2nd CEAP JEEPGY National Conference

February 19-20, 2019

Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU)

Day 1 – February 19, 2019

8:00 Arrival and Registration of delegates

9:00 Opening Eucharistic Celebration (with opening remarks)

by Fr. Elmer G. Dizon, Chair, Programs Committee

10-10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:00 Welcome Remarks
AM by Fr. John Christian U. Young, President, FSUU & CARAGA trustee

Perspective Setting
By Mary Ann S. Cruz, Director for Plans and Programs
11:00 AM - Plenary Session
12:30 PM
THE VOTE OF 20 MILLION
How the Youth and Schools can Engage the 2019 Mid-Term Elections

But he said to them, “I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I
was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43)

As Christians striving to build the Kingdom of God through transformative education, what is our
role and responsibility in the realm of politics, especially with the midterm elections coming up?
How can be politics be harnessed towards the common good?

According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), around 20 Million Voters in the upcoming
2019 Mid-Term Election will come from the youth segment (18-35 y/o). How do we empower
our schools and the youth towards genuine change? How do we engage the youth better and
encourage activities beyond just the act of voting?

This session will propose ways to understand the midterm elections and explore opportunities
for concrete engagement in the upcoming midterm polls. The 2019 Midterm Elections is the
perfect opportunity to teach and practice engaged citizenship that goes beyond just the act of
voting.

The following topics will be discussed: faith and politics, citizenship and democracy, organizing
for political and civic education, learning how to articulate issues and concerns, holding
candidates’ fora and Bantay Pangako (Guarding of Promises).

The module on Engaged Citizenship in the JEEPGY training manual contains more sample lessons
and guides that can be integrated into school programs. These modules can help in educating
the youth, teachers and staffs of school on understanding politics, and learning how to engage it
actively as citizens.

12:30 – 1:30 LUNCH

1:30 – 5:30 JEEPGY Best Practices Field Trip (c/o FSUU)

SAVE TAGUIBO WATERSHED

Save Taguibo Watershed is one of the advocacies spearheaded and managed by the FSUU
Foundation. The cause to rehabilitate and protect the watershed has gone far since its
conceptualization in 2009.

Its first great achievement in its early years is letting the people of Butuan City know where the
water from their faucets come from and what problems the Taguibo Watershed was facing in
providing a clean and sustainable water source for the Butuanon population. And as the project
grew, as care for the environment and for the communities surrounding the watershed poured
in, the advocacy became part of the lives of Butuanons, especially of Urians who see it as a
commitment as well as a source of joy.

Today, the Taguibo Watershed is kept free of intrusions from destructive mining practices and
the communities surrounding the watershed have been creating and receiving the gains which
sustainable livelihood programs bring. Along with these, more than 130 hectares have been
populated with thousands of native hardwood and fruit-bearing trees. Many of these projects
are conceptualized, informed and implemented by members of the Urian community along with
partners from both government and private institutions.

FSUU AND GAWAD KALINGA PAGATPATAN

The involvement of FSUU in the creation of the GK Enchanted Farm in Brgy. Pagatpatan, Butuan
City, was a long time coming, going beyond building houses and venturing into holistic and
sustainable livelihoods for the community. Re-launched last December 2018 to become an Agri-
Eco Tourism site, the GK community in Brgy. Pagatpatan absorbs the combined efforts of
volunteers from FSUU, government agencies, and from individuals with generous hearts.

Finding its roots in the GK communities established as early as 2003, the people living in Brgy.
Pagatpatan took time to identify its strengths and weaknesses. In February 2012, it was poised
to become an Enchanted Farm. FSUU, through the FSUU Foundation, integrated Brgy. Pagatpatan
as a training ground for Social Entrepreneurship students. And with their know-how and bright
optimism, plans were made and executed, making the GK community there a proud and
productive partner.

Today, the Enchanted Farm in Brgy. Pagatpatan makes use of one hectare of land to produce
salted eggs, mushrooms, parsley, sweet basil, Thai basil and peanut spreads. The community in
Pagatpatan maintains and secures this land and benefits from it in a manner that is sensitive to
the needs of the environment and the people who thrive in it. In the near future, it hopes to
welcome tourists in vacation seminars which are geared towards making visitors appreciate the
benefits of applying sustainable farming methods.

6:00 Dinner with Socials

Participants will be treated to a dinner reception at FSUU
 Day 2 – February 20, 2019
8:00 – 8:30 Morning Praise
8:30 – 11:30 Plenary : CREATING SAFE SPACES:
Gender, Youth, and Mental Health
Break at 9:30 –
10:00 AM “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers
in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Strengthening the capacity of the youth as actors of social transformation across the JEEPGY
themes, with focus on gender equality and youth empowerment, and reflective of the JEEPGY
core values (CEAP, 2018).

Based on an increasing need to better understand and address gender-related issues of young
people in their everyday lives, this session is designed to equip educational institutions to better
support youth well-being. It will engage participants in a holistic understanding of the support
that young people need to feel safe and secure, and succeed in the various aspects of their life.
The topics include understanding the youth & their mental health needs, addressing gender
discrimination in schools, in communities, and creating gender responsive & inclusive social
environments for youth well-being.

11:30 – 12:30 LUNCH

12:30 – 3:00 Integrating JEEPGY themes in the curriculum (concurrent sessions):
PM
Concurrent Session on Justice and Peace
With working
break Hate Hurts: Teaching Our Students to Respect Diversity

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there
male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."- Galatians 3:28

The lack of appreciation, respect and acceptance of diversity has led children and youth to
inflict harm on others. The harm done is considered bullying when it is intentional, repetitive,
and occurs over a period of time. Studies have shown that exposure to bullying has damaged
victims’ self-esteem and have resulted in decrease in grades, truancy, feelings of shame and
alienation, depression, disempowerment, physical pain and even suicide and death.

This session will discuss how Catholic schools can prevent and address the growing
phenomenon of bullying. It will tackle the forms and extent of bullying, including cyberbullying.
It will discuss theoretical explanations of causes and discuss ways on how this growing concern
can be addressed using a whole school and multi-stakeholders approach.

The Module on Justice and Peace in the JEEPGY Training Manual has more sample lessons that
will help expand understanding of the importance of respect, acceptance and appreciation of
diversity in the building of a culture of peace and justice. After all, Catholic schools, to be
excellent, are expected to engage people of diversity, that they may learn how to discern and
respond to the challenge of integrating teachings of their faith in the building of a society
where there is intercultural and interfaith harmony and solidarity (PCSS-BE).
Concurrent Session on Ecological Integrity

Nurturing Stewardship and Developing Resiliency in a Vulnerable Environment

Significant initiatives have been undertaken by various sectors both local and global to address
the impact of climate change but much remains to be done. Pope Francis said, “Human-induced
climate change is a scientific reality, and its decisive mitigation is a moral and religious
imperative for humanity.” (Vatican Summit on the Environment, 2015) It must be addressed in
order to protect the Earth and everyone on it.

But how do schools address the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of ecosystems? As
educators, how do we instill the value of ecological integrity into the minds and hearts of the
young. How do we nurture stewardship and develop resiliency among students and other
sectors? Thus, this topic will present a framework for and approaches to nurturing stewardship
and developing resiliency in a vulnerable environment.

Having the JEEPGY Manual as guide, this topic explores how the different areas of school
operations, using the whole school approach to ecological integrity, can enhance a culture of
care anchored on Christian values. As what Pope Francis said, “Our relationship with the
environment can never be isolated from our relationship with others and with God.” (Laudato
Si, 119)
Concurrent Session on Poverty Alleviation

Poverty through the Eyes of the Youth

“ Whatever you do to the least of your brother, you do it unto me.” Matthew 25:45
Christ is present in all people we meet and encounter. Jesus identified himself in a very special
way with the least…with the most vulnerable…with the children… with the youth. An encounter
with the poor youth is like an encounter with Christ. The youth have their own words and
expressions in speaking about poverty. They have something to say. There are a lot going on in
their minds that we need to hear. Have we ever asked ourselves about what they think of the
many circumstances happening in their lives? The voice of the poor youth ought to be heard. Let
us look at poverty through the eyes of the youth.

As the school listens to and have feelings for the cries of our peoples and societies is knowing
and loving the poor and working with them in their struggle for justice. Schools will be more life-
giving when we bring back and restore the dignity of persons, families and communities in our
schools; In doing so we touch the very heart of God.

This session aims to complements the lessons in the JEEPGY Manual on Poverty alleviation
which concretizes Transformative Education to bring about wholeness and integration
from what is seen and discerned in the life of the community, thus it will move not only
the mind and the heart but also the hands into action for the poor. It seeks to answer
questions, such as: Is poverty a serious issue among our young people? Are they affected by
poverty? What kind of accompaniment can we give our youth to look at poverty straight in the
eye?

Education should motivate the youth to have higher aspirations and hope. Is poverty
reproduced or reduced in our schools? Let us listen to the youth.
3:00 – 4:30 Plenary: Media Education

The Medium is the Message: Catholic Educators as Media Educators

“The medium is the message” is a famous quotation from a communication theorist Marshall
McLuhan (1964) from which we as Church could learn, adopt and initiate new ways and forms in
ensuring that as educators we become channels and instruments of the Gospel values and our
Catholic faith. In our pursuit for new evangelization through our catholic schools, as Educators
we cannot separate our messages (our thoughts, beliefs, opinions, ideas) from who we are
because as what St. Pope John Pal II said: “young people listen to messengers they can feel,”
with those people who really walk their talks.

This session is a deepening on the topic of “Media Education: Our Response and Task” which is a
featured lesson in the JEEPGY Manual (p159). In the session, we will be introduced to the basics
of “Deconstruction” or the hermeneutics of interpretation and reinterpretation in the light of the
Gospel values and of our Catholic faith and teachings. We will do “film dialogue” in
deconstructing media images and messages in selected video clips and other forms of media. We
will do some exercises on how to read and interpret the different media languages in various
platforms and come-up and produce insightful constructs and concepts in the light of the Gospel
values and our Philippine Catholic Schools’ Standards (PCSS). It is very fundamental for Catholic
Educators to be grounded on our Catholic teachings, principles and morals so we can truly guide
and effectively lead our students to better understanding of the media and the proper usage of
all forms of communication media. Remember, we teach who we are; we are Catholic Educators
and “we are the media and the message.” Let us now do Media Education in our schools and in
the broader community.

4:00-5:30 PM Closing Eucharistic Celebration

Distribution of Certificates

That in all things, God may be glorified!