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CHED, BukSU lead in the 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education

The Commission on Higher Education with Bukidnon State University (BukSU) hosted the 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education BIGKIS: on July 4-5, 2024 at BukSU, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The two-day conference brought together participants from across the Philippines to discuss and chart a path forward for strengthening Indigenous Peoples (IP) education within the country’s higher education system.

Building Indigenous Knowledge for Inclusivity and Sustainability (BIGKIS) is an initiative by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of Indigenous Peoplesโ€™ culture within higher education institutions (HEIs) across the Philippines.

BIGKIS 2024 tackles strengthening IP education in Philippine universities through various means: sharing best practices, addressing challenges, fostering intercultural dialogue, exploring alternative learning methods, and promoting cultural preservation and collaboration for sustainable development.

It achieved this goal through a variety of sessions, including:

  • Sharing best practices: Institutions showcased successful IP education initiatives, fostering cross-institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange.
  • Addressing challenges: Open discussions explored the existing hurdles in implementing IP education programs, paving the way for solutions and improved approaches.
  • Fostering intercultural dialogue: Participants engaged in discussions that promoted mutual understanding and respect between indigenous and non-indigenous communities within the higher education landscape.
  • Exploring alternative learning methods: The conference investigated innovative pedagogical approaches that effectively promote and preserve indigenous knowledge systems.
  • Promoting cultural preservation and collaboration for sustainable development: BIGKIS 2024 emphasized the significance of safeguarding indigenous cultures while fostering collaborative efforts towards a sustainable future.

๐—•๐˜‚๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—น

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) led the ritual for opening the 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education, dubbed BIGKIS (Building Indigenous Knowledge for Inclusivity and Sustainability), on July 4, 2024, at the Bukidnon Studies Center.

It has been a practice at BukSU to adhere to cultural protocol each time the university conducts activities related to Bukidnon culture.

The conduct of a community ritual, the first part of the BIGKIS activities, is asking for the blessings of Magbabaya and, at the same time, an expression of paying respect to the Keeper of the indigenous culture of Bukidnon.

The participation of BukSU officials, CHED officials, faculty, students, personnel, and some BIGKIS participants in this ritual symbolizes a gathering of people who value the importance of indigenous knowledge in the development of humanity.

The ritual was officiated by Bai Inatlawan, a baylan of the Bukidnon tribe. She is also one of the provincial IP leaders.

Opening Ceremony

The historic BIGKIS: 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education officially opened on July 4, 2024, at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Dr. Freddie T. Bernal, CESO III (Director IV, CHED Regional Office X), described the rich culture and living traditions of the seven ethnic tribes in his opening message, with BukSU at the forefront of engaging the indigenous communities through various programs aimed at promoting indigenous projects and sustainable practices.

CHED Commissioner Ronald L. Adamat, keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of advocating peace education and bringing indigenous communities into higher education.

โ€œThis even underscores the vital importance of indigenous knowledge systems. These systems are not merely relics of the past but living testaments to our collective resilience. This realization compels us to create spaces that celebrate diversity, promote cultural sensitivity, and enrich our understanding of the world and our place within it,โ€ he said.

CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 1 Series of 2019 mandates the integration of peace education, while CMO No. 2 focuses on Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) within the higher education curriculum.

โ€œSustainability thrives on the interconnectedness of all life forms. As the saying goes, “for indigenous peoples, land is life. My journey as an advocate for IP and peace education is deeply personal. Growing up in the Teduray tribe, I witnessed their wisdom firsthand. Education has been the cornerstone of our advocacy, equipping them with the tools to understand the world around them,โ€ he added.

Following the preliminary sessions of Bigkis are plenary talks on the role of HEIs and integrating indigenous knowledge into the curricula, and IP music and arts as alternative platforms for indigenous peoples education.

๐— ๐—ฆ๐—จ-๐—œ๐—œ๐—ง’๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—ฃ๐——๐—  ๐—”๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—น๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—˜๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—›๐—˜๐—œ๐˜€

The Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) underscores inclusivity and sustainable development among higher education institutions (HEIs) by integrating the perspective of Indigenous Peoples into educational policies and programs.

According to IPDM Director Dr. Mark Anthony J. Torres, HEIs play an important role in promoting intercultural dialogue. They ensure that educational initiatives are responsive to the specific needs of Indigenous Peoples communities through continuous feedback mechanisms and community engagement.

Dr. Torres, the first plenary speaker during BIGKIS: 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education on July 4, 2024, at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, discussed โ€œHEIs and their Role in Facilitating Inter-Cultural Dialogue.โ€

โ€œInvolving IP leaders and communities in developing educational policies ensures that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. This participatory approach fosters trust and cooperation between the government and indigenous communities,โ€ said Torres.

Dr. Torres added that adequate resource allocation, including funding for infrastructure and teacher training, supports the sustainability of these efforts. Strengthening legal frameworks and promoting transparency further ensure accountability and trust in educational policies.

Furthermore, Dr. Torres said these initiatives prioritize economic support for IP students, health initiatives, and cultural exchange programs to create a supportive and inclusive educational environment. By empowering Indigenous youth and preserving their cultural heritage, these efforts aim to foster mutual understanding and cooperation among diverse cultural groups in the Philippines.

๐—•๐˜‚๐—ธ๐—ฆ๐—จ ๐—›๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐—น๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ž๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜„๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—•๐—œ๐—š๐—ž๐—œ๐—ฆ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฐ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) showcased its efforts in preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable development through its initiative of integrating indigenous knowledge into higher education curricula.

BukSUโ€™s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hazel Jean M. Abejuela, shared with the participants of BIGKIS the universityโ€™s strategies in curriculum development, research, and community engagement that focus on the rich traditions of Bukidnonโ€™s seven tribes during the conferenceโ€™s second plenary session.

โ€œBukSU has introduced culture-responsive courses that incorporate Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP), such as Indigenous Knowledge and Ecology and Indigenous Knowledge Management Systems,โ€ said Abejuela.

These courses, offered across various academic disciplines at BukSU, aim to provide students with a deep understanding of indigenous cultural and ecological aspects, fostering a holistic educational approach.

BukSU also established the Bukidnon Studies Center as a cultural space and repository of indigenous properties, promoting inclusive teaching practices like storytelling and the translation of indigenous literature.

Additionally, initiatives like big books and culture-based materials make learning engaging for indigenous students.

“Our commitment to integrating Indigenous Knowledge into our curriculum is not just about preservation but about enriching the educational experience for all students,” Abejuela added.

๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ด ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—”๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—–๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ต ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—”๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜€

โ€œThe vibrant culture of Bukidnonโ€™s indigenous communities in the Philippines is deeply rooted in connections to the land, ancestral heritage, and spiritual beliefs,โ€ said Datu Rodelio ‘Waway’ L. Saway during the BIGKIS conference, where he served as one of the plenary speakers on the topic, โ€œIP Music and Arts: Alternative Platforms for Indigenous Peoples Education.โ€

Saway, a renowned artist and leader of the Talaandig tribe of Lantapan, Bukidnon, whose family established the Talaandig School of the Living Traditions, endeavors to keep alive the artistic traditions and cultural values of the community.

During his talk, Saway highlighted the importance of traditional languages, rituals, music, arts, and customs in maintaining the cultural identity of the Bukidnon IP communities.

โ€œThe vibrant traditional music, arts, and dance of the Bukidnon IP are not merely artistic expressions but also repositories of wisdom, community values, and spiritual connections. These cultural forms are living manifestations of enduring traditions and legacies, encapsulating the collective identity and heritage of the indigenous communities,โ€ he said.

Traditional music and arts are integral to Bukidnon IPโ€™s cultural expression, conveying history, beliefs, and values to successive generations. Intricate crop dances, captivating storytelling, and evocative melodies serve as platforms for preserving and transmitting indigenous culture, highlighting their historical narratives, communal wisdom, and spiritual significance.

๐—›๐—˜๐—œ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ฃ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐——๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

Rich cultures are preserved through the creativity and talents showcased in the contemporary dance competition at the BIGKIS conference 2024, highlighting the diversity of the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines.

Four higher education institutions participated in the competition, each representing their respective regions across the country.

The contemporary dance performances blend modern movement techniques with traditional cultural elements, expressing Indigenous heritage through innovative choreography.

The competition served as a platform for dancers and choreographers to showcase their creativity through original dance pieces that push the boundaries of movement and storytelling, fostering Indigenous knowledge for inclusivity and sustainability.

๐—–๐—›๐—˜๐——, ๐—›๐—˜๐—œ๐˜€ ๐—˜๐˜…๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—น๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ฃ ๐—˜๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

Officials from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and various higher education institutions (HEIs) gathered to affirm their commitment to promoting Indigenous Peoples and peace education in their institutions through a signing board activity.

The Signing of the Commitment Board was one of the highlights of the first day of BIGKIS: 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference on Indigenous Peoples Education, held on July 4 at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The Commitment Board calls on different stakeholders to โ€œpursue and promote innovative integration of IP education in the curricula in higher education institutions in the Philippines for inclusive and sustainable development in the country.โ€

CHED Commissioner Ronald Adamat expressed his commitment to โ€œsustainable, quality, and culturally responsive education.โ€

Cherry Mae Balingit, a delegate from Central Mindanao University, wrote: “CMU strongly supports the strengthening and sustaining of IP education integration in its academic, research, and extension programs.”

Meanwhile, a delegate from Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) in Bacolor, Pampanga, expressed commitment to โ€œstrengthen and sustain our efforts for an inclusive HEI for IPs for peace and for all genders. We are DHVSU. We are ka-BIGKIS.โ€

The Signing of the Commitment Board aims to advance IP education and peace in the Philippines by collecting pledges of support to empower indigenous communities through culturally relevant and inclusive educational practices.

๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฉ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—–๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ, ๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐—น๐˜†๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜

“Integrating indigenous studies into Philippine higher education is important for honoring indigenous cultural heritage and knowledge.”

This is what Pangasinan Polytechnic College Interim President, Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos, underscored in his talk as a plenary speaker during the second day of BIGKIS: 1st Philippine Higher Education for Indigenous Peoples Education on July 5, 2024, at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

With the topic “Mainstreaming Indigenous Voices: Building Indigenous Knowledge Hubs in Philippine Higher Education,” Rovillos said that integrating indigenous studies fosters cultural understanding, equity, and social justice in higher education.

“This contributes to national reconciliation and honors the Philippines’ diverse cultural heritage,” he said.

โ€œIndigenous studies aim to respect indigenous knowledge and practices, critique Western hegemony, advance Indigenous epistemologies, and support social justice for Indigenous communities,โ€ he added.

Rovillos further emphasized the importance of theoretical foundations as a guide in the integration of Indigenous Studies in Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs). This promotes cultural resilience, knowledge preservation, and the empowerment of Indigenous communities within academia and beyond.

๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—น๐˜€ ๐—ฆ๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ฃ ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—•๐—œ๐—š๐—ž๐—œ๐—ฆ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ

Seven schools competed in the Most Innovative Higher Education Institution category at the BIGKIS conference, showcasing sustainable best practices and innovative approaches to integrating Indigenous Peoples (IP) studies into their curricula.

The participating schools included Kalinga State University, San Agustin University, University of Southeastern Philippines, Bukidnon State University, Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc., Don Honorio Ventura State University, and Agusan del Sur State College for Agriculture and Technology.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Offices selected these schools to represent their respective regions.

After screening their produced videos, school representatives answered questions from the panel of judges, elaborating on how they implement their programs, the challenges they have overcome, and the best practices they have developed.

In 2019, CHED issued Memorandum Order No. 2, titled โ€œIntegration of Indigenous Peoplesโ€™ Studies/Education into the Relevant Higher Education Curricula.โ€ Through this directive, CHED seeks to ensure that higher education institutions play a vital role in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines while advancing educational equity and social justice for Indigenous Peoples.

๐—ก๐—–๐—œ๐—ฃ ๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—ฃ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐˜„ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) initiated new strategies to empower Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines.

These initiatives were shared by NCIP Chairperson, Bae Limpayen Jennifer Pia Sibug-las, during the BIGKIS conference, where she served as one of the plenary speakers. Her talk centered on โ€œEmpowering Indigenous Communities through Knowledge Integration: Strategies for Inclusive and Sustainable Development.โ€

One of the strategies is integrating indigenous knowledge into modern development frameworks, emphasizing its importance for sustainability and cultural preservation.

“Indigenous knowledge holds invaluable insights and practices essential for adapting to the 21st century,” said Sibug-las.

Another major component of the NCIPโ€™s strategy is the empowerment of indigenous women. The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) ensures equal rights and opportunities for indigenous women, advocating their participation in all aspects of life.

“Ensuring the participation of indigenous women in all aspects of life is crucial for balanced and inclusive development,” she said.

The NCIP chairperson also called for the integration of indigenous knowledge into mainstream education and policy development. The agency plans to collaborate with academic institutions, government bodies, and private organizations to enhance the role of indigenous knowledge in national development.

“By integrating indigenous knowledge into our national framework, we can build a future that respects and leverages the contributions of our indigenous communities,” said Sibug-las.

๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ฆ๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ป ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—”๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜’๐˜€ “๐—ช๐—ฒ ๐—”๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ” ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

Students from two schools participated in the Group Vocal Performance competition, where they showcased their vocal prowess in an a cappella rendition of the song “We Are One.”

This song, an original composition by Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Ronald L. Adamat, highlights the themes of unity and togetherness.

Adamat also served as chairperson of the board of judges for the competition, together with Talaandig tribe musician Waway Saway and music educator Phoebe Jumalon.

 

๐—–๐—›๐—˜๐—— ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—œ๐—ฃ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) from Region 1, Region 3, Region 7, Region 10, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) presented their initiatives and best practices on Indigenous Peoples (IP) studies and peace education on the last day of the BIGKIS conference.

CHED Region 1 (Ilocos Region) highlighted their โ€œCulture and Arts Trainers and Instructors Summitโ€ and โ€œProject SAGIP: A Student Convergence for Safe Space, Anti-Hazing, Anti-Illegal Drugs, Gender and Development, Indigenous Peoples, and Peace Education.โ€

CHED Region 3 (Central Luzon) took pride in the increasing number of IP graduates under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program.

CHED Region 7 (Central Visayas) reported a series of webinars on IP and peace education for their stakeholders.

CHED Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) conducted โ€œCapacity Building among Peace Educatorsโ€ and established a partnership with Southeast Asian University on IP and peace education.

CHED CAR successfully established the program โ€œCordillera Heritage: CORDI 101 (Inclusivity, Attainability, Adaptability, Sustainability).โ€

Meanwhile, CHED Mimaropa successfully integrated IP knowledge within the curriculum of various higher education institutions in the region and adopted community learning centers for extension activities.

All of these initiatives demonstrate CHED’s commitment to advancing IP studies and peace education across different regions of the Philippines.

๐—ฆ๐—ถ๐˜… ๐—ฆ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—น๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ผ ๐—ฉ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฃ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ

Songs originally composed by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Ronald L. Adamat were brought to life by student performers from six schools representing different regions.

The competition for Solo Vocal Performance aimed to showcase the vocal talents of individual performers passionate about music, who aimed to demonstrate their skills before an audience and a panel of judges.

Contestants from various regions included:

โ€ข Region 12: Danica May R. Beldeniza, Holy Child Central College Inc. – “Greedy Love”

โ€ข Region 13 (CARAGA): Jickson Hayahay, North Eastern Mindanao State College

โ€ข Region 3 (Central Luzon): Ms. Larey Cajobe, Ramon Magsaysay

โ€ข Region 10 (Northern Mindanao): Catherine A. Alin, Saint Michael College

โ€ข Region 11: Alex Sugue, UM Digos College

โ€ข Region 7 (Central Visayas): Kenny Rey Zulla, University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue

The competition featured a diverse range of musical styles and genres, providing a platform for both amateur and seasoned vocalists.

๐—–๐—›๐—˜๐—— ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฆ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—˜๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€’ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜€

Commissioner Ronald L. Adamat of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) administered the oath of office to the Northern Mindanao Peace Educators Council officers and the Bukidnon State University (BukSU) Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Peace Educators Council during the BIGKIS conference.

The Northern Mindanao Peace Educators Council was formed after a series of workshops conducted by Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology and CHED Region 10 on June 23, 2024.

This initiative subsequently inspired the creation of the BukSU IP and Peace Educators Council, pioneering a similar organization at the higher education institution level dedicated to IP and Peace Education.

Cultural Show, Fellowship Dinner cap the Bigkis: 1st Philippine Higher Education Conference for Indigenous Peoples Education

The Bigkis: 1st Philippine Higher Education for Indigenous Peoples Education capped the event through a cultural show and fellowship dinner on July 5, 2024 at the host tertiary school, Bukidnon State University.

Indigenous songs such as โ€œBukidnonโ€ and โ€œIitsa Tamoka Yataki Tombiโ€ were performed, alongside traditional dances including Pansak si Laley, various Bukidnon dances representing the seven tribes, and the community dance, Igsayaw.

Youth from indigenous communities of Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Kalatungan who joined the Sounds Like Change Project of Bukidnon, a three-day songwriting workshop last April, performed on stage their songs which were lauded by guests and participants.

Winners were also recognized during the ceremony from multiple categories: Creative Contemporary Dance, Most Innovative Higher Education Institutions in Promoting Indigenous Peoples Education, and Vocal Group Performance.

Creative Contemporary Dance:

  • Winner: North Eastern Mindanao State University
  • 1st Runner-up: Bukidnon State University
  • 2nd Runner-up: University of Mindanao Digos College

Vocal Solo Performance:

  • Winner: University of Mindanao Digos College
  • 1st Runner-up: President Ramon Magsaysay State University
  • 2nd Runner-up: North Eastern Mindanao State University

Vocal Group Performance:

  • Winner: Bukidnon State University
  • 1st Runner-up: North Eastern Mindanao State University

Most Innovative Higher Education Institutions in Promoting Indigenous Peoples Education:

  • Winner: Bukidnon State University
  • 1st Runner-up: Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology
  • 2nd Runner-up: University of Southeastern Philippines

Winners received cash prizes sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education.

Special performances were also rendered by Bukidnon State University through the BukSU Rondalla, BukSU Folk Dance Team, and BukSU Indigenous Dance Team.

Dr. Cherrie Melanie Ancheta-Diego, Director IV of the Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) of the Commission on Higher Education, delivered the closing remarks, commending the higher education institutions for their outstanding contributions and dedication to preserving and promoting indigenous cultures through education.

โ€œWith Adamatโ€™s leadership, it made the higher education as instruments to building for inclusivity and sustainability,โ€ commending the Commissioner for his dedication to indigenous peoples education and peace education.

โ€œI encourage you more to continue to weave, the weaving have just started until we complete the tapestry of higher education in the Philippines,โ€ she added.

The CHED-OPSD presented a Plaque of Recognition to SMART BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol for its leadership and commitment to the success of the 1st Philippine higher education conference for indigenous peoples education.

โ€œ#BukSU youโ€™re totally awesome and inspiring!โ€, Director Ancheta-Diego emphasized. (BukSU-Information Unit)

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