What We Do

The Department of Development Communication of the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) had an educational tour at the UPLB College of Development Communication (CDC) on 1 December 2023.

They were taken on a tour of the TV and radio production facilities of Radyo DZLB in the Department of Development Broadcasting and Telecommunication (DDBT) and the CDC Library. They also had the chance to observe and to guest in a live broadcast of DZLB News, one of the programs managed by the department.

They likewise socialized with DEVC 145 students (Distance Learning Systems in Development Communication Practice) and shared experiences in media production and community field work.

They were also given copies of the Los Baños Times print edition.

During their courtesy call to the CDC Dean’s Office, Dr. Maria Stella C. Tirol enjoined them to further collaborate with CDC, such us through the holding of capacity building activities and joining of professional organizations like the Association of Development Communication Educators and Practitioners, to forward the field of Devcom.

Coordinating the visit to CDC was the president of the AUP’s Development Communication Society, Matthew Ephraim A. Natanawan, with faculty members and staff, namely Dr. Juvy Lou Bhattrai, Dr. Jervenesense Florece, and Ms. Charyse Vine N. Unggay. (Miguel Victor Durian)

As part of its efforts to professionalize its frontline services, the College of Development Communication (CDC), through the Administrative Welfare and Development Committee (AWDC) conducted an in-house training on the best practices of email etiquette in the workplace on 20 November 2023.

Dr. Rhodora Ramonette DV. Custodio of the Department of Educational Communication (DEC) served as resource speaker, who discussed relevant Civil Service Commission (CSC) policies and composing effective emails, as well as facilitated a workshop on proper business communication.

The CDC AWDC is led by its new chair and co-chair, Mr. Dante P. Ocampo (Student Records Evaluator II, Office of the College Secretary) and Ms. Ma. Anais B. Villapando (Administrative Assistant II, DEC), respectively.

The event was also attended by Dr. Liza A. Cabrera (College Secretary) and Dean Maria Stella C. Tirolm, who expressed her full support in the regular capacity building of CDC’s administrative staff. (Miguel Victor Durian)

The College of Development Communication (CDC) hosted Macneil Kalowekamo, Master of Science in Communication for Development student from the University of Reading (UoR) in the United Kingdom, on 28-29 November 2023.

During his visit, CDC organized for him various co-learning activities exploring the theory and practice of Development Communication.

On November 28, he shared with DEVC 10 students (Introduction to Development Communication) in the morning about his experiences working as an international development communication practitioner. In the afternoon, he was taken on a tour of the Radyo DZLB’s media production facilities in the Department of Development Broadcasting and Telecommunication’s (DDBT). He was also taken to the CDC Reading Room and was introduced to the college’s academic journal, the Philippine Journal of Development Communication (PJDC).

He also interacted with DEVC 145 (Distance Learning Systems in Development Communication Practice) students and shared with them his experiences in popularizing scientific concepts in the agricultural and environmental sciences through participatory video.

On November 29, he met with CDC’s executive committee to explore possible future areas of collaboration. He also delivered a talk on “Participatory Communication and Agrifood Systems: 

The Role of Participatory Videos in Promoting Resilient Agrifood Systems” held in the CDC Graduate Room, which was the highlight of his visit. It was participated in primarily by CDC graduate students and staff.

Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol, Dr. Pamela A. Custodio (Secretary, UPLB Graduate School), and Dir. Anna Floresca F. Firmalino (Office of International Linkages) led the coordination of his visit to CDC.

CDC, through the UPLB Graduate School, has an institutional partnership with UoR on the co-offering of a dual PhD by research program. A dual MS program is also in the pipeline. (Miguel Victor Durian)

As part of its 25th annniversary, the Department of Science Communication (DSC) once again partnered with Goethe-Institut for the annual Science Film Festival (SFF) held on 22-24 November 2023 at SEARCA Umali Auditorium.

On it’s 14th edition with the theme “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration”, this year’s festival brought 34 international science edutainment films for primary and college students in Laguna to creatively explore the issue of ecosystem restoration and to engage in science in a fun way.

The event kicked off on November 22 with welcome messages from Chancellor Jose V. Camacho Jr., SEAMEO-SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio, and Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol.

As part of its efforts to make UPLB a safe space, the College of Development Communication (CDC) held a Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) and Anti-Sexual Harassment Seminar for students on 22 November 2023 in the CDC Lecture Room 1. 

Mr. Renato D. Dumagco, Jr. of the UPLB Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH) – Office of the Chancellor (OC) served as resource speaker. He discussed pertinent policies, such as the Safe Spaces Act and the UP Anti-Sexual Harassment Code, and protocols on reporting cases to OASH.

Attended by almost 100 students, the seminar was led by Asst. Prof. Olga C. Lomboy (Chair, CDC Student Welfare Committee) and Dr. Liza A. Cabrera (College Secretary), as well as the CDC Student Council, through Chairperson Jelaine Kate Pagayon (Chairperson) and Leo Verdad (Vice Chairperson & Head, Student Rights and Welfare Committee). (Miguel Victor Durian)

As part of its efforts to reignite the Los Baños Times’ partnership with its community constituents post-pandemic, the Department of Development Journalism (DDJ) held the Talaghay: Los Baños Times Community Partners’ Forum on 20 November 2023 at the College of Development Communication (CDC) Lecture Room 1 and via Zoom.

Almost 100 representatives from various people’s, academic, and government organizations from Los Baños and nearby communities attended the forum.

Dean Maria Stella C. Tirol personally graced the event with her presence and emphasized the importance of the community’s participation in the operations of LB Times.

“…naniniwala kami na ang mga kuwento ng Los Baños ay dapat manggaling din sa komunidad at ibalik din sa komunidad sa pamamagitan nitong ating community newspaper. Kaya mahalaga po sana na tuloy-tuloy po ang ating partnership at makita po namin ulit kayo, dahil kung wala kayo ay wala rin ‘yung ating Los Baños Times,” she said. 

Hence, to align LB Times’ agenda with the interests of its community constituents, DDJ academic staff and student volunteers facilitated a focus group discussion among the participants of the forum through breakout sessions per sector.

This aimed to assess the communication practices and current situation of the sectors and gauge how LB Times could best extend its assistance to them through participatory development journalism and capacity building.

Prior to this, Asst. Prof. Aletheia Araneta, DDJ chair, reintroduced LB Times to the participants and shared how the platform has grown in its 40 years of existence through the research and extension projects and academic field work of Devcom students and staff with the community.

“Magtulungan po tayo na magkaroon ng way or platform for the community na makahanap at magkaroon ng isang source of information na maaasahan. Hindi po namin ‘yun kaya na kami lamang, we need po your input, your insight and your help,” she said. 

Afterwards, DDJ launched the documentary video Mga Kwentong LB Times, featuring narratives from notable figures such as Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, the platform’s founder, as well as longtime community partners, such as the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) sector of Los Baños, through Ms. Leonarda Macaldo (President, PWD Association of Brgy. Anos) and Ms. Jeanette Ilagan (President, PWD Association of Brgy. San Antonio).

The forum was DDJ’s principal activity for its yearlong celebration of the 40th founding anniversary celebration of LB Times and CDC’s Silver Anniversary. (Mar Jhun Daniel; Photos by Mario Maningas)

The Department of Educational Communication (DEC) held its Pananaliksik Para sa Paaralan: A Kalinga sa Eskwela Initiative Action Research Training-Workshop for the teachers of its partner school, the Bernaldo N. Calara Elementary School (BNCES), on 29 September 2023 at the College of Development Communication.

The training-workshop is DEC’s response to BNCES’ request to equip its teachers-in-training with action research skills as they prepare to write their action research proposals for the creation of their own School-based Learning Action Cell (LAC).

Pananaliksik para sa Paaralan: A Kalinga sa Eskwela Initiative is under DEC’s flagship extension program Kalinga sa Eskwela (KSE) Project 1 (Development and Implementation of Capacity Development Initiatives for School Stakeholders) and is one of the activities in celebration of CDC’s 25th Anniversary.

The orientation and opening program was facilitated by Kalinga sa Eskwela (KSE) Action Research Training-Workshop Coordinator and DEC’s University Extension Associate II, Ms. Renz Frances D. Abagat-Manrique to mark the start of the training-workshop programme.

Assoc. Prof. Mildred O. Moscoso facilitated the pilot session on the Introduction to Action Research focusing on Problem-Question Identification.

Further discussions on literature review, methodology, and data analysis for action research will also be led by DEC lecturers until the workshop’s conclusion in January 2024.

After Dr. Moscoso’s lecture, the BNCES teachers were invited by Ms. Amy A. Maducdoc, CDC College Librarian, to a short tour and orientation of the library and its new-normal online services. (Reeve Jairo A. De Los Santos)

As part of its annual seminar series, the Department of Development Journalism (DDJ) held “Mga Kwentong Luntian: Reporting on Agriculture and the Environment” on 6 November 2023 in the College of Development Communication (CDC) Lecture Room 1 and via Zoom.

Two media practitioners served as guest speakers, namely Mr. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas (Agriculture and Commodities Reporter, BusinessMirror) and Ms. Gaea Katrina Y. Cabico (Environment and Climate Journalist, PhilStar.com).

Mr. Arcalas started his talk by sharing about his journey towards becoming an agricultural journalist, which he said is one of the “least sexy” beats, despite it playing a crucial role in informing the public about the nation’s food system. He discussed challenges in agriculture reporting, such as understanding highly technical agricultural concepts and humanizing these so that the public will realize their value in their everyday lives. He motivated the participants to craft big stories out of these seemingly small, taken-for-granted issues. He also previously served as a resource speaker during DDJ’s last seminar on science journalism in 2022.

On the other hand, Ms. Cabico, reflected on how she might have been destined to become an environmental journalist, being named after Gaea, the Greek Earth goddess. She discussed the challenges of environmental reporting in the Philippines, which has been ranked for 10 years in a row as one of the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders, according to Global Witness. She emphasized that her field called for in-depth, investigative stories that go beyond events coverage to truly give the public informed decisions about environmental issues.

The event was held in partnership with the DEVC 125 (Writing and Reporting for Development) class of Asst. Prof. Jyasmin M. Calub-Bautista.

The topics covered also supplemented two specialized reporting courses, namely DEVC 127 (Data Journalism for Development) and DEVC 128 (Science Journalism for Development).

The event is also one of DDJ’s activities for the 25th anniversary of CDC. (Miguel Victor Durian)