UPCOMING EVENTS: Para Legal Training For Human Rights Workers

The Andurog kan Derechos will hold a paralegal training for Human Rights workers on November 16-18, 2010 at Puerto Vista Santo Domingo, Albay.  Said training is part of the capacity building component for service providers of Andurog kan Derechos. It is aimed at developing the knowledge and practical skills in paralegal work of community-based human rights workers in relation to Extralegal Killings, Enforced Disappearances and other related violence. At the end of the training, it is expected from the participants to make use and impart their knowledge and skills at the parish/community level.

UPCOMING EVENT: Bicol Peace Research Agenda Setting

The Scenic Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City.  From Casablanca Hotel one has a Perfect View 

of this Beautiful and impressive natural landmark

The BICOL CONSORTIUM FOR PEACE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT (BCPED) in cooperation with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and UNDP will hold the Peace Research Agenda Setting.  The objective of this activity is to identify key areas for research involving peace education and development.  This will be participated by a group of 25 participants from the members of the BCPED and other organizations.  Facilitators and resource persons will come from various agencies of the government.  This will be held at Casablanca Hotel, Legazpi City, November 9-10, 2010.

PEACE DEPARTMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH "ANDUROG KAN DERECHOS"

The Department of Peace Studies as represented by Dr. Herbert Rosana and together with the students attendedthe first anniversary of the "Andurog kan Derechos".  The Andurog is a Multi-Response Team on Extra-Legal Killing.  This one intervention of which the Department has committed itself.

The Celebration was capped with a Holy Mass

Dr. Herbert Rosana with the 3rd Year Peace Studies Majors

The Program

PART I

8:00 – 9:00 AM           ------     Radio Guesting

(DWBS Radio Veritas- Boses kan Masses)

Ø  Speakers: Fr. Ramoncito Segubiense (SAC), Atty. Hanil Almoguera (CHR), Pros. Ma. Teresa Mahiwo (OPP), representative from Ateneo Human Rights Center

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PART II

(*To be attended by the member-institutions, community representatives, media, academe)

9:00 – 11:00                ------     Opening Program

Ø  Preliminaries

·         Opening Prayer

·         National Anthem

·         Opening and Welcome Remarks

·         Acknowledgment of Participants

Ø  Talk: Human Rights Situationnaire

               (The Extra Legal Killing and Enforced

               Disappearances Phenomenon) – Atty. Patricia Cervantes

          Open Forum

       Talk: The Andurog kan Derechos

          Open Forum

       Talk: “Spirituality of Human Rights” - Fr. Rex Paul Arjona

11:00 – 12:00 NN       ------     Eucharistic Celebration

12:00 – 1:00 PM         ------     L U N C H

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PART III

(*To be attended by Heads of member-institutions and/or their official representative)

 1:00 PM                     ------     Business meeting

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.