From November 26 to November 29, 2025, the Association of Claret Schools in the Philippines Inc. (ACSPI) hosted its annual Youth Peace Camp with the theme; “Young Claretians Along the Path of Hope, Justice, and Peace.” The 4-day camp was held on the grounds of Claret School of Zamboanga City, consisting of delegates from Claret School of Quezon City, Claret School of Lamitan, Claret College of Isabela, Claret School of Tumahubong, Claret School of Maluso, and Claret School of Zamboanga City.
The CSQC delegation, consisting of members from the Central Board of Students, Claretian Liturgical Team, Tanglaw ng Claret, and various faith-centered clubs, arrived at the CSZC Gymnasium on November 26 for the welcoming program. After this, delegates proceeded to the Barbastro Hall, where they were introduced to their fellow delegates and participated in a talk by Dr. Grace C. Rebolyos which highlighted how corruption is destroying our future and encouraged Claretians to take action in order to safeguard it. The day culminated with a Duwa’a and Eucharistic Celebration where both Christian and Muslim students participated in each other’s traditions and religious practices, deepening interfaith appreciation and understanding.
The second day of the camp commenced with a body prayer and dance exercise. It consisted of two informative sessions exploring the importance of interfaith dialogue and how this can foster accountability and transparency in our daily lives. The first session consisted of a conversation between different religious leaders — including a Muslim Sheikh, a Evangelical Pastor, and a Catholic Priest.
The second session explored the importance of youth leadership and activism in fighting for accountability in our nation. After the sessions, delegates marched from Zamboanga City Hall to Paseo del Mar, participating in the 2025 Mindanao Week of Peace Parade and Opening Program. Finally, delegates visited the Fort Pillar Shrine — reminding them of the importance of justice and peace by visiting a place the serves as a beacon of hope for many.
The camp’s third day began with a visit to Campo Vida for an ecological exposure. Delegates participated in various activities such as banana trunk chopping in order to create natural fertilizer, sewing, and hiking. Here, delegates were reminded of the importance of upholding accountability not just in the socio-political context, but as stewards of God’s creation.
Upon their return to CSZC, delegates listened to a talked by Mr. Randolf Collantes, highlighting the camp’s themes of transparency and accountability in the digital world, digital peace, and pressing the importance of using technology correctly to address our nation’s issues. This was followed by a brief message by Fr. Maurico Ulep, CMF, where he reaffirmed the importance of human-centered work.
The next session was headed by Mr. Joseph Ellas, which explored Theater as a Stage for Peace. This was accompanied by a performance from members of the CSZC Theater Club of Martir: A Musical, which explores poverty as the root cause of the Basilan Siege and Fr. Rhoel Gallardo’s Martyrdom in 2000.
Delegates were then divided into groups and were tasked to create performances of their own, exploring various cultural issues and highlighting peace as a solution for such. The day culminated with a Solidarity Night, comprising both a cultural and creative presentation. The cultural presentation was a display of each Claret School’s unique culture — consisting of traditional dances, band performances and the like. These performances provided a stage for Claretians across the country to come together, enjoy each other’s company while assimilating the various cultures, and fostering a collective commitment to the Claretian identity.
The fourth and final day of the camp consisted of a session by Fr. Mauricio Ulep, CMF, this year’s ACSPI Chairperson. The talk explored the importance of transformative pilgrimage in seeking transparency and accountability — and how La Fragua can be used to achieve this. Afterwards, delegates shared their experiences which culminated the ACSPI Youth Camp this year.
Overall, the 4-day camp provided an opportunity for the Claretian youth to view their mission through a unique perspective and take steps toward promoting the shared values of the Claretian community. Beyond this, it provided a means for students from all Claret Schools in the Philippines to join together and remember what binds together the Claretian community — living out our motto that Knowledge is Best with Virtue.
