SIGLAT Cultivates Baguio's Innovative Young Thinkers

BAGUIO CITY – Recognized as a creative hub in the country with a vibrant community of young artisans committed to preserving culture, art, and heritage, the Summer Capital continues to foster youth-driven initiatives emphasizing innovation in creativity and technology.

One such initiative is the SIGLAT Baguio Youth Innovation Hub, an emerging avenue for nurturing the creative, innovative, and dynamic minds of young individuals located at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center.

With its logo, “A house nourishing the burning flames of creative young minds,” SIGLAT stands for Synergize Innovation and Gravitate Leadership towards Adaptive Technologies and also borrows its name from the Ilocano term siglat, which means active and agile.

In 2023, the organization became the first in the Philippines to apply for the Safe and Sound Cities (S2 Cities) programme led by the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB) in partnership with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), aimed to improve young people’s safety and wellbeing in urban environments.

This collaborative effort enabled Baguio’s youth to be more engaged and actively involved in its decision-making and urban development by unlocking their hidden potential to generate fresh ideas, lead youth-driven actions, and propose human-centered solutions to help address relevant issues within the city.

On September 1, 2023, SIGLAT opened its doors as the first city-led innovation hub in the Philippines, offering a safe, inclusive, and conducive space where the youth can connect, collaborate, and bring their ideas to life.

It also plays a role in achieving the broader goals of the city, like sustainable development, climate action, and youth participation in governance.

SIGLAT is committed to pursuing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

By involving the youth in real conversations and collaborative innovation, SIGLAT helps ensure that Baguio’s future is shaped not just for them, but with them.

SIGLAT staff member Paulyn Maye S. Rimando said it has engaged 3,799 youth members and 438 stakeholders and has built a growing portfolio of events ranging from benchmarking activities to numerous free seminars, collaborative workshops with local artists not just in Baguio but across the country.

At the SIGLAT hub, visitors are welcomed into a space that’s more than just a hangout spot. They are also offered an array of amenities at their disposal. The hub features dedicated spaces where ideas come to life, pitch solutions to real problems, and are encouraged to think beyond the classroom.

These include three rooms: the Thinker’s Room, where people can make reservations for conducting conferences; the Safe & Sound Room, a comfortable space for ideation, socializing, and productivity; and the Creative Space, a room equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutting machines, Smart TVs, VR headsets, computers, and more.

All of these amenities are available free of charge. Whether it’s creating a prototype, launching a community project, or simply finding a space to explore new skills, SIGLAT helps young people cultivate creativity with a purpose.

SIGLAT champions not just innovation, but also creativity that sparks within every young person’s passion for science and the arts.

“SIGLAT is a place for students and youth na eager to gain knowledge…it is for the creative enthusiasts of Baguio,” shared Miah, a work immersion student of the hub.

“SIGLAT brings the best out of you,” added Diane, another work immersion student.

SIGLAT takes pride in being largely operated by the youth and for the youth—a testament to the power of young leadership, Rimando said.

She said the Hub’s Immersion Internship program is open to individuals, especially the youth, who are interested to volunteer or work in their organization. For inquiries, one can contact them through the SIGLAT Facebook page.-Marbino Timatim Jr. and Rachel Tawanga/PIO interns/gabykeith