09/08/2026
Inspiration does not always appear on big screens. Sometimes, it is embedded in a person who pursues excellence while carrying the pride of their Indigenous roots or a person carrying a notebook in the University grounds.
In the realm of education, where hopes are met and dreams are nurtured, Aviegay Via M. Delizo, a proud Ilocano from Lantap, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya and a student at Ifugao State University, exemplifies how the Free Higher Education program helped her step closer to her dreams while living her identity.
As a child of a solo parent and a member of an Indigenous Peoples (IP) group, entering the university under the Free Higher Education program proved pivotal to her academic journey.
โThis removed the biggest barrier to my education, the tuition fee,โ Delizo shared. โWith this, I can now dream bigger and aim higher, not just for myself, but for my family.โ
What truly fills her heart is the desire to inspire her fellow IP youth with a message of hope: the doors to higher education are open to everyone, regardless of race, culture, or ethnicity.
โLet us take this moment to learn and dream bigger, not just for our own progress, but for our community,โ she encouraged. โMay the light never dim our paths, so that we may always return with hope and purpose.โ
As a Social Work student, she holds onto the dream of giving back to her community by helping connect them to accessible, quality education, healthcare services, and sustainable livelihoods.
Empowerment became her lived value with her stay in the University community, learning that preserving oneโs culture is essential. As a strong advocate of embracing oneโs own culture without reservations, possessing it as a strong identity that runs through the blood line.
For Delizo, her education reinforced that being a social worker isn't just about protecting human rightsโit's also about safeguarding the culture that keeps a community alive.
โI firmly believe that where culture lives, people thrive.โ
The inclusivity of the Higher Education became a home for her dreams and culture to thrive.
Continuing our celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day (August 9), join us all week as we feature the inspiring stories, voices, and achievements of Indigenous students, faculty, and alumni across our SUCs.