“Localized” Project Citizen launched in Negros Occidental
The Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy (PCCED) launched Project Citizen (PC) in the province of Negros Occidental last August 7, 2014, at the University of St. La Salle campus in Bacolod City.
The launch of Project Citizen-Negros is in line with PCCED’s strategic thrust to give local partners the autonomy and ownership of its programs and projects. While PC has been implemented in Bacolod City since 2008, this is the first time that local partners will completely manage the entire program in the region.
PCCED’s partner in this endeavor, the University of St. La Salle hosted the launch ceremonies with the presence of its Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Therese Jochico; Arts and Sciences, Dean Dr. Jay Estrella;Political Science Department Chairperson, Prof. Ariel Bravo; PC Coordinator, Prof. Virgilio Aguilar, and Department of Education-Bacolod Supervisor for Social Studies; Ms. Pinky Guanzon.
Dr. Jochico highlighted the common vision and advocacy of USLS and PCCED: “We stand strong on our common ground towards the holistic development of the youth who possess a strong sense of community and country.” Dr. Jochico also praised Project Citizen in its “capacity to provide civic educators with an effective platform to train future leaders.”
For his part, Dean Estrella reiterated the role of educational institutions not just in the intellectual formation of the youth but also “in developing good citizens who will make us proud of our country.”
Project Citizen is a program of PCCED, adopted from the program design of the US-based Center for Civic Education, intended to teach the youth the ideals and processes of democracy by allowing them to participate in the policymaking process in their local community. As PCCED Executive Director Rey Trillana put it: “the program is essentially education in, and for, democracy.”
In his remarks, Mr. Trillana lauded the commitment of USLS to civic education. “Our vision as an organization is to build a society whose citizens make democracy work out of love of country. We are very honored to have USLS as partner in this lofty goal.”
“In particular, I wish to commend the tireless leadership of Prof. Virgilio Aguilar, Chairperson Bravo, and Prof. Marife Varela as local coordinators of PC. Now, you own this program. You can develop it to respond to the particular issues and concerns of Negros and the Visayas,” Mr. Trillana explained.
Professors Bravo and Aguilar thanked PCCED for allowing local partners to “own” Project Citizen. They vowed to ensure the success of the project and expand its implementation in the whole region.
During the launch of the winner of this year’s PC national showcase, Sum-Ag National High School presented their public policy proposal. In his testimonial, Alvin John Hornago, who now attends a seminary in Bacolod, credited PC for making his high school life “more meaningful.”
“Project Citizen changed my life. I used to think that as a simple student from a public school, I cannot possibly have any impact in my society but PC showed me that I can change the world. Now I am in the seminary and I am determined to serve God and our people.”
The teacher-moderators of Sum-ag National High School, Mrs. Christine Villaranda and Ms. Maribelle Haresco, also related how PC transformed their perspective in life. “It is difficult to implement PC because it entails a lot of sacrifices on the part of the teacher. But the fact that we did it showed us that no difficulty cannot be hurdled if you are committed to a good cause.”
