UP Baguio cum laude honors indigenous roots, pursues medicine

BAGUIO CITY — When Philip John Omaweng stepped onto the stage to receive his diploma during the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio’s 2026 commencement exercises recently, he chose to celebrate not only his academic success but also the culture that shaped him.

Omaweng earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology major in Microbiology, graduating cum laude with a 1.459 general weighted average.

Instead of wearing only the university’s traditional graduation attire, Omaweng donned an Igorot “bahag,” proudly honoring his Applai heritage as he accepted his diploma.

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READ: PMA cadet graduates from West Point, Baguio student from USCGA

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For Omaweng, the moment was a tribute to his identity as much as it was a celebration of years of hard work.

The Applai are an indigenous ethnolinguistic group from western Mountain Province, with communities in Besao, Sagada, and parts of Sabangan, Bauko, and Tadian. They are distinguished from the I-lagod communities in the eastern part of the province.

Omaweng hopes his graduation inspires other Igorot youth to pursue higher education without losing sight of who they are.

He said academic success becomes even more meaningful when it remains connected to one’s culture and is shared with the community that nurtured it.

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Despite graduating with honors, Omaweng said he is already focused on his next goal.

“As for my next plans… I’m currently pursuing my [Doctor of Medicine degree],” he told the Inquirer on Friday, July 10.

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Omaweng’s decision to wear the bahag reflects a growing movement among Indigenous students to proudly affirm their identity in academic spaces, showing that cultural heritage and educational excellence can go hand in hand.

UP Baguio has long championed Indigenous peoples’ cultures, languages, and knowledge systems through its academic programs, research, and community engagement, making it one of the country’s leading institutions for Cordillera and Indigenous studies. — Maureen Matayew/Contributor /das

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