De La Salle Lipa
Embracing our Shared Humanity: A Lasallian Framework for Livelihood Equity and Culture-Based Education for Sustainable Futures
Finalist, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability
About
In the remote and mountainous landscapes of Mindoro, Philippines, the Hanunuo Mangyans and other Indigenous communities have long endured geographic isolation, limited access to basic services, and persistent inequities shaped by difficult terrain and systemic exclusion.
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL), through its Community Involvement Office (CIO), has embraced a transformative, partnership-driven response, rooted in the Lasallian mission of teaching minds, touching hearts, and transforming lives. Moving beyond traditional outreach, DLSL co-established HAMALICON (Hanunuo Mangyan Livelihood & Consumers Cooperative) and PAMANA KA (Paaralang Mangyan na Angkop sa Kulturang Aalagaan) with Indigenous partners. HAMALICON advances economic self-reliance through a community-managed cooperative that empowers 312 families with direct market access, guided by an Indigenous-elected, gender-inclusive board. Meanwhile, PAMANA KA is an educational teacher-mentoring partnership program which fosters educational equity for seven tribes by integrating Indigenous knowledge into formal curricula. By positioning teachers as custodians of heritage, the program ensures sustainability is culturally grounded and Indigenous led.
Top 3 learnings
- We learned that sustainability only lasts when it is built on deep cultural respect.
- We learned that co-creating solutions empowers Indigenous communities to transition from dependency to self-reliance.
- As Lasallians, we are capable of inspiring change and transforming lives by embracing shared humanity beyond distance and identity.
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability | |
| Finalist, International |
