Author: Devcom

The College of Development Communication’s (CDC) three undergraduate students won the Best Screenplay for their entry in the 8th Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition Open Category of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). They are Dan Alexander Abas, Neil Andrew Tallayo, and Mark Andrei Domingo, who were formally recognized at a ceremony held on 10 December 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. 

Titled “ManLiLykha Sa Lawa,” their entry was their participatory video (PV) documentary output for their DEVC 125 (Writing and Reporting for Development) laboratory class under Asst. Prof. Miguel Victor T. Durian of the Department of Development Journalism (DDJ). It was in line with the theme of the competition, which was “Science and Filipino Culture: Siyensya Sa Kultura, Kultura Sa Siyensya.”

The PV documentary told the human interest story of the handicraft community in Pila, Laguna using water lilies from Laguna Lake as raw materials in weaving their products. It also featured two scientists from the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB), who explained the proliferation of the lilies and its economic, health, and environmental impact. The feature article version of the PV documentary was published on the Los Baños Times website.

The students competed against 34 other groups from all over the country who submitted entries in the Open Category.

The students received a trophy, certificate, and P10,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Gary Jay S. Montemayor and Dr. Ruby R. Cristobal of the Department of Science Communication (DSC) also attended the event as members of the board of judges of the competition, as well as Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo of the UPLB Institute of Biological Science (IBS), who chaired the board this year.

Last year, the DSC screened films from the 7th Indie-Siyensya as part of CDC’s 25th anniversary celebration.

What’s the point of segregating trash when it will be mixed up in the garbage truck?

This was answered during the “WASS UP, LB!”’s campaign relaunch at the College of Development Communication (CDC) led by the DEVC 208 (Communication Approaches in Development Communication Programs) graduate students of Dr. Benjamina Paula G. Flor on 4 December 2024 via Zoom.

On its sixth installment, “WASS UP, LB!,” an online webinar series for Project Waste-At-Source Segregation (WASS) led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA), reminded constituents of the importance of waste management and recountedhow the project started due to the improper disposal of campus waste.

Serving as resource speaker was UPLB’s Pollution Control Officer, Engr. Christian Paulo Altoveros, of OVCCA.

He expounded on the various procedures involved in managing solid and hazardous waste, detailing the objectives of segregation, as well as the collection schemes and schedules. He also discussed common issues related to waste disposal, such as confusion over the types of wastes and the perceived futility of segregating trash.

Dr. Flor, in her opening remarks, emphasized the importance of the “clean as you go” approach and highlighted the significance of the WASS project through a poetic recital.

DEVC 208’s class representative, King Niño B. Manzano, capped off the seminar by reminding students of the role they play in waste segregation.

In attendance was Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol, who thanked the DEVC 208 and Dr. Flor for spearheading the campaign. 

The class had also set up an exhibit at the entrance of the CDC building to promote their campaign.

CDC was the first college at UPLB to have adopted the WASS UP, LB! Campaign, which was initially launched in February earlier this year. Previous DEVC 208 classes have also worked with OVCCA in the past in mainstreaming its solid waste management policies in the community. (Steph Graciel Lobo)

The UP Alliance of Development Communication Students (UP ADS) held “Flash Forward 2024: Matrix – a Multidimensional Look Into Social Development” on 20 November 2024 at the College of Development Communication (CDC) Lecture Rooms 1 and 2. 

The organization’s annual flagship event covered the diverse career opportunities for aspiring Development Communication (Devcom) practitioners. Attended by 157 attendees, the event centered on the prospective careers under the sectors of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) and education. 

Invited speakers included Dr. Thaddeus P. Lawas and Ms. Rechelle Anne Tolinero-Barraquias. An alumnus of CDC, Dr. Lawas serves as a University Extension Specialist II at the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM). Meanwhile, Ms. Tolinero-Barraquias hails from the Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan and acts as the Chairperson of its Department of Development Communication.

The talk kicked off with Dr. Thaddeus discussing the vulnerability of the Philippines to natural disasters and what Devcom practitioners can do to address these problems. He highlighted the urgent need for more researchers in the DRRM sector.

“Pag grumaduate kayo ng Devcom, pupunta kayo sa mga research agencies, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), or even corporate. Dito tayo magfofocus instead of doon sa mga ayuda,” he stressed.  

(When you graduate from Devcom, you will go to research agencies, NGOs, or even corporations. This is where we should focus instead of distributing donations.)

He added that the focus of DRRM should be on prevention and mitigation rather than preparedness, response, and rehabilitation. 

On the other hand, Ms. Tolinero-Barraquias shared her experiences as a Devcom educator. She narrated her life story in choosing Devcom as an undergraduate degree program, the projects she had spearheaded as a university instructor, and personal reflections on the role of Devcom in society.

“Tuwing pumupunta kami sa isang community, mas naiintidihan ko why there is a need for Devcom,” she stated. 

(Whenever we visit a community, I better understand why there is a need for Devcom.)

The event concluded with an open forum, which revolved around the lucrativeness of Devcom careers and the role of practitioners in a corporate setting. Both speakers gave assurances regarding the field’s diverse opportunities post-graduation, while also stressing the importance of finding one’s niche. 

Closing the event was Ms. Lalie Centeno, Deputy Director of UP ADS, who reminded the attendees to take into heart the learnings of the event. 

“Dahil tulad ni Ms. Rechelle at Dr. Thaddeus, kaya rin na’tin mag-ambag para sa pagbabago ng ating mga komunidad,” she said. 

(Like Ms. Rechelle and Dr. Thaddeus, we can also create change in our own communities.)

(Lance Isaac Reamon; Photo courtesy of UP ADS)

College of Development Communication (CDC) students and academic staff participated in the 8th National Communication Research Conference (NCRC) 2024 held at the De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila on 22-23 November 2024.

Themed “Blueprints and Imprints: The UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in Communication and Media Research,” the two-day conference provided a venue for CDC students to engage with experts, build networks, and deepen their understanding on the role of communication research in achieving a resilient and sustainable future. 

Ms. Zarrel Gel Noza, a lecturer at the Department of Educational Communication (DEC) and a Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (ICRAF), was also recognized with the Best Paper Award in the Graduate Student and Faculty Paper Competition. Her paper was titled “Does Knowing Mean Doing: The Relationship Between Communication Behavior and Agroforestry Adoption of Small-Scale Cacao Growers in Davao de Oro.”

Meanwhile, some DEVC 195 (Introduction to Communication Research) students of Asst. Prof. John Mervin Embate also participated, namely Dyan Dane Chomawat, Aina Patricia Febrero, Lynard James Lappay, Dave Sy, and Kyla Grace Velasco.

Additionally, he moderated two parallel sessions in the conference, including: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions for All, and Responsible Media Practice. Asst. Prof. Embate serves as the Research Coordinator for Luzon of the Philippine Association for Communication and Media Research, Inc. (PACMRI), which is a partner organization in this year’s NCRC.

The conference is spearheaded by the Department of Communication Research of the College of Mass Communication at UP Diliman. (Llynard James Lappay & John Mervin Embate)

The College of Development Communication (CDC) kicked off its efforts for the upcoming 2025 Midterm Elections through the forum titled “Political Reportage in the Age of Disinformation” held on 25 November 2024 at the UPLB ICOPED Auditorium. Part of CDC’c college-wide Bantay Halalan Laguna extension and public service program, the forum featured experts from the academe and industry.

The first speaker was Asst. Prof. Miguel Enrico G. Ayson of the UPLB Department of Social Sciences (DSS), who addressed the history of politics in the country, highlighting various issues such as the rise of political dynasties and corruption. He also presented a rundown of the different government positions open for votation. Finally, he analyzed current political events and their implications.

“The office holders must abide by their campaign statements, in other words the idea of democratic accountability…if you fail to do that, you can be outvoted during the next election cycle,” Asst. Prof. Ayson said.

The second speaker was Sandra Aguinaldo of GMA Integrated News, who discussed the difference between misinformation and disinformation, the proper use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the significance of fact-checking.

According to Aguinaldo, “We have to take action in our own little ways by engaging with our relatives, families, and friends in a nice way para maging aware rin sila dito at siyempre sana dumami pa ‘yung nagbabantay against disinformation especially now that the election is just around the corner.”

Her speakership was part of a formal collaboration entered into by UPLB and GMA.

Asst. Prof. Ryan Jay Galang of the Department of Development Broadcasting and Telecommunication (DDBT) followed, sharing details about Bantay Halalan Laguna as CDC’s collaborative extension program during the election season and announcing a call for volunteers.

Meanwhile, in her opening remarks, Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol highlighted Bantay Halalan Laguna as CDC’s initiative to provide the community with accurate, truthful information and educate them about their electoral rights and responsibilities as the election season approaches.

Concluding the event was Dr. Trina Leah T. Mendoza, chair of the DDBT and program leader of Bantay Halalan Laguna, by thanking the resource persons for their valuable insights and encouraging participants to volunteer.

Asst. Prof. Miguel Victor T. Durian of the Department of Development Journalis (DDJ) served as master of ceremonies. 

Stay tuned for Banay Halalan Laguna’s upcoming activities on its Facebook page. (Earl Joshua Pector)

The Department of Educational Communication (DEC) of the College of Development Communication (CDC) took various stakeholders on a voyage towards exploring the importance of reading literacy in its forum titled EdCom Talks 2024: Layag, held on November 25, 2024, at the UPLB Makiling Film Lab.

With the theme “Pagbasa Tungo sa Pagtuklas ng Bagong Kaalaman at Karanasan” (Reading Towards Discovering New Knowledge and Experience), this year’s EdCom Talks discussed the challenges of reading illiteracy in the Philippines and highlighted the opportunities available to deal with them. The forum featured three experts who shared their insights, research results, and public service initiatives aimed at promoting reading as a response to the learning crisis in the country. 

Mr. Jose Limbay Lahi O. Espaldon, Director of the UPLB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod and Chair of the Reading Enhancement and Appreciation Development (READ) Program, discussed the experiences, efforts, and accomplishments of the UPLB READ Program as a university flagship public service initiative to help address the “learning poverty” in Laguna. He also invited students to share their stories, which will be published and distributed to schools in the next school year.

The second speaker was Asst. Prof. Ariel U. Bosque of the Department of Humanities, who presented key considerations when developing reading materials and modules. He emphasized that reading materials should align with the worldview of each child to ensure they can easily understand and relate to them.

Finally, Asst. Prof. Elijah Jesse M. Pine, Chair of the DEC, shared his research that focused on the role of comics in the classroom. He discussed how comics can be used as a tool to bridge the reading literacy gap while keeping students engaged and, at the same time, developing their analytical and critical thinking skills. 

Students from DEVC 145 (Distance Learning Systems) also invited the teachers to participate in their distance learning system projects. Jerome de Jesus from DEVC 145 AB-1L presented “MAHICA” (Malikhaing Paghabi ng Impormasyon sa Canva), a project designed to help teachers unlock the full potential of digital technologies like Canva to enhance classroom engagement and promote digital literacy. This project will be launched on Facebook and YouTube on November 26, 2024.

Meanwhile, Carlos Hermoso from DEVC 145 B-2L introduced “i.Turo”, an online refresher course on Educational Technology (EdTech). The course will cover topics such as EdTech tools, game-based learning and gamification, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, and inclusivity in learning, featuring EdTech experts and specialists. This course will run for two weeks, starting November 28, 2024.

After the presentations, Ms. Imelda T. Mejia, a teacher at BN Calara Elementary School, praised the event, particularly the two DEVC 145 projects, which she believes will be of immense help to educators. She also thanked the UPLB CDC for organizing forums like EdCom Talks and for their 12-year partnership with BNCES.

Similarly, Ms. Jazmine Claire D. Olorvida, a member of the UPLB Development Communicators’ Society (DCS), expressed her gratitude to DEC and highlighted the need to recognize the different learning needs and styles of each learner. She also shared their experiences with the iRead Program, a student-led activity of the UPLB DCS that has promoted reading in various communities in Los Baños for more than a decade.  

Dr. Maria Stella C. Tirol, Dean of the CDC, in her opening remarks, discussed the impact of the pandemic on reading literacy among elementary student. She emphasized the need to seek transformative solutions that make reading and learning more accessible and engaging, creating a ripple effect that motivates children and inspires action.

Asst. Prof. John Mervin L. Embate delivered the closing remarks on behalf of Dr. Rhodora Ramonette D.V. Custodio, Co-chair of the EdCom Talks 2024 steering committee. He expressed his hope that EdCom Talks would continue to be a platform to forward quality education. He also announced the launch of EdCom Talks 2023 Proceedings, which would soon be announced on the UPLB CDC Facebook page.

The event was attended by educators and students from various institutions in Los Baños.

EdCom Talks is an annual extension activity that fosters scholarly discourse in partnership with other institutions to gather insights and recommendations from experts, as described by Dr. Liza A. Cabrera, Chair of the EdCom Talks 2024 Steering Committee, in her program overview (Chelsea Saniano).

The College of Development Communication (CDC), through the Department of Development Journalism (DDJ), participated in the 34th Jaime V. Ongpin (JVO) Journalism Seminar, organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), held on 19 November 2024 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City. 

Student-journalists from Tanglaw, a student-led publication based at the college, composed the CDC delegation that attended the event, led by Asst. Prof. Miguel Victor T. Durian and joined by retired DDJ faculty member, Dr. Madeleine M. Suva.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Melinda Quintos-de Jesus, CMFR annually invites CDC to the JVO Journalism Seminar, which aims to recognize the outstanding work of Filipino journalists by showcasing their novel practices and tricks of the trade through a panel discussion, attended by budding journalists all over the country. 

This year’s panel included media practitioners from different news organizations, namely Jane Bautista of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jairo Bolledo of Rappler, Cristina Chi of Philstar.com, Kurt Dela Peña of Inquirer.net, and Pia Ranada of Rappler. 

They touched on pressing issues in the media industry, such as the threats of artificial intelligence on media, the attacks on journalists, the declining trust of people in news organizations, the decline of legacy media, and the recalibration of reportage amid the emergence of new media.

Out of the panelist’s this year, Ranada emerged as the Marshall McLuhan Fellow, which was chosen by the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines. (Jayvee Mhar O. Viloria; Photo courtesy of Ellyzah Janelle Devilleres)

The Department of Educational Communication (DEC) two faculty members, namely Dr. Clarisse M. Gonzalvo and Asst. Prof. Rovil A. Espiritu, presented research papers at the 11th International Conference on Teacher Education (ICTED) held on 13-15 November 2024 at the Iloilo Convention Center. Joining them was their co-researcher and DEC Chair, Asst. Prof. Elijah Jesse M. Pine.

Dr. Gonzalvo presented the paper titled “Situating EdCom in DevCom Research: A Meta-Analysis of Undergraduate Theses from 1997-2024.” The research analyzed 2,161 undergraduate DevCom theses produced over nearly three decades. Its primary objective was to contextualize the current status of EdCom research within the DevCom theses and to derive insights on improving future studies in EdCom.

On the other hand, Asst. Prof. Espiritu shared the paper titled “A 27-Year Meta-Analysis of Undergraduate Research in Educational Communication.” The study explored themes and trends from 414 EdCom-themed undergraduate theses conducted since 1997, aiming to reexamine EdCom as a subdomain of DevCom and as a distinct field of study and practice.

The team behind the papers is composed of DEC academic staff, namely Asst. Prof. Gonzalvo, Asst. Prof. Espiritu, Asst. Prof. Pine, University Extension Associate Renz Frances D. Abagat-Manrique, and Asst. Prof. Romel A. Daya.

Both papers are part of DEC’s flagship project, “Reimagining Educational Communication as a Domain of Development Communication: A Synthesis of Working Papers,” which seeks to deepen understanding and further intellectualize EdCom as a scholarly and practical discipline.  
The participation of the DEC faculty at ICTED underscores the Department’s commitment to advancing EdCom and contributing to academic discourse in teacher education. (Rovil A. Espiritu)

A delegation of students and faculty members from the College of Development Communication (CDC) attended the launch of the UP-CIFAL Philippines’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) storybook series, “Susie for Sustainability,” which was produced by the DEVC 144 (Media-Based Learning Systems) class of Dr. Liza A. Cabrera. Graced by the presence of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, the launch was held at the Malcolm Theater of the UP College of Law yesterday, 28 October 2024.

The series is composed of five storybooks tackling SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

This was the result of a formal collaboration entered into by both parties in March earlier this year.

During the event, the student writers shared their experiences on the book production process. They were also given the opportunity to read each storybook to the audience. 

Asst. Prof. Elijah Jesse M. Pine, Chair of DEC, served as a reactor during the launch. (Elijah Jesse M. Pine)