As part of the Indigenous People’s Month Commemoration, KSU’s Lumin-awa Festival was launched this morning at the KSU gymnasium.

In his message, KSU President, Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang stressed on LUMIN-AWA, as prosperity and well- being of the Ikalingas. He added that we have our own Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) which we should not forget because it will lead us to our identity as Cordillerans.

Meanwhile, Hon. Michael Karel B. Sugguiyao, Provincial IPMR gave insights on the challenges we faced during the times when some of the provinces in CAR were under Region II. Because of that, there was convergence of the provinces in the Cordillera Administrative region who faithfully supported during the arm struggle. He added that it was here in Kalinga where negotiations were held. Hence, the start of Lumin-awa where major developments started to boost and it also paved the way for the signing of Republic Act no. 8371 of 1997, also known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997. He then challenged the KSU family and the whole Kalinga people to triplicate our efforts to achieve autonomy.

Hon. James S. Edduba, Provincial Governor highlighted on the core values of Kalinga- PANIYAW, NGILIN and BAIN where we can best achieve LUMIN-AWA, coupled with having a good governance, good employment, enough livelihood, good relationship with our fellowmen and most of all, with GOD.

Edduba further encouraged the university to have more partnerships with the provincial government in his endeavor for Lumin-awa Kalinga, like his on- going programs on health and livelihood services. In his concluding message, he expressed his willingness to uplift the Kalinga Provincial Hospital into level II status in support to KSU’s plan of offering College of Medicine.

The launching is a continuation of the programs on IP Month Commemoration 2022 which was commenced on October 17, 2022, with the theme, “Cordillera Lumin-awa: Commemorating Indigenous Peoples Month; call for Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC)”.