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BukSU Champions Peace Education in Mindanao Week of Peace 2024

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) marked the Mindanao Week of Peace 2024 with a series of activities on December 4, including a peace forum, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with key stakeholders, and the inauguration of the Peace Education Resource Nook (PERN).

The Mindanao Week of Peace, established through Proclamation No. 127 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001, is observed annually from the last Thursday of November to the first Wednesday of December. It highlights the aspirations of Mindanaoans for peace, unity, and harmony regardless of social status, religion, or culture.

BukSU, through its Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies, has been at the forefront of promoting peace in Mindanao through education.

“Education is a very potent and vital force that will help people become more open to one another, become more collaborative, and be helpful to other sectors, being able to understand the conflict of the different people,” said Kalandang Taw Center Peace Studies head Mr. Walter I. Balane.

Themed “Forging the Future of Peace: A Celebration of Excellence and Collaboration,” the event gathered representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Malaybalay City LGU, and other stakeholders.

OPAPRU Executive Secretary Andres S. Aguinaldo, Jr. emphasized the importance of peace education in peace-building, highlighting its role in fostering a culture of understanding and addressing the root causes of conflict.

“Peace education can serve as a catalyst in transforming individuals into agents of peace and positive change,” he said.

The forum featured updates on OPAPRU’s peace process initiatives and DILG’s Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development program. It also included a presentation of a proposed revision of the peace education curriculum in select General Education courses for Northern Mindanao, alongside research presentations by peace advocates.

Another highlight was the signing of an MOU between BukSU and OPAPRU, aiming to formalize collaborative efforts in peacebuilding and education. One key initiative under this partnership is the establishment of the Peace Education Resource Nook (PERN) at BukSU’s library.

PERN, which offers books and materials on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and social justice, seeks to serve as a hub for fostering understanding and harmony within the university and the larger community.

“We are committed to utilizing this resource to promote peace education and foster a culture of understadning and harmony within our campus community and beyond,” said BukSU’s Supevisor of Libraries, Ms. Chandrani Yves E. Estrada.

The event was jointly organized by BukSU’s Kalandang Taw Center for Peace Studies and Center for Local Governance in partnership with OPAPRU, and with the cooperation of the BukSU General Education Courses Department, Peace Educators Council, and the Council of Peace Educators in Northern Mindanao.

(BukSU-Information Unit)

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