BCPED Tapped to Facilitate Session on Lesson Exemplars in Human Rights

The 73 Elementary School Teachers from Gubat, Sorsogon working on the Lesson Exemplars in Human Rights

The Facilitators of the Workshop

Dr. Herbert Rosana of BCPED Receiving the Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Ronnel Lim

The BCPED was requested by the Municipality of Gubat, Sorsogon to facilitate the Session on the Introduction of the Human Rights Exemplars to some 73 elementary school teachers from Gubat Sorsogon.  Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, Director of the BCPED facilitated the workshop as assisted by Dr. Ruby Ann Ayo.  The Workshop was held at the Likas Ridge Hotel in Irosin, Sorsogon from October 22-23, 2011.  The event was sponsored by the Municipality of Gubat and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).  The first day of the training workshop was a series of sessions.  The participants were welcomed by Mr. Florencio P. Bermundo, Values Education Coordinator of the Divisions of Schools in Sorsogon.  The Honorable Ronnel U. Lim, mayor of Gubat introduced the participants to the concepts of Human Rights, while Dr. Aurora Parong of the Amnesty International discussed the UDHR.  Fr. Michael "Bong" Imperial from the Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary discussed the spiritual dimensions of Human Rights.  Then in the evening there was the sharing on Human Rights in the Philippines.  Then the following day there was the planning and working on the Lesson exemplars in Human Rights.

2nd Year of ANDUROG KAN DERECHOS

The Members of the Department

The JPA and the Children

The Department of Peace Studies headed by Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, together with the faculty members of the Department, Ms. Gina Oropesa and Mr. Lloyd Berdin and together with the officers and members of the Junior Peace Advocates joined the ANDUROG KAN DERECHOS in its 2nd Anniversary.  The theme of the anniversary states thus: Working Towards Promotion of Human Dignity.  The Secretariat of the Andurog kan Derechos under the leadership of Fr. Ramonsito S. Segubiense and ably assisted by the staff of the Social Action Center of Legazpi and Ms. Aimee Bertillo organized a series of activities such as medical missions, story telling for kids and awareness campaign for human rights.  The venue for this activity was the San Roque Parish Church of Taizan.  The Parish priest of Taizan is Fr. Rally Siapno.  The Department of Peace Studies as tasked to take charged of the story telling for kids.  There were almost eighty pre-school children who participated in the story telling session for peace.  Dr. Herbert Rosana conducted the story telling sessions.  After the story telling session the students of the Department of Peace Studies took turns in facilitating the games for the kids.

The Boy and the Apple Tree: Story Telling for Human Rights and filial piety

or those who may not be aware what the Andurog kan Derechos is, this organization is a Multi-Sector Quick Response Team or MSQRT created as an alternative approach to address the phenomenon of extra-legal killing and enforced disappearances.  It aims to provide capacities for its members to do investigation and reporting on human rights violations especially the phenomenon mentioned above.  The MSQRT is the first of its kind and has been replicated in various parts of the country with the help of the Ateneo de Manila Human Rights Center (AHRC) and the Asia Foundation.  The Andurog kan Derechos is a grouping of several agencies and private organizations including the academe.

BAPS Students in the 2nd Year Anniversary of MSQRT in Albay Click to Hear Podcasts

LEGAZPI CITY TEACHERS FROM ORO SITE PARTICIPATED IN SCHOOL OF PEACE ORIENTATION

Seated: Teddy Janola, Herbert B. Rosana, Agney Taruc, 

Mrs Jemz Evangelio, and Jeremy Cruz

 The Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development (BCPED) in cooperation with the Division of City Schools of Legazpi, headed by its superintendent Dr. Cesar H. Medina and with Oro Site High School headed by its principal Jeremy Cruz in Legazpi City held the Orientation Seminar for the School of Peace Project.  The objective of the seminar was to provide and raise the awareness of the teachers on the need to acquire new awareness and skills to teach peace education in basic education curriculum.  The teaching of Peace Education in the basic education curriculum and teacher education is not an option but a mandate as expressed in EO 570.  Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, the Director of BCPED said that the desire to implement peace education must come from within.  It is not something that is forced to the constituents, but something that they have to accept wholeheartedly. But to do this there is a need to raise the level of consciousness of the constituents.  This awareness raising thing is the first step in the realization of the projects "School of  Peace".  Hence this two day seminar was meant to raise the level of awareness of the peace constituents of Oro Site High School.  The two-day seminar achieved its purpose.  The seminar created a desire and excitement among the teachers and their principal.  In so much so that commitments were expressed and there was a marked willingness among the teachers to get involved in the process.  The "school of peace" concept is not a one-shot project but an ongoing development.  It is a process to be undertaken until such a time that peace is internalized in the personal level of experience, in the school community and in the larger society.  

Plenary Sessions

Oro Site High School is located in an urban barangay.  The locale offers opportunities for inter-cultural dialogue since it hosts the Islamic Center where migrant Muslims congregate for worship.  Moreover, some students are from economically depressed communities.   With this scenario the "School of Peace" can become an an opportunity for meaningful intervention.   The BCPED in cooperation with the Department of Education Region V has been piloting the school of peace in Bicol. The first pilot project was established three years ago in San Isidro Elementary School in Castilla, Sorsogon.  The BCPED Secretariat is on the process of documenting the San Isidro project as a form of best practice in Education.  The BCPED has been the recipient of grants coming from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).  It has been conducting these series of projects under the banner of the Strengthening Peace Education in the Region of Bicol (Spear-Bicol) and it has been an ongoing engagement with the peace constituencies in Bicol.

The orientation seminar included a series of workshops.  Dr. Herbert B. Rosana facilitated a workshop on the topic of holistic understanding of peace and violence, while Dr. Dolores Laguilles of Bicol University introduced the topic on gender equality.  Late in the afternoon Dr. Rosemarie T. Frias discussed the topic on Human Rights.  The second day included a session on how to become an effective teacher.  The session was facilitated by Prof. Marcia P. Rico.  While the last section was a sharing of best practices.  Mr. Agney Taruc education supervisor II from Region XII, Mrs. Jemz Evangelio, School Head of Imamaling High School in North Cotabato and Mr. Teddy Janola of San Isidro Elementary School shared their experiences on the School of Peace.  There was a lively interaction among the participants as most expressed interest in the schools for peace project.  The seminar ended with a positive note where commitments were made.  On the part of the BCPED we will do our best to be able to facilitate the implementation of these projects so that the intent and spirit of EO 570 will be realized and that  strong constituencies in Bicol are established.

The Teachers who participated in the training were the following:

From Oro Site High School

1. Judy B. Marfil
2. Evelyn F. Arimado
3. Renato Racal
4. Cristina A. Balbin
5. Ma. V. Susana Calacdac
6. Eliza F. Cas
7. Jeremy A. Cruz - School Principal
8. Lea Marie M. Apin
9. A. Orlain
10. Jo-Ann Oliva
11. Elvie D. Bigtas
12. Maricel M. Naz
13. Evangeline Morallo

From Other Schools

1. Fernado A. Hirang II - Bangquerohan HS
2. Julius B. Espadero - Pag-Asa National HS
3. Melanie Dayto - Arimbay Elementary School
4. Agnes Lasin - Maslog HS
5. Sonny Jacob - Arimbay HS
6. Mark A. Valladolid - Cabangan HS
7. Cleve Laurence Velacruz - Ibalon CS
8. Jordette Audrey D. Patacsil-Balingbing
9. C. Nabo-Pagasa NHS

PEACE Department Joins Pilot School for Peace in WALK FOR PEACE

The San Isidro Elementary School in cooperation with the Local Government of Castilla, the 903rd Brigade Infantry of the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, the Parish of St. John the Baptist and the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development (BCPED).  The Students of the Department of Peace Studies of Bicol University joined in the walk for peace.  The walk for peace started at exactly 7:00 a.m. from the junction road to Castilla to San Isidro.  The children held placards expressing their advocacies for peace.  The pupils were joined by their parents, the local barangay officials, and other guests.  The activity was successfully facilitated by the principal of the School, Mr. Teddy Janola in cooperation with the teachers of San Isidro Elementary School. The Walk for Peace was capped with a program.  Fr. Benny Furo, the parish pastor gave the invocation, while the Barangay Chair in the person of Ms. Salome J. Janoras gave the welcome message.  Lt. Col. Lina of the 903rd Brigade Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army gave his impression, as well as the Hon. Olivia M. Bermillo municpal mayor, PCI Alfredo A Nierva, the Chief of Police, Danica J. Balonzo Pupil President and Dr. Herbert B. Rosana of the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development gave their messages of solidarity.  Indeed the activity was characterized by fine weather after several days of rain.  The walk for peace was indeed a fitting tribute to all peace workers and as a way to meaningfully close the month of Peace.  The program was capped with the signing of the Barangay Resolution declaring the San Isidro Elementary School as a School of Peace and that the barangay has pledge support for the same.

Young School Children Bearing Placards in Support of Peace

The Pupils, Parents, Teachers and Local Officials of the Barangay

Dr. Herbert B. Rosana together with the BAPS students from Bicol University

The Community Stakeholders Receiving Certificates of Appreciation

The Junior Students of the Bachelor of Arts in Peace Program of Bicol University

The Pupils and Teachers of San Isidro Elementary School