The Inauguration and Blessings of the Peace Monuments was held at Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) on December 1, 2022. 

This project was carried out through the close collaboration of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP), Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), and BASC.

BASC is the first and only state-run higher educational institution of agriculture in Bulacan. In line with their motto, “Shaping Minds, Transforming Lives”, BASC expressed their commitment in shaping the minds of the students and faculty members as peacemakers in the campuses and in the workplaces.

The program commenced with a prayer and blessing of the monuments led by Rev. Fr. Angelito S. Santiago, Parish Priest of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. It was followed by the ribbon cutting represented by Dr. Ronald L. Adamat, Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Jameson H. Tan, President of BASC, and Mr. John Rommel Garces, Chief Branch Manager of HWPL Philippines.

“Students can come and visit this anytime if they want to reflect on the significance and importance of peace. This will symbolize the culture of peace where students can be reminded that a peaceful campus environment would lead to academic excellence,” said Dr. Adamat.

Dr. Jennifer P. Adriano, Director of BASC Office of Student Affairs and Services, shared the positive impact of the peace monuments on their students. The students told her that every time they see or pass by the peace monuments, they are being motivated to “have peace within themselves” and to “study harder and finish their studies as they feel very much secured” knowing that the campus offers a peaceful learning environment.

The Peace Monument Project was initiated by HWPL in partnership with schools, organizations and communities in the Philippines who support the peace initiatives especially for international law and education. Dr. Adamat declared during his speech in the unveiling Ceremony of the first peace monument in a school last February, 2022 that he will establish peace monuments in state universities and colleges (SUC) in the Philippines bearing the logos of HWPL, VIP and the SUC. To date, BASC is the fifth SUC to inaugurate the peace monuments and the tenth in the whole Philippines.

Dr. Jameson H. Tan, President of BASC, said that the peace monument is a sign of the institution’s commitment to peace in the country. “We fully commend HWPL for this undertaking to disseminate and to inform the public of the importance of peace, not only in other institution but as well as in universities and colleges in the country,” he added.

On the same day, the oath-taking ceremony of the officers for the BASC Peace Club was held. BASC is the first to establish a peace club among the SUCs that established the peace monument.