Empowering Women at CCDC

“I never thought I’d make it this far.” These words echo the journey of countless young women from the Cordilleras who once saw college as an impossible dream. Take, for example, a farmer’s daughter from Benguet, who grew up helping her family make ends meet. Today, she steps onto the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) campus with confidence – a scholar, a mentee, and a future leader. Her story, and many like it, are made possible by CCDC’s unwavering commitment to accessible education and women’s empowerment.

Women at CCDC are not only entering college in greater numbers, but also finishing their studies at very high rates. In fact, the increasing number of women earning degrees is viewed as a success indicator of CCDC’s support systems and inclusive culture. The Dean of the College of Criminal Justice Education, Dr. Dennis Butag noted, for example, a growing influx of female students in traditionally male-dominated programs like criminology, accompanied by strong graduation rates – a trend attributed to improved support and conditions for women in those fields. Across various disciplines, female students are excelling.

At CCDC, opening doors for female learners isn’t just a policy – it’s a mission lived daily. For over 30 years, the college has stood by its promise of “Bringing Education Closer to the People,” extending opportunities to those who need them most. This mission shines through in the latest data from 2024: from scholarship grants to student counseling, the numbers tell a story of inclusivity, support, and hope. CCDC’s President Dr. Sherry Junette Tagle often reminds the community that “education is not merely about academic excellence—it is about equity, compassion, and empowerment”, and the college’s programs for women embody exactly that.

CCDC leaders often say that behind every statistic is a name and a face – a real person whose life has changed. Perhaps it’s Ana, who was once on the verge of dropping out because of financial strain, but now proudly holds a CHED-TES scholarship and carries a lighter load (both in tuition and in her heart). Or Lea, who battled anxiety in her first year until she joined an Ayowan peer support group and discovered she wasn’t alone. There’s also Mari, a young mother who benefitted from CCDC’s flexible policies and childcare facilities, proving to her own daughter that education has no expiration date. These are composite portraits, but they reflect the very real journeys of CCDC students. As one female graduate said on her graduation day, “CCDC didn’t just give me a diploma – they gave me the confidence to use it.”

In the end, the story of women’s access to education at Cordillera Career Development College is a story of community and resilience. It’s the scholarships easing burdens so women can learn fearlessly. It’s the mentors and counselors lighting the way during dark times, reminding students to keep going. It’s a college president who greets students in the hallway and a culture that says you belong here. With every empowered female student, CCDC inches closer to its vision of being “the center of quality education for culturally diverse and global learners” – a vision where no dream is too distant and no barrier too great for the women determined to rise. And as these empowered women go on to uplift their families and communities, the ripple effect of CCDC’s support will be felt for generations to come.

Inspiring, inclusive, and driven by a warm community spirit – CCDC is turning what once were distant dreams into vibrant realities for women across the Cordilleras. The message to every young woman with a dream is loud and clear: here, you are not just a student ID – you are a story in the making, and we are here to help you write it.

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