The spirit of collaboration and unity among higher education institutions in Northern Luzon was strengthened through the successful Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony of the Amianan Consortium, hosted by Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) last May 19, 2026 at Admirals Park Event Center, La Trinidad, Benguet. The event gathered academic leaders, administrators, faculty representatives, and partner institutions from Region 1, Region 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in a momentous occasion aimed at fostering academic cooperation, innovation, and regional development.
Held in an atmosphere of solidarity and shared vision, the program officially introduced the participating institutions and highlighted the consortium’s commitment to advancing quality education, research collaboration, extension services, and institutional linkages across Northern Luzon.
As the host institution, CCDC warmly welcomed the delegates and played a vital role in facilitating the meaningful gathering of colleges and universities under the Amianan Consortium banner. The ceremony reflected the institution’s dedication to promoting academic partnerships and regional empowerment through collaborative initiatives.
The program opened with registration followed by preliminaries, including the welcome presentation by Gameng di Cordillera, doxology by the CCDC Glee Club, the national anthem through an audio-visual presentation, and welcome remarks delivered by Sherry Junette M. Tagle, President of CCDC.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the rationale behind the formation of the Amianan Consortium by Farland D. Valera, Convener of the Amianan Network and Director of DMMMSU-LAMANG Institute. The presentation emphasized the importance of inter-institutional collaboration in addressing educational challenges, enhancing academic excellence, and promoting sustainable regional growth.
Participating institutions from Region 1 included:
- Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
- Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College
- Lorma Colleges
- Mariano Marcos State University
- Pangasinan Polytechnic College
- Panpacific University
- Union Christian College
- University of Northern Philippines
Representing Region 2 was:
- Saint Mary’s University
Meanwhile, institutions from CAR included:
- Baguio Central University
- Benguet State University
- Cordillera Career Development College
- Divine Word College of Bangued
- Mountain Province State University
- University of the Cordilleras
- University of the Philippines – Baguio
The formal introduction of institutions was followed by the much-anticipated MOA Signing Ceremony, where presidents and representatives of participating schools officially pledged their commitment to the consortium’s shared goals and collaborative initiatives.
The latter half of the program focused on organizational matters, including the business meeting and election of officers, which will guide the consortium’s future programs and activities. The following members were elected into key positions:
- Consortium Director – Farland D. Valera (Director, Lam-ang Institute; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University)
- Deputy Director for Region 1 – Engelbert B. Mangaldan (Director, IPED Research Center; Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College)
- Deputy Director for Region 2 – Christopher Allen S. Marquez (Director of the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center; St. Mary’s University – Nueva Vizcaya)
- Deputy Director for CAR – Ferdinand D. Lawan (Program Chair, Political Science Department; University of the Cordilleras)
- Consortium Secretary – Michael Tomas Sebullen (Director for Research; Baguio Central University)
The Amianan Consortium signifies a united effort among academic institutions to create stronger educational partnerships, promote knowledge exchange, and cultivate opportunities that will benefit students, educators, and communities throughout Northern Luzon. Through the successful hosting of the event by CCDC and the formal signing of the agreement, the consortium marks the beginning of a promising collaboration dedicated to academic excellence, innovation, and regional development.
