LPU Encounters the Gentle Dumagats

On October 15, 2022, a delegation of instructors, students, and alumni, headed by the Community Outreach and Service Learning (COSeL) Office journeyed to the mountains of Norzagaray, Bulacan to visit a community of Dumagats, the Indigenous People (IP) of the Bulacan and Quezon area. Dumagat leaders, headed by the IP Governor and IP Vice-Governor of Bulacan welcomed the group from the university. Some members of the tribe, composed of men, women and children, were also present and showed appreciation for the visitors. LPUC delivered some hygienic materials to the heads of the community for equal distribution to the various households under their supervision. The tribal leaders specifically requested bath soap and laundry soap for their needs.

The group from LPU likewise entered into dialogue with the tribal community to know their situations, their needs, and their aspirations. The dialogue was meant to be an exploration of the possibility of starting extension projects for the tribe, depending on the assessment of the professors and officials (QC 8 members) who were part of the delegation. The LPU group was composed of professors from the different colleges (Nursing – Ms Elsa Regalado, Fine Arts and Design – Sir Jebbie Barrios, Engineering – Engr. John Christopher Yacap, Arts and Sciences – Ms Jovita Reyes, Tourism and Hospitality Management – Dr. Joie Toledo, and Business Administration – Sir Leymar Toliba), 4 students from COECSA and 1 from CFAD, Ms Luzviminda Santos as alumni representative, Sir Jojo Vicedo, and COSeL staff Ms Allena Costa and Fr Ramil Marcos. The event was wholeheartedly supported and inspired by Dr. Maria Teresa O. Pilapil, LPUC VP for Administration.