Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society.Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region VI paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Joselito Villaruz on July 30, 2024. The discussion tackled a possible collaboration on BJMP’s 3P’s (Pagbulig, Pagpabakod, Pag-Uswag) Project, aiming to enhance literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurial skills of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
The heat did not stop the West Visayas State University (WVSU) student ambassadors, or officially known as DagYoung Student Ambassadors (BOR Resolution No. 88-2022) from coming to The DagYoung Spirit Intensified: A Talk with an Ambassador, organized by the International and Local Linkages Office (ILLO) on April 5, 2024.
His Excellency Leo Tito L. Ausan, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary at Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Dhakha, Bangladesh, was the guest speaker to talk about what it takes to be representing the Philippines and the challenges in a foreign land, giving the students an overview of a career in foreign service.
An alumnus of the WVSU Integrated Laboratory School (ILS), Ambassador Ausan gave out copies of his book, Sleepless in Dhaka, to student attendees who, randomly, had a star under their seat. Ambassador Ausan is a practicing lawyer-turned- career diplomat. H.E. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos nominated him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (AEP) to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Republic of Maldives on 01 September 2022.
The WVSU officials who graced the event were University President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz; VP for Research, Extension, and Innovation Dr. Greta Gabinete; Director of International and Local Linkages Office Prof. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka; and Dean of Students Dr. Ma. Pilar Charmaine Malata.
The DagYoung Spirit Intensified: A Talk with an Ambassador is only Part 1 of 3 of the Multiculturalism Training-Workshop that aims to boost morale of the WVSU internationalization frontliners, and will also tteach them the basics , including multicultural etiquettes and group dynamics, with promotion of sustainable development goals 4- Quality Education for All,10—Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and 17-Partnerships for Goals, and the Ambisyon Natin 2040 of the National Economic and Development Authority.
West Visayas State University (WVSU), through Dr. Villaruz, signed a usufruct agreement with Brgy. Jayobo, Lambunao, today, April 3, 2024, at the Lambunao Government Center. This agreement will allow them to utilize WVSU-CAF land for the construction of a gymnasium and multi-purpose hall. Dr. Villaruz emphasized that this project aligns with the university’s core function of extension, benefiting the community at large.
Dr. Rejie F. Palmos, a 2015 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Teacher, was recently honored with the Award for Continuing Excellence & Service (ACES) by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. He presented and shared his notable award to WVSU President Joselito Villaruz on March 7, 2024 during a courtesy call.
The actual award ceremony took place on February 29, 2024, in Taguig City. Dr. Palmos’ unwavering commitment to peace education and excellence has had a profound and lasting impact in Western Visayas.
The ACES recognition program by Metrobank Foundation acknowledges exceptional individuals who have previously received awards from various Metrobank programs. These awardees continue to make significant contributions in their respective fields and communities.
Dr. Palmos, in addition to his teaching excellence, has dedicated himself to guidance and counseling, advocating for peace education, and raising awareness about mental health.
Currently, he serves as the Coordinator of the University Center for Peace Education and the Department of Guidance and Values Formation Chairperson at WVSU-College of Education.
The West Visayas State University (WVSU) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the P800-million twin four-story College of Law (COL) building, each valued at P400 million, near the Alumni Center, January 25.
WVSU President Joselito Villaruz said that the funding for these structures will be derived from the 2024 General Appropriations Act. “For the past years, we have had no capital outlay insertion in the budget… And for the first time, she (the First Lady) facilitated the insertion of P400 million for the COL building with the help of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” said Villaruz.“And just this year for the 2024 budget we have another 400 million insertion for the package 2 of the building. So, there will be two buildings that will be built for the COL,” he added.
The planned four-level structure that is set to increase the intake of students has a total floor area of 3,456 square meters with each floor spanning 864 square meters. Commission on Higher Education Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III revealed that the Legal Education Board (LEB) is mandating law schools to establish a dedicated building, as part of new regulations.“The WVSU-COL building will do two things. [First], it will start complying with the LEB and [second], it will allow the law school to increase its student population,” said de Vera III.
Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region VI disclosed the key features of the upcoming establishment, which will include fully air-conditioned classrooms.The new building is also set to house an auditorium, a prayer room, designated faculty areas, a conference space, a library, the Journal for Law Advocacy Office, a legal clinic, an arbitration room, and two moot courts.The facade of the said building will integrate elements from the Quezon Hall, emphasizing its historical significance.
First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos served as the guest of honor for the event. She is currently a faculty of the COL and is teaching second-year Juris Doctor students. Among the other key officials of the government present at the ceremony were Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Cong. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda, Mayor Jerry Treñas, Uswag Ilonggo Rep. Jojo Ang, WVSU administration officials, and higher figures from the Department of Public Works and Highways.WVSU is the only state university in Western Visayas that offers a Juris Doctor program. Story by Timothy James SampangPhotos by Franz Chrysler Marie Delgado and Rogie Ken Villarin
The West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Law’s Vox Populi Debate Team emerged as the champion of the “IP Circle League: The Debate Finals Round” held on November 13, 2023, at the Intellectual Property Office in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Faith Montalban, Hammil Rainard Distor, and Lawrence Frankie Locsin, along with their coach Atty. Federic Loise S. Regencia, represented the university against the debate team from Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc., School of Law in Davao City.
The College of Law Dean, Pauline Grace B. Alfuente, and Associate Dean Ian Thomas M. Besana were also present at the venue to show their support for the team.
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Congratulations!
The West Visayas State University- Journal for Law Advocacy (WVSU-JLA) Selection and Executive Committee is pleased to announce the Juris Doctor (JD) Students that will constitute the WVSU-JLA Board of Editors and Contribution Editors Year 2 following a competitive commentary writing marathon held on March 5.
WVSU-JLA is envisioned as a student-run publication of highly prestigious, credible and intellectual articles, commentaries and analyses about the law, both in the Philippines and the international arena.
The journal’s thrust is aligned to the core mission of the WVSU Center for Law Advocacy which is the legal aid arm of the College of Law pursuant to the Rule 138-A of the Revised Student Practice Rule of the Supreme Court.
The concept is plain and simple—a student-run publication, providing a window of opportunities for law students wanting to take their legal writing, analysis, and research skills to new heights; providing avenues for “a robust marketplace of ideas”, empowering the students to responsibly exercise their freedom of expression and academic freedom.
The undertaking of the JLA is to edify the legal research proficiency of JD students to train and support them in their advocacy for solving legal concerns. Capacity-building initiatives have been undergone by the Editorial Board to develop competencies and skills to make them more effective writers about the law and its development in the country. It will definitely encourage the JD students to take action through critical thinking, provide legal advice and counseling and have the potential to solve legal matters and issues.WVSU-JLA shall act as a catalyst for the development of legal scholarship in the Western Visayas through the publication of primarily student-authored articles involving the application of legal principles and doctrines, concepts and procedures in relation to relevant issues in the Philippines and abroad.
Seven students from the College of Communication were selected to be among the 70 Filipino youth leaders for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity’s (OPAPRU) annual MasterPEACE project. Now in its sixth year with the theme “MasterPEACE VI: Youth as Vanguards of Society against Violent Extremism”.
They are Gene Joy Gabasa, Angela Acanto, and Karylle Grace Tuya of BAJ, Jan Andrew Gelera, Karl Martin Lopez, Aleta Marie Zeller, and Ivan Jay Salgado of BSDC.
Best of luck students and congratulations!
The West Visayas State University hosted the 2nd Futures Thinking Seminar-Workshop last February 17, 2023, at the Diversion 21 Hotel,Iloilo City.
Aklan State University, Capiz State University, Carlos Hilado Memorial State University, Central Philippines State University, Guimaras State University, Iloilo Science and Technology University, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, Northern Iloilo State University, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, University of Antique and West Visayas State University participated in the high-level workshop represented by their university presidents and vice presidents.
WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz welcomed the participants in his address, while Dr. Raul F. Muyong gave a message afterward. Mr. Emmanuel De Guia, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Networking PhilsFutures, provided an overview of the activity and expected output, together with Ms. Jalaine Joyce Malabanan, PhilFutures Chief.
The seminar-workshop aims to produce capstone projects on each institution’s research niche anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals and regional development priorities. Participating HEIs in the region came together to identify an emerging Futures Agenda, mainly geared towards institutional capstone projects.
Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz presented WVSU’s capstone project entitled “Mental Wellness for Resilient Filipinos,” a research-based initiative to institutionalize solutions to mental wellness in the region. The presentation identified the problem, competitive landscape, solutions, framework, work plan, timeline, and key metrics.
Participants came up with recommendations to sustain the Futures Agenda and ensure the implementation of their action plan. Building a “Futures Thinking culture” through the facilitation of seminars among faculty, research enthusiasts, and students; and enhancement of middle managers’ skills in risk management and governance are among the recommended action points agreed upon by the participants.
UNDERLINING the value of languages and their diversity in the Philippines’s education system, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes, emphasized the teaching of children in their native tongue because this will guarantee their right to education without discrimination.
He emphasized that Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) should be in the long term because quality education in the mother languages take time and investment and not only three years.
De Varennes’s statement made on Feb 22, 2023 at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) comes on the heels of the House of Representatives approving the suspension of the Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) on Feb. 6, 2023.
Varennes, speaking in a conference with officials of WVSU and SILAK Media, the official college publication of the WVSU College of Education — urged that quality education in the mother languages requires more time to give the children the best results possible in exercising their language rights within the classroom.
“There should be at least a 10-year program or 20-year program to develop the materials to make sure that you start and you progressively build stronger and stronger programs,” he said, on top of stressing the importance of committing to the MTB-MLE.
He called upon education and government authorities to “take this program seriously” by investing in training, resources, and materials for teachers to effectively teach in mother languages.
“You have to look at this long-term as an investment, which will take time before you see really good results,” he said, adding that the lack of materials shouldn’t be a reason for suspending the MTB-MLE program.
Prior to the conference, Varennes spoke from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to about 1,500 students and faculty of the said university in a Symposium on Language Rights and Education in observance of the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) along with multilingual education and MTB-MLE advocate, Firth McEachern, who raised awareness on human rights through language rights in education.
“You all have the right to learn and use your language in the classroom at any level. So don’t let other people tell you, ‘No, hindi pwedeng gumamit ng Hiligaynon kasi we have to be English-speaking’ — that is against your rights,” said McEachern, a Canadian national who can fluently speak Philippine languages including Filipino and Hiligaynon.
Photos by Pretty Pearl Kate Serilo, Shane Salao, and Mark Lawrence Articuna