SWU PHINMA celebrates student diversity
Southwestern University PHINMA currently has the biggest number of foreign students in Cebu. This has made the university a lively and dynamic melting pot of different cultures and nationalities. One of SWU PHINMA’s extra-curricular events celebrates this diversity in its first International Students Day held last Nov. 18, 2016.
This event was a unique opportunity for Filipino students to mingle with their foreign schoolmates and learn distinct cultures of the world. A variety of cultural expressions in the arts, food, song and dance were introduced to the local students aimed at promoting mutual respect, camaraderie and understanding.
Around 400 foreign students are currently enrolled in SWU PHINMA, coming from India, Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Thailand, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan.
The celebration started with a Parade of Culture from the Main Campus to the Coliseum grounds, followed by the cutting of the ribbon and releasing of balloons to commence the program proper.
A quiz bowl participated in by representatives from different countries took place and the Search for the International Students Association (ISA) Ambassador and Ambassadress highlighted the celebration. Sagar Gusai from the School of Medicine and Rushi Gaglani currently enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (BSBS) were crowned this year’s ISA Ambassador and Ambassadress, respectively.
The event closed with a grand fireworks display sealing a stronger bond among the local and the international students of SWU PHINMA.