As an institution gearing up to become the next National Peace University, Mindanao State University - General Santos City prospered its peace and unity within the campus through the celebration of 2024 United Nations Week, October 23-30.
Spearheaded by the Office of International Affairs (OIA), Parliament of Political Science Students (PPSS), History Student Society (HSS), Human Rights Society (HURISO), and Supreme Student Council (SSC), the one-week event showcased not only peace and unity among the college but also the goals within the United Nations, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
© Katrina Elises
“Throughout this week, you've shown your commitment through art exhibits and promotional videos dedicated to promoting sustainable development goals and peace within your college and our campus. These tell us that your artwork, while peace and sustainable development might seem like far-fetched or a huge thing with abstract concepts, yet they start with the smallest acts and the simplest connections,” Prof. Anderson Villa, PhD, OIC-Director of OIA, emphasized on the culmination of the said event on October 30.
He commended all students taking the Contemporary World subject for partaking in the celebration, as they have taken a step toward a world where everyone is heard, supported, and empowered, wherein their contributions are vital in building awareness and action around the United Nations, SDGs.
“May you carry forward the lessons, not just in the GEC 103 Contemporary World Class, and the values that we learn as we foster as we celebrate the establishment of the United Nations this week. May we continue together for a world where peace, sustainability, and dignity are not just privileges for some but realities for all,” Prof. Villa stressed.
Anchored on the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” the event displayed different competitions highlighting the camaraderie of different colleges such as College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, College of Business Administration and Accountancy, Institute of Islamic Arabic and International Studies, and a combined three colleges from College of Fisheries, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Agriculture wherein they represented Eastern Europe, South America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Middle East respectively.
One of the highlights during the culmination of United Nations week was the quiz showdown where five representatives from the colleges competed in the easy, average, difficult, and final round in which the CSSH took home the 1st place in the name of Christian Gregor Conje while CBAA’s Adrian Eric Noble and John Fei Robert Delfin owned the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.
Moreover, for the Collegiate Exhibit Display, where they relate their college to achieving peace and SDGs, CBAA was declared the champion, with 2nd place for COED, 3rd place for COE and COA, COF, CNSM, 5th place for CSSH, and 6th place for IIAIS.
Furthermore, the College of Education swept the first places in remaining events like promotional video, parada ng lahi, and cultural attire.
The students expressed that the preparation for United Nations Week highlighted unity.
“I think na ang goal talaga ng Contemporary World, especially ‘yung event ngayong UN is
for us to be united, na kahit bisag kami ka-black or sa ibang black sila, at least sa College of Education man lang, at least magkakaisa po kami,” Jhonrhey Celleros stated, knowing that they were working together with different blocks and year-levels to represent their own college.
For Junnel Daval, a CBAA student, thought that the goal of celebrating the said event is to uphold awareness of the purpose of having a UN where it unites the countries worldwide to lessen the war crimes and foster camaraderie within the countries.
On the other hand, the same students also shared their difficulties while preparing for the event, where they pointed out that having different class schedules and being busy in academic activities slowed down their progress in finishing their tasks.
“Ang pinaka-biggest gud namo nga problem is ang time, kay halimbawa iba-iba man yung schedule, iba-iba free time, so dili gud maisa ang isa ka class para lang may mabuhat para sa UN and also midterm week kasi siya, so maglisud gid mi kung unsa ang priorities, kung ‘yung mga major class or minor class, dili man pwede pabayaan ang minor,” Daval said.
The same sentiment also from COED was shared regarding their preparation for UN week, where they encountered difficulties; however, they were able to cope with them through the support of the College of Education Students Organization and their dean.
“Ang tanan blocks na may mga nag-exert og too much effort; napo'y nag-exert og tama lang na effort; napo'y mga wala kaayo nag-exert og effort. Pero siguro tungod sa ilaha na motivate mi to really i-extract kung unsa ang amoang leadership skills. So that's it. I guess, kana siya ang murag conclusion nga it's always the unity, it's always the motivation to work together,” Keezha Karyle Sasuman of COED uttered.
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