15/09/2026
๐๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ข๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ โฎ๏ธ
โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ, ๐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ, ๐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ.โ
In his Welcome Address, Atty. Ryan Estevez, UCN President, emphasized that peace is not simply the eradication of violence, but the creation of a culture of peaceโwhere understanding prevails over hatred, unity over division, and the wisdom to listen over the impulse to judge.
This message set the tone for the gathering of UCN and student organizations last September 14, 2026 in Camarines Norte for the launching of ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐, an initiative of CHED Regional Office V (CHED RO V) that seeks to establish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as Zones of Peace.
This initiative recognizes that learning flourishes where students feel safe and is anchored on five interconnected dimensions: Peace and Protection, Empowerment and Engagement, Arts and Culture, Creativity and Community, and Environment and Education.
The discussions emphasized that peace is a shared responsibility. A true Zone of Peace transforms violence into dialogue, conflict into understanding, and silence into meaningful expressionโcreating a safe environment where learners can ask questions, express diverse perspectives, think critically, and participate through respectful dialogue.
"๐๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฃ๐ข๐ต๐ข๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ณ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ข๐บ ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฎ๐ข๐ฎ๐ข๐บ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ข๐บ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐จ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฌ๐ข๐ด."
The CCMS Organizations extend their sincere appreciation to the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office V (CHED RO V), in partnership with the Bicol Council of Deans/Directors of Student Affairs and Services (BCODDSAS) and the University of Camarines Norte (UCN), for advancing this meaningful initiative and fostering a culture of peace in higher education.
