MPC Becomes 3rd PH State College to Roll Out ‘Elevated Conversation’

Marikina Polytechnic College launched its inaugural “Dap-Ayan: MPC Elevated Conversation” hybrid dialogue series at the Balay-Pulong on Oct. 17, 2026, making it the third public higher education institution in the country to adopt the national “Elevated Conversation” framework championed by Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Honorable Michelle Aguilar-Ong.

Under the CHED’s A.C.H.I.E.V.E. Agenda 2030, this inaugural hybrid forum gathered delegates representing 22 State Universities and Colleges from across the Philippines. MPC follows pioneer Pampanga State University and Nueva Ecija State University in implementing the national framework.

College President Dr. Rene M. Colocar shared his thoughts about the gradual tranformation in higher education through the establishment of new buildings and modern facilities brought about by emerging technologies.

“Genuine transformation begins with a change in mindset, not merely with improvements in facilities, technologies, or programs. Transformation is not simply about changing what we have. It is about changing how we think, how we lead, and how we see the possibilities before us. If our thinking remains unchanged, then our transformation remains incomplete. Yesterday’s success should never become tomorrow’s limitation,” Pres. Colocar said.

Under the guidance of Graduate School Dean Medardo B. Bombita, the activity aims to expand collective understanding and foster deeper critical thinking and continuous improvement in higher education. Dean Bombita recalled that participating SUC leaders under the Office of Commissioner Ong committed to adopting the project within their respective institutions.

“Ideas are not merely presented; they are examined. Questions are not merely answered; they are elevated. Our purpose is not simply to exchange ideas, but to challenge assumptions, confront uncomfortable questions, and discover possibilities that can move our institution forward,” Dean Bombita stated to spark the conversations with a headline question, “if yesterday made us successful, can it also make us obsolete?”

Keynote speaker Mr. Emmanuel R. de Guia, Resident Futurist for the Philippine Senate Committee on Sustaionable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking, emphasized in his discussion about the global market shifts and the contraction of Marikina’s shoemaking industry from roughly 3,000 workshops in the mid-1990s to around 200 by 2010.

“If you can predict your university’s future, someone else has already disrupted it,” Mr. de Guia said, urging academic champions to avoid chasing generic vision statements or copying traditional research universities. The speaker also introduced epigraph, episodes, epitaph, and epic, and challenged SUC leaders with his ‘Twenty-Document Test.’

As MPC works toward its vision as a National TVET University in the Philippines, Mr. de Guia warned against “academic drift” and encouraged schools to pioneer “next practices” tailored to local realities instead of blindly replicating standard “best practices.”

Executive Vice President Engr. Shiela I. Villanueva acknowledged the AI’s rapid speed in data processing and shared her personal hope ‘to be remembered simply as an educator who touched lives.’

“Of all the titles that I have earned in my career, isa lang po, an educator. Because I was able to touch a life or two, and that for me is enough for this lifetime,” Engr. Villanueva said.

Among the participating delegates and discussants were Ms. Mellodine Antonio, Ms. Arrish C. Altavano, Ms. Mary Jean Bamba, Mr. Jemuel M. Bautista, Mr. Micheal P. Braga, Ms. Rhea Angelie P. Buhian, Mr. Roger Calayo, Mr. Kevin E. Dagohoy, Mr. Arnold De Guzman, Mr. Jerbie M. Escalicas, Ms. Madonna C. Evangelio, Mr. Earl Van R. Malupa, Ms. Girlie Nombres, Mr. Patrick Palomeras, Mr. Radino Q. Pangilinan, Mr. Arnel O. Pastor, Ms. Kezia Kriztina P. Pitoral, Ms. Gresilda O. Rebato, Mr. Marvin Rimando, and Ms. Josielh Roque.

A basic education representative highlighted the gap between secondary school outputs and tertiary expectations, calling on the Department of Education and SUCs to collaborate on curriculum frameworks. A Romblon State University alumnus and local teacher reflected on Marikina’s economic transition from footwear manufacturing to culinary hubs.

Architect Reynaldo Rimando advocated integrating universal design principles into campus infrastructure under Sustainable Development Goals while Prof. Elaine F. Hufano stressed that faculty must develop AI fluency, applied research, and industry-aligned skills to fulfill MPC’s national TVET mandate.

Vice President Dr. Glen R. Mangali emphasized that real dialogue must lead to actionable institutional reform. “The true measure of a meaningful conversation is not how much we have said, but how much our thinking has changed, how deeply we have listened, and how courageously we are willing to act on what we have learned,” Dr. Mangali said.

The Dap-Ayan initiative directly responds to national mandates set by the Second Congressional Commission on Education and the National Education Plan 2026–2035, which advocate seamless learning pathways, quality assurance in TVET, and tighter alignment between school curricula and industry realities.

Scheduled to run monthly on the second Saturday of each month upcoming forums will feature diplomats, policy advisors, and scholars tackling topics including global worker mobility, the Philippine Qualifications Framework, teacher education quality, and research commercialization.#

See more photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MKbO0Xb0t703cBhQ4ttJYBfqaEn6fX7O