Filipino House Speaker Commits $2 Million to Endow Harvard’s Filipino Language Program
Speaker of the Filipino House of Representatives, Martin G. Romualdez, has pledged a generous $2 million to establish an endowment for the Filipino (Tagalog) preceptor position at Harvard University. The donation from Romualdez, who is also the nephew of former Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, aims to support and sustain the Filipino language program at the prestigious institution. The commitment comes after Romualdez’s first cousin, Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., assumed the presidency of the Philippines.
Initial reports of Romualdez’s contribution emerged last month, with FilAm, a magazine for Filipino Americans, reporting that he had donated $1 million to the Filipino preceptor position. The announcement was made during an April dinner hosted by Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine ’92, a Filipina American member of Harvard’s Board of Overseers.
The establishment of the Filipino language program aligns with the Harvard University Asia Center’s recent decision to dedicate $1 million for three preceptors in Filipino (Tagalog), Bahasa Indonesian, and Thai. This marks the first time Harvard University has offered instruction in Tagalog, which happens to be the fourth most-spoken language in the United States. However, funding for the preceptor position was not guaranteed beyond a three-year period until Romualdez’s generous commitment.
While the spokesperson for Harvard University, Jonathan Palumbo, declined to comment on the donor’s identity in line with the school’s policy, he expressed the university’s enthusiasm for providing students with the opportunity to study Filipino. Palumbo emphasized that the specifics of individual gifts are not disclosed, and donors play no role in determining the courses offered.
Romualdez’s office confirmed his attendance at an event in Massachusetts, during which he expressed his support for the Filipino language course at Harvard. The press release, issued on April 20, did not mention any donation to the university but focused on Romualdez’s endorsement of the program’s growth and inclusion of various aspects of Filipino culture.
It is worth noting that an article published by FilAm on August 29, which was subsequently republished by Inquirer.net, was deleted just a day later. Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, sister-in-law of Martin Romualdez, serves as the CEO of the Inquirer Group of Companies, which owns Inquirer.net.
Martin Romualdez’s uncle, Ferdinand Marcos, is remembered as a repressive and violent dictator who imposed martial law in the Philippines. His regime was marked by the imprisonment, suppression, and murder of political dissidents, and accusations of amassing significant wealth at the expense of the Filipino people. Romualdez has denied allegations of his father’s involvement in illegal wealth accumulation during Marcos’ rule. However, the House Speaker is currently implicated in litigation that suggests he was offered bribes by a Japanese entertainment company to influence a business dispute involving a Manila casino.
James Robson, director of the Harvard University Asia Center, emphasized that the center’s programming remains independent of any donor’s background or political agenda. He stated that there is a clear separation between fundraising endeavors and the center’s operational activities.
While controversy may surround Martin G. Romualdez due to his familial connections and legal issues, the focus should remain on the importance of offering a Filipino language course at Harvard University. Filipino students and those interested in Filipino culture can now benefit from the establishment of Tagalog instruction at the renowned institution.
