From Stories To Action: ‘Sugilanon’ Turns Diverse Youth Experiences into Campus Solutions

Addressing persistent stereotypes and prejudice within the city and the university, Sugilanon: Different Voices, Shared Understanding brought diverse youth perspectives into dialogue, aiming to translate shared experiences into practical solutions for a more inclusive campus.

Held on Saturday, October 17, at the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) building, the nine-hour session was organized by the CASS Student Council’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Sustainability (IDEaS) and Community Extension Affairs Committees in partnership with the State of Youth Iligan (SOYI).

Of the 22 selected students, 16 participated in the gathering, representing Indigenous Peoples/Lumad, Muslim/Moro, Christian, LGBTQIA+, and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) communities. Through sessions on conflict awareness, storytelling, and project pitching, participants explored different youth experiences within MSU-IIT and developed proposals addressing concerns affecting their respective communities.

During the opening session, Assoc. Prof. Maria Junnah Liguid, RPm, discussed conflict handling through reflective activities and group discussions. She examined the personal and structural dimensions of conflict, emphasizing how unmet human needs and differences in perception can influence how people respond to disagreements.

“We should not react immediately and think critically before making a conclusion,” Liguid emphasized. She also discussed nonviolent communication, explaining the importance of distinguishing what happens from the meaning people assign to their experiences. By encouraging openness and critical reflection, the session invited participants to consider how different backgrounds and perspectives shape interactions and conflict.

The succeeding storytelling circle gave participants an opportunity to express their experiences through drawings representing the stories they wished to share as members of their chosen communities. The discussions brought forward accounts of discrimination, including experiences of oppression within the university shared by some Indigenous participants. These accounts highlighted the gap that can exist between institutional commitments to inclusivity and students’ lived experiences.

The final session shifted the discussion toward proposed solutions, with groups presenting projects addressing concerns related to education, language, peacebuilding, and gender. The proposals included “Bahaghari: Storytelling Circle” for the LGBTQIA+ community, “SALIMPUKAW: Pangoyat Ko Kapagisaisa Ago Kanggiginawae” for the Muslim/Moro community, “Project Tulay: Bridging Language Barrier Through Peace-building Workshop” for the Indigenous Peoples community, and “Project Hand in Hand” for the PWD community.

The proposals were evaluated by three panelists: Liguid, Rholaisa Mamailao, MA, and Bainorah Amate, MPA. Their evaluation formed part of the event’s effort to develop community-centered initiatives from the concerns and experiences raised during the dialogue.

Project head Yona Quelle Eirene Liguid outlined plans to pursue the proposals beyond the event. She explained that representatives from the Institute of Policy Innovation and Leadership (IPIL) had been invited to hear the students’ proposals and discuss feasible policies with Chanzed. In the meantime, the organizers intended to explore implementation within CASS, the passage of resolutions, and coordination with Kataas-tasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral (KASAMA) to determine whether the proposals could be institutionalized. She also mentioned efforts by Federation of Mindanao State University Supreme Student Councils (FEMSUSSCO) to gather resolutions that could be pursued within MSU-IIT and beyond.

Recognizing that institutional change takes time, Liguid acknowledged that the initiative would not produce immediate results. “Dili gyud siya paspas na process, dili siya diritso na after this event ma feel dayon ninyo na naay changes, pero with those small steps, let’s hope na lang na we have a better future because of this initiative,” she said.

Noel Emmanuell Enjada, one of the organizers and a board member, likewise emphasized that meaningful unity does not require communities to abandon their differences. “For us, sustainable unity does not mean erasing our differences, but learning to understand and respect them. Because peacebuilding is not only about producing outputs; it is about building a culture where every sector is included, even beyond this event,” he said.

Through its combination of personal storytelling, critical dialogue, and project development, Sugilanon sought to move conversations about diversity and inclusion toward concrete campus initiatives. Whether these proposals translate into lasting change will depend on the follow-through of student leaders, institutional partners, and the communities whose experiences shaped them.

Written by Mary Mikaela Llauder
Proofread by Fame Orong
Photo by Krizylle Louise Giltendez