Saint Louis University (SLU) joined government and civil society partners in celebrating the inaugural graduation of the Cordillera CivicAdemy’s Class of 2026 on 22 October 2026, at Hotel Elizabeth in Baguio City. The ceremony honored 62 civil society organization (CSO) leaders and representatives from Baguio City and Benguet who completed the five-month leadership and capacity-building program.
Initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government–Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR), the Cordillera CivicAdemy is a multi-stakeholder learning platform that seeks to strengthen the institutional capacities of CSOs as active development partners of local government units. Through knowledge sharing and collaboration, the program promotes participatory, values-driven governance. It is the first CSO Academy in Northern Luzon.
Representing SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, Atty. Shellah Yzanne P. Merced, SLU Vice President for Administration, delivered the President’s message during the opening of the graduation ceremony. In his message, Fr. Sales congratulated the inaugural graduates and underscored the importance of translating learning into meaningful civic engagement and community service.
Drawing from SLU’s academic-year theme of “turning mirrors into windows,” the message highlighted the importance of balancing self-reflection with an openness to the experiences, perspectives, and needs of others. While a mirror invites leaders to examine their values and responsibilities, a window encourages them to look beyond their immediate concerns and recognize opportunities for collective action.
“True civic leadership begins with self-reflection, but its real value is realized when that reflection leads to meaningful action,” the message emphasized.
The President’s message also recognized the role of the CivicAdemy’s three learning components—Leading with Values, Local Governance Processes, and Strategic Influence—in equipping CSO leaders with practical knowledge and skills to engage with local governance institutions, promote social accountability, and strengthen democratic participation. As representatives of their communities, the graduates were encouraged to bring grassroots concerns into public discussions, support responsive local policies, and help ensure that governance remains inclusive, transparent, and accountable.
As one of the CivicAdemy’s partner higher education institutions, SLU hosted and facilitated Component 1, Leading with Values, for the Baguio City cohort. Sessions were conducted every Saturday from 13 June to 25 July 2026, culminating in a completion ceremony on 25 July. The foundational module emphasized values-driven leadership as an essential element of effective civic participation and constructive engagement between civil society and government.
During the inaugural graduation, seven SLU faculty members received Certificates of Recognition for their contributions as lead trainers, resource speakers, and module writers for Leading with Values. They were Leilani De Guzman, PhD; John Amtalao, PhD; Ms. Julivette P. Milo; Gulliver Roma, PhD; Sally Tabec, PhD; Joi C. Gutierrez, PhD; and Kurt Zeus L. Dizon.
Their contributions reflect the university’s commitment to extending academic expertise beyond the classroom and supporting initiatives that develop civic leadership and strengthen citizen participation in governance. Through the preparation of learning modules and the delivery of training sessions, SLU faculty members helped equip participants with foundational knowledge and values relevant to their roles as community leaders and development partners.
The graduates were officially sent off by DILG Assistant Secretary for Community Participation Elizabeth N. Lopez-De Leon; DILG-SLGP Program Manager II Richard L. Villacorte; Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Program Management Office Director Glenn Q. Miranda; and DILG-CAR Regional Director Atty. Anthony C. Nuyda, CESO III.
The inaugural graduation marks a significant milestone in advancing civic leadership and participatory governance in the Cordillera Administrative Region. For SLU, its participation in the CivicAdemy emphasizes the SLU’s continuing commitment to education that fosters social responsibility, collaborative leadership, and meaningful public engagement.
The Cordillera CivicAdemy also advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through leadership development and continuing learning; SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by promoting accountable, transparent, and participatory governance; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration among government institutions, higher education institutions, and civil society organizations. By equipping civic leaders with the knowledge, values, and capacities to participate meaningfully in local governance, the initiative reinforces SLU’s commitment to education for social responsibility and to building inclusive, responsive, and sustainable communities. (Article by J.Gutierrez | Photos by J. Gutierrez and Kurt Zeus Dizon)
