In a world that is increasingly recognizing the importance of inclusivity, UC Guidance and Counseling Office took bold steps to create an educational environment that welcomes and supports all students, regardless of their backgrounds, identities, abilities, sexual orientation, and gender expression. With this commitment, students namely Reschiell Irah Q. Abuan, Allayza Crizzette O. Tolentino, Julia Deanna A. Soriano and Junjun E. Baniqued together with one of the guidance facilitators, Daphne G. Espiritu, founded an organization to foster a safe and supportive space for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.
Sumikom was derived from Kankana-ey term which means “to come home”. This embodies the values of the organization which is to form a community to offer support, encouragement, and growth through shared experiences. Through a series of impactful programs, seminars, and informative initiatives, Sumikom is leading the charge in fostering an environment where every individual can flourish. The organization had a total of 100 members.
Cultivating an enriched campus community
Sumikom spearheaded and participated numerous impactful events throughout the SY 2023-2024 to educate and celebrate diversity in the university. Queer Convergence was conducted as an assembly of its members to discuss the objectives and proposed activities.
In collaboration with the Guidance and Counseling Office, Sumikom initiated the program Swap Party. Swap party with the theme “Unity in Sustainability: Empowering Communities Through Collective Action” and aims to encourage participants to swap or donate items to reduce waste and promote sustainable consumption habits, and to foster a sense of community involvement and mutual support by providing a platform for individuals to exchange goods.
Pride Month is observed in June dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQIA+ voices, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture and the support of LGBTQIA+ rights. In support, Sumikom spearheaded and joined series of programs in partnership with the Northern Luzon Pride. They had the Pride Assembly, Pride March, Queefilm: A Queer Cinema, Lika ni Accla, and Embracing Diversity: A Forum on Building Inclusive Communities for a Better Tomorrow. These activities aimed to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community alongside the University as a form of acknowledgement and recognition of the community and to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community and their contributions to society.
By extending these values to its broader community, Sumikom is not only preparing its students for academic success but also instilling in them the importance of compassion, understanding, and inclusivity as they go on to shape the world outside the university walls. Sumikom has made significant strides in aligning its activities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). With this, the university is not only celebrating diversity but actively working towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
