‘Deepening our knowledge of our culture and identity empowers us’ – SDS Buya-ao to Cordilleran teachers during 2025 Regional Indigenous Peoples Education Conference

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Emphasizing the strength of Cordilleran identity and culture as the driving force behind the region’s commitment to education, DepEd Kalinga Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Gloria Buya-ao encouraged delegates from across the Cordillera to celebrate their role as educators, leaders, and learners in shaping the future of the highlands during the 2025 Regional Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED) Conference held on October 21, 2025, at the Kalinga State University (KSU), Bulanao Campus.

This year’s Regional IPED Conference, hosted by the Kalinga Division, gathered hundreds of stakeholders—including educators, cultural leaders, students, and participants from across the region—to celebrate and strengthen inclusive, culture-based learning for indigenous communities.

In her welcome remarks, Buya-ao warmly welcomed everyone to Kalinga and urged them to discover its natural beauty, rich culture, and the unity that defines the Cordilleran spirit.

“We welcome you here in the province of Kalinga—and for some of you who haven’t seen the beauty of its mountains, rivers, and people, we’d like to invite you to explore other places here and go home with a deeper knowledge of its people and a greater understanding of each other’s culture as we come together as Cordillerans,” Buya-ao said.

The SDS underscored that the gathering reaffirmed the Cordilleran identity as a foundation of strength that inspires educators, leaders, and learners to act with purpose and pride. She emphasized that deepening one’s knowledge of Cordilleran culture and identity leads to empowerment.

“We are gathered here once again to deepen our knowledge of who we are as Cordillerans—the very essence that propels and empowers us to be who we are as educators, leaders, and learners, in whatever role we hold. Who we are gives us the power to act and behave not only to showcase the vibrant colors of Cordillera but to embody them—to show, deep within us, who we truly are as Cordillerans,” she expressed.

With the theme “Ating Pandayin ang Kinabukasan, Gabay ang Katutubong Karunungan at Karapatan,” the conference served as a platform to present best practices, policy directions, and the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge systems and cultural heritage into formal education.

Cultural presentations from various ethno-linguistic groups—including the Kalinga, Bontoc, Abra, and Apayao—added color and energy to the event, showcasing the rich and diverse heritage of the Cordillera region.