With the theme "Language is People; the First Word Matters," the three-day conference brought together scholars, educators, researchers, diplomats, and language advocates from the Philippines and across the globe, serving as a dynamic platform for scholarly exchange, interdisciplinary research, and international collaboration to advance linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.ย
In his welcome message, ParSU President Dr. Arnel B. Zarcedo emphasized that universities play a vital role in documenting indigenous knowledge and ensuring that local languages remain visible and relevant in an increasingly interconnected world. He underscored the University's commitment to safeguarding linguistic diversity and recognizing language as a powerful instrument for education, community empowerment, and sustainable development.
Joining the opening program were Dr. Aurelio S. Agcaoili, President of the NAKEM Conferences, and Dr. Alegria T. Visaya, President of NAKEM Philippines, who reaffirmed the importance of international collaboration in promoting multilingualism, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening community identity through education and research.
The conference featured keynote addresses by Hon. Arman R. Talbo, Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Hawaiสปi, and Dr. Donna T. Padilla-Taguiba, President of Panpacific University, highlighting the role of higher education institutions in advancing inclusive education, cultural preservation, and collaboration.ย
Beyond the exchange of ideas and research discussions, the conference also opened opportunities for stronger institutional collaboration as ParSU and Panpacific University formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in instruction, research, faculty and student mobility, and other academic initiatives.
Throughout the three-day conference, participants gained insights from plenary speakers representing institutions such as Yale University, the University of Hawaiสปi at Mฤnoa, the University of HawaiสปiโLeeward Community College, the Hawaiสปi Institute for Philippine Studies, the University of the Philippines Diliman, Vongchavalitkul University (Thailand), the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, NAKEM California, the Bicol Guerrilla Museum, and Partido State University, covering topics like language education, multilingualism, indigenous knowledge systems, literature, cultural heritage, peacebuilding, among others.
Adding to the conference highlights was the launch of Dr. Agcaoili's books, Arsenal Words and We Left and They Kept Dying, which celebrated literary scholarship and reaffirmed the importance of literature in preserving identity, memory, and cultural narratives.
The conference also featured the launch of Dr. Agcaoili's books, Arsenal Words and We Left and They Kept Dying, highlighting the role of literature in documenting experiences, preserving memory, and exploring cultural identity.
Delegates also actively participated in parallel breakout sessions under four thematic tracks: Language Education, Pedagogy, Policy, and Assessment; Indigenous Languages, Cultural Heritage, and Local Knowledge; Sociolinguistics, Multilingualism, Identity, and Documentation; and Language, Society, Literature, Peace, and Community Development, which encouraged the exchange of research findings, best practices, and collaborative initiatives on mother tongue-based multilingual education, language policy, indigenous language documentation, applied language studies, biodiversity conservation, and communication.ย
Complementing the academic sessions, the Cultural Night presentation showcased different cultures through music, dance, and artistic performances.ย
Through NAKEM 2026, ParSU further strengthened its position as a globally engaged institution that champions inclusive education, interdisciplinary research, meaningful international partnerships, and the preservation of linguistic and cultural heritage while demonstrating the power of language to connect people, preserve identity, and inspire collaborative action toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.
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