NVSU CAS SocSci, Hum Department Blends Celebration, Competition in Honoring Cultural Heritage

By Nathaniel A. Aliguyon Date Posted October 28, 2025

To pay tribute to the province’s cultural heritage and reflect on how education helps sustain indigenous lifeways in contemporary society, the Nueva Vizcaya State University College of Arts and Sciences, through the 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔, called together students, faculty, and community partners for a celebration at the Old Administration Building Grounds on October 27, 2025 with the theme “𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮: 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.”

The day-long celebration was attended by students enrolled in the General Education Indigenous Communities (GE Indi) course who paraded traditional attires depicting their respective ethnolinguistic groups during the opening rites and showcased their local cultures through artistic expressions, rhythmic chants, and handcrafted ornaments.

Proving that cultural understanding becomes more meaningful when it shapes attitudes of respect and awareness in everyday interactions, the event featured hands-on and collaborative competitions which included cultural dance, cultural cuisine, body painting, and chalk art. Each presentation reflected creative interpretations of heritage and revealed how culture continues to evolve while maintaining its original essence.

In his welcoming message, Dean Julius S. Valderama of the College of Arts and Sciences described the celebration as a learning platform where cultural knowledge is lived, shared, and appreciated within the university community. To provide academic grounding for the activity, Department Chairperson Gydabelle M. Celestino presented the rationale and explained how the program reconnects students with indigenous wisdom and values that are gradually being overshadowed by modern influences. NCIP Provincial Officer Shelly Ruth Joy S. Calata added that the preservation of indigenous lifeways contributes substantially to sustainable community development through policies that protect ancestral traditions and cultural practices.

Meanwhile, the awarding of certificates and tokens of appreciation recognized the contributions of participants and invited guests who supported the activity’s objectives. A lunch boodle followed, which allowed the attendees to share traditional dishes in an atmosphere of togetherness and communal sharing.

The afternoon segment featured indigenous group games and the Aribaba Quiz Bee, where students engaged in interactive learning that combined enjoyment with cultural knowledge. The program concluded with the announcement of winners and the closing remarks of Mr. Albert A. Garcia, who commended the participants for bringing the lessons of cultural consciousness into their academic and community engagements.

The event connected academic learning with cultural and artistic expression while promoting holistic growth and a deeper cultural awareness among students and the community.

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