BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Student leaders from Pines City Colleges (PCC) joined more than 600 student leaders representing 22 secondary and tertiary schools across Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet during the 13th Baguio Students Day (BSD) held at the University of the Philippines Baguio on September 13, 2026, under the theme “BSD 2026: Gear Up 2.0”.
Representing PCC were student leaders from the Student Supreme Council (SSC), the Organization of Future Pharmacists (OFPHARM) and the Society of Nursing Students (SONS).
The event was organized by the Cordilleran Youth Center (CYC) in partnership with the City Government of Baguio, SIGLAT- Baguio Youth Innovation Hub, and other youth and student organizations across Metro Baguio.
Baguio City celebrates Baguio Students Day pursuant to City Ordinance No. 42, series of 2013, which institutionalized the annual observance recognizing student participation and engagement in the city.
This year’s celebration highlighted continuing aspirations for more accessible education, improved student services, safe spaces, protection of democratic rights, and meaningful opportunities for the holistic development of the youth through civic participation.
Organizers emphasized that students are not merely young people preparing for the future but are already active members of their communities with the capacity to participate in shaping them.
National Union of Students of the Philippines–Cordillera (NUSP-Cordillera) Spokesperson Eugene Enciso, emphasized the role of student leaders in advocating for the right to education.
“We, student leaders of Baguio-Benguet, believe that genuine, free, accessible, and quality education is a fundamental right of every Filipino youth,” Enciso said.
Enciso further stressed that education must be protected, upheld, and continuously strengthened to provide students with an environment conducive to learning, growth, participation, and the full development of their potential.
As part of Gear Up 2.0, the afternoon sessions featured workshops covering various areas of student leadership and organization-building. These included multimedia training, community journalism through the Outcrop Office, event management, resolutions and ordinances, mental health peer support, productivity tools, financial literacy, legal literacy, public speaking, organizational management, and campaign management.
For the PCC delegates, the workshops provided practical knowledge and skills that can be applied not only within student organizations and campaigns but also in their academic, personal and community involvement.
“One of the lessons that stuck with me was the ‘phase and pace’ framework. This teaches us that every campaign must have the right tempo and right prioritization in order to create a powerful drive for the people to act,” said Richard Neil S. Gaw Jr., a Student Supreme Council representative from PCC.
Gaw noted that the framework could also be applied to activities outside campaign-making.
“I realized that this framework is not only applicable to campaign-making. It could also help in creating an event, doing a business, planning a vacation, or even studying,” he added.
The participation of PCC student leaders in BSD 2026 provided an opportunity to connect with fellow student leaders, exchange perspectives, and gain skills applicable to their respective organizations and school communities.
Through “BSD 2026: Gear Up 2.0,” student leaders from across Baguio City and La Trinidad came together for learning, collaboration, and skills development, highlighting the role of young people in organizational and civic participation and their contribution their communities. #KervyAggalao
