Caraga Center for Peace and Development - CCPD

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧: 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗘𝗔𝗧

𝘼𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨
“𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬.” (𝘑𝘯 𝟨:𝟧𝟦–𝟧𝟧)

Greetings of peace from Jesus, the Prince of Peace!
The Caraga Center for Peace and Development (CCPD) joyfully announces the celebration of 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙀𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙒𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮, August 19, 𝟤𝟢𝟤6, 𝙖𝙩 𝟣𝟣:𝟢𝟢 𝙖.𝙢., 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙡, 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙡𝙙 𝘾𝘼𝙎 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙎𝙐.

For Catholics, every Mass is not merely symbolic; they believe that they receive the literal Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. In the Eucharist, the saying “𝘞𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵” comes alive. As the faithful receive the Body and Blood of Christ, they hope to become what they eat. As St. Athanasius once said, “𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦.”

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀?

It happens by the power of the Word. Words spoken with authority do not merely describe - they command and create. When a police officer declares, “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵,” or when a referee calls, “𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘭,” their words take effect. These are only human words, yet they have real power. How much more powerful, then, are the words of God:
“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵,” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. (𝘎𝘦𝘯 𝟣:𝟥)
“𝘓𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵,” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦. (𝘑𝘯 𝟣𝟣:𝟦𝟥–𝟦𝟦)

Jesus entrusted this divine authority - the transforming power of words - to His apostles and their successors:
“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯.” (𝘔𝘵 𝟣𝟨:𝟣𝟪–𝟣𝟫)

The priests and bishops, as successors of the apostles, carry this same sacred authority. When the priest proclaims, “𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮… 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙,” the bread and wine are no longer mere symbols - they become the real Body and Blood of Christ.

Thus, when Jesus said, “𝘋𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦,” (Lk 22:19), the Greek word anamnesis means not only “𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨” but making present, a real encounter, not a distant recollection. In Scripture, to “𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳” or to “𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸” means intimate participation, as when Mary said she “𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯” (Lk 1:34), meaning she had no intimate union. So too, in the Eucharist, to “𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳” Christ is to enter into communion with Him who is truly present.

UPDATE (As of 11:56 AM, 17 August): REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

📢 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Missed the previous Human Rights 101 offering? Here's another opportunity to join us this August!

Ready to deepen your understanding of human rights and become an advocate for dignity, equality, and justice? Human Rights 101 provides a solid foundation on the basic concepts, principles, and legal frameworks that uphold and protect the rights of every person.

✨ 500 slots are available for this course!

🗓 Course Duration: August 24–27, 2026

Beginning August 24, 2026 (10:00 AM), enrolled participants will receive access to the complete lecture videos, learning modules, and other course resources through our online learning platform, allowing them to complete the course at their own pace.

📚 Upon completing the course requirements, participants will be invited to attend the Online Rationalization Session, where they can engage in discussions, clarify key concepts, and reflect on their learning.

💬 Online Rationalization Session
📅 August 28, 2026

🕐 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 via Google Meet
🎓 Participants who successfully complete the course requirements will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

🔗 Register here:
https://forms.gle/xecbxA2uJ43YiFki6

⏳ Registration closes on August 20, 2026, at 4:00 PM, or earlier once all 500 slots have been filled.

Join Ms. Gelle Kalayaan G. Amarillo, LPT, MSEd, your Class Adviser, as you begin your journey toward a deeper appreciation of human rights and the shared responsibility of promoting a culture of dignity, equality, and respect.

6.6M: A win for CCPD!

CCPD Center Chief secures a total of ₱6.6 Million from two research funding.
Dr. Vitalian Christophere L. Napone headed the proposal and will serve as the project leader.

₱5.0M is from DOST-PCIEERD on Research Ethics and AI, in partnership with interdisciplinary center chiefs.

₱1.6M is from DOST-NRCP, on Ethico-Philosophical focused project.

Hiraya minawari sa sabay sabay nating paglikha!

Words by Adamjo Mendez

Can technology truly be fair, or does efficiency sometimes come at the cost of humanity?

Congratulations to Dr. Vitalian Christophere L. Napone and his Ethics students on the publication of their research, "AI Recruiting Tools and the Unfairness Behind the Face of Efficiency."

Their study explores the ethical implications of using AI in hiring. It shows that while AI can make the hiring process faster, it can also introduce bias, reduce human judgment, and make it more difficult to determine who is accountable for hiring decisions. The research reminds us that technology should always be guided by fairness, transparency, and respect for every person.

Access the full publication here: https://po.piscomed.com/index.php/HRMS/article/view/5846/4086

May your work continue to inspire the responsible and ethical use of AI for the benefit of society. Congratulations once again!
Words by Adamjo G. Mendez

Dreams fueled by dedication always reach their destination.

Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Vitalian Christophere L. Napone on earning your Doctor of Philosophy (PhD in Philosophy) from Ateneo de Manila University on June 22, 2026.

May this milestone open even more opportunities for you to inspire others through your wisdom, leadership, and service.

Congratulations once again, Dr. Napone! Your CCPD and CHaSS family are incredibly proud of you.

Words by Adamjo G. Mendez

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬!

Congratulations to the awardees during the Research Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH) 2026.

Held on June 2, 2026, the gathering showcased the best of interdisciplinary research, bringing together innovative ideas and meaningful discoveries.

Kudos to all winners and participants for your hard work and dedication!

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: Ideas meet innovation at the Research Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH) 2026.

Researchers, faculty, and students come together at CSU HERO Learning Commons for a meaningful dialogue that inspires innovative solutions, and strengthens connections across diverse disciplines.

The Caraga State University – College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS), in partnership with the Caraga Center for Peace and Development (CCPD), will hold its annual Research Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH) on June 02, 2026, at the HERO Learning Commons and Kinaadman Hall. This year’s theme is “Intersections and Transformations: Social Sciences and Humanities Research for Inclusive and Resilient Futures.”

The event aims to provide CHaSS research students with an avenue to present their research outputs and engage in meaningful research discourse with both internal and external evaluators. It also highlights the college’s continuing commitment to strengthening and enriching its research culture.

To all participating CHaSS research students, please refer to the QR codes below for the submission guidelines and further information, or access the links provided below.

Guidelines and Templates: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iJEZoQRGfy3EOjGiIEOwyVmljuKSsQeK/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112653305241048252031&rtpof=true&sd=true

Submission Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZz8mdTWZoUHMSzb-0-X1KtMp25GOXKmDOWjBYSQDveZACuA/viewform?usp=preview

Big minds create meaningful change.

Congratulations to Vitalian Christophere L. Napone, PhD candidate and Center Chief of the Caraga Center for Peace and Development, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, for successfully defending his dissertation entitled “Positive Duty, Negative Duty, and the Third Duty in the Light of Paul Ricoeur’s Distinction of Ethics, Morality, and Practical Wisdom” on May 6, 2026, via Zoom.

This achievement marks a proud milestone in his Doctor of Philosophy in Ethics at Ateneo de Manila University.

Gratulationes tibi, Sir Napone!

Words by Adamjo G. Mendez

🎉 Congratulations to our CSU Psychology Department Faculty on their New Publication!

We proudly congratulate our colleagues from the Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), Caraga State University, for their recent publication:

“Spatial Ability Across Nations: Measurement Invariance of the Three-Dimensional Cubes Test in Filipino and Austrian Undergraduates”
Presented at the 1st International Online Conference on Human Intelligence (MDPI), March 25–26, 2026

👏 Special recognition: Anna Lyn A. Masing, Rustum A. Salvaña, and Ruth E. Sanchez

This study examined whether the Three-Dimensional Cubes Test (3DC) measures spatial ability fairly across Filipino and Austrian undergraduates using Item Response Theory and Rasch modeling to assess measurement invariance. The findings highlight the need for culturally and psychometrically sound assessments, emphasizing that cross-national score differences should be interpreted cautiously without established equivalence, and contribute to advancing fair global research practices while strengthening the presence of Filipino scholars in cross-cultural psychology.

🔗 Read the full paper here:
https://sciforum.net/paper/view/29874

📚 Citation:
Heller, J.; Masing, A.A.; Oberleiter, S.; Salvaña, R.A.; Sanchez, R.E.; Steininger, B.; Tecson, A.; Pietschnig, J. *Spatial ability across nations: Measurement invariance of the Three-Dimensional Cubes test in Filipino and Austrian undergraduates*, in Proceedings of the 1st International Online Conference on Human Intelligence, 25–26 March 2026, MDPI: Basel, Switzerland.

Once again, congratulations on this remarkable achievement! 👏