who is from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) pursuing a degree in AB Multimedia Arts, is the only artist and the first Benildean in 75 years included in the roster of accepted applicants—nine in total, out of the 519 undergraduates coming from top-performing Philippine universities.
“I find this news a milestone for the university and the art industry. I see this as an opportunity that amplifies the fact that artists can take up space in society, and we too, can contribute to the betterment of the country. I find this narrative as an inspiration to aspiring changemakers and youth leaders of our nation, regardless of where one comes from,” Carlos told WhenInManila.com in an exclusive interview.
The Global UGRAD is a program sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs that provides one-semester scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students from underrepresented, non-elite backgrounds around the world for non-degree full-time study combined with community service, professional development, and cultural enrichment. Carlos applied through our local Fulbright Commission despite being one term away from graduation, after realizing that he wanted to participate in something purposeful.
“I applied for the Global UGrad Program in hopes of sharing my cultural encounters and experiences to other parts of the world, and ultimately to also experience their practices and customs that can possibly be beneficial when I bring it back to the Philippines,” he explained. “Leadership became my vessel to champion my advocacies and to prove that artists are so much more than what people think. My placement in the Global UGrad program is a testament that artists are worthy to believe in.”
He added: “I always knew that I wanted to contribute to the country. But as an artist, we don’t get that much opportunity to showcase our work and skills in society – to the point that some people even question our role. This is why from all my experiences as an artist, I am definite that our line of work can transform the lives of people, and that I am capable of representing Filipino artists and sharing what we can offer for the betterment of society.”
Carlos will be taking courses related to Marketing Communications, Leadership, Strategic Management, and Multimedia Design. He will be enrolled full-time for one term at Emporia State University, the third oldest public university in the state of Kansas, beginning August 2023. His international travel, tuition, room and board, insurance, monthly stipend, and funding for books will be covered.
Other scholars who made it into the Global UGrad program are Mark Virgil Jamer (Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Phil Justin Pangilinan (Chemistry, UP Diliman), Jessica Jamimah Lopez (Psychology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Franz Erick Calanio (Social Sciences major in Anthropology minor in Political Science, UP Baguio), Rachel Mecaela Baxal (Accountancy, PUP Maragondon), Nicolle Kelly Puspus (Psychology, Cebu Doctors’ University), Monique Granaderos (Special Needs Education-Generalist, Holy Cross of Davao College), and Dinah Ross Degorio (Civil Engineering, University of Mindanao).
(ALSO READ: Canva Is Launching a Subscription for Colleges and Universities and It’s Free for Students)
Congratulations!
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message on WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad! We also share our stories on Viber, join us!
