The University of Baguio became the venue last, August 15, 2025 for Liwliwa ya Sursuro 2.0: Baguio Youth Innovation Challenge, a dynamic event that aims to foster creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration among the city’s young leaders. Organized in partnership with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and the Research Innovation Extension & Community Outreach (RIECO), the program welcomed newly elected student leaders and representatives from different
departments in UB.
“Liwliwa ya Sursuro,” a Kankanaey phrase meaning “learning while having fun”, is part of the S2Cities Programme (Safe and Sound Cities Programme), which began in 2023. The initiative first took shape with Liwliwa ya Sursuro 1.0 during the celebration of Baguio Student Day in September 2023, attracting more than 500 young participants, according to the current project manager of Safe and Sound Cities Baguio under the Cordilleran Youth Center, Ms. Janice Militar.
Liwliwa ya Sursuro 2.0 has now gained stronger community support, resulting in a larger seed grant of ₱1 million each to be awarded to two winning innovations for full project implementation. The initiative not only equips youth with the tools to address real-world issues but also encourages collaboration, creative thinking, and long-term engagement goals which also aligns with the vision of SIGLAT (Synergize Innovation and Gravitate Leadership towards
Adaptive Technologies), that advocates innovation, leadership, and adaptive solutions for community development.
“This is a three-month innovation incubation program starting in September,” Ms. Janice explained. “It’s an avenue for young people in Baguio City to design solutions to urban safety challenges and an opportunity to bring their ideas to life.”
With its growing impact, Liwliwa ya Sursuro continues to position Baguio’s youth as key innovators in shaping a safer, more inclusive, and more resilient city.
In line with this, the initiative also reflects the principles of SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by empowering young people to design and implement forward-thinking solutions that address urban safety challenges. By providing financial support, mentorship, and platforms for collaboration, the program fosters a culture of innovation and helps lay the groundwork for sustainable infrastructure and technologies that can strengthen communities. Ultimately, it ensures that the creativity and leadership of today’s youth directly contribute to building smarter, more adaptive cities for the future.
Written by Mary Jane Pilawen
