Students, faculty members, alumni, and international stakeholders participated in a forum on international recruitment organized by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i (FCCH) and the Hawai‘i–Philippines Business and Economic Council (HPBEC) on March 3, 2026, at the University of the Cordilleras.

As part of the organizations’ 33rd Trade Mission to the Philippines, the event provided a structured platform for dialogue on transnational labor mobility, skills alignment, and global workforce integration.

Panelists from Hawai‘i discussed workforce training models, education systems, and recruitment practices, outlining opportunities for mutual recognition and institutional collaboration, including J-1 visa pathways and sector-specific demand. Graduating students engaged in discussions on STEM readiness, licensure equivalency, and cross-border employability frameworks.

The forum reinforced the sister-city partnership between Baguio City and Honolulu, strengthening long-standing educational and professional linkages that support sustained workforce exchange.