CHED and MMSU conclude Parnuay: Creativity Summit
By Wimbledon Bosque
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in partnership with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), successfully concluded Parnuay: The 3rd Creativity in Philippine Higher Education Summit, a three-day national gathering that brought together educators, artists, policymakers, and creative industry leaders from across the country from December 16 to 18 at the Ilocandia Cultural Center in Ilocos Norte.
Held in celebration of National Creative Industries Month, the summit underscored the vital role of creativity, arts, and culture in national development, innovation, and economic growth.
The summit opened with a keynote messages emphasizing the responsibility of higher education institutions in nurturing Filipino creativity. House Majority Leader Congressman Sandro Marcos, represented by Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, highlighted sustained investment in culture and arts. He mentioned that artistic and cultural initiatives support an economy that values innovation and human potential, noting the importance of trifocal education system to work in synergy.
Strengthening the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) initiatives to develop an integrated education-to-industry framework for the nation’s creative sectors, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis emphasized the need for structure, resources, and alignment with industry demands to allow creativity to thrive in higher education. Her goal is to collaborate with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), including the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), to map whole-of-education pathways for creative industries in the country.
For the first day of the summit, DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez led plenary sessions on championing young minds and advancing digital creatives, alongside EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee on trifocal approach to the creative industries in relation to cultural preservation and values formation, Thames International School President Jaime Noel Santos who tackled microcredentials and the creative economy, and IPAG Artistic Director Steven Prince Patrick Fernandez highlighted the nurturing of Filipino artist-scholars within higher education.
The second day focused on expanding the role of creative industries in education and economic development. A message of support from Senator Imee Marcos highlighted the importance of higher education institutions in shaping storytellers and cultural leaders.
Plenary sessions for the day were led by Dr. Joven Cuanang, founder of the Pinto Art Museum, who explored the healing power of arts, and Dr. Edizon Fermin underscored the importance of establishing Creative Centers of Excellence in higher education institutions as a cornerstone in building a “Malikhaing Pilipinas” during his talk, “Building the Creative Centers of Excellence.” He highlighted the government’s landmark initiatives under the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA), which formally recognizes and strengthens the country’s creative economy.
The highlight of the second day was the ceremonial signing of three memoranda of agreement by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and its partners, aimed at strengthening creative industries, allied health education, and digital connectivity in higher education. The agreements covered Project SIBOL for HEI development and allied health programs, Konektadong CHED with DICT and PLDT to enhance digital connectivity in state universities and colleges, and Bayanihan SIM, which provides mobile-based connectivity to support students’ access to learning.
For the afternoon panel discussion, “Walang Pera D’yan (?): The Economics of the Creative Industries and What Higher Education Institutions Can Do,” challenged the long-standing notion that creative work is financially unsustainable.
Panelists highlighted the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904) as a landmark policy supporting project-based careers and intellectual property protection. Ms. Sari Molintas (British Council Philippines) noted that it provides clearer pathways to monetize creative work, while Atty. Gio Franco Gomez (TESDA) emphasized its recognition of creative work as a legitimate profession. Ms. Mae Angelica Therese Heruela (PETA) underscored the sector’s scale, and Alain Zedrick Camiling and Prof. Benhur Ong (De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde) stressed higher education’s role in professionalizing creatives, fostering entrepreneurship, and ensuring fair compensation in the creative economy.
Capping off Day 2 of the Parnuay summit, “Ritmo ti Namnama: Himig ng Bagong Pilipinas,” a rondalla musical performance competition, took center stage, featuring performances from Cebu Normal University (CNU), Philippine Normal University (PNU), and Benguet State University (BSU). CNU emerged as the champion, BSU won first runner-up, while PNU claimed the second runner-up award. Mr. Gabriel Frederico, guitarist of the University of the Philippines Rondalla (UPR); Ms. Fiona Theresa Muñoz-Rivera, a music teacher from UP; and Mr. Leonardo Bruno Jr., music director of the UPR, served as the board of judges for the said competition.
The final day looked ahead to future directions for the creative sector, with sessions on combating disinformation through creative communication led by Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard and Police Colonel Frederick Obar of the Philippine National Police. They urged the youth to deepen and strengthen their research, understanding, and awareness of developments affecting the country. Distinctions among the often interchangeably used terms “misinformation,” “malinformation,” and “disinformation” were also discussed.
Ending the final day is a forward-looking discussion by Aianree Raquel, head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office and creative director of the Tan-ok ni Ilokano Festival of Festivals. He anchored his discourse on “The Weight of Making: Culture and Performance in the Grassroots,” foregrounding how grassroots cultural expressions epitomize the cultural capital of the province.
To immerse the participants in an Ilocos Norte experience, they toured Sitio Remedios Heritage Village Resort, Paoay Church, and Paoay Sand Dunes art installations. They were also able to witness the City of Batac Empanada Festival, as part of the city’s month-long fiesta celebration.
The summit concluded on a high note with participants gaining insights into the creative industries and higher education’s role in nurturing Filipino talent and firsthand experiences of Ilocos Norte’s rich cultural heritage. From plenary discussions and policy agreements to performances, heritage tours, and local festivals, Parnuay 2025 successfully underscored the transformative power of creativity, culture, and community in shaping both education and national development.
Dec, 19, 2025 09:29:am
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