By Jerome Alangui-Muguet Polonio, Ph.D. 
The story of the first batch of Cordillera CivicAcedemy – Northern Luzon’s First CSO Academy
A HISTORIC FIRST FOR NORTHERN LUZON
Baguio City – History was made inside the hall where 61 ordinary yet extraordinary citizens from Baguio and Benguet stood wearing not just certificates, but a new identity – as the inaugural graduates of the Cordillera CivicAcademy, the first Civil Society Organization (CSO) Academy in Northern Luzon.
Spearheaded and under the visionary leadership of the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR) and with the blessing and full support of DILG National, the Cordillera CivicAdemy is more than a training program. It is a structured, collaborative platform that dares to reimagine the relationship between government and people – from mere beneficiaries to co-drivers of development.
For decades, the Local Government Code of 1991 has mandated CSO participation in local governance. Yet, in reality, many CSOs struggled – lacking knowledge on local legislation, financial management, project development, and strategic advocacy. Many were accredited but not empowered. Many were invited but not equipped.
The Cordillera CivicAdemy was born to bridge that gap.
And on this graduation day, after 21 consecutive Saturdays of sacrifice, learning, and transformation, that vision came to life. The hall was filled not just with graduates, but with proof that when government invests in its people, people will invest back in their communities.
This is the story of those 21 Saturdays. This is the valedictory message not just of one speaker, but of 61 transformed leaders.
TWENTY – ONE SATURDAYS – THE REAL CURRICULUM OF SACRIFICE
In his valedictory address entitled “By God’s Grace, We Have Come This Far,” the batch valedictorian captured the essence of the journey that no module can fully quantify:
“Above all, I give thanks to Almighty God, whose endless grace carried us through these 21 consecutive Saturdays of learning, sacrifice, and growth.” “Twenty-one Saturdays. Let us pause and remember what those Saturdays meant.”
For those who have never experienced it, 21 Saturdays may sound simple. But for the 61 graduates – who are barangay volunteers, senior citizens leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, cooperative officers, CSO officers, teachers, and employees – each Saturday was a decision, a sacrifice.
“It meant waking up early on a cold Baguio morning, when our beds were warm and our bodies were tired. It meant leaving our families, our children, our barangay duties, our office duties, and choosing to be here.”
There were Saturdays of heavy rain when Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Halsema Highway were foggy and dangerous. There were Saturdays of traffic from La Trinidad to Baguio and from Marcos Highway to the City proper. There were Saturdays when the body was exhausted from a whole week of work in the office, in the farm, in the barangay hall. There were Saturdays when the mind was full of problems – financial problems, organizational problems, family problems.
“There were moments we wanted to give up, moments we asked ourselves, ‘Can I still do this?’ But every Saturday, we showed up. Every Saturday, we chose to learn.”
That is why the Cordillera CivicAdemy is not just about academic completion. It is about perseverance. It is about commitment. In a world where many trainings are one-day and certificate-oriented, DILG-CAR dared to implement a 21-Saturday intensive program – 168 hours of learning – because empowerment cannot be instant. It must be formed, honed, and tested.
And 61 finished. 61 persevered. That is the first success indicator of this Academy.
BEYOND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE – THE THREE PILLARS OF TRANSFORMATION
What did 21 Saturdays teach?
The Cordillera CivicAdemy curriculum was intentionally designed by DILG-CAR in collaboration with its academic partners – Saint Louis University (SLU), University of the Cordilleras (UC), University of Baguio (UB), Benguet State University (BSU), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the City og Baguio, and some CSOs like the Pansigedan Advocacy Cooperative (PAC), Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV), Zero Waste Baguio (ZWB), Baguio City Association of Private Schools (BCAPS), and the Baguio City Peoples Council (BCPC) who formed the Core Team Members – to go beyond technical knowledge. It was built on three transformative pillars.
The First Pillar: Values and Leadership – Leadership Begins with Character, Not Position.
“This journey has taught me far more than technical knowledge written in modules. Through Values and Leadership, I learned that leadership does not begin with position, but with character. That true leadership is measured not by how many people serve us, but by how many people we serve.”
In many communities, leadership is mistaken for position – Kapitan, Kagawad, President, Chairman. But the CivicAdemy reminded us of the Cordilleran indigenous value of “Binnadang” and servant leadership. The professors from SLU, UC, UB and BSU taught us that Matatag na Lider is not one who has many followers, but one who has strong values – paninindigan, puso, isip, gawa, at dasal.
This is crucial in a time when trust in leadership is eroding. The Academy produces not just skilled leaders, but values-based leaders who will not steal, who will not corrupt, who will practice transparency even when no one is watching.
The Second Pillar: Mastering Local Governance – From Spectators to Co-Drivers.
“Through Mastering Local Governance, I discovered that good governance is not just the work of the Governor or the Mayor or the Punong Barangay or government officials. It is the work of empowered citizens like you and me, becoming effective partners in nation-building.”
For many years, CSOs thought governance was government’s job. Government thought development was government’s job. The CivicAdemy shattered that wall.
Through modules on Local Legislative Process, Participatory Planning, Budgeting, CSO Accreditation, and Local Special Bodies (LDC, Local Health Board, Local School Board, Peace and Order Council, and others), the 61 graduates now understand: We are not just beneficiaries of government programs. We are co-drivers. We are co-owners of development.
This is the essence of participatory governance under DILG’s vision. When CSOs understand how to read an Annual Investment Program, how to join the budget hearing, how to propose a resolution in the Local Development Council, then development becomes more responsive, more inclusive, more Cordilleran.
Third Pillar: Strategic Influence – From Noise to Voice.
“Through Strategic Influence, I gained the confidence not just to speak, but to communicate; not just to argue, but to advocate and negotiate; not just to lead, but to inspire positive change within our communities.”
Many community leaders have passion but lack the skill to influence. They shout but are not heard. The CivicCdemy taught Strategic Communication, Advocacy, Negotiation, Conflict Management, and Social Mobilization.
Now, our graduates know how to write a position paper, how to negotiate with the Sanggunian without fighting, how to conduct community consultation, how to mobilize volunteers not through payment but through shared vision. They learned that influence is not manipulation; it is inspiration.
These three pillars – Values, Governance, Influence – form the holistic leader that Cordillera needs.**
THE UNSUNG HEROES – THE PROFESSORS, TRAINERS AND DILG-CAR
No Academy is great without great teachers. And Cordillera CivicAdemy was blessed with the best.
“To our professors, trainers, and resource speakers from SLU, UC, UB, BSU, and the DILG, thank you. Thank you for sharing not only your expertise, but your heart.”
This Academy is a unique collaborative model: Government (DILG-CAR) provided the vision, leadership, and platform; Academe (SLU, UC, UB, BSU) provided the intellectual rigor, curriculum, and professors; CSOs provided the learners and the real-life context.
Our professors did not just deliver PowerPoint slides. They shared stories. They shared failures. They stayed after class to answer questions about our barangay problems. They showed patience “on the Saturdays we were slow to understand, and passion that kept us awake and inspired.”
Special recognition must be given to DILG-CAR Regional Director and the entire DILG-CAR Team, including DILG Baguio and Benguet, who spearheaded this program with dedication. From conceptualization to graduation, they believed that Cordillera CSOs deserve a school of their own.
And to DILG National who blessed this initiative – thank you for believing that what starts in Cordillera can be a model for the entire Philippines. Indeed, this is the first CSO Academy in Northern Luzon, but hopefully not the last. It should be replicated in every region.
“Your lessons have planted seeds that will continue to grow in our barangays, in our offices, and in our hearts long after today.”
THE CHALLENGE – DO NOT LET CERTIFICATES GATHER DUST
Graduation is not an ending; it is a beginning. And this was the most powerful part of the valedictory address – the challenge.
“And to my fellow participants — my fellow travellers of 21 Saturdays — this is my challenge to you, and to myself: My fellow learners, do not let these 21 Saturdays end today.”
In the Philippines, we love graduation ceremonies, certificates, and tarpaulins. But the real question is: What happens after the picture-taking?
“Do not let our certificates gather dust on our walls. Do not let our notebooks remain closed. The real test did not happen inside this hall. The real test begins tomorrow, when we go back to our communities.”
The valedictorian issued a three-fold ethical challenge that should become the ethical standard for all 61 graduates and for all future batches:
“If we learned about transparency, let us practice transparency even when no one is watching. If we learned about accountability, let us be accountable even when it is difficult. If we learned about servant leadership, let us serve even when we are tired, even when we are not thanked.”
This is the heart of the message. CivicAdemy is not about becoming intelligent; it is about becoming accountable. It is not about being eloquent; it is about being ethical.
“Our people are waiting. Our barangays are waiting. Our Cordillera is waiting for the kind of leader we have become in these 21 Saturdays.”
Our barangays are waiting for leaders who will not use CSO funds for personal use. Our youth are waiting for leaders who will mentor them, not use them. Our LGUs are waiting for CSOs who will not just complain, but propose solutions.
FROM RECIPIENTS OF KNOWLEDGE TO INSTRUMENTS OF TRANSFORMATION
The valedictory ended with a commitment that transformed a speech into a covenant.
“So, as we leave this program, let us not merely be recipients of knowledge, but instruments of transformation. Let us carry forward the values we have learned, the skills we have acquired, and the sacred responsibility we now bear to serve our communities with integrity, compassion, and purpose.”
This is the paradigm shift that DILG-CAR wants to achieve: From dole-out to empowerment. From mendicant CSOs dependent on dole-outs to empowered CSOs capable of co-driving development, generating resources, and sustaining initiatives.
The 61 graduates came from different organizations – some from senior citizens, some from women, some from youth, some from cooperatives, some from faith-based groups. But after 21 Saturdays, they are no longer just representatives of their own organizations. They are now a network, a family, a community of practice – the first alumni of Cordillera Civicademy.
And with humility, the valedictorian made a personal vow on behalf of the batch:
“And so, with humility, with gratitude, and with unwavering faith, I say: Rest assured that by God’s continuing grace, I will do my part. I will put these learnings into action. I will serve with integrity. I will contribute to building empowered citizens and progressive communities — not for applause, but for God and for our people.”
“Not for applause, but for God and for our people” – that line summarizes the whole essence of servant leadership in the Cordillera context. We do not serve for Facebook likes, for political favors, for positions. We serve because it is our sacred duty to God and to our kailians.
CONCLUSION – TO GOD BE THE GLORY AND THE FUTURE OF CIVICADEMY
“On behalf of the entire batch, thank you. To God be all the glory, honor, and praise. God bless us all. Mabuhay tayong lahat!”
The hall erupted in applause, tears, and group hugs. But the real applause will be seen in the coming months – when a graduate from Bakakeng Central introduces a re-entry plan to transform his CSO into what the CivicAcademy envisions each CSOs to be, when a graduate from La Trinidad helps the LGU craft a more participatory Barangay Development Plan, when a graduate from Itogon negotiates for better market for coffee farmers, when a graduate from Tublay starts a youth-led clean-up drive without waiting for barangay funds.
The Cordillera CivicAdemy has proven one thing: When you invest in people for 21 Saturdays, they will invest in Cordillera for a lifetime.
To DILG-CAR, thank you for leading this historic first. To DILG National, thank you for blessing it. To SLU, UC, UB, BSU – thank you for sharing your heart. To the 61 graduates – congratulations, but more importantly, good luck in the real classroom: our barangays.
May the second batch be bigger. May this model be replicated in Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, and all over the Philippines. Because the Philippines does not need more politicians; it needs more empowered citizens who will become co-drivers of development with their LGUs.
And may we all remember the lesson of 21 Saturdays: That by God’s grace, we have come this far, and by God’s continuing grace, we will go even farther – for God, for our people, for our beloved Cordillera.
Mabuhay ang Cordillera CivicAdemy! Mabuhay ang DILG-CAR! Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!**
