21/09/2026
Thank you Office of CHED Commissioner Michelle Aguilar Ong for recognizing and sharing the story of Prince Lacsa's journey.
Israel A. Lacsa’s journey as a student leader, campus journalist, and humanitarian from Kalinga State University proves that peace is built through daily service, empathy, and active community engagement. As an Electrical Engineering student and Student Regent, he transformed student governance into a platform for student welfare and mental health advocacy while earning recognition as one of the country’s top engineering students. His leadership as President of the Rotaract Club of Kalinga produced high-impact initiatives like 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗬—ranked 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻—alongside 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗕.𝗜.𝗔.𝗚. for voluntary blood donation and Breaking the Silence for mental health awareness. An award-winning journalist across Cordillera and Luzon, Israel used responsible reporting to bridge differences and amplify unheard voices, bringing his vision to the global stage as a recognized delegate at the Asia Youth International Model United Nations. Ultimately, his work reframes peace not as the absence of conflict, but as the active presence of justice, inclusion, and compassion forged through daily choices to uplift others.
Under the theme "𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲- 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆" this year’s UN International Day of Peace celebrates the everyday architects of peace—the individuals taking action, inspiring local communities, and building peace from the ground up.
Today, we shine the spotlight on the remarkable leaders and peacebuilders within our State Universities and Colleges.
Read more of Israel’s story below.
𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐀. 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐬𝐚’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞
Every day, we choose the world we leave behind. We can ignore someone's struggles, or choose to represent them; remain silent, or speak for those long unheard. Some choices leave behind peace—binding communities, bridging divides, and offering hope. This is the story of Israel A. Lacsa, a Kalinga native who learned early that leadership’s most powerful form is peace, and that peace is a daily responsibility to live out.
𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑪𝑬 𝑩𝑬𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑺 𝑩𝒀 𝑩𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑰𝑵 𝑷𝑬𝑶𝑷𝑳𝑬
Growing up, Israel learned that people go further when they look out for one another. Pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Kalinga State University, education became his platform to serve. After two terms as Supreme Student Council Vice President advocating for student welfare and mental health, he now represents thousands of students as Student Regent. For Israel, leadership isn't about being admired; it's about listening, empathizing, and ensuring every voice matters.
𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷 𝑻𝑯𝑨𝑻 𝑩𝑼𝑰𝑳𝑫𝑺 𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑴𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑻𝑰𝑬𝑺
Leadership extends far beyond campus walls. As former Rotaract Club of Kalinga President, Israel embraced Service Above Self, uniting students, local officials, health professionals, and volunteers to address pressing needs. He believes leadership is measured not by activities held, but by lives transformed.
Through Project TARABAY, children gained safe environments to learn, play, and grow. Earning 9th place globally in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), it proved that investing in children builds compassionate, resilient communities. His commitment continued through Project B.I.A.G., a blood donation drive reminding us that peace is sustained when we give to preserve others' lives.
Recognizing that peace starts within, Israel launched Breaking the Silence to address youth mental health and su***de prevention, affirming that true peace cannot exist where people suffer in silence. He also spearheaded programs in good governance, journalism, environmental stewardship, and teacher appreciation—all united by the belief that peaceful communities are built on knowledge, opportunity, and shared responsibility.
𝑱𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑵𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑴 𝑨𝑺 𝑨𝑵 𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑻𝑹𝑼𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑶𝑭 𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑪𝑬
Beyond diplomacy, Israel discovered the power of journalism to build peace. As an award-winning campus journalist across Cordillera and Luzon, he recognized that words can heal, bridge differences, and drive social change:
Truth builds trust.
Understanding reduces conflict.
Stories cultivate empathy.
For Israel, reporting was never just about telling what happened, but explaining why it mattered. In an era of misinformation and division, he used journalism to move communities from conflict to dialogue, showing that peace is built in newsrooms and on printed pages just as much as in conference rooms.
𝑨 𝑮𝑳𝑶𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑽𝑬 𝑶𝑵 𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑪𝑬
Israel brought his peacebuilding vision to the international stage at the Asia Youth International Model United Nations, earning Honorable Mention and Second Runner-Up in the UN Human Rights Council simulation. Engaging with global youth leaders reinforced his belief that peace is sustained when people across cultures choose dialogue over division and recognize their shared humanity.
𝑬𝑿𝑪𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝑷𝑼𝑹𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑬
Israel’s achievements include honors as Most Outstanding Community Youth Leader, Most Outstanding Project Implementer, the Rotaract Presidential Citation, and recognition as one of the Most Outstanding Electrical Engineering Students of the Philippines. Yet, these accolades are outcomes, not motivations. His true measure of success remains the lives he helps move forward.
𝑰𝑵𝑽𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑰𝑵 𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑪𝑬 𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹𝒀 𝑫𝑨𝒀
The United Nations reminds us that peace is an investment requiring time, commitment, and consistency. Israel embodies this by dedicating his knowledge, leadership, and voice to give others hope. He shows that peace is the active presence of justice, opportunity, and compassion, built one choice and one act of service at a time.
𝑨 𝑳𝑬𝑮𝑨𝑪𝒀 𝑩𝑬𝒀𝑶𝑵𝑫 𝑹𝑬𝑪𝑶𝑮𝑵𝑰𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵
As the world observes International Day of Peace, Israel’s journey shows that peace is built every day—by students who serve, journalists who report truth, and leaders who lift others. His greatest legacy isn't the awards on his wall, but the children inspired, leaders empowered, and lives transformed.
