Cordillera Career Development College Supports Indigent Students

In a world where education remains one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty, Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) in  La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines, stands as a beacon of hope for many underprivileged students in the region. 

CCDC’s profile of its graduates shows that 279 of the total 446 graduates, or 62.56% come from third to fifth class municipalities which largely represent the income and economic status of where they live.  Only 34.53% or 154 graduates come from first class municipalities and only 2.91% come from second class municipalities.

CCDC’s strong scholarship programs and a deep commitment to inclusive education serves as a catalyst for social mobility, giving indigent students from the bottom 20% of household income groups the chance to pursue their dreams and achieve a brighter future.

CCDC has long been dedicated to providing quality and accessible education to all, particularly to those who might not have the financial means to pursue higher education. Recognizing the challenges faced by indigent students in accessing academic resources, the school assists all the students in their application for scholarships such as the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), a grant-in-aid program administered by the UniFAST (United Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education) Board that helps eligible students pay for a portion or all of their tertiary education. Eligible students from the forwarded applications will receive scholarship grants until they are able to graduate. Moreover, the Students Services Office facilitates the submission of requirements for scholars under the Private Education Student Financial Assistance Program (PESFA) every end of the semester. These initiatives were designed to help reduce the burden of educational costs, making it possible for students from marginalized backgrounds to attend school without the constant worry of finances.

At the end of school year 2022-2023, five students express their gratitude to the school and the scholarship programs as they graduate in college through these initiatives. They share their stories on how they were able to pay their tuition fees, allowances, buy gadgets for their online classes, and avail financial assistance for their board examinations. 

Real Stories of Transformation: TES Scholarship Recipients

The impact of financial assistance through scholarships is evident in the words of the recipients themselves. Nelia W. Sumakey, a nursing student whose journey was made possible through the TES Scholarship, has this to say:

“This scholarship has been a great help, especially during the pandemic. It has assisted me in covering my tuition fees and enabled me to continue my studies and prepare for the nursing board exam. Without this support, I wouldn’t be able to graduate as a nurse. I am truly grateful for the chance to pursue my dreams, and I can’t wait to give back to my community in the future.”

Another TES Scholarship recipient, Nora E. Lino, describes the help she received from the program:

“Being selected for the TES Scholarship is an honor. It has helped me cover my tuition fees and the upcoming review for the nursing board exam. Without your help, I would not have been able to pursue my college degree. I am now one step closer to becoming a registered nurse, and I am excited to contribute to my community once I start my career. Thank you for believing in me.”

Chris P. Caday, also expressed thanks for the support as one of the chosen recipients:

“Your generous support has been a great help in achieving my dreams and it truly means a lot to me. I promise to use this opportunity wisely and make the best out of it. This scholarship has encouraged me to keep striving for excellence, and I will be forever grateful. Again, thank you for your unending support.”

Emilyn B. Damoyan shared how the TES Scholarship helped her overcome the challenges of being a working student:

“Growing up in a less fortunate family was truly challenging, but it didn’t stop me from dreaming that someday I would achieve my goals. With my parents, I persevered to pursue high school. I thought I wouldn’t be able to enroll in college because my parents were old and couldn’t afford my tuition. Fortunately, I was chosen as one of the grantees. The scholarship helped cover my tuition and provided the gadgets for online learning during the pandemic. This program inspired and motivated me to continue my studies, and I will be forever grateful. God bless!”

Eden Joy Balang said the TES Scholarship opened up opportunities for her:

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to CHED and CCDC for your support in building a brighter future for students. I am truly grateful for TES as it helped me with my financial needs, including tuition and allowance. It allowed me to open a door and see the future that awaits me. I hope that, one day, I too will be able to contribute to our society by bringing a smile to someone else. I cannot thank you enough for making my dreams more reachable.”

These letters are a testament to the profound impact that scholarships and financial aid can have on a student’s ability to succeed. These scholarships, along with other initiatives from CCDC, are truly empowering, showing that even students grounded on humble backgrounds are able to soar and achieve their seemingly impossible dreams to become future professionals. Truly, poverty is not a hindrance to success when you are at the right place.

CCDC strengthens participation in policy development towards sustainable development

Part of the trifocal functions of higher education institutions is an active extension service that ensures community development through people empowerment, particularly in the field of education and capacity building.  To this end, active community education and capacity building activities are embedded in the CCDC extension services.

CCDC has been active in various committees that aim to improve access to basic services for all.  Such includes its involvement in education, health including mental health, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, peace and order, disaster preparedness, environmental protection and development of grassroots sports.

OPERATION KAJO:  A Student-Led Disaster Response for Farmers in Benguet

As an educational institution, the Cordillera Career Development College, whose mission is to deliver quality education through holistic, accessible and inclusive learning experiences to build socially and environmentally responsible global leaders and citizens provide opportunities for them to learn beyond the walls of the school’s halls.  Even during the pandemic, students learn responsiveness and disaster risk management through hands-on experiences and through collaboration with private organizations with shared goals related to disaster management and  response.  

The Philippines is one of the most hazard-prone countries in the world. Benguet is a mountainous region in Northern Philippines that is home to indigenous Cordillera groups, the majority of whom rely on highland vegetable growing as their primary source of livelihood. According to studies and data, the Municipality of La Trinidad is prone to flooding and landslides brought on by approximately 10-15 typhoons that hit the locality annually.  In October 2021, Typhoon Maring hit La Trinidad, and the entire Benguet Province causing severe damage to vegetable crops, resulting in collective loss of millions of pesos for local farmers. 

Students, guided by school personnel, coordinated with the Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation and the Shell Foundation for a needs-based disaster response activity. The disaster response initiatives aim to integrate interpersonal engagement, volunteerism and civic responsibility among the ADMIRALS (Administrator, Mentors and Personnel, Investors, and Parents, Retirees and former employees, Alumni and Local Government, community and Students) while advocating genuine social responsibility and continuous efforts for climate action.

BAYANIHAN continues! In the spirit of binnadang, aduyon we continue to support each other. Thank you Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF)! Rice and vegetable seedlings were given to around 50 identified beneficiaries, farmers affected by Typhoon Maring.

Iyaman to our volunteers!

IYAMAN Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. & Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF) for the Typhoon Maring Relief Operations.

We pray for stronger partnership in the years ahead to benefit our community, our province. Matago-tago tako am-in.

OPENING THE CCDC BIRTHING CLINIC

AN ACADEMIC LABORATORY, AS A HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSIVE FACILITY FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE FOR ALL

The CCDC Birthing Clinic, from its initial concept as a mere laboratory for the clinical learning experiences of BS Midwifery students, emerged as a health crisis responsive facility for maternal and child care when COVID-19 pandemic had exhausted hospital facilities in the locality. CCDC, instead of closing its doors during the pandemic, took the innovative step to transform an educational birthing clinic to an active and responsive health facility that is patronized by the public, especially the low income groups.  Its policies have expanded to include Philhealth accreditation in order to make possible the accessibility of its health care services even to the marginalized sector of society, particularly the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera, in the Northern Philippines. Furthermore, it contracted the services of consulting physicians, gynecology and pediatrician, in order to cater to more complex patient cases that may not be managed by the expertise of registered midwives. At the height of stringent lockdowns, it managed to acquire the necessary license and permit from the Department of Health to expand its physical plant by increasing its bed capacity, from a single bed capacity to a five-bed capacity to cater to the increasing demand. With these, there are valuable impacts to students and faculty with positive responses from the public and the government as well. Its vision has transcended to becoming a maternal and child care facility that is accessible to all at all times. It shall continue to contribute to the realization of sustainable development goals particularly on “good health and well-being” (SDG #3) as it establishes its PCAC Framework with components, namely: (1) Preparedness on 5Ps (Policies, Programs, People, Partnerships, and Physical Plant), (2) Crisis Management Response, (3) Assessment of Response, and (4) Continuous Preparedness Plan.

The CCDC Birthing Clinic’s DOH-Licensed is now upgraded into a 5-bed capacity facility! Kudos to our Midwives, Nurses, MD Consultants! We continue to bring quality maternal and child care closer to our community!

OPERATION KAJO: A collaborative effort to strengthen education through Barangay Libraries during the pandemic

Despite the lockdowns and strict restrictions, interested learners, enrolled students (all levels), out-of-school youth, adult and lifelong learners can now make use of barangay libraries at barangay halls, established through Operation Kajo (an Ibaloi term to mean “care”). Operation Kajo is a collaboration of the LGU ATOK, Cordillera College (CCDC), DOST – CAR, Philippine Librarians’ Association Incorporated – CAR. Last December 4, the MOA signing and formal turnover of the digital and printed learning materials took place at Sayangan, Atok and Naguey, Atok to formally establish Barangay Libraries in all Barangays of Atok to make accessible learning and information materials to enrolled students, out-of-school-youths, adult and lifelong learners. One desktop computer set containing DOST STARBOOKS and E-materials from the PLAI-CARLC and assorted printed materials from Department of Health – Cordillera, Department of Agriculture-Cordillera, DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, BSU-REPO, UP Baguio, CCDC and private donors were given to each of the eight barangays of Atok. Truly, CCDC hopes to deepen our network, improve our strategies and widen our partnership activities to reach all far flung barangays and better the quality of learning in our communities.

DOST-CAR awards certificate of recognition to CCDC in sincere recognition of its invaluable support to DOST-CAR’s Science, Technology and Innovation Initiatives in the Cordillera Administrative Region, thereby contributing greatly to the goal of creating a science culture in the region. CCDC has initiated the OPERATION KAJO, establishing barangay libraries in the Municipality of LGU ATOK, Benguet in December 2020. Through the initiative, STARBOOKS, the DOST’s science digital library were provided to eight (8) barangays of the municipality. This significant contribution paved the way for the provision of S&T information materials for students and life-long learning alike, because of their heartfelt conviction on the merits of Science, Technology and Innovation.

LOOK: The PSTC-Benguet team led by Ms. Sheila Marie Singa-Claver visited Barangays of Caliking and Cattubo in Atok to facilitate the signing of the Science and Technology Academic Research-based Openly Operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS) Memorandum of Understanding between DOST and the respective Barangay Local Government Units today, February 11,2021.

The STARBOOKS software was installed by DOST-CAR while the Computer units were provided thru the Project Kajo led by the Cordillera Career Development College.

CCDC Assists Adopted Community’s Poultry and Basket Weaving Industries

As a higher education institution, CCDC is committed to its mandate of quality instruction, research and extension services.  Banayakeo, Poblacion, Atok, Benguet has been the adopted community of CCDC since 2018, being one of secluded communities of the municipality.  The community households are farmers and homemakers.  With the prevalence of bamboo in the area, the women in the community have learned basket weaving using bamboo and also have an existing poultry farm which was initially funded by the government as a loan.  

When restrictions were starting to ease in 2021 to 2022, CCDC visited the community and was able to identify risks and potential.  One of the concerns of the women for their poultry and basket weaving was its lack of market for their products.

Mentoring led to the basketweavers’ realization that there is a need to upgrade the quality of its bamboo to reduce the risk of decay and rotting of its products.  The group was then led to the Department of Science and Technology for technical assistance in processing the bamboo to ensure that baskets last long.

Through the BS Entrepreneurship students and the CCDC Entrepreneurship Center adopted the Banayakoe Poultry Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SPLA) at Banayakeo, Atok, Benguet.  Its members are from the low-income group. Thus, this is an opportunity for them to improve their living conditions. However, the enterprise faces challenges that hinder it from flourishing in business. With the project, student-entrepreneurs were tasked to help the enterprise, particularly in marketing.  

Through the Project Aloyon (local term to mean, helping voluntarily), which aims to empower and capacitate community-based enterprises to be successful,  Banayakeo poultry producers were able to sell their products and were able to meet potential outlets for their produce.  To date the Banayakew Poultry producers were able to pay their debt from the government and continue to enjoy training and mentoring by the CCDC Entrepreneurship experts to improve packaging, and enhance bookkeeping skills.

In the future, the project aims to capacitate the members of the association with entrepreneurship through training, mentoring sessions, etc. With this, members will be inculcated with an entrepreneurial mindset and be equipped with the competencies needed to operate a business.  Empowering the people in the enterprise can lead them to their success. 

The Banayakeo Poultry SPLA serves as one of the many forces that drive CCDC to further strengthen community extension programs. CCDC hopes that it will be one of the rugs to riches story, may it serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their entrepreneurial journey.

CBEA shares best practices in coffee tourism to local coffee growers

CCDC College of Business Education and Administration (CBEA) which is the home to the BS Entrepreneurship, BS Hospitality Management and BS Office Administration programs conducts training for Coffee farmers, in coordination with Saint Louis University, to promote the coffee tourism industry, an alternative and a supplement to the coffee production industry in the locality.  This was held June 16, 2022 with fellow entrepreneurs as speakers and with the coffee farmers of Itogon, Benguet.

CCDC Dean Rovelyn Antonio, shared the best practices of the Admirals Farm Park, a recreational, educational and outdoor site of the school, in terms of advocating mental health of children during the height of lockdowns and restrictions through safe, outdoor and sustainable farm day activities for kids.  

The community has expressed interest in the shared best practice, given that it is less capital intensive in nature and relevant with the prevalence of mental health issues among children during this pandemic, expressed Rovelyn Antonio, dean.

The CCDC CBEA conducts regular and continuous financial literacy training, entrepreneurship lessons and lecture to the community and within the academic community to include parents, teachers and alumni.

Serving Students Beyond the Walls of its Halls

Flexible Delivery of Student Services during the Covid-19 Pandemic

With the closure of campuses and suspension of face to face classes brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic, CCDC had to design a way to connect to its students in order to ensure the continuity of learning.  Given the predominantly mountainous terrain of the Benguet Province, where access to the internet or online learning is very limited, drop off & pick up centers were established in various strategic places of Benguet.  These are safe and accessible centers where students, on arranged schedules can pick up their learning modules, submit their learning outputs, enroll, pay their fees and pick up school documents among others.  This is done through the help of the members of the community and partner agencies particularly the Local Government Units and Police Stations of the various Municipalities.  The LGUs provide the space for scheduled off-site enrolment and student and parent consultations while Municipal Police Stations serve as drop-off and pick up centers for the learning packs/modules.  During the enhanced community quarantine where students mobility was restricted, police officers and local officials, being APOR  or authorized persons outside of residence, served as mailman or couriers of modules to students who live in far flung areas of Benguet.

Education is a Collective Effort:  Mahinda Pinmiliw’s Story

The proverb, it takes a village to raise a child rings true.  One’s holistic growth and success in school and in life is often the result of the collective and concerted effort of the home, the school and of the community.

One warm morning, Mahinda Pinmiliw, a graduating Bachelor of Secondary Education students shares her story.

I was born on April 2, 2001 in Palidan, Dalipey, Bakun, Beguet. I was raised by my grandparents, late Nicasio Pinmiliw and Marina Pinmiliw because my mother, a single parent, had to leave for work. My childhood years were some of the greatest of my life because I was able to witness my grandparents’ goodness, care, and love. They did their best to supply whatever I needed, and they never cease to amaze me with all they do. When the time came for me to start attending school, we were struggling financially but I was eager to study because I knew how difficult life can be. Even at a young age, I had to wake up early every day to be with my grandparents and uncles to the farm where they 

work until night. I love the vegetable farm. It was my playground. I played around barefoot, walking and running on the soil and enjoyed the happiness of a child. Seeing  the hardwork of my grandparents who were continually working day and night, I knew right then and there that education was the key to a better life for me. I may not be as intelligent as the others, but with determination and hard work, it paid off in the end, and I was able to finish primary school in 2013-2014.

High school arrived, and I went to my mother, where I stayed for six years with my two half siblings. I had a difficult time adjusting to my new family, possibly because I did not grow up with them, and I also experienced culture shock when I started high school at Baguio City High School-Main, where I was sometimes bullied because of my ethnicity. But, thankfully, I was able to deal with them, and I did my best to fit in. So many questions were in my head when I was sixteen. I realized I was longing to see my father. I was able to locate him via technology, and from there I began communicating with him. In 2017-2018, I completed my junior high school education. In the 2019-2020 school year, I continued my senior high school education at Philippine Women’s University.

When the pandemic hit, I returned to Bakun, where I began my college days, and I was grateful to CCDC for making learning more simpler for those in the provinces. During the pandemic, CCDC had made modules available to their students to enable us to continue learning even if we were restricted to travel.  Benguet is a secluded province, we had no access to internet signals and many of my fellow students could not afford to buy high end phones to support online learning.  We found printed modules helpful especially with the presence of Drop off and Pick up centers which were strategically placed within reach. With the assistance of the police officers in police stations, one of the designated centers, I was able to learn and pass my subjects. 

My first and second years of college were never simple. Tuition has always been an issue for me.  But I am grateful that the school’s scholarship coordinator assisted me and I became one of the TDP-TES grantee when I was a freshman until the present.  This helped a lot to partially pay my school fees.  Relatives also offered to help fund my tuition in exchange for me helping them in the garden. Day after day, I would go to the farm to work, and in the evening, even if I was exhausted, I would do my best to complete the activities assigned to me by my instructors.

I am so thankful that even though life had been tough to me, I was surrounded by loving aunties, uncles, and grandparents. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away in 2021.

I have many dreams for my grandparents, and I hope that one day I will be able to repay their sacrifices and hard work. But I can’t do it anymore because he’s already joined our creator. I couldn’t picture my grandmother’s existence without him. But life must move on; perhaps God has bigger plans for my life; my grandfather may have passed away, but God blessed me; He answered the longing in my heart for 22 years, and I was finally able to see my father. God is so wonderful since through the years, he has been blessing me with a loving family, community and school.

CCDC provides legal services to the community and students

The CCDC Community Legal Aid Center (CLAC) was established in 2021 as the official legal aid arm of the CCDC – College of Law and as the facility charged with the implementation of the Clinical Legal Education Program for its law student practitioners. The Clinical Legal Education Program is an experiential, interactive, and reflective credit-earning teaching course with the objectives of providing law students with practical knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the application of the law, delivery of legal services, and promotion of social justice and especially public interest, to the marginalized, while inculcating in the students the values of ethical lawyering and public service.

 

To achieve these, the Community Legal Aid Center aims the following objectives:

1. provide accessible and quality legal assistance to indigent and eligible underprivileged members of the community and take on public interest cases (environmental law, indigenous peoples’ rights, women’s and children’s rights, and human rights).
2. provide free legal services such as legal consultations/advice and preparation/notarization of simple affidavits to the community.
3. aid in community development through involvement in policymaking, capacity-building, and community service.

 Aside from legal assistance, there are also short term programs for students who would like to assist/work for a day or two in exchange for financial compensation and other benefits that would enable them to pay for transportation, housing and food.  This includes doing specific school tasks. during weekends or during academic breaks.  This serves to help augment educational expenses of students.