Dr. Donna T. Padilla-Taguiba served as the keynote speaker during the 21st Annual Gathering of the National Alliance for Knowledge, Empowerment, and Meaning (NAKEM) at Partido State University in Camarines Sur.
In her keynote address, she underscored the transformative power of Mother Tongue-Based Learning, emphasizing that languages preserve not only words but also worldviews, moral imagination, and the rich diversity of humanity across regions.
"Losing a language silences a unique way of being human."
She stressed that education must be rooted in learners' first languages to cultivate individuals of nakem—where intellect is guided by conscience, wisdom, and humility.
At Panpacific University, this vision resonates deeply. Through the Panpacific University Language Center, the University champions the preservation and promotion of the Pangasinan language and culture, ensuring that local voices, stories, and perspectives continue to thrive for future generations.
