On May 21, 2025, the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center and the School of Teacher Education and Humanities held a successful one-day community extension and Stakeholders Meeting at Purok Gonggongob, Cabuluan, Villaverde, and Sitio Masina, Baretbet, Bagabag, gathering local leaders, community members, and learners for the implementation of extension activities and to discuss collaborative development initiatives. 

The community extension activities at Purok Gonggongob, including storytelling and values formation, and school supplies donation for the learners, were spearheaded by the Social Work first-year students and scholars of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (CBCP ECIP). The same activities were implemented in Sitio Masina, including an interfaith dialogue, which was very relevant to a community with diverse religious beliefs. The Christian Faith Education Department and the Marian Sowers Organization student members spearheaded the Sitio Masina activities.

Meanwhile, Dr. Christopher Allen S. Marquez and Ms. Laurice Kaye P. Laguinday facilitated stakeholders’ meetings at Purok Gonggongob and Sitio Masina, respectively. Dr. Marquez and Miss Laguinday engaged the community in identifying possible community projects that will be implemented during the incoming academic year 2025-2026. The common concerns included entrepreneurial upskilling on their identified livelihood project, intensification of the Project Punhog – a sustainable water development project, and the enhancement of the literacy of learners. 

The abovementioned engagement activities with the community residents and learners encourage continued collaboration, and the proceedings of the stakeholders’ meeting will be discussed with the community engagement coordinators for possible implementation this coming academic year, which will be the last year of partnerships with them.

Written by: Christopher Allen S. Marquez