A new batch of outstanding Filipino students, selected by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), has received scholarships from the Republic of China (Taiwan) government.
The initiative supports Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation and deepen people-to-people ties.
This year, 147 Filipino scholars were awarded scholarships to pursue studies in Taiwan. Among them, two students will receive the Taiwan MOFA Scholarship, while 26 students will pursue degree programs under the MOE Taiwan Scholarship. Twenty students will receive the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship, which supports both academic learning and practical training through industry-academia collaboration. In addition, 99 students were awarded the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan.
Each year, the Taiwan government offers a wide range of scholarships to approximately 2,000 Filipino students. These opportunities include Mandarin language programs, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies across various academic disciplines, as well as vocational and technical education tracks designed to provide practical skills and internship experiences in relevant industries.
On August 6, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines hosted the 2026 Taiwan Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Manila to recognize this year’s recipients.
In his keynote, Representative Wallace Chow congratulated the scholars for their academic excellence and encouraged them to become ambassadors of goodwill by promoting Taiwan as a study destination.
Chow also highlighted TECO’s plans to continue strengthening collaborations with top Philippine universities in emerging fields such as electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors. He encouraged scholars to take advantage of the increasing work and research opportunities in Taiwan.
Chairperson and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Resident Representative Corazon Avecilla-Padiernos emphasized that the Taiwan Scholarship programs aim to cultivate the next generation of Filipino professionals and leaders who can contribute to the country’s development. She also underscored the scholars’ role as a lasting bridge of friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service Director Cristine Ferrer also shared a message of encouragement, then echoed Chow’s sentiments that these scholarships serve as beacons of a brighter future for both Taiwan and the Philippines in shared dreams of global connection and academic-industry excellence. Addressing the scholars directly, she urged them to remain rooted in their identity and committed to the country’s betterment.
Several scholarship recipients shared their motivations for choosing Taiwan as their study destination, reflecting their hopes and ambition to gain academic and cultural experiences that will shape their future careers.