On May 30, 2025, the Barangay Gymnasium in Poblacion transformed into more than just a forum venue—it became a vibrant stage for storytelling, healing, and community empowerment during the Indigenous People’s Education (IP Ed) Forum, the flagship event of this year’s Helubong Festival. Organized through a strong partnership between Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) and the Lake Sebu Tourism Office, the forum sent a resounding call for deeper cultural integration in education.

Far from a mere academic gathering, the forum brought together educators, indigenous leaders, students, and cultural champions to engage in heartfelt conversations about what often goes missing in formal classrooms—the lifeblood of heritage, tradition, and identity. The event was unscripted, sincere, and deeply rooted in lived experience.

For HCCCI, whose mission goes beyond delivering quality education to becoming a sanctuary for cultural preservation, the forum was more than symbolic. It embodied the institution’s commitment to inclusive, transformative education that honors the roots of its learners, especially those from indigenous communities.

“Magbago man ang panahon, dumaloy man ang daan-daang taon, nandito pa rin at napapangalagaan pa rin po Ninyo ang adhikain ng ating mga ninuno... para sa susunod po na mga henerasyon ng mga guro... naiintindihan nila, ganito dumaloy ang kasaysayan,” said Ma. Lourie Victor, Head of the Indigenous Peoples Education Office of the Department of Education, reminding attendees that IP education is not a trend but a living continuum of history and responsibility.