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| (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) has earned international recognition as a finalist in the 2026 International Green Gown Awards (IGGA) under the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Sustainability category, affirming the institution's commitment to empowering communities through transformative education that advances inclusive and sustainable development, and the Next Generation Learning and Skills category which spotlights the institution's pioneering CAPSTONE (Community-based Action Project Addressing Strategically Themed Learning Objectives Through Networked Environments) program, a community-based action initiative that redefines traditional learning.
Presented by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), the International Green Gown Awards celebrate exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by educational institutions worldwide. Widely considered one of the world’s most prestigious sustainability accolades in education, the awards recognize programs that create meaningful and lasting impact, seamlessly embing social responsibility and innovation into student learning, while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). DLSL’s recognition in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Sustainability category stems from its long-standing and transformative engagement with indigenous communities in Mindoro through the initiatives of its Community Involvement Office (CIO). At the heart of the institution’s entry are two community-driven programs, HAMALICON (Hanunuo Mangyan Livelihood & Consumers Cooperative) and PAMANA KA (Paaralang Mangyan na Angkop sa Kulturang Aalagaan). In the remote and mountainous areas of Mindoro, indigenous communities, particularly the Hanunuo Mangyans, have long faced challenges stemming from geographic isolation, limited access to essential services, and systemic inequalities. Responding to these realities, DLSL moved beyond traditional outreach programs and embraced a partnership-based approach that empowers communities to become active agents of their own development. HAMALICON serves as a model for economic empowerment and self-reliance. Established in partnership with Indigenous community members, the cooperative provides direct market access and sustainable livelihood opportunities for 312 families. Guided by an indigenous-elected and gender-inclusive board, the cooperative enables community members to participate in decision-making processes while strengthening local economic resilience. Complementing these efforts is PAMANA KA, an educational teacher-mentoring partnership program launched in 2018. The initiative promotes educational equity among seven Mangyan tribes by integrating Indigenous knowledge, culture, and traditions into formal learning environments. By equipping teachers to serve as custodians of cultural heritage, the program helps ensure that education remains relevant, inclusive, and deeply rooted in indigenous identity.
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| (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
More than the programs themselves, the recognition underscores the value of partnership, cultural respect, and shared humanity in creating sustainable change. Through years of collaboration with Indigenous communities, DLSL has learned that lasting development is only possible when solutions are co-created, culturally grounded, and community-led. Aligned with UNSDG No. 10: Reduced Inequalities, the initiatives demonstrate how educational institutions can serve as catalysts for social transformation by creating inclusive, empowering, and sustainable opportunities. Meanwhile, CAPSTONE has empowered students from Grades 4 to 12 to tackle real-world societal issues aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for over eight years. Moving away from traditional rote learning, the program integrates systems thinking and transdisciplinary collaboration through a progressive framework. Elementary learners begin by focusing on sustainability concerns within their homes while junior and senior high school students collaborate with community partners to co-create research-driven solutions for complex social, environmental, and economic challenges. The curriculum is anchored in the principles of Design Thinking: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, paired with the Lasallian See-Judge-Act framework. This unique combination teaches students to become adaptable, faith-driven changemakers. CAPSTONE's influence extends far beyond campus borders, establishing research and innovation partnerships with institutions in Japan, Taiwan, and across the Philippines. By trusting young learners with real-world problems and working in close partnership with parents and local communities, DLSL has turned education into a launchpad for tangible societal impact. Aligned directly with UNSDG No. 4: Quality Education, this IGGA finalist nod reinforces DLSL’s commitment to nurturing purpose-driven leaders who do not merely adapt to the future but actively shape it.
For De La Salle Lipa, being named a finalist in the 2026 International Green Gown Awards is more than a recognition of successful programs; it is a testament to the power of education to uplift lives, strengthen communities, and create pathways toward a more equitable future. The distinction affirms the institution’s enduring mission of teaching minds, touching hearts, and transforming lives while inspiring its Lasallian community to continue opening doors of opportunity for those at the margins. As DLSL moves forward, it remains steadfast in its commitment to building partnerships that empower communities, preserve cultural heritage, and ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of sustainable development and human dignity.
(With words by Cristina Alfarita Larombi, De La Salle Lipa)
