In pursuit of a more informed and globally conscious academic community, MSU-IIT conducted a series of forums on Wednesday, December 10, bringing together scholars, students, and advocates to examine global culture, human rights, and good governance.
Organized by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for International Affairs (OVCIA) in partnership with the Department of History, the discussions held at the OC Boardroom, CEBA 3rd Floor, explored questions of dignity, justice, and accountability, and how these principles shape both local realities and global challenges.
Building on the forum’s aim of grounding human rights and good governance in lived realities, Professor Nancy Q. Echavez, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, delivered a keynote address that reframed human rights as matters of daily survival rather than distant legal ideals.
“The most fundamental human right is the right to survive,” Prof. Echavez emphasized.
While human rights are often discussed through constitutional provisions and international declarations, she noted that for farmers, jeepney drivers, and parents, these rights are experienced through access to food, healthcare, education, and personal safety.
She introduced what she described as a “triangle” trapping millions of Filipinos: corruption, poverty, and human rights violations, stressing that these are not isolated problems but interconnected forces sustaining inequality and silence.
“We often see these as separate headlines, but they are actually one single machine,” she stressed.
Drawing from recent data, Prof. Echavez pointed out that many Filipino families continue to identify themselves as poor despite reported economic growth. She explained this contradiction through the concept of structural violence, which she described as “violence that doesn’t bruise your skin, but bruises your future.”
She cited underfunded schools, inadequate healthcare, and recurring flood disasters as concrete examples of how corruption translates into human suffering.
“When funds meant for public services are stolen, communities are left vulnerable, and poverty deepens,” she added.
Emphasizing accountability, Prof. Echavez stressed that corruption is far from victimless. “They break your legs, steal your development funds, and then hand you a crutch called ayuda,” she said, illustrating how patronage politics keeps people dependent while silencing those who challenge the system through intimidation and red-tagging.
Complementing this perspective, Asst. Prof. John Gieveson Iglupas, Head of the Center for Governance, Policy, Leadership, and Management, expanded the discussion by underscoring integrity in governance as a foundation for national development.
He shared a comparative account of Singapore’s governance model, noting that its strength lies in clean and predictable systems. “In Singapore, businesses do not need to bribe anyone to obtain permits,” he added, citing that trust in institutions becomes an economic advantage.
In contrast, Asst. Prof. Iglupas highlighted how corruption scandals in the Philippines, particularly those involving flood control and infrastructure projects, continue to erode public trust and expose communities to preventable risks.
He emphasized that grand corruption extends beyond politics and directly affects people’s rights and dignity. “When public funds are diverted, citizens are deprived of healthcare, education, disaster protection, and basic dignity,” he pointed out.
The event opened with a lecture titled, “Ethiopia: A Forum on Culture and Tourism” delivered by guest speaker Dr. Beira H. Meressa.
Dr. Meressa guided the audience through Ethiopia’s historical landscape, describing the nation as “shaped by resilience, perseverance, and an unbroken sense of identity.”
He emphasized that Ethiopia’s achievements are inseparable from its past: a people who defended their sovereignty, preserved their traditions, and turned hardship into cultural strength.
“You cannot understand Ethiopia today without understanding the struggles and triumphs of its history,” he remarked.
Highlighting Ethiopia’s living heritage, Dr. Meressa stressed that culture is “not a static museum artifact but a dynamic force that shapes national pride, drives development, and informs tourism strategies that respect community identity.”
He explained that cultural preservation is directly linked to sustainable development, noting, “When communities honor their past, they can build a future that is ethical, inclusive, and prosperous.”
The forum drew clear connections to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting quality education, sustainable communities, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage.
The discussion also emphasized the role of youth and academic communities in fostering civic engagement and historical awareness.
Dr. Meressa encouraged participants to see the broader implications of historical understanding, stating, “Young people are not just observers—they are agents of change who can turn knowledge into action.”
By exploring global examples like Ethiopia, participants were challenged to recognize how history, culture, and civic responsibility intersect to promote ethical tourism, responsible development, and sustainable growth.
Ultimately, the forum illustrated how MSU-IIT continues to cultivate a community of scholars and citizens committed to knowledge, responsibility, and global engagement.
“Preserving our culture is not only about understanding the past—it is about shaping a future where every community can thrive with dignity and pride,” Dr. Meressa concluded.
In another forum, “From Awareness to Action: A Forum on Human Rights Crisis Response,” successfully framed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) not merely as a legal document, but as an active contract requiring continuous civic engagement.
Key speaker Shilina Golez, a Law student with an undergraduate degree in Economics from Xavier University, anchored the discussion by emphasizing the enduring relevance of collective action.
The forum established the position that the rights enjoyed today were achieved through historical struggle, which Golez summarized by stating, “Every right we had today, we had to fight for relentlessly—nothing was freely given.”
This historical context underscores the continuing need for organized effort—what the forum termed social movements—to ensure these rights are maintained and protected in the face of contemporary challenges.
The session delved into the history of social movements, highlighting that the concept of collective action promoting and resisting change is as old as democracy itself.
The discussion highlighted how the modern foundation of human rights was formally established in the aftermath of World War II and the formation of the United Nations in 1945 which cemented the UDHR as the globally recognized standard for Individual Freedom and Rights, Civil Political Rights, and Economic, Social & Cultural Rights.
A crucial takeaway was the recognition that widespread political participation is not a modern invention; the French Revolution, for example, showed that ordinary people could claim rights against rulers and use collective action to drive constitutional change.
Social movements, the forum explained, are sustained by three key components: a leader, organization, and resources.
By illustrating that successful advocacy demands this disciplined combination of vision, structure, and sustained input, the forum moved beyond romanticizing activism and provided a practical blueprint for students wishing to discover the role of the youth in upholding UDHR.
The latter part of the forum focused on practical accountability in addressing current social issues within the Philippines where Golez addressed the misconception that human rights advocacy is overly complex or esoteric, clarifying that the challenge lies in systemic structures.
She explained that human rights are fundamentally universal and inherent, stating, “It’s actually the system that complicates human rights not the youth or what others called ‘woke.’”
The discussion did not shy away from confronting the primary obstacles to human rights fulfillment, delivering a sharp critique of systemic failures within the state apparatus.
Addressing the Role of Governments as Duty-Bearers obligated to Respect, Protect, and Fulfill the UDHR, Golez pointed to a deeper crisis than mere bureaucratic incompetence.
She asserted that a crucial impediment exists across the entire governmental system. “For me, when you look at the entire governmental system, where every part, whichever agency you look at there’s always an issue on corruption, or theft,” she observed, moving the discussion beyond typical policy debates.
Golez argued that many of the nation’s problems stem not merely from an intersection of mismanagement or lack of preparedness, but something more fundamental.
She concluded with a stark assessment, stating unequivocally that “greed, theft are basically the violation of human rights, that's what it is in its most sober and pure form.”
As a closing thought, the session ended with Nelson Mandela’s declaration, “To deny people human rights is to challenge their very humanity,” underscoring how each participant can serve as an active, essential safeguard of freedom.
Written by Bea Faye Eumague and Raneshka Gudes
Proofread by Fame Orong and Adam Vincent Perez
Photos by Krizyelle Louise Glitendez
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