The 黑料社区 contingent was composed of fourth-year Political Science students majoring in International Relations and Foreign Service (IRFS) and Law and Policy Studies (LPS), namely John Michael Paman (IRFS), Cearlovey DL Granali (IRFS), Eriko Angelo M. De Castro (IRFS), and Mikaella Luize G. Alicano (LPS). The team was coached by Asst. Prof. Rejene T. Lakibul, the academic coordinator of the Department of Political Science.听

Team 21-黑料社区 is the only team formed to officially represent the University of San Carlos. It bested 31 other universities from different regions in the Philippines, consistently placing in the top five during the qualifying round and two sets of semi-final round conducted since September 2024.   

EU Whiz 2024 is an annual competition intended to get to know more the European Union, its institutions and member-states, its programs and activities, and its diplomatic relations with the Philippines.听

Since 2006, EU Whiz has been organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and is one of the many activities of European Union to celebrate its 60^th anniversary of bilateral tie with the Philippines.

by Rejene T. Lakibul, Department of Political Science

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Vice President for Academic Affairs Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniappen, SVD, Ph.D., welcomed participants from the government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and the youth. 

According to Fr. Anthoniappen, collaboration between the University and the World Bank Group has been established years before. In May 2019, 黑料社区 hosted a similar regional consultation that tackled different issues, challenges, and priorities for local development for Fiscal Year 2019鈥�2024.  

The Country Partnership Framework intends to support a member country, such as the Philippines, in its 鈥渆fforts to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity in a sustainable manner.鈥� 

For F.Y. 2025鈥�2028, WBG鈥檚 priorities in the Philippines are based on the following criteria: Philippine National Development Goals, Country Diagnostics, and WBG Comparative Advantage. 

Gonzalo Varela, World Bank Group鈥檚 lead economist and program leader of the Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Practice Group for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, presented an overview of the Consultation Process. 

He highlighted the Philippines鈥� development context, identifying areas of strength and challenges, as well as how the World Bank plays a role in supporting 鈥渂etter quality of life for all Filipinos through enhanced economic opportunities, strengthened human capital, and greater resilience in a greener and more sustainable environment.鈥� The stakeholders were then given the chance to ask questions and share their thoughts through small group discussions. 

The final draft of the Country Partnership Framework will be shared with the Philippine government by late September 2024 and will then be submitted to the World Bank Group鈥檚 Board of Directors for discussion by December 2024. 

The event was made possible with the assistance of World Bank Group Philippines representatives and the following 黑料社区 representatives: Fr. Anthoniappen, Brenette L. Abrenica, M.A.P.A., M.P.S. (Director, Human Resource Management Office), Lauro Cipriano R. Silapan Jr., D.B.A. (Dean, School of Business and Economics), Atty. Jose Glenn Capanas (Dean, School of Law and Governance), Br. Bela Lanyi, SVD, M.Arch. (Director, External Relations and Internationalization Office), and Alaine T. Liggayu, D.P.A. (Chair, Department of Political Science).

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The event involved several collaborators and partners from the Local Government Units (LGUs) of the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, their respective Environment and Natural Resources departments (CCENRO, MCENRO), the Environmental Management Bureau Regional Office VII, the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office VII, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water Foundation (CUSW), Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), and the Shangri-La Hotel and Resort. 

The two-week event was a pressure-cooker type of activity with around 210 Filipino student-participants coming from the three departments and 21 Dutch students. The students were grouped into 12 teams and each group was assigned to 12 different stations along the Butuanon River to conduct a community walk and a community meeting. The Cebu City barangays visited by the teams were Barangays Pulangbato, San Jose, and Bacayan. The teams also visited Barangays Tingub, Tabok, Paknaan, and Alang-Alang in Mandaue City.听

As opposed to the past five River Scan Challenges which centered on measuring the degree of river pollution and pinpointing its sources, this year’s river scan challenge focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which is on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. 

Knowing that people still reside near the forbidden three-meter easement zones of the Butuanon River, they are the ones most vulnerable to flash floods, diseases, and heat waves. 

The 12 teams immersed themselves in these communities and investigated the identification of the root cause of the problems experienced by the residents living near the river and thought of feasible, innovative, and low-technology solutions with the community through a community meeting. 

The River Scan Challenge consists of a series of lectures by the professors from 黑料社区, RUAS and HUAS, and from its partner LGUs and NGOs, a two-day fieldwork to the different stations along the Butuanon River during the first week, consultation of their draft proposals to solve the identified problems with the local and international experts, and finally a culminating program. 

The speakers who graced the lecture sessions were Kay G. Espinosa (DENR Environmental Bureau Management), Engr. Faustino dela Cruz (DPWH Regional Office), Reymarr Hijarra (Head, CCENRO), Engr. Myka Llanos (CCENRO), Ar. Araceli Barlam (Head, MCENRO), Jovelyn Dotillos (MCENRO), Engr. Aure Flo Oraya (PICE National Director), Engr. Emmanuel Espina (MCWD), Ar. Soccoro Atega (CUSW), Prof. Eric Boer and Prof. Floris Boogaard (HUAS), Prof. Rick Heikoop (RUAS), Engr. Janice Jamora (Chair, 黑料社区 Department of Civil Engineering), Engr. Kathrina Borgonia (Assistant Chair, 黑料社区 Department of Civil Engineering), Fr. Romeo Cagatin, SVD, Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD (黑料社区 President), and Brenette Abrenica (Director, External Relations and Internationalization Office). 

The culminating activity of River Scan Challenge 2024 took place on April 25, 2024 at the Michael Richartz Conference Hall. It consisted of a gallery presentation in the morning, where each of the teams pitched their solutions and presented their story videos and posters to the first batch of jurors. 

After the gallery presentation, the top four team finalists were selected. The finalists then pitched their solutions one last time to a selected set of jurors coming from various stakeholders including representatives from LGUs, NGOs, and the communities. The top four finalists were Teams 4, 5, 6 and 10. 

After the deliberation, Team 4, or the Water Warriors team, was the overall winner of the poster and pitch competition. They bagged the Best in Video, Best in Pitch, and Best in Poster awards. 

The said team proposed the Movabins, a simple piece of equipment made of a cylindrical dumpster with two wheels and a handle that can be used to move solid waste even on very narrow roads. It addresses the problem of solid waste collection for those people with houses that are located far from the garbage collection point.  

Because of the distance, people admitted to throwing their waste directly to the nearby river. The proposed solution was straightforward, low-technology, and feasible. It was received positively by the jurors. 

The members of Team 4 (see photo above, used with permission) were Ischa Meer van Der, Jager Sven, Rod Michael Aquino, Lisandra Jane Dumas, Zyxel Avila, Norma Amit, Judd Sydney Gonzales, Ritche Milliard Sacmar, Jerald Caballero, Uriel Capondag, Taneza Mae Bontilao, Denzel Montuya, Alezandra Zey Mahinay, Kiara Lee Jadulco, Dby Kastel Saco, Stacey Karel Cang, Ira Benedict Bebita,  Jennifer Elizabeth Robb, Lucky N Roda, Nathan Jon Russell, Karl Josef Son, Oscar Francis Tan,  Mary Trixie Villamor, and Sheena Dirkinova Ala.

by Engr. Kathrina Marie Borgonia, Department of Civil Engineering

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With the theme 鈥淎ccelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective,” CSW68 convened global leaders from the government, feminist organizations, and youth organizations to accelerate efforts for gender equality and to influence policy instruments for women empowerment. CSW68 is the largest intergovernmental commission dedicated to gender equality and empowerment around the world. 

Granali served as the youngest resource speaker for the panel 鈥淪hared Vision to End Gender-based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation,鈥� which was hosted by the United Nations Population Fund. Granali shared her personal story that ignited her advocacy journey with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP). 

Granali interacted and pitched ideas during the following parallel learning sessions:

• Feminist Economic Justice during Crises: Perspectives from Asia (convened by Women鈥檚 Fund Asia);听
• Accelerating Gender Equality through听 Social Protection and Digital Innovation in Malawi (convened by Malawi and Plan International);听
• Harnessing Social Protection to Tackle Poverty and Empower Women and Girls (convened by Permanent Mission of Belgium and the Delegation of the European Union to the UN);听
• Empowering Peace: Unveiling the Cost-effectiveness and Value-added of Women鈥檚 Conflict Prevention Work (convened by The Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), Women鈥檚 Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding);听
• Closing the Gender Gap in Education: How To Address Long-Term Barriers and Emerging Challenges in a World of Complex Crises? (convened by Office of the President of the General Assembly and UN Women);听
• Role of Media in Preventing Violence Against Women (convened by ADVU-JWF);听
• Innovative Partnerships to End Trafficking in Women and Girls: The Santa Marta Group Model (convened by Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations, and Santa Marta Group); and
• In Conversation with Adolescent Girls: What it Means to be Girl鈥檚 Ally on the Global Stage (Adolescent Girls Investment Plan).听

Granali is the Visayas Region Girl Representative to the Central Board of the GSP and was the National Outstanding Girl Scout in 2020.

She is also an active student leader of the Carolinian Political Science Society (CPSS) and the Carolinian Circle of Young Diplomats (CCYD) of the University of San Carlos.

With reporting from the Department of Political Science

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First conceptualized and implemented in 2019, the program is an avenue for collaboration among different civic groups to put forward the best interests of Metro Cebu. 

Klarohay Ta 2.0 also provides a space for citizens and stakeholders to get to know more about the platforms of aspiring local and national candidates, particularly their policy positions that will affect the Cebuano community.   

Endorsed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Region 7, the program is designed to carry on the commitment for citizen empowerment and engagement within the contexts and challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as inequality and misgovernance. 

To know more about the program, you may visit the official Facebook page through this link:

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Team Environmental Crusaders (standing from left): Metzi Light G. Capunong, faculty-adviser Catherine Melody A. Ruiz, Mari Justin P. Akut, Audrey Dominique G. Reroma, Maraiah Ivana M. Colaljo, Beverly S. Wagas, Sheridan D. Tan, Reanne Angel L. Francisco; (seated from left) Joshua M. Tambor, Divine Grace Ni帽a T. Cuizon.

A micro-policy proposal on solid waste management in a university won the 1st Ordinance Drafting Contest held last December 9, 2019 at the Fr. Albert van Gansewinkel Hall, University of San Carlos-Downtown Campus. The proposal was drafted by Team Environmental Crusaders, while Tumbler Warriors, Bioswales, and HAAFS finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively.

Policy proposals during the final round of the competition were assessed by Atty. Carlo Pontico C. Fortuna (former Vice Mayor and three-time councilor of Mandaue City), Luzlin P. Elcullada, Dev.Ed.D., R.G.C. (Head, 黑料社区 Counseling and Development Center), Dr. Roselle J. Ranario (Vice President for Visayas, Philippine Society for Public Administration and CHED Technical Committee Member for Public Administration), Atty. Mat Eric Medalle (Chief of Staff of Cebu City Vice Mayor Atty. Michael Rama and three-time barangay councilor of Barangay Pari-an, Cebu City), and Atty. Christie Marie Alga, En.P. (City Planning and Development Officer for Mandaue City).

Political Science faculty members with panel of judges (from left) Elizar L. Sabinay Jr., Brenette L. Abrenica, Atty. Mat Eric Medalle, Dr. Roselle J. Ranario, Atty. Christie Marie Alga, En.P., Atty. Carlo Pontico C. Fortuna, Luzlin P. Elcullada, Dev.Ed.D., R.G.C., Catherine Melody A. Ruiz, Rejene T. Lakibul

Crusaders鈥� winning micro-policy proposal seeks to address the problem on solid waste management attributed to single-use plastics within a university. The proposal, An Ordinance Regulating Single-Use Plastics in the University of San Carlos, Declaring Certain Acts Prohibited and Appropriating Funds thereof, was drafted by team members Mari Justin P. Akut, Metzi Light G. Capunong, Maraiah Ivana M. Colaljo, Divine Grace Ni帽a T. Cuizon, Reanne Angel L. Francisco, Joshua M. Tambor, Sheridan D. Tan, Beverly S. Wagas, and Audrey Dominique G. Reroma. Catherine Melody A. Ruiz served as the faculty-adviser; she is also the Network Coordinator for Kaabag sa Sugbo.

Tumbler Warriors鈥� proposal was entitled An Ordinance Banning the Use, Sale and Distribution of Bottled Water and Other Plastic-Bottled Drinks in Schools and Universities, and Advocating the Use of Reusable Water Containers, Imposing Penalties for Violations thereof and Providing Funds thereof. Members of the team are Charlene Mae H. Chan, Kate Alesson A. Laurente, and Serena Rhene T. Sy, with faculty-adviser Aldwin Joseph A. Empaces, who is the Executive Director of Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors, Inc.

Third place winner Team Bioswales proposed An Ordinance Providing for a Sustainable Stormwater Runoff by Situating Bioswales for the Reduction of Flood Occurrences Within the Territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Cebu, Providing Penalties for the Violation thereof, Destruction, Obstruction, Omission, and Littering of and Within the Area Where the Bioswale is Situated. The team members are Karessa Star V. Caneda, Jed Christoper L. Francis, Allence Michael L. Dy, Claire R. Rona, Angela Marie Santos, Christianna Stephanie T. Sun, Kacy Tan, and Micah Sheene I. Vergara. Elizar L. Sabinay Jr., Program Coordinator for Cebu Leads Foundation, Inc., served as the faculty-adviser.

Team HAAFS, also advised by Sabinay, pitched for An Ordinance Prohibiting the Acts of Discrimination, Exclusion, and Expulsion with Respect to Terms and Conditions of Employment Solely on the Basis of Human Art for all Establishments in the Food Sector within the Territorial Jurisdiction of Cebu City. The team is composed of Myrla Nelle T. Abear, Archiely Beldera, Ariel M. Cabillon, May Ann Marvilline B. Enad, Vans Andre U. Paca帽a, Michael John Leirry D. Parba, Rene Dominique Y. Quiniones, Sheila Marie C. Tagalog, Maurice Clemence L. Toledo, and Jean Margarette A. Zafra.

The four teams earned their grand final slots after they competed against and bested several other teams in their designated clusters during the qualifying round held last December 6, 2019 at the University of San Carlos-Downtown Campus.

The Ordinance Drafting Contest 2019 is organized by the Department of Political Science through its General Free Elective course on Policy Advocacy: Working for Change (GE-FEL PAWC). The contest provided a venue for ordinary citizens to take part in the policy process by helping articulate some priority issues that are better addressed through a local ordinance. It also created a platform where students pitched in their legislative proposals or 鈥渕icro-policies鈥� (i.e., in-campus or university-wide) or policy campaign before a panel of judges who not only looked into the soundness of their proposals but who also helped them by providing guidance and future directions.

by Rejene T. Lakibul, Department of Political Science

Tags: Political Science

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PoSc faculty members with the resource speakers. From left: Rejene T. Lakibul, Joanna Marie Fuentes-Baroman, Brenette L. Abrenica, Hon. Malcolm A. Sanchez, Judge Estela Alma A. Singco, Atty. Llewelyn Menchavez-Porta, Kay S. Conales, Grace C. Magalzo-Bualat, Owen O. Dela Victoria.

Three distinguished alumni shared inspiring stories about their journey as graduates of the Department of Political Science during an activity called 鈥淩eal Talk with Alumni鈥� held last October 24, 2019 at Fr. Albert Van Gansewinkel Hall, University of San Carlos-Downtown Campus. These three alumni excel in the fields of judiciary, law advocacy, and public service.

Judge Estela Alma A. Singco champions PoSc alumni in the judiciary. She is a presiding judge at Branch 12 of the Regional Trial Court. She is a law professor at the University of San Carlos and a bar reviewer on Political Law for several law schools in Cebu. She graduated with an Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (A.B. PoSc) degree in 1982.

Atty. Llewelyn Menchavez-Porta exemplifies the PoSc alumni in legal advocacy. She is a legal consultant at the Department of Agrarian Reform. In 2011, she was elected as member of the Board of Directors for Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter. She graduated with an A.B. PoSc degree in 2005.
Hon. Malcolm A. Sanchez represents PoSc alumni in public service. He is a councilor for the local government of Mandaue City, and chairs the Committee on Education and Committee on Cooperative. He is also a professor at Cebu Doctors University. He graduated with an A.B. PoSc degree in 2003.

After their speeches, the three alumni together with Department Chair Brenette L. Abrenica recognized and awarded with certificates PoSc students who made it to the Dean鈥檚 List for the 2nd semester of A.Y. 2018-2019.

Real Talk with Alumni is a pre-launch to the 50th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Political Science on December 10, 2020. It is also a platform where undergraduate students can interact with alumni and be informed about the latest contexts and inspirations on what careers to pursue after their formal training at the University.

This activity was also co-organized by the Office of Alumni Affairs, Scholarships, and Job Placement.

by Rejene T. Lakibul

Tags: Political Science, alumni

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The 黑料社区 Department of Political Science with American Corner Cebu collaborated with the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO) to conduct a pre-conference forum 鈥淧raxes turn in International Relations (IR): Opening spaces for practices-directed scholarship in IR.鈥�

The forum was held on May 31, 2018 at the Dingman Hall of 黑料社区鈥檚 Downtown Campus. It comprised of a roundtable discussion on global and Philippine IR practices and an interactive session on international studies with the PHISO Visayas Core Group.

The PHISO Board of Trustees composed of founder Nassef Manabilang Adiong and president Frances Antoinette Cruz (both from the University of the Philippines Diliman), John Harvey Gamas (Ateneo de Davao University), and Archill Ni帽a Capistrano (黑料社区), led the roundtable discussion with guest speaker ret. Ambassador MacArthur Corsino (Silliman University). Topics including Muslim global affairs (Adiong), primary sources of pre-hispanic Philippine relations (Gamas), pedagogy in international relations (Cruz), practice turn in international relations and liquid modernity (Capistrano), and diplomatic practice (Corsino).

Participants of the pre-conference forum included a delegation from the Consulate General of the People鈥檚 Republic of China in Cebu City. It was also attended by delegations (see photo above) from the University of San Agustin (Iloilo), Silliman University (Dumaguete), Cebu Doctors鈥� University, 黑料社区, Cebu Normal University, University of Cebu, and University of the Visayas.

The forum culminated wit the signing of a collaboration manifesto signifying the representatives鈥� interest in engaging with PHISO to upgrade the delivery of IR instruction as a form of praxis and set the stage for the staging of the 2019 PHISO International Conference slated on November 5-8, 2019.

Tags: Political Science

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