Published Paper Details:

This study aimed to unveil the experiences of Indigenous College Students in the Province of Tarlac. The paper includes their demographic profile, life experiences, identified existing programs of state universities and local and national government, measures to solve prevailing problems and the implication of the study for public administration. Through this study, the researcher sought to address and discern the IP college students at Tarlac State University (TSU) and Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) sentiments from their life experiences. In addition, the researcher used qualitative case study and random sampling method. A total of thirty (30) respondents took part in this study from different cultural communities in the Province of Tarlac. Findings revealed that the respondents are part of Ayta Abellen/Abelling and Ayta Mag-Antsi and serve as IP Youth in their respective cultural communities, and they are the only hope of their family to finish tertiary education. All the respondents' parents did not pursue tertiary education claiming that they inherit it from their ancestors. In addition, financial problems are the main reason why IP students can not pursue tertiary education. The researcher found out that (1) financial constraint, (2) proximity of school and (3) degree related to the needs of their community are the major factors affecting their choice of degree. Despite the long-time clamor of discrimination, the students still experience hurtful bullying and disrespect from the society. There are six (6) identified hindrances in pursuit to tertiary education of the IP Students, specifically, (1) weak signal connectivity, (2) bullying and discrimination, (3) language barriers, (4) financial constraints, (5) social injustices: terrorist groups and (6) Covid-19 Pandemic. Furthermore, an action plan was proposed and created by the researcher and respondents to address the problems encountered by the IP Students. In summary, the study reveals the plight and the stories of the IP Students in the Province of Tarlac. They cry for the collaborative involvement of all stakeholders in an all-encompassing and culturally aware strategy to protect the provision of essential services, especially in the areas of education and government service delivery. Based on the life experiences and most pressing problems of the Indigenous students, the government can use this paper as basis of policy formulation to bring the services closer to the cultural communities to uplift and to produce a more inclusive, responsive, and responsible members of the indigenous peoples in pursuit to nation building.