Adopt a Child for a Day

The BU-CSSP Department of Peace Studies in observance of the month-long celebration of National Peace Consciousness organized a series of activities in order to promote awareness of the need to promote a culture of peace. The Volunteers for Peace, an organization of students in the department sponsored the "Adopt a Child for a Day Project. " The VFP invited a group of Children from Burgos in the Municipality of Daraga in Albay Province. The organization tendered a party for the children. Aside from the party the children were also treated to a story telling time. For this purpose the VFP invited Prof. Marcia Rico of the College of Education and Prof. Ruby Ann Ayo to serve as story tellers. Stories that revolving around the culture of peace were the focal point. Children love to hear stories. This is also a powerful tool of enculturation.

The sponsored children beaming with delight

"Jomar" appears to be the joker in the Group

Dr. Herbert Rosana, together with officers of the VFP and the sponsored Children Posed for a Souvenir Photo

The VFP and the JPA took the responsibility of conveying the Children from Burgos to the Campus and vice-versa

Teacher Ruby engaging the pupils in a conversation

Teacher Ruby with her picture stories

Teacher Marcia leading the pupils in singing

The Story of Teacher Marcia

VOTIVE MASS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

As customary among Filipinos and indeed a commendable cultural practice, every major activity is preceded by the celebration of a Holy Mass. Taking into consideration that the overwhelming majority of the people are Roman Catholics. The Mass was a Votive Mass for Peace and Justice. The Mass is considered as the Official Prayer of the Church hence its readings and rituals are regulated by a common book known as Missal. The norms of the Church allows for a special Mass where a specific intention is specified.

The Congregation of Students and Faculty Members attentively listens to the First Reading.

The third year students from the Social Work Department volunteered to serve as our Choir. Indeed their presence saved us from a Mass without a Choir. The choir enhances the beauty and dignity of the Mass

Our Mass Celebrant, Fr. Steve Loria, SOLT

The Congregation

The 7th Regional Peace Forum

This year's Regional Peace Forum though not having the big bang as it used to be, convened with a topic very much relevant to the needs of the Bicol Region. Not only of the Bicol Region but of the Nation and the World as well. This year's theme centered on the THE TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLEVIATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. This forum was sponsored by the Junior Peace Advocates and the Volunteers for Peace.

The venue of the Forum was at the Arcilla Hall of the BU Daraga Campus.

In behalf of Dr. Rosemarie T. Frias, Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Prof. Amelita Bello, the CSSP's Assistant Dean introduced the Resource Person.

Dr. Eriberta Nepomuceno, Professor V of the Gradaute School captured the attention of the students and the participatns as she discussed the importance of understanding the nature of climate change and the technological alternatives that could be applied to cope with the adverse effect of climate change. She commended the Government of Albay for spearheading climate change adaptation as one of its banner program.

Dr. Nepomuceno, stressing a point in response to a question from a participant.

Dr. Rosana, seen here making some clarifications regarding the efforts of the Department of Peace Studies to promote peace education and reported on the progress of its networking activities in order to develop Peace Education and make BU a leader in the field of Peace Education.

Pecos Intia, standing, presented the efforts of the City Government of Legazpi to promote environmental security. Furthermore Mr. Intia stressed that the city government made the excellent job of tapping local and national resources to cope with the effects of the past two devastating typhoons that ravaged the Bicol Region. While Mr. Levi Quitasol, of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Legazpi, discussed the spiritual dimension of climate change and the ethical side of it.

The Keynote Speaker and the Resource Persons, posed for a Photo-op.

Religious Discrimination Contributes to RP Conflicts says a Report

"The US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor made this assessment in its International Religious Freedom Report 2008, dated Sept. 19 but posted on the US Embassy website Wednesday.

The report said that despite religious freedom in the Philippines, Muslims still complain “that the Government has not made sufficient efforts to promote their economic development.”

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Remembrance

September 11 Photo from NPS


In Memoriam, Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord and Let thy perpetual light shine upon them

SEPTEMBER -NATIONAL PEACE CONSCIOUSNESS MONTH

September is the NATIONAL PEACE CONSCIOUSNESS MONTH

Bicol Univerity 39th Foundation Anniversary

Happy 39th Anniversary to Bicol University - From the BAPS Family!

THE FIRST PEACE EDUCATION CAPABILITY TRAINING SEMINAR FOR TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTORS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED

The First Peace Education Capability Building Seminar for Teachers and Instructors was concluded with positive comments from the participants. The participants came from various Bicol Provinces. In particular we had participants from Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. At the end of the seminar each group were given the chance to express their reaction. The participants requested that in the future more of this kind of trainings should be held.

The Opening Ceremony, from Left: Dr. Fay M. Lauraya, Usec Pedro Cesar Ramboanga, Peace Officer V Emily Lambio and Dr. Rosemarie T. Frias.

A Participant from the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges making a point in one of the sessions

Economic Specialist Ms Rosemarie Buan interacting with a participant during the sessions.

Dr. Herbert Rosana, handling one of the sessions on Contextualizing Peace. The session he handled provided the respondents the chance to conceptualize peace and contextualize it in the realities of the present.

Prof. Marcia Rico conducting the Demonstration Lessons

BSED Students served as demonstration class for the Peace Integration Lessons

BSED Students Performing a Role Play

The Workshop Sessions

Prof. Flor A. Jenkin on evaluating lesson plans

Teachers from the Libon Agro Industrial High School Receiving their Certificates of Participation

Demonstration-Lecture of Prof. Rico

Prof. Joy Ninofranco and Prof. Tanya Lana of BUCSSP as participants to the Training Sessions

Prof. Marcia Rico, our demonstration Teacher

Prof. Asuncion R. Mirabueno conducted a demonstration lesson

OPAPP Usec Visits BU

Major General Pedro Cesar Ramboanga (ret) now the newly appointed Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) visted BU on February 14, 2008 upon the invitation of the BU President Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya. Usec Ramboanga represented General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Secretary of the said Office in charge with the Peace Process. Usec Ramboanga is the Keynote Speaker for the First Peace Education Capability Building Seminar for Teachers and Instructors. This seminar was BU's initial response to the Implementing Guidelines of EO 570, s. 2006 in relation to the integration of Peace Education to the Basic Education and to teacher training institutions. During the courtesy call at the office of the BU President, both leaders discussed the important and complementary role played by the OPAPP and BU in pomoting peace education. Possible areas of cooperation was explored in the said meeting. Present during the meeting were BU Vice-President Jerry Bigornia, Dr. Rosemarie T. Frias, the dean of the Social Sciences, Dr. Herbert Rosana the Chair of the Peace Studies Program and other faculty members. Emily Lambio of OPAPP-PIDO was also present.

Dr. Fay M. Lauraya welcomes the Usec in her office.

Discussion of important matters pertaining to future institutional cooperation between BU and the OPAPP

Group Discussion clockwise, seated, Prof. Jerry Bigornia. Emily Lambio. Usec Ramboanga, Dr. Fay M. Lauraya, Dr. Rosemarie T. Frias and Dr. Herbert B. Rosana

From Left: Prof. Jerry Bigornia, Emily Lambio, Usec Pedro Cesar Ramboanga, Dr. Rosemarie T. Frias and Dr. Herbert B. Rosana

The Opening Program, in the Photograph, Usec Ramboanga, Emily Lambio and Dr. Frias