PEACE Department Celebrated Month of Peace

The entire motorcade was led by the officers of the Junior Peace Advocates.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACE STUDIES of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy of Bicol University, celebrated the month of Peace with series of activities.  On September 6, 2010 the Department as spearheaded by the Junior Peace Advocates held a motorcade within the vicinity of Legazpi City and the Municipality of Daraga, Albay.  The objective of the motorcade was to make the people of Legazpi aware that September is the national peace consciousness month.  

The entire experience was enjoyable for all the students of the Department.  The activity was supported by the student body and everyone was excited to join.  wearing the departmental t-shirts the students proudly shouted slogans of peace.  They carried with then white and blue balloons, the traditional colors for peace.  After the motorcade many students gave us the feed back that the entire activity was a resounding success. 

Aside from the motorcade the Junior Peace Advocates extended the awareness campaign through their adopted baragay (village) of Anislag.  They sponsored at least 20 pre-school children and toddlers.  The treated the youngsters and their mothers to a feast of story-telling, party and games.  The peace themes of this activity were aimed at highlighting the importance of peace.

Story Telling Time

The children were treated to party and games.

Dr. Herbert Rosana welcoming the children.

The sponsored children and their parents posed with the Department Chair and the officers of the Junior Peace Advocates for a photo-ops. 

The officers of the Junior Peace Advocates with the students of the Department bid farewell to their sponsored children.

The whole celebration of the Month of September as the month of peace was capped with the 9TH REGIONAL PEACE FORUM.  The theme for this year's forum centered on peace, development and good governance.  The symposium was held at the South Ocean Villa Restaurant in down town Legazpi City.  September 27, 2010, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

There was also the Cultural Nights sponsored by the Juniors.  It was the gala night.  RSVP.  The students found this as good opportunity to showcase their talents in artistic productions.

What Leadership and Service Means

This morning as I attended the induction program of the Student Council of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, I was given the surprise task of pitching in for the dean of student services to deliver a message who cannot be present due to some important business .  Being the adviser of the student council I was duty-bound to obey.  I was thinking what appropriate message could I give these young people.  I was reminded of the parable in gospels and I thought that these would be a good sounding board for a message.  After the customary greetings and acknowledgement I proceeded with briefly narrating the three episodes in the gospel: (1) the parable of the workmen who were invited by the master to work in his vineyard.  The first group acceded to the invitation but the other refuse.  But the one who refused later on changed his mind and proceeded to work, while the those who said yes neglected to fulfill their promise.  Who would receive the reward then?  (2) The parable of the workmen who were invited at different times of the day yet received the same wages after the end of the day. and (3) the parable of the King who prepared a feast and invited important people and yet failed to come.  Instead invited the people on the street.  But was enraged to find one who attended but was not appropriately dressed.

Drawing some lessons on the parable SERVICE is (1) the servant leader is one who acts on good intentions not the one who makes a promise and breaks the promise. (2) servant leadership does not count the time and works on tasks with dedication. and (3) as Leaders it is important that the one who promises to lead must have the necessary preparations.

I think that with the short pep talk I was able to deliver a message of inspiration.

Obituary

JEAN N. LLORIN
Thanks po Madam Jean for everything you have done for our Peace Studies Program in Bicol University.  The short time that we have known you have been meaningful to us.  Have we known you long before we could have involved you with our Peace Studies Program.  I have not seen anyone as passionate and dedicated for the cause of Peace than Madam Jean Llorin.  She was humble and self effacing but very engaging in our workshops and trainings.  We will miss you po. and We know that you are blessed where you are now.  See you at the break of dawn in Eternal Life.  May you rest in peace.  To the family and loved ones of Madam Llorin we extend our condolences and we share your grief and sense of loss.  Let the peace of our Lord be your consolation in at this time.  - From Dr. Herbert Rosana, the Faculty Members, the staff and the Students of the DEPARTMENT OF PEACE STUDIES, Bicol University, Legazpi City.

Peace Studies Summer Field Research 2010 Commences

Summer Field Research Class 2010.  Instructor:  Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, Associate Professor of Peace Studies

The Junior class went for their field research practicum on May 30, 2010 up to July 4, 2010.  The theme of this summer's field research was centered on Building Secured Communities.  The analytical framework for this project is based on the concepts developed by UNDP on Human Security.  The venue for their field practicum were three villages or barangays from Legazpi City, namely, Bangquerohan, Lamba and Gogon.  They are expected to come up with a research paper.  The design of the study is qualitative.  

2010 Summer Institute in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights: Internal Conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region

The 2010 Summer Institute in International Law and Human Rights with the theme "Internal Conflicts in the Asia Pacific Region" was successfully concluded in Bali and Aceh, Indonesia on May 22, 2010.  The 2010 Summer Institute started last May 10, 2010.  The Academic portion of the institute was held at Bali and the field trip in Aceh, Indonesia.  

The Faculty, staff and Participants in the 2010 Summer Institute in IHL and Human Rights, Bali and Aceh, Indonesia

The East-West Center Brochure describe the purpose of the program as: "This two-week workshop is designed for participants working across a broad range of fields and disciplines related to IHL and human rights. The workshop is best suited to people working within the Asia Pacific region or with an Asia Pacific focus. Participants from Southeast Asia are strongly encouraged to apply. Lawyers, academics, journalists, non-governmental organization workers, investigators, monitors, government agency workers, as well advanced (graduate level) law students from across Asia and internationally will find the workshop relevant to their work." 

Rebacca Minty (Left) and Vener Macaspac (Right) both Rotary Peace Fellows from UC Berkeley.

The two-week training was held at the Patra-Bali, in Tuban District of Denpasar, the capital of Bali.  The participants came from various places in the Asia-Pacific region and from various backgrounds consisting of lawyers, academics, journalists and NGOs.  Various themes were discussed such as Identifying the  root causes of conflict, Characterizing the conflict in Mindanao and Southern Thailand, human rights concerns during internal conflicts, effective human rights reporting, the legal characterization of conflict, humanitarian responses during conflict, legal tools for responding to internal conflicts, and many others.  The teaching approach include lecture-inputs, assigned readings, group discussions and large group discussion.  The time was well managed.  At the same time the giving of assigned reading in advance of the workshop provided the participants with good inputs that prepared them for the discussions.  The variety of backgrounds enrich the discussions.  Various insights were brought out and various insterpretation made it easy to contextualize the issues surrounding IHL and Human Rights in relation to the internal conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The faculty of the institute provided much needed inputs and direction.  The faculty consisted of professionals from various discipline.  Indeed this institute and its focus has became an opportunity for the participants to fully understand, gain insight on the situation of the internal conflicts in the Asia-Pacific Region.  After the institute the participants will go back to their home countries and their work, but the learnings they obtained from the institute will help improve the human rights situation in their countries.  

Yusuf Kalla, former Indonesian Vice-President, played an important role in the Aceh Peace Process  and the Peace Process in Sulawesi was a resource speaker and an honored guest

The Filipino Participants together with Ms. Carolyn Eguchi (Center) of the East-West Center

Graduation Day

 I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever. - Psalm 145:1

After four years the graduates of Batch 2010 celebrated their graduation with a thanksgiving to Almighty God.  Human achievement will only find its real meaning in the context of God's plan.

Block A - B.A. in Peace Studies

Our student Jose Romulo Federico has created this picture.

The 3rd Business Meeting of the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development

The BCPED held its 3rd business meeting on January 26, 2010 at the Universidad de Santa Isabel in Elias Angeles St., Naga City.  The meeting was presided by Dr. Orfelina Tuy, the assistant regional director of DEPED for Region V.  Various topics were discussed such as the updates on the school for peace project and the capability building training for trainers.  Plans were discussed.

The Many Faces of Mayon Volcano

Let me share with you some photos I have of Mayon Volcano.  I took these pictures at different times.

Mayon as seen from the Rice Fields in Padang, Legazpi City

I pulled over in the Highway in Basud Santo Domingo, Albay to get this late evening vies of the Mayon with the southern star in view

Mayon with the silvery afternoon sky in the background.  I took this photo in Basud, Santo Domingo, Albay

Mt. Mayon appears so close.  I took this picture in Bogtong Road, Legazpi City beside the Yawa River.

Mt. Mayon as seen from San Miguel Island in Tabaco City

Another view of Mayon from the  Island of San Miguel.  Notice the hills near the mount.  These hills shields the small town of Malilipot from potential danger from volcanic eruption.

43rd World Day of Peace

The Roman Catholic Church today observes the 43rd World Day of Peace since Pope Paul VI of blessed memory declared the World Day of Peace.  Here is an excerpt form his declaration.

"A warning must be kept in mind. Peace cannot be based on a false rhetoric of words which are welcomed because they answer to the deep, genuine aspirations of humanity, but which can also serve, and unfortunately have sometimes served, to hide the lack of true spirit and of real intentions   for peace, if not indeed to mask sentiments and actions of oppression and party interests. Nor can one rightly speak of peace where no recognition or respect is given to its solid foundations: namely, sincerity, justice and love in the relations between states, and, within the limits of each nation, in the relations of citizens with each other and with their rulers; freedom of individuals and of peoples, in all its expressions, civic, cultural, moral, and religious; otherwise, it is not peace which will exist - even if, perchance, oppression is able to create the external appearance of order and legality - but an unceasing and insuppressible growth of revolt and war." [Excerpt/quote]  Pope Paul VI in 1968, the Declaration can be read from the Holy See's Website