PANABO CITY – Two cadets from Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) represented the institution and the Philippines in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program (CULP) 2025, held in Hawaii and Guam, USA, reinforcing DNSC’s commitment to developing globally competent and service-oriented student leaders.
From April 22 to 28, 2025, C/LTCOL Aila Sor U. Lanat O-1CL, former Vice Corps Commander of the 723rd Naval ROTC Unit (Affiliate), DNSC, participated in CULP 2025 in Hawaii, joining the University of Hawai‘i Army ROTC Spring Field Training Exercise. The program featured intensive tactical training, including movement to contact, reconnaissance, ambush, raid, patrol base operations, and react-to-contact drills designed to test leadership, endurance, and decision-making under pressure.
Training was conducted in a culturally diverse environment, with cadets from various ethnic and national backgrounds working together toward a common mission. This experience emphasized teamwork, trust, and adaptability,core elements of modern military leadership.
The program also included visits to historically significant sites such as Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, and Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, offering participants a deeper appreciation of military history, sacrifice, and the pursuit of peace.
Meanwhile, from November 12 to 17, 2025, C/LTCOL Thrisia Mae S. Mangubat O-1CL, Corps Commander of the 723rd Naval ROTC Unit (Affiliate), DNSC, was among the nine delegates selected nationwide to represent the Philippines in CULP 2025 in Guam. The program focused on strengthening military interoperability and deepening cultural and historical ties between the Philippines and Guam, known as the country’s “Sister Island” in the Pacific.
Mangubat trained alongside the Guam National Guard and University of Guam (UOG) ROTC cadets, following the U.S. Army’s Program of Instruction. Activities included field training exercises, land navigation, and tactical movements, highlighting the importance of seamless coordination despite differences in doctrine.
The Guam engagement also included courtesy calls and educational visits to Andersen Air Force Base, the Guam National Guard Headquarters, Tiyan High School, Guam Homeland Security, and the Philippine Consulate General in Tamuning. These visits provided insight into regional security, disaster preparedness, youth leadership development, and the long-standing diplomatic and defense partnership between the Philippines and the United States.
Cultural immersion activities, including visits to Puntan Dos Amåntes (Two Lovers Point), the Peace Memorial, Chamorro Village, and the Tumon Night Market, further deepened the cadets’ understanding of Guamanian heritage, community life, and shared Pacific identity.
Both cadets return to DNSC carrying strengthened leadership skills, heightened cultural awareness, and renewed commitment to uphold the AFP Core Values of Honor, Service, and Patriotism, and to share their learning with fellow cadets and the wider community.
