In keeping with the ideals of a diverse and pluralistic American society, the Filipino and Philippine Literature Program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the Philippines, its national language and its people among heritage and non- heritage students, train language and literature scholars, researchers and teachers to become competent, literate users of Filipino, and lead the field of teaching Filipino and Philippine literature locally, nationally, and internationally with innovative pedagogical materials and research.