Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) hosted the 1st Eastern Visayas Youth for the Futures Forum from June 25 to 27 at the BiPSU Main Campus. The event was organized in collaboration with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges VIII (PASUC8), the Strategic Innovation and Knowledge Laboratory (SIKLAB), An Lantugi Debate Society (ALDS), the UNESCO Chair on Anticipatory Governance and Regenerative Cities at Northwestern University, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Biliran Province, and the Biliran Local Governance Resource Center.

The first day included presentations from experts on futures research. Prof. Shermon O. Cruz, UNESCO Chair on Anticipatory Governance and Regenerative Cities, delivered the keynote speech. Dr. Cristie Ann Jaca from Cebu Technological University (CTU) spoke about the 3A Instructional Model as a Futures Thinking Teaching Method. Mr. Joedel Peñaranda, ALDS Adviser and SIKLAB Director, gave an introduction to Futures Thinking.

The event also featured the 1st Regional Futures Debate Spar, where debaters from ALDS, BiPSU’s official debate society, were declared the grand champions.

ALDS members Jay Lawrence E. Pentados and John Jedidia Z. Maas won in the gold category. BiPSU’s Clarisse Quiñones, Eastern Samar State University’s (ESSU) Emika Badillo, and BiPSU Laboratory High School’s (LHS) Wayne Luay, Jr., were recognized as top adjudicators. Gabrielle Tabunda of ESSU was named the finals' best speaker. BiPSU’s Lawrence Pentado and Visayas State University’s (VSU) Dhea Angela Capuyan were honored as the second-best speakers, followed by VSU’s Harriette Lynne Nabonillo, ESSU’s Keith Baquilod, BiPSU’s John Jedidia Maas, BiPSU’s Crystel Demate, BiPSU’s Remmie Joy Baluna, BiPSU’s Alistir Pacheco, BiPSU’s Rafael Dacara, BiPSU’s Ace Arante, and BiPSU’s Francis Negad, who placed fourth to tenth.

Themed “Pioneering Futures Research through Critical Discourse," the forum was attended by participants from various state universities and colleges in Eastern Visayas, including BiPSU, ESSU, and VSU. The event aimed to create a community of forward-thinking individuals by encouraging the adoption of strategic foresight and critical discourse on future research among faculty and students.

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