Select students from the different campuses of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) participated in a 3-day Seminar and Workshop titled “24th Civitas Asia National Student Conference (civAsia)” held at the University of Asia & the Pacific (UAP), September 20–22. The conference was anchored in the theme “Hilom: Empowering the Youth in Shaping a Future of Peace.” 

Delegates from the North La Union Campus (NLUC) were James Anthony T. Ocasion and Vladys Claire C. Cariaso; from the Mid La Union Campus (MLUC) was Yvan Jefferson C. Borja, and from the Open University System (OUS) was Anderson Lance A. Asuncion. 

They are guided by the Student Affairs and Services (SAS) heads of the different campuses, namely: Prof. Dodilyn D. Bermudez (MLUC), Prof. Meljo Z. Apilado (OUS), and Prof. Joel C. Agullo (NLUC), along with the University SAS Director, Dr. Shalimar L. Navalta.

UAP invited keynote speakers from different organizations and institutions to share their expertise on specific topics: Dr. Alfredo Lorenzo Sablay Jr. for “Introduction to SDGs and the Peace Pillar”; Dr. Loreta Navarro-Castro for “Recognizing the Face of Peace in the 21st Century”; Atty. Ray Paolo Santiago for “The Relevance of Inclusive Justice in Achieving Sustainability”; and Mr. Gustavo Gonzalez for “Forging Strong Institutions through Collaborative and Transformational Leadership”.

The participants worked on an action plan as their output. The plan was in line with the main focus of this year’s conference, UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16, a universal goal that aims to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. (By Yvan Jefferson Borja, MLUC Voice)