Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) made regional history as the first institution in the Negros Island Region to establish a Center for Human Rights Education (CHRE), following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on May 22 at the CHMSU Talisay (Main) Campus Function Hall, a press release from CHMSU said.
The landmark MOA was signed between CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc, represented during the ceremony by Commissioner Beda Epres, and CHMSU vice president for Academic Affairs Russel Dela Torre on behalf of president Norberto Mangulabnan.
The agreement formalizes a partnership centered on building a sustainable culture of human rights through instruction, research, and community engagement.
Negotiated and facilitated by the Center for Internationalization and External Relations (CIER), the CHRE will be jointly hosted by CHMSU’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) – Social Science Program and the College of Criminal Justice (CCJ), positioning the university as a regional anchor for human rights education in NIR.
Epres described the establishment of the CHRE as a milestone to be celebrated together and pledged the CHR’s full and wholehearted partnership, declaring that the agreement they signed is more than a document but a covenant.
“We envision the center as a hub where human rights are not merely discussed in theory, but are actively lived, taught, and practiced — a space where educators are capacitated, students are inspired, and communities are engaged in advancing respect for the dignity of every person,” the commissioner said.
Dela Torre affirmed CHMSU’s readiness for the collaboration, emphasizing that learning at the university goes beyond the walls of the classroom, and welcomed the new chapter the partnership with CHR represents.
The MOA signing was witnessed by CHR-NIR officer-in-charge Gazzelenne Corsame-Fuentes, CAS Dean Arjay Alvarado, CCJ Dean Purisima Romero, CIER Director Rhoderick Samonte. Also present during the ceremony were CHMSU officials, faculty, staff, students, CHR officials, and invited youth organizations.
Alvarado and Romero also affirmed CHMSU’s commitment to support the CHRE and the partnership with the commission.
Under the MOA, the CHRE is mandated to mainstream human rights in university curricula, conduct research, develop educational materials, and assist in establishing human rights action centers.
Following the ceremony, the #AkoBatayan – May Karapatan ang Kabataan sa kanilang Kinabukasan, was held and brought together students, faculty, government officials, and youth organizations from Talisay City and Negros Occidental.
It featured a series of forums covering topics ranging from Human Rights 101 and youth leadership to the electoral process with speakers from the National Youth Commission Western Visayas, Commission on Elections Negros Occidental, and CHR.
In his closing message, Samonte addressed the students directly, reminding them that understanding one’s rights and their limitations is foundational to becoming responsible and contributing citizens.
The activity drew broad participation from CHMSU’s BS Criminology, BA Social Science, and Bachelor of Public Administration students, as well as University Student Government officers and various youth organizations.
In the afternoon, CHR spearheaded the KASALI KA seminar which echoed the sessions in the morning, this time with CHMSU students, local youth organization members, and out-of-school youth invited by the Talisay City Social Welfare and Development Office.*
