Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan hosted a series of events co-organized with the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association-Philippines Chapter. The events were conducted at the Xavier University main campus last February 16, 2010.
The day’s events kicked off with the opening of the “Fighting Climate Change” exhibit mounted by the EU Delegation and the Philippine Center for Photojournalism. The exhibit was opened by Ambassador Alistair Macdonald, Head of the EU Delegation; Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula and XU President, Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ. The venue of the exhibit was the STC Lobby and it stayed at XU until February 19.
The exhibit opening was immediately followed by the forum “Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and EU Initiatives” at the XU Little Theater. Ambassador Alistair Macdonald and Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula gave their respective messages at the onset of the program. The forum featured a line up of presenters which included: XU President Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ, who discussed climate risk reduction focusing on adaptation approaches; EU representative Mr.
Matthieu Penot, who presented EU’s climate change adaptation programmes in the Philippines; and EU Philippine partner Ms. Mayet Alcid, who expounded on disaster risk reduction. An open forum followed the talks, giving the government personnel, journalists, and individuals who participated in the event a chance to raise their concerns to the speakers.
In the afternoon, the First Erasmus Mundus Leadership Forum in the Philippines and in Mindanao was held. It was divided into two parts.
The forum on “Advancing Citizen’s Rights via Political Education” was the topic of the first part. It featured the presentations of Dr. Ma. Elizabeth Soriano (XU Governance and Leadership Institute) who talked about youth voters’ education; Mr. Eddie Cuaresma (National Youth Commission) who discussed the role of the youth in nation building; and Victoria Melissa Pulido (XU student leader) who shared her insights on democratic citizenship. The primary aim of the forum is to deepen the understanding on the role of the youth in this year’s national elections.
The second part was the presentation of the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programme. It highlighted the Erasmus Mundus journey of Shiella C. Balbutin, a CoMundus scholar (2005-2007) and faculty member of the XU Development Communication Department. She shared her personal account of her EM experience and provided tips on how to avail the scholarship.
Majority of the audience were from XU and the rest were students and faculty members from the Central Mindanao University, Mindanao State University-Naawan, Mindanao University of Science and Technology, Pilgrim Christian College, and Capitol University.
The afternoon activity was jointly organized by the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association-Philippines Chapter. (Special thanks to Hyacinth J. Tagupa, XU Student Journalist)
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Ambassador Alistair Macdonald gives his message during the climate change forum
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Ambassador Macdonald, Fr. Villarin and Mayor Jaraula at the exhibit opening
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XU President Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ, presents his talk on “Climate Risk Reduction”
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Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula gives his message to forum participants
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Mr. Matthieu Penot of the EU Delegation
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Ms. Mayet Alcid shares her organization’s disaster risk reduction projects
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Members of the audience listen intently to the speakers
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Members of the audience listen intently to the speakers
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Dr. Ma. Elizabeth Soriano (XU-GLI) talks about youth voter’s education
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Mr. Eddie Cuaresma of the National Youth Commission
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Ms. Victoria Melissa Pulido (XU Student Leader)
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EM scholar, Shiella C. Balbutin shares her EM journey
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