BONTOC, Mountain Province – Presidents of the different state universities and colleges and private higher education institutions in the region gathered at Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) Auditorium here on July 13 for the Higher Educational Summit 2022.
The gathering focused on Project Heritage (Higher Education Regional Integration and Teaching of Appropriate, Genuine and Exhaustive studies on indigenous peoples) that aims to preserve the history and heritage of the Cordillerans through an educational platform.
“This summit is timely because it is being conducted at a time when we are celebrating the Cordillera Month which commenced on July 1 at the tourist haven, Sagada, Mountain Province,” Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog Jr. said.
He highlighted the importance of the summit towards the adoption of Cordillera Heritage 101 as a course that will be adopted by HEIs in the region.
The summit served as an avenue for HEIs to reiterate Cordillera heritage and discuss matters pertaining to the adoption of Cordillera heritage.
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-CAR Director Atanacio Addog said the NCIP is honored to be part of the summit and hopes for the adoption of Cordillera Heritage 101 to better inform the public of indigenous knowledge and practices. He talked about IPs and higher education.
Benguet State University Dean Stanley Anongos discussed the academe as sites of intergenerational learning eliminating cultural appropriation while Ifugao State University Professor Serafin Ngohayon presented Cordillera Heritage 101.
Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Ronald L. Adamat expressed his full support to the adoption of Cordillera Heritage 101 either as an elective or a stand-alone course.
A summit output is the signing of manifesto supporting the Project Cordillera Heritage. In the same event, IFSU President Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon was chosen as the CAR Association of State Universities and Colleges chairperson and took her oath. – Valerie Taguba
