The Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) community gathered at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel on October 28, 2026, for a joint culmination marking Indigenous People’s (IP) Month, Holy Rosary Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Mission and Vocation Month.
Rallying under the theme “Threads of Identity: Celebrate Our Story, Our Pride,” CCDC students, faculty, and administrators filled the chapel in vibrant, authentic ethnic attire, turning administrative guidelines into a living display of Cordilleran heritage. The campus-wide celebration aligned with the advocacy of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and supported the United Nations’ International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).
The event integrated spiritual devotion with cultural expression, beginning with a pre-mass Holy Rosary led by the Student Catholic Action (SCA). School Chaplain Rev. Fr. Benny P. Villiapa presided over the Eucharistic Celebration,
centering his homily on unity, mental well-being, and ancestral wisdom. “We must preserve our culture of Binnadang. We must unite and love each other,” Fr. Villiapa emphasized.
Addressing the youth directly, he added, “Ipateg mo din wada in sik-a ta inayan” urging them to stay anchored in faith while honoring their indigenous roots. Following the mass, the Quadrangle transformed into a lively celebration as the Gameng Di Cordillera Cultural Group led a cultural showdown and community dances. To the rhythm of traditional gongs, performers, and attendees joined hands in dance, underscoring the vital link between cultural identity and community wellness.
The joint culmination was spearheaded by the CCDC Chaplaincy Office through the SCA, under the leadership of SCA Coordinator Mr. Ian Iverson Helario, Adviser Mr. Joseph O. Bernal, and Chaplaincy Coordinator Mrs. Vilma B. Mondero, following an administrative directive issued by VP for Administration Atty. Annabelle B. Gonzales and CCDC President Sherry Junette M. Tagle, PhD.
Photo and Caption Courtesy of Cordillera Bulletin (Students – Ian Iverson Helario | Erika Laigo)
