On November 30, 2023, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) held the Balangkas: 1st Creativity Summit in Philippine Higher Education at the Garden Orchid Hotel and Convention Center in Zamboanga City. The event gathered over 500 participants from across the country—composed of educators, creative industry professionals, cultural advocates, and academic leaders—to help shape the national framework for creativity and innovation in higher education.
Representing De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde were Chancellor Mr. Benhur Ong, who also serves as the Chairperson of the CHED Technical Committee for Hospitality Management and Tourism Management, and Special Assistant to the Chancellor Mr. Norman Lee, who currently chairs the CHED Technical Panel for Game Development and Animation. They joined Dr. Ed Fermin, Chair of the CHED Technical Working Group on Creative Industries, and other education leaders and stakeholders in advancing the country’s creative education agenda.
The summit featured interactive workshops focused on key themes such as the Attributes of the Filipino Creative, the establishment of Creative Industries Education Hubs, and the development of an Instructional Framework for Creative Industries Education. These sessions allowed participants to exchange ideas and contribute to CHED’s long-term goal of cultivating a Culture of Creativity within Philippine higher education.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the “Balangkas ng Pagkamalikhain sa Lalong Mataas na Edukasyon,” the foundational document that will inform the forthcoming LIKHA Framework—CHED’s national blueprint for creative industries education.
Benilde’s active participation in CHED Balangkas reaffirmed its leadership in creative and technology-driven education. Through collaboration with CHED and national partners, the College continues to champion innovation, inclusion, and cultural advancement—empowering future Filipino creatives to thrive in a globally interconnected creative economy.
