PANAG-ADAL KEN PANAG-AYWAN: INDIGENOUS CENTERED APPROACH IN EDUCATING YOUTH AT BAGUIO CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

This research investigated the indigenous centered approaches in educating the youth at Baguio Central University, in the year 2025-2026. This study adopted a qualitative research design, specifically a phenomenological approach, to explore how this can be integrated in the curriculum. An interview was used to seek information from the participants. The findings show that the experiences in learning indigenous concepts when included in the curriculum, the students shared that it made their learning meaningful, engaging, connected, and enjoyable. The meaning of panag-adal (learning) is study while panag-aywan means nurturing community and environment, labor of love and holistic growth. The examples of classroom practices that made students feel connected to their cultural identity, they believe that local stories like folk songs, poems, using local language are essential in teaching. Respecting one’s culture, appreciating Ilokano architecture and collaboration with the community will add up to their learning. The indigenous approaches that affect their motivation includes engagement and sense of belonging in school by boosting their motivation, they feel engaged and belonged, they feel respected and given importance. The challenges that the students experienced were attended too. The changes that the students would like to see to make the curriculum more culturally responsive are indigenous knowledge and community-based outputs are necessary.