U.S. AIR FORCE BAND ENTHRALLS SPUP COMMUNITY
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YOUTH LEADERS, EDUCATORS GATHER AT SPUP FOR UNESCO TRAINING
March 14, 2026
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The National Coordinating Body of UNESCO Clubs in the Philippines (NCBCUP), in collaboration with St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP), successfully conducted a comprehensive National Capacity Building and Seminar for UNESCO Clubs from March 13 to 14, 2026. Held at the SPUP campus, the seminar aimed to strengthen the grassroots movement of UNESCO Clubs by equipping student leaders and educators with the necessary tools for global citizenship and sustainable development. The opening program featured remarks from distinguished leaders. Following the invocation and the National Anthem, Sr. Merceditas Ang, SPC (President, SPUP), Dr. Serafin Arviola, Jr. (Chairperson, NCBCUP), and Mr. Meynard Ventura (Youth Development Officer, Cagayan) delivered welcome and inspirational messages. Dr. Ivan Anthony Henares (Secretary General, UNACOM) delivered the keynote address and led the awarding of certificates of accreditation to newly accredited clubs. The event was participated in by over 200 youth leaders and advisers from 24 UNESCO-accredited clubs from Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, and Kalinga.
The first day of the seminar focused on institutional frameworks and strategic mandates. Session 1: Orientation on Clubs for UNESCO Mandate and Accreditation Expectations was facilitated by Mr. Dante Guittu (Board Member, NCBCUP), who provided participants with an overview of the mission, roles, and accreditation requirements of UNESCO Clubs. Ms. Michelle Dulay (Program Officer, UNACOM) also discussed the roles of clubs as “laboratories of ideas” and “multipliers” in promoting UNESCO’s ideals. This was followed by Session 2: Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), led by Dr. Noemi Cabaddu (Board Member, NCBCUP), which offered a deeper understanding of the 2030 frameworks and the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In the afternoon, the seminar shifted its focus toward leadership development and project design. Session 3: Youth Leadership and Governance for Sustainable Clubs, facilitated by Mr. Jord Denzel Gante and Mr. Stephen Lloyd Casono (Board Members, NCBCUP), explored strategies for effective organizational management and sustainable club leadership. This was followed by Session 4: SDG-Aligned Project Design and Digital Advocacy Workshop, led by Mr. Christian Lloyd D. Taguba (Board Member, NCBCUP), which guided participants in developing high-impact project proposals aligned with the SDGs while utilizing digital platforms for advocacy. The day concluded with AMPLIFY: Sharing of Best Practices and Peer Mentoring, featuring representatives from Outstanding Clubs of UNESCO in Region 2.
On the second day, the theme transitioned to “Application and Community Engagement.” The morning began with Session 5: Peace Education and Intercultural Dialogue, facilitated by Dr. Allan Peejay Lappay (Co-Adviser, SPUP-PVCD), which explored youth peacebuilding and cultural sensitivity as important tools for global cooperation. This was followed by Clubs’ Strategic Plan Sharing and Commitment Setting, led by Dr. Jerome Tamayao (Board Member, NCBCUP), where participating clubs presented their strategic plans and established collaborative roadmaps and partnership commitments.
The event concluded with a formal closing program and the awarding of certificates of participation. The delegation then proceeded to visit the Cagayan Museum and Historical Development Center and for an IP Community Immersion in Aguggadan, Peñablanca, Cagayan. This experiential learning activity focused on cultural interaction, heritage conservation, and indigenous knowledge systems. The seminar concluded with a renewed sense of purpose among the participants, as the NCBCUP and SPUP expressed confidence that these newly empowered leaders will continue to advance UNESCO’s ideals and serve as catalysts for positive change across their communities.
