NEWS FEATURE | September 1, 2026-𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐨, 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 “𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧”

LORETO, AGUSAN DEL SUR — 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Anchored on the theme, “Padayon sa Layon: Building a Better, Safer, and More Resilient Caraga through Learner Leadership,” the four-day convergence seeks to strengthen the voices, capacities, and leadership of learners as active partners in building schools and communities where every young person can thrive.

More than a gathering of student leaders, the convergence serves as a living space for learners to speak, listen, collaborate, create solutions, and lead, reflecting the belief that a better and more resilient Caraga cannot be built without the meaningful participation of its young people.

Among the DepEd Caraga officials present were Education Support Services Division (ESSD) Chief Dr. Edmund D. Mendoza and Project Development Officer IV and Regional Youth Formation Coordinator Dr. Adrilene Mae J. Castaños.

The event was also attended by members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Loreto, with Loreto Mayor Hon. Alvin Otaza ably represented by Municipal Administrator Mr. Samson Ramelo.

Also present from the host Schools Division of Agusan del Sur were Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) Chief Dr. Orlando Gamil and Public Schools District Supervisor Mr. Joseph Joy Havana.

The activity was likewise supported by partners from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, as well as the Executive Assistant IV, Atty. Janssen Michael D. Albienda, representing Agusan del Sur Provincial Governor Hon. Santiago B. Cane Jr.

At the heart of the theme is the phrase “Padayon sa Layon,” a call to persevere toward a purpose.

For the learner leaders gathered in Loreto, that purpose extends beyond personal achievement. It points toward a collective vision of a Caraga that is better in opportunities, safer for every learner, and more resilient in facing challenges.

And the vehicle toward that vision is learner leadership.

This was strongly emphasized in the message of Agusan del Sur Provincial Governor Hon. Santiago B. Cane Jr., delivered on his behalf by his Executive Assistant IV, Atty. Janssen Michael D. Albienda, during the opening program.

“The learners themselves must be empowered to act and decide on matters that affect them.”

The Governor underscored that empowering learners means recognizing them as stakeholders whose perspectives, experiences, and decisions matter in shaping the environments they live and learn in.

“Because every investment in learner is an investment to our future.”

The message reinforces the essence of Padayon sa Layon: investing in learners today means strengthening the people who will eventually shape the communities of tomorrow.

Governor Cane, Jr. further challenged the young leaders not to wait for change to come from someone else.

“Do not wait for someone to change the world around you. You are here. You have the voice. You have the responsibility. And I think this is where leadership begins.”

The challenge captures the very heart of learner leadership.

Having a voice is only the beginning.

The greater responsibility is knowing how to use that voice to speak for what is right, to listen to others, to recognize problems, and ultimately, to do something about them.

In a message of support on behalf of Mayor Otaza, Administrator Ramelo underscored the local government’s commitment to supporting learners and initiatives that contribute to their holistic development. He emphasized the importance of providing young people with opportunities beyond the classroom, particularly through sports, learner leadership, youth engagement, and other programs that help develop their skills, character, confidence, and sense of responsibility.

Throughout the convergence, learners will be given opportunities to translate their voices into concrete initiatives through leadership talks, human rights discussions, wellness activities, advocacy sessions, convergence circles, project development, and project pitching.

The Learner Convergence Circles, in particular, will allow participants to engage in conversations on issues that directly affect young people, including their rights and responsibilities, safe spaces, mental health and well-being, healthy choices, adolescent reproductive health, and financial literacy.

From these conversations, learners will develop and refine projects designed to respond to real concerns in their respective schools and communities.

Thus, the convergence moves through a deliberate progression:

from voice, to dialogue; from dialogue, to ideas; and from ideas, to action.

The convergence also gives meaning to the three aspirations embedded in its theme.

A better Caraga is one where learners are given opportunities to grow, participate, innovate, and contribute.

A safer Caraga is one where every learner can learn and lead without fear, where rights are respected, voices are valued, and safe spaces are protected.

And a more resilient Caraga is one where young people are prepared not merely to face challenges, but to respond to them with courage, compassion, creativity, and collective action.

These aspirations cannot be achieved by institutions alone.

They require learners to be part of the conversation, and, more importantly, part of the solution.

The gathering in Loreto therefore represents a significant step toward creating a culture where learner leadership is not treated as an extracurricular responsibility, but as an essential part of developing young people who are capable of contributing to society.

As hundreds of learner leaders from across Caraga come together, they bring with them different stories, experiences, challenges, and dreams.

But they also bring a common responsibility: to make their voices matter.

The first-ever Caraga Regional Learners’ Convergence provides the space for these voices to meet.

Here, leadership is not defined merely by titles or positions. It is seen in the courage to speak, the humility to listen, the willingness to collaborate, and the determination to turn ideas into meaningful action.

For the young Caraganons gathered in Loreto, Padayon sa Layon is therefore more than a theme printed on a backdrop.

It is a challenge.

A challenge to keep moving toward a purpose.

A challenge to lead with responsibility.

A challenge to build spaces where every learner feels heard, protected, and empowered.

And ultimately, a challenge to believe that young people do not have to wait for the future to lead.

They can begin today.

Because as the message of Governor Cane, Jr. reminded the young leaders gathered in Loreto:

“You are here. You have the voice. You have the responsibility.”

And perhaps, that is where Padayon sa Layon truly begins—

with a learner who finds the courage to use that voice, take that responsibility, and lead Caraga forward.

By Richard E. Davide

Dinagat Islands Division

𝐄𝐍𝐃

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph

#DepEdCaraga #CaragaRegionalLearnersConvergence2026 #PadayonSaLayon #LearnerLeadership #YoungLeaders #YouthEmpowerment #StudentLeadership #CaragaYouth #BetterSaferMoreResilientCaraga #VoiceToAction #YouthInAction #EmpoweredLearners #LeadershipForChange #SafeSpaces #ResilientCaraga #AgusanDelSur #LoretoAgusanDelSur

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