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Devcom News

Pine presents research on pandemic field instruction at Geography forum

Asst. Prof. Elijah Jesse M. Pine, Chair of the Department of Educational Communication (DEC), was the guest speaker for the September 2024 Heo/Geo Lecture Series, where he presented his working paper titled “A Depth Deficit: Rapport Building and Remote Field Instruction in University Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which is based on his master’s thesis. 

Using Actor-Network Theory, he explored how policy and technology transformed field-based university classes during the pandemic, resulting in a “depth deficit” in rapport with field stakeholders.

He emphasized the need to balance online and in-person field instruction in the post-pandemic hybrid setup. He also encouraged further use of actor-network theory in pandemic learning research. 

Asst. Prof. Pine also chairs the CDC Field Instruction Committee, which is primarily tasked to coordinate with the college’s current and prospective partners and collaborators for students’ course project activities and laboratory field work.

This lecture is part of the 40th-anniversary celebration of the UP Department of Geography, and co-sponsored by the Philippine Geographical Society.

Devcom News

SPECIAL CALL FOR PAPERS: Educational Communication and the Learning Crisis

The Department of Educational Communication, CDC is convening a SPECIAL CALL FOR PAPERS for a session titled Educational Communication and the Learning Crisis at the 12th National Conference and Scientific Meeting of the Association of Development Communication Educators and Practitioners (ADCEP) Philippines, Inc. Interested scholars must send a 2500-5000-word manuscript to this link: bit.ly/4ctb5Sk until 30 September 2024.

While educational communication as a domain of development communication has been traditionally associated with nonformal education, its potential contributions to addressing the country’s myriad of problems in the formal education sector must be continuously explored. The session hopes to engage participants in critical reflection and discussion that could provide insights to policy formulation and the improvement of educational practices in the country.

This call for papers is open to academics, researchers, and students working on theoretical papers, systematic reviews, experimental studies, or policy research that touch on educational communication and the learning crisis in the Philippines. Submissions are invited to explore communication broadly – whether as a concept, a process, an outcome, or a medium – in the context of the learning crisis. Such may be explored under any of the following sub-themes:

-Language education and basic literacy (reading, writing, and comprehension),

-Science and mathematics education,

-Early childhood care and development,

-Teacher education and professional development,

-Technical-vocational education and training,

-Informal and lifelong learning, and

-Educational policy and the learning crisis.

Five to six papers will be selected for the session. They will be directly recommended for review to a special issue of the Philippine Journal of Development Communication, a refereed journal of the College of Development Communication, UP Los Baños, to be published in 2025.

For concerns, kindly send an email to cdc_dec.uplb@up.edu.ph.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Devcom News

DSC’s Asst. Prof. Madrid is best presenter at 7th Asia Future Confab

Asst. Prof. Avril Adrianne D. Madrid of the Department of Science Communication bagged the Best Presentation Award at the 7th Asia Future Conference held at Chulalungkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand on 9-13 August 2024.

Entitled “The Value of Transdisciplinarity in Creating Solutions to Wicked Problems: The HEAL-PH Experience in a Mobile App Hackathon,” Asst. Prof. Madrid’s paper was an offshoot of their “Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyle toward Planetary Health (HEAL-PH)” project which also won the FlexPHD Mobile App Hackathon in 2023. HEAL-PH is a health and nutrition monitoring app designed for UPLB students.

Her co-authors include Dr. Val Randolf M. Madrid of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS); Ann Cayetano and Anna Teresa Orillo (formerly) of the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food (IHNF); Dr. Salvador P. Catelo of the College of Economics and Management (CEM); and Rutherford Belleza, BS Computer Science of ICS.

The Asia Future Conference invites interdisciplinary scholars specializing in science, technology and business and their impact on the environment, politics, education, the arts, and culture. (Miguel Victor Durian)

Devcom News

CDC new staff appointments, Q3 2024

New Staff

DARA CLARISSE MAE L. BARILE, MS
Assistant Professor 1, Department of Development Journalism

Dara finished her BS (cum laude) and MS Development Communication from UP Los Baños. She worked as a research assistant at the UP Open University before pursuing her graduate studies. She was a recipient of the Graduate Research and Education Assistantship for Technology (GREAT) Program of The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). Her research interests include communication for animal welfare, environmental communication, and media studies.

ROY GERARD C. GECALAO,
Media Production Assistant, Department of Development Broadcasting and Telecommunication

RG is in charge of assisting DDBT’s staff and students in their media production needs for Radyo DZLB’s television and radio facilities, as well as providing them administrative support. He has extensive experience in IT technical support from his previous stints at the UPLB Digital Innovation Center and in the private sector. He has elso engaged in freelance photography and multimedia production work. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Colegio De Los Baños.

CLARISSE M. GONZALVO, PhD
Assistant Professor 7, Department of Educational Communication

Clarisse holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Hiroshima University, Japan, where she received the University President’s Student Award twice, in 2021 and 2022, for her academic research initiatives. Prior to her doctoral studies, she graduated cum laude in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Communication and later earned her MS in the same field at UPLB, where she received the Academic Achievement Award in 2018. Dr. Gonzalvo’s research focuses on environmental conservation agriculture (ECA) across Japan, Nepal, and the Philippines, as well as on the decision-making processes of farmers regarding the adoption of biotech and organic farming. Her work has been published in multiple Web of Science impact-factor journals and she received best oral presentation awards in conferences abroad. One of her notable papers, which examined the 2015 biotech ban in the Philippines, was invited for presentation at the 2022 Dupont Summit on Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy in Washington, DC. Additionally, her PhD research received commendation from Nobel laureates during the 14th HOPE Meeting of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) in Tsukuba, Japan.  Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Gonzalvo is also a certified data analyst from Eskwelabs Technology Ventures, Inc., reflecting her commitment to leveraging data-driven insights for informed decision-making. For more information, visit her website: www.clarissegonzalvo.com.

ROYETH G. QUILLOY
Administrative Assistant II, Department of Science Communication

Royeth is in charge of providing administrative support to DSC’s staff and students. Before his stint at DSC, Royeth worked first as a Junior Office Aide in the Department of Social Sciences and thereafter as a Project Technical Assistant I in the UPLB Institute of Biological Sciences at the College of Arts and Sciences. He has a degree in BS Criminology from the Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU). He is also a registered criminologist.

Promoted Staff

MIGUEL VICTOR T. DURIAN, MS, Assistant Professor 1, Department of Development Journalism

CHRISTINE GRACE V. MAPACPAC, University Extension Specialist I, Department of Development Broadcasting and Telecommunication

ELIJAH JESSE M. PINE, MA,
Assistant Professor 1, Department of Educational Communication

Tenured Staff

JEFFERSON LYNDON D. RAGRAGIO, PhD, Assistant Professor 7, Department of Science Communication

(Miguel Victor Durian)

Devcom News

CDC, ComDev Asia host YFCA delegates

Eighteen delegates of the Asia-Pacific Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA) were taken on a tour of the Radyo DZLB Ang Tinig ng Kaunlaran’s TV and Radio Facilities on 15 August 2024.

It was part of their ComDev Skills Lab facilitated by ComDev Asia, a UN-FAO-promoted regional platform facilitated by the UPLB College of Development Communication. The delegates were also welcomed by Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol.

The training aimed for the young farmer participants to have a deeper appreciation for the power of communication and be equipped with practical skills to craft compelling content for social media, websites, and more.

Prior to the ComDev Skills Lab, ComdevAsia team members from UPLB CDC also gave an orientation on live event reporting for YFCA volunteers and AV planning for all YFCA delegates.

Facilitating the ComDev Skills Lab and DDBT visits were Dr. Rosa Pilipinas F. Francisco and Asst. Prof. Ryan Jay I. Galang, who are part of the ComDev Asia team. (Miguel Victor Durian)

Devcom News

Heartful journeys: Ijan and Anne

Ijanver Z. Realo, Cum Laude, CDC Class of 2024

For Ijan, the most memorable part of college didn’t happen in the classroom learning theories, but out on the streets, where these theories come to life. He believes that field work is the heart of Devcom. One particularly impactful encounter he had was during a DEVC 103 project (Visual and Audiovisual Media Production) involving a vendor in Halang, Calamba selling bottled water. He worked long hours, despite selling only about six bottles a day, to support his family, living in a shanty along railroad tracks. He saw the vendor again after five years, still enduring the same oppressive system.

Throughout his undergraduate years, Ijan had to face his own demons, including the pressure of academic demands and the diagnosis of a mental health condition. These struggles, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected his relatives and took his grandfather, led him to take a leave of absence from the university. However, with the support of family, friends, and professional counseling, he recovered, returned to his studies, and graduated cum laude, a testament to his hard work and willpower to succeed. 

Amid his adversities, his love for poetry and music inspired him to prevail. Fusing his artistic gift with his passion for serving the people, he wrote with his homegrown band Semi-Colon a song titled Hulagpos , which became the official theme song of the UPLB February Fair 2020.

“Sa panahon ng krisis at pananamantala, mahalagang panindigan ang makataong pamamalakad. Sa oras ng panlalamang at pang aabuso, mahalagang kumampi sa mga dukha at api. Ito ang oras para humulagpos sa kamay ng opresyon, at patuloy na lumaban para sa karapatang pantao. Nawa’y ang kantang ito ay mag silbing instrumento upang patuloy na umalab ang pusong makabayan at makamasa,” he reflected.

His experiences underscored the importance of self-care, seeking help when needed, and finding your passion – a message he now shares with fellow Devcom students. His journey solidified his understanding that the challenges faced by society are intersectional and that the skills learned in Devcom carry a responsibility to serve the community. (Miguel Victor Durian)

Annabelle P. Apruebo, CDC Class of 2024

Nearly three decades after first enrolling in the BS Development Communication program at UPLB, Annabelle “Anne” P. Apruebo is finally graduating with the Class of 2024. Anne’s journey began in 1995, but financial difficulties forced her to leave school just shy of completing her degree. As the eldest daughter, she felt the urgency to support her family after her mother lost her job, taking on various roles to help her siblings finish college.

Despite achieving professional success, Anne was haunted by her unfinished degree. After two near-death experiences—thyroid cancer in 2019 and a severe bout of COVID-19 in 2021—she realized life was too short to leave her dreams unfulfilled. 

In 2023, she returned to UPLB, dedicating her weeknights and weekends to completing the thesis she had started 20 years earlier. With the unwavering support of her family, Anne persevered and is now set to graduate. Her story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring pursuit of self-actualization, embodying the UP values of honor and excellence.

Read her full story by Jessa Jael Anarna from the UPLB Horizon Broadsheet here.

Devcom Feature

CDC Class of 2024’s top students share heartful stories

Meet CDC Class of 2024’s top students and  know their stories, which tell not only of their academic triumph amidst personal challenges, but also of their journey towards becoming heartful communicators.

Maria Andrea P. Bodaño, Summa Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian

The World is Our Classroom

For Andrea, the most memorable part of her college life at UP was joining the UP Community Broadcasters’ Society and Tanglaw, a student-led publication at CDC. Initially focused on academics, she realized the value of extracurricular activities, especially as Devcom is a practice-driven field. Her organizations ignited not just a sense of belonging and purpose, but also honed her professionalism and heart for public service.

“Joining my organizations taught me the value of taking risks and being accountable for whatever I produced. And I feel, that this is a very important value to learn in Devcom practice… upang magserbisyo nang tunay sa ating komunidad, kinakailangan nating lumabas sa ating mga kinabibilangan at mag-immerse sa konteksto nila para makita kung ano nga ba ang magiging gampanin natin as devcom practitioners para mapaglingkuran sila.”

Andrea’s college journey wasn’t a walk in the park. Entering UP during the pandemic, she faced financial difficulties and her mother’s declining health, which affected her mental health. Trusting the process, she learned to take risks and prioritize herself, finding strength in the support of friends and loved ones.

She advises her peers to not shame themselves for taking a break and to look out for their well-being during the current times when everyone is constantly pressured to be overachievers. According to her, self-care is crucial for one’s academic success.

For Andrea, heartful communication is the essence of Devcom, which involves meaningful dialogues where all sides are considered. This approach, rooted in empathy and inclusivity, is essential for serving communities and marginalized groups effectively. (Andrea Abdulla)

Ma. Princess Anne Curioso, Summa Cum Laude

Enabling the Disabled

Maan’s most memorable experience in college was showcasing the stories of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Barangay Anos in Los Baños through a Participatory Development Journalism (PDJ) project for the Los Baños Times. This involved producing a documentary video and photo essay to confront misconceptions and discrimination faced by PWDs.

“It’s not easy to solve the different forms of discrimination that PWDs face. However, proper education can raise awareness about their rights and importance in society. This education lays the groundwork for better laws and sufficient funding for PWD programs and services,” she reflects.

That experience was deeply personal, as her own mother was PWD herself. They lost her in a battle against Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease.  She recalled attending online classes surrounded by dialysis machines and took exams in the waiting area outside the emergency room. There were several times she completed her requirements while waiting in line paying for hospital bills. Despite these challenges, her mother’s unwavering smile and support motivated her to excel academically.

Maan believes that serving others doesn’t require grand gestures. Commitment, dedication, and genuine concern for others are what truly counts. Her experiences in on the ground taught her the importance of community participation and sharing stories with respect and authenticity.

For her, real heartful communication involves promoting comprehension and establishing significant connections that inspire and uplift both the messenger and the receiver. 

She advises her peers to not forget that education in UP comes with a responsibility, to serve the underprivileged, to give back, to also help young people who lack access to quality education and she wants their fellow students to stay aware of this, regardless of their chosen career path and aspirations. (Angelica Mae Ege)

Daniel Renz M. Roc, PhD, UPLB Graduate School Academic Excellence Awardee

Storytelling for Development

Renz embarked on his grad school journey in 2020, starting with the MS Development Communication program at UPLB, just two years after earning his BS Community Development degree from UP Diliman. 

Before this, he worked as a researcher for BRAC Philippines, traveling through the Bangsamoro region and witnessing the harsh realities faced by teachers and students. These experiences, coupled with his desire to amplify the voices of those communities, drove him to further his education.

Renz’s entry into graduate school was not without challenges. Initially filled with self-doubt, he found support from his professors who saw potential in him. A pivotal moment came when he was encouraged to apply for the Straight PhD program, which he did despite initial skepticism and a grueling application process. His acceptance marked a significant milestone in his academic journey.

Throughout his PhD studies, Renz faced numerous challenges, including his mother’s declining health, forcing him to juggle between balancing his academic responsibilities and caring for his mother. Her passing was a profound loss, but it also reinforced his commitment to his studies and to honoring her sacrifices.

Renz’s advice to aspiring PhD students is to remain steadfast in their purpose.

 “Never lose sight of your ‘why.’ For me, my ‘why’ were the teachers and students in the Bangsamoro region whose narratives made me realize my role as a storyteller for development.”

As Renz looks to the future, he plans to return to Siargao to share his dissertation findings and continue the dialogues he started. His journey exemplifies heartful communication, a concept he describes as occurring in “the sliver of time when I am not me—when I become unsure of who ‘myself’ is, and how it differs from ‘yourself.’” (Miguel Victor Durian)

Devcom News

CDC’s 26th testimonial program centers on heart for public service

The College of Development Communication (CDC) held its 26th Testimonial and Recognition Program for Graduating and Honor Students on 1 August 2024, at the Charles Fuller Baker Memorial Hall with theme “Tibok ng Puso, Tugon sa Bayan: Hamon ng Pananatili at Pagsisilbi sa Pilipinas para sa mga Magsisipagtapos ng Komunikasyong Pangkaunlaran.”

Leading the CDC Class of 2024 was their valedictorian, Maria Andrea P. Bodaño. In her speech made on behalf of her class, Bodaño shared how grateful she felt to have been given the privilege of UP’s free quality education, having entered the University through its reconsideration process, as she was not an UPCAT passer. She called on her fellow graduates to use their privilege, not only for personal gain, but also to contribute to the betterment of others and society – a nod to the theme of the program.

This year’s testimonial program also featured as an inspirational speaker Ms. Samantha P. Javier, who was the 2023 CDC Alumni Association Distinguished Alumna in Entrepreneurship. In her speech, she shared about the various stages she underwent as a development communication practitioner, wittingly comparing the process to falling in love. She emphasized that, whatever path the graduates choose to take, they should always keep in mind that life is not a race.

Personally gracing the event with his presence, Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., pointed out the transformative power that UP education brings to its graduates and urged them to use this power to serve the nation and uplift the lives of others.

Meanwhile, in her message, Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol reminded the graduates that CDC will always be their home and encouraged them to build professional partnerships with the College through the CDC Alumni Association to help nurture future heartful communicators.

The CDC Class of 2024 was composed of 114 graduates of the BS Development Communication program, including 2 summa cum laude, 33 magna cum laude, and 47 cum laude graduates, who were presented by Dr. Liza A. Cabrera, College Secretary of CDC.

Also in attendance were CDC’s graduate students, composed of 2 Master of Science, 5 Doctor of Philosophy, and 2 Doctor of Philosophy by Research graduates, who were presented by Dr. Benjamina Paula G. Flor, Chair of the Graduate Program Management Committee. UPLB’s Academic Excellence Awardee, who is the graduate student with the highest GWA of the Class of 2024, was Dr. Daniel Renz M. Roc, graduate of Straight PhD in Development Communication. (Sheryl Bancil and Miguel Victor Durian)

Devcom Speeches

[SPEECH] Maria Andrea P. Bodaños Speech on Behalf of CDC Class of 2024

Magsilbi
Maria Andrea P. Bodaño

Nais kong batiin ang ating kagalang-galang na UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho Jr.; Office of Public Relations Director Asst. Prof. Mark Lester Chico; Graduate School Secretary Dr. Pamela A. Custodio; sa ating GPMC Chair at CDCAA President, Prof. Dr. Benjamina Paula G. Flor, sa administrasyon ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangkaunlaran na pinangununahan ni dekana Dr. Ma. Stella C. Tirol, kasama ang ating college secretary na si Dr. Liza A. Cabrera, CDC Assistant to the Dean, Asst. Prof. Dr. Rosa Pilipinas Francisco, sa ating mga tagapagsalita na si Bb. Samantha P. Javier at Asst. Prof. Romel A. Daya, ating department chairs na si Asst. Prof. Aletheia C. Araneta, Asst. Prof. Dr. Trina Leah T. Mendoza, Asst. Prof. Elijah Jesse M. Pine, at Asst. Prof. Dr. Winifredo B. Dagli, ang mga kawani ng UPLB Pahinungod, DA-BAR, at DOST-PCAARRD, at sa ating mga guro at bisitang magulang, kapamilya, tagapagalaga, kaibigan, at mga mahal sa buhay, sa aking mga kapwang magsisitapos sa CDC Class of 2024, isang mapagpalayang araw sa ating lahat.

Hindi ko inaasahan na dadating ang araw na magbibigay ako ng talumpati sa harap nating mga magsisitapos. Matagal ko nang nakikita ang sarili ko bilang isang ordinaryong estudyante na hindi naman nabiyayaan ng dalubhasang talino o namumukod-tangi na talento. Kung mayroon man akong ikagagaling, ito ay ang pagpupursigi ko upang gawin ang aking makakaya para tugunan ang anumang tawag ng panahon sa akin.

Maihahantulad ko ito sa kuwento ng buhay ko sa kolehiyo. Tuwing nalalapit ako sa sukdulan dulot ng hamon ng mga gawain, madalas kong binabalikan ang mga ala-ala noong naghahanda ako para sa aking reconsideration interview. Bitbit ang dalawang kuwaderno—isang kulay asul at kulay berde—isinusulat ko kung bakit nga ba ako dapat tanggapin sa Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangkaunlaran.

Ito ang tatlong pangunahing dahilan na lumitaw sa aking isip: una, mayroon akong karanasan kaugnay sa mga karaniwang gawain sa Devcom gaya ng pagsasagawa ng communication initiatives at field work; pangalawa, mayroon akong kasanayan sa iba’t ibang uri ng pagsusulat, at interes sa larangan ng journalism; at ikatlo—ang dahilan na hindi ko maibabanggit—dahil kung hindi ako makakapasok ng UP, maaaring wala akong mapapasukan na kolehiyo dulot ng

isyung pinansiyal na hinarap ng aking pamilya noong panahong iyon. Taong 2019-2020 ito naganap, kasabay ng marami pang hindi inaasahang mga pangyayari. Sa puntong iyon, nakatatak sa isip ko ang pangangailangang makapasok ng UP hindi lamang para makapagpatuloy ako sa pag-aaral, kung hindi para makatulong at maging motibasyon rin sa aking pamilya na makaraos sa pagsubok na iyon.

Mahigit-kumulang isang taon bago ang UPCAT, ako ay nag-self study at nagpatulong sa aking mga kaibigan na magrebyu dahil dagdag gastos lamang ang pag-enrol sa isang review center. Ilang beses kong napagtantuhan ang fighting chance ko na makapasa ng UPCAT sa gitna ng libo-libong estudyante na siguradong may kalamangan sa akin. Gaya ng aking inaasahan, hindi ako nakapasa. Subalit, dahil sa tawag ng panahon, nagpursigi akong dumaan sa butas ng karayom ng reconsideration process at sa kabutihang palad ay nakapasok ako sa BS Development Communication Program ng UPLB.

Inaalala ko ang kuwentong ito para kumuha muli ng lakas na magpatuloy sa aking mga gawain. Sinasabi ko sa aking sarili: ipinaglaban ko hanggang huli ang makapasok dito, at ipinaglalaban rin ng iba na makarating kung nasaan ako ngayon—ang makapag-aral lalong lalo na sa ilalim ng libreng edukasyon. Ipinangako ko sa sarili na huwag kakalimutan ang kabuluhan ng oportunidad at pribilehiyong ito – at dapat pagbutihin ko ang aking pag-aaral hindi lamang para sa aking sarili at sa aking pamilya, kung hindi para rin sa isang kinabukasan kung saan ang edukasyong ito ay sana’y magamit sa pagpapabuti rin ng buhay ng iba. Ngayon, narito ako, natapos nang aralin ang kurso na may kasamang mga parangal na higit pa sa aking mga akala. Ako’y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa pagkilala na ito, dahil hinding hindi ko inakala na darating ito sa akin.

Kaya naman, nais ko ibahagi ang kuwentong ito upang magbigay inspirasyon at makasuhay sa inyong mga minimithi. Naniniwala ako na ang karansan ko ay isang patunay na hindi lamang nakapaloob sa talino at talento ang husay na hinahanap ng pamantasan, o kahit sa ating buhay. Naniniwala akong pinapakita nito na ang pagpupursigi, ang kagustuhan matuto, at pagkakaroon ng pasyon tungo sa isang pinapangarap na pagbabago ay may katumbas na halaga sa dangal at husay.

Sa kabila nito, hindi mapagkakaila ang kahalagahan ng pribilehiyo upang matiwasay na makapagpursigi. Ito rin mismo ang isang dahilan kung bakit tayo narito. Bilang mag-aaral ng

Devcom, natutunan natin na ang bawat tao ay may kakayahang gumawa ng pagbabago tungo sa kaunlaran na inaasam, at narito tayo, gamit ang ating napag-aralan at sa pamamagitan ng ating sari-sariling paraan, na ipadaloy ang potensiyal ng bawat isa upang makamit ito. Suriin natin nang mabuti ang mga ugat ng problema mula sa mga sintomas nito habang hindi nalilimutang makiramdam o makiramay sa kinauugnayan. Sa pamamagitan ng pagtangan ng ating natutunan sa Devcom na kritikal na perspektibo at pagmalasakit sa bayan, naniniwala akong malayo ang ating mararating, lalo na sa mundo kung saan nangingibabaw ang marahas na sistemang kapitalista at patriyarkal.

Iba’t iba man ang patutunguhan natin sa ating pagsisitapos at ang magiging tibok ng puso kung saan tutungo ang ating mga hinaharap, alalahanin natin ang ating gampanin na manguna sa pagsama sa ating mga komunidad at mga panauhing may kakayahan na tumugon sa makabuluhang kaunlaran lalong lalo na sa mga nangangailangan. Para sa akin, ito ang tawag ng ating panahon ngayon: ang magsilbi sa abot ng ating makakaya, lalong lalo na sa tawag ng bayan. Gamitin natin ang ating kakayahan, oportunidad, at pribilehiyo upang makapaghatid ng makabuluhang pagbabago sa isa’t isa, anuman ang sukat nito.

Kaya naman, gusto kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito upang pasalamatan ang aking pamilya na sumuporta sa aking pag-aaral, sa mga bumubuo ng pagtanggap ng aking reconsideration application, ako ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa inyong tiwala sa akin. Sa aking mga propesor at kasama sa organisasyon, at sa aking mga kasabay na batchmates at mga kamag-aral sa mga klase, laking pasasalamat ko po sa inyo sapagkat ang bawat karanasan—maganda man o hindi—ako ay natuto upang makarating kung nasaan ako ngayon, at sana’y ako rin ay naging ganoon sa inyo.

Lahat tayo ay natatangi sa ating sariling mga kakayahan at ang bawat isa ay mayroong tagumpay na nararapat ipagdiwang dito sa harapan. Kaya palakpakan ninyo ang inyong mga sarili, ang iyong mga pamilya, kapwa, at mga guro para sa ating tagumpay na makarating dito ngayon, at pagpupugay rin sa ating kapwa isko’t iska na nagpapatuloy sa paglalakbay patungo sa inaasam na pagsablay sa kabila ng mga hamon sa panahon ngayon.

Sa pagtatapos ng aking talumpati, gusto kong ibahagi ang isa sa pinakamahalagang leksyon na natutunan ko sa aking panahon sa kolehiyo at unibersidad: ito ay ang paglabas sa ating mga kinabibilangan. Galugarin ang iba’t ibang pananaw ng kaalaman at karunungan, tahakin ang mga daang hindi pa natatahak; matuto tayong ilantad ang ating sarili sa reyalidad sa labas ng ating malay upang tunay na maintindihan ang mga karanasan at hinaing ng ating komunidad na nais nating pagsilbihan. Sa aking mga kapwa nagsisitapos, ang nararamdamang silakbo ng damdamin, kaba man ito o pagkasabik, ay senyales na tayo ay handa na susunod na yugto ng ating buhay. Narito na ang hinihintay nating bungad tungo sa ating hinaharap at mga pangarap. Padayon, mga iskolar ng bayan. Heto na ang panahon na ating huhubugin, para sa atin, at lagi’t lagi, para sa bayan. Maraming salamat po.

Devcom News

Embate presents award-winning LGBTQ paper at ICA 2024

The College of Development Communication (CDC) congratulates Asst. Prof. John Mervin L. Embate of the Department of Education Communication (DEC) for successfully presenting the research paper titled “Situating Queerness in Filipino Experience: The Bakla, the Parlor, and the Paglaladlad.” It was recognized as the Top Faculty Paper in the LGBTQ Studies Interest Group of the International Communication Association (ICA) Conference 2024 held on 20-24 June 2024 in Gold Coast, Australia. He shares the award with collaborator Assoc. Prof. Jonalou S. Labor from the College of Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Their research aimed to describe and understand the parloristang bakla (queer hairstylists) and their journey of becoming as told through their stories of paglaladlad. The paper argues that the Western narratives of gayness and queerness do not necessarily fit into the Filipino bakla experience, and looks at paglaladlad (unfurling) as an avenue to understand the parloristang bakla’s process of becoming. By framing paglaladlad as pakikipagkapwa, the study dialogued aspects of the queer hairstylists’ paglaladlad experiences with Filipino values and mindset. 

Asst. Prof. Embate presented their study at the ICA panel session on LGBTQ+ Engagements with Identity, Family, and Community, along with other communication scholars from the University of the Philippines Diliman, University of Texas at Austin, and Tsinghua University. Dr. Lik Sam Chan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong chaired the session. 

Their paper presentation fortuitously coincides with the celebration of Pride Month, held annually in June in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. 

Around 2,000 communication scholars from different universities across the world participated in the ICA conference. (Renz Frances D. Abagat-Manrique)