National Reading Month Celebrated at the Pilot School of Peace in San Isidro

November was declared by the Department of Education as National Reading Month.  In consonance with this celebration the San Isidro Elementary School held a reading program for their pupils by inviting prominent citizens of the community to read a story to children.  The DepED launched the "Every Child a Reader" program or ECARP.  The objectives of this program are the following:  promote reading and literacy among the pupils and students; (2) motivate our youth to learn from the lives and works of imminent Filipinos; (3) uphold one's heritage and values; and (4) making reading a shared physical experience, especially among the youth, thereby increasing it's relevance a midst the growing reliance on the internet and inclination to on-online activities. So in this regard the San Isidro Elementary School though its principal Mr. Teddy C. Janola and their teachers organized a "read-a-long" program on November 25, 2011.

Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, interacting with the Grade IV-A Pupils

Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, Director of the Secretariat of the BCPED and Department Chairman of the Peace Studies Program of Bicol University was invited to read a story to Grade IV pupils in San Isidro.  Together with the students of the Peace Studies Department and their organization, the Junior Peace Advocates (JPA) went to San Isidro Elementary School upon the invitation of the Principal.  The students were delighted to have this opportunity to visit once again the school of peace and to be involved in a worthy cause.  This is also an opportunity for them to get expose to community work. 

The Children listened to the story.  The JPA Officers acted as elder brothers and sisters.

 

Dr. Rosana was tasked to read to the Grade IV-A students.  He read to them the story of how the mango tree came to be.  The story is a contemporary legend of how the mango came to be.  It was a story written by Rene O. Villanueva.  The story is about a family whose mother died early.  The father was left behind to care for their three sons.  Because of excessive grief the father failed in his duty to care for the children.  Eventually the two elderly sons decided to claim their share of the inheritance.  The eldest took the vast land holdings of the family, while the second son took the house.  Jose, the youngest of the three was left with nothing so he decided to move to a small hut with his father and he decided that it was his duty to care for his father.  As the condition of the father grew worse and worse day by day he decided to leave Jose his share.  He gave Jose a heart-shaped seed and he said that it symbolized the love the mother and father had for them.  He instructed Jose to plant it and make it grow once he is dead.  Finally when the father died Jose planted the seed and it grew to become a big fruit bearing tree.  It bore a heart shape yellow fruit.  It's taste was sweet and finally he decided to sell it and then plant some more until he grew to become a wealthy person.  His elder brothers lost all theior inheritance because of neglect and incompetence.  But in his generosity he decided to buy back the lands and house they lost and let his brothers stay there.  And they lived happily ever after. 

The Legend of the Mango revealed moral lessons.  It brought out the filial piety of the Filipino.  That we should honor and respect our parents and elders.  Second the value of generosity and magnanimity.  Like Jose we need to be forgiving and sow the seeds of love.  It also draw the ugly side of selfishness and pride and greed.  At the same time it also encourages one to be hard working and to be patient.  The pupils enjoyed the interaction and to cap the story each children were rewarded with a piece of Mango and some candies.

The pupils participating in the question and answer portion

The Story Telling Session

The members of the JPA served as "Ates" and "Kuyas"

The JPA members posed with the principal of San Isidro together with the members of the AFP

Dr. Rosana giving out a mango fruit.  Part of the motivation process in the story telling session.

One of the Ates serving the pupils with pieces of the Mango Fruit

Dr. Rosana with the members and officers of the JPA and with Ms. Gina Oropesa , an Instructor in the Department

Dr. Rosana being interviewed by LtC Lelina for their Radio Program in Sorsogon

Mr. Teddy Janola, the principal, Dr. Rosana and LtC Lelina of the 903 Brigade Stationed in Castilla, Sorsogon

Re-Dedication of the Newly Refurbished Arcilla Hall

On October 3, 2011 the Dr. Ricardo Arcilla Hall was dedicated to honor the memory of Dr. Ricardo Arcilla the first president of Bicol University.  Engineer Dante Arcilla the only son of the late university president was present to personally represent the family.  Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, president of Bicol University, together with officials and faculty members were present for the event.

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.

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

Hail to the A.B. Peace Studies Batch 2011, Bicol University

The Proud Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Peace Studies Program

The Undergraduate Students in their Blue Togas

BAPS Batch 2011

BAPS Batch 2011

BAPS Students and the JPA Celebrated Peace Day February 11, 2011

The Department of Peace Studies celebrated PEACE Day 2011 on February 11 with the theme: "Attaining Lasting Peace through Sharing and Camaraderie".  The theme was appropriately chosen by the officers of the Junior Peace Advocates (JPA) to highlight the importance of getting along smoothly and to emphasize the value of friendship and goodwill as basis for building peace.  The Department believes in the holistic approach towards human development.  The activity was held at Minas Resort at the foot of the Majestic Mt. Mayon Volcano.

"Andurog kan Derechos": Tree Planting and Team Building Activities

On December 22, 2009, the Department of Peace Studies participated in a Tree Planting Activity and Team Building activity organized by the "Andurog kan Derechos" a local initiative group led by the Social Action Center - Diocese of Legazpi that provides protection for the victims of extra judical killings and the disaparecidos. The activity was organized with the objective of strengthening the relationship and bonding among the members of the group. The group decided to hold a tree planting activity at Misibis in Cagraray Island. Misibis is a tourist resort in Albay Province. Beside the resort the developers are creating an ecopark to highlight the importance of preserving our environment. Here are some of the pictures. This activity was particpated in by Church workers, the Police, the military and those in the academe.

Some members of the Andurog and their friends pose for a souvenir photo

Looks like we are in the Aegean Islands in Greece. But no, this is Misibis, in the Philippines

The Tree Planting Activity

The top soil was so sticky, it nearly ruined my running shoes.

A Taste of Tropical paradise at Misbis Resort

"overcome your fear of the heights" The eco-energy park is equipped with sports facilities that would enthrall sports minded people.

Its Almost Paradise. Service to the max with world class accommodations.

Christmas Outreach 2009

The College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Bicol University undertook an outreach activity to the village of Culliat in Daraga, Albay. The Faculty members, students and staff of the college join the elderly and the children in celebrating the joys of Christmas. The activiety was undertaken this December 18, 2009.

Some of the Faculty members and staff of the College

The Senior Citizens of Culliat

The Christmas Program at the Culliat Community Chapel

The Senior Citizens, Joined by the faculty members and staff of the college.