Intersectionality of Chemicals, Environment, and Gender Rights, discussed in Women’s Day Webinar

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Environmental group BAN Toxics held a webinar today as the world celebrates International Women’s Day. Speakers from the academe, science, and development work shared their insights on the intersectionality of environment, women and gender rights.

“We seem to have come a long way in terms of gender mainstreaming as the Philippines ranked 16th place in the Global Gender Gap Index in 2021, claiming the highest in Asia,” according to UP Professor Nancy Parreño from the Department of Social Work at UP Diliman. The Gender Gap Index measures gender equality based on the relative gaps between women and men across areas of health, education, economy, and politics.

“Yet, a lot needs to be done to achieve substantive equality or equality in outcomes, which recognizes that the situation of women and men differs according to country, age, class, ethnic or social origin, and other factors that should be accounted for. Filipino women have higher educational attainment than men but have lower labor force participation rates, are in elementary occupations as Overseas Filipino Workers, have less access to resources, are in unpaid productive work, and are less represented in public leadership positions,” Parreño elaborated.

BAN Toxics emphasizes policy and community engagement for its chemical and waste management advocacy, including initiatives on mercury-added skin lightening products, women in small-scale gold mining, with a focus on marginalized sectors including women and children.

The webinar addressed the proliferation of cosmetic products laced with harmful chemicals, which is one of the current focuses of BAN Toxics.

“We have identified the intentional use of harmful fluorinated ingredients in cosmetics in South Korea. Our study showed that harmful fluorinated chemicals have significantly varied concentrations in cosmetics, with sunscreens having the highest concentration,” Dr. Inja Choi from the Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health in South Korea discussed.

Dr. Inja Choi explained that fluorinated ingredients, such as per/poly fluorinated acrylate polymers or PFAS, which are known to be harmful, are used in lipstick, sunscreen, and other cosmetic products as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and surfactants, among others.

“Women's exposure to these harmful chemicals is heightened due to the direct application of cosmetics products to the skin and the use of multiple products at the same time,” Dr. Inja Choi warned.

BAN Toxics, for its part, has been championing gender mainstreaming in its work. “Gender mainstreaming means integrating a gender equality perspective at all stages and levels of programs and projects. The group’s pioneering work in artisanal small-scale gold mining to reduce the use of mercury among women and men miners has been consistent with this thrust. The current campaign to reduce the prolific use of mercury-added skin lightening products is another important advocacy that exemplifies how gender mainstreaming takes into account the differences in the situation of women and men,” Edel Garingan from BAN Toxics said in the webinar.

Responding to a question from participants, Parreño added that “Environmental issues often disproportionately impact women and it is important to undertake gender analysis and gender impact assessments as crucial tools for gender mainstreaming.”

The webinar was attended by representatives from government agencies, schools, and the public. BAN Toxics’ board members, including Prof. Donna Paz Reyes from Miriam College Department of Environment, graced the activity with her insights as well.



(Artwork courtesy by Edel Garingan)

Public warned on scam messages online using PHLPost name

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) warned the public not to engage or click the link on messages sent by scammers online using the name and logo of PHLPost.

PHLPost will not send any messages via text/email or online related to a mail or parcel to be received, asking to confirm their address and banking details on a link provided and that the package will be returned within 24 hours. 

Also, there is a scammer who pretends to be an online lending company threatening the recipient with a fake demand letter or messages using PHLPost in an effort to scare people into responding to a link sent. 

PHLPost or any of its personnel will not in any way and certainly won’t send threats or scare anyone in messages/text/ or email.

The link sent by scammers on messages may acquire sensitive data such as personal and financial information by pretending to be a legitimate company or individual via SMS, online messages, calls, among others. 

The public must not respond, click on links or call any numbers.

Meanwhile, the public is advised not to entertain fraudulent transactions online or in the Facebook Marketplace  involving person/s Selling Fake Postal IDs.

These fake Postal IDs cannot be used in any financial transactions or other identification documents.

At present, the issuance of legitimate Postal ID in Post Offices nationwide is still suspended. 

Lycean filmmakers feted in LPU’s 72nd Foundation Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Six groups of student filmmakers from Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Manila won in the short film and public service announcement (PSA) video categories of Lycinema 2024. The event kicked off LPU’s 72nd Foundation Anniversary celebration at the JPL Hall of Freedom this March.

“Garapon,” a Mithi Films production directed by Luis Musni and written by Kimberly Claire Pablo and Ivanah Araque, topped the short film category. “Garapon” is an inspiring drama about two orphan brothers, Jhanrey (Ace Trencio) and Kiko (Rham Palomares), who are trying to make ends meet with what little they have. Providing support to Trencio and Palomares are Antoinette Chua, Drei Manalo, Jerson Santos, Xyreal Sevilla, and Aaron Evangelista. It previously competed in the 8th Sorok Short Film Festival at Philippine Women’s University last January.

“We’re incredibly grateful to have won first place in the prestigious Lycinema competition at Lyceum of the Philippines University and to have participated in the esteemed 8th Sorok Short Film Festival. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our patrons for their unwavering trust in Mithi Films,” producer Jamir Cortez said.

Cortez, Musni, Pablo, and Araque also got ample assistance from co-directors Angelica Sengson and Adriel Mandia, director of photography Genesis Lim, camera operator Dave Gutierrez, set designer Christine Andres, sound designer Nicole Codorniz, and film editor Ferlauren Umagtang.

“Sana Bukas, Pwede Pa,” a Page 8 Studios short film directed by Krizia Enage and Arbby Manahan, placed second. The film, which also represented LPU Manila in the 8th SSFF together with “Garapon,” had Vanessa Serafica and Yeda Faulve as production managers, Kyle Arceo as cinematographer, Mishael Concepcion as camera operator, Tyra Rapin as editor, and Dave Balanlay as writer, assistant director and set designer.

In “Sana Bukas, Pwede Pa,” Inggo (Tonny Abad) must sacrifice something in exchange for the truth – even if it is the very thing he calls home. Loumen Doza and Boni Gabriel Ilagan provide support as Inggo's mother Lita and their neighbor Miguel, respectively.

“Pintura,” directed and produced by Michelle Graciela, won third prize. The film, which stars Rowell Laroco and Chariz Valerie, also had Kyla Lazaro as writer and art director, Graciela as cinematographer, Balanlay as assistant director, and Umagtang as editor and sound designer.

Meanwhile, “Maghapong Nakayuko” by Wacky Ramirez, Marikei Caranto, Harvy Cosmiano, Ken Cardona, and Yna Sansan, led the PSA video category winners.

“Sementong Plastik,” created by Lyka Rojo, Romilo Josh Difuntorum, Alexandra Jane Pancho, James Matthew Bueno, and Umagtang, got second prize while “Siozmaiolo,” directed by Cortez, placed third.

Twelve other short films and 49 more PSA videos produced by LPU Multimedia Arts students as outputs in their Fundamentals of Film and Video Production classes under special lecturer Seymour Sanchez, competed and were screened during the showcase of MMA projects.

Four of the PSA videos were among the 24 semifinalists in the Rotary PSA Festival last year, with “Train” by Rapin winning third place. Four of the short films also vied for individual honors at the SSFF, Manila Student Film Festival at International School Manila, and CineBedista.

“Strengthening the film culture in a school not only entails getting students to shoot their films but also developing an audience to watch them,” Sanchez stressed.

Production Head Jaypee Zuñiga of Knowledge Channel Foundation, Operations Manager Monica Lou Medina of Eyecandy Model Management Inc., and production manager Kristin Jor of Red Room Media Productions comprised the board of judges for Lycinema 2024.

As part of the program, Dentsu Creative Philippines Executive Director Biboy Royong and account manager Pat Sarmiento talked about the creative process of designing advocacy ads.

Royong is known for his viral campaign “Dead Whale” in 2017. He has been granted awards from the Cannes Grand Prix (2013), Grand Clio (2013), Ad Stars Grand Prix (2013), New York Fest Grand Prix (2012), and D&AD Yellow Pencil (2014). He has recently been inducted as a member of the country's 4A Hall of Fame Awards.

In addition, “GomBurZa” film producer and Jesuit Communications Foundation Philippines Creative Director Pauline Mangilog-Saltarin discussed the creative process and production of the historical film in the "Muling Pagbabahagi ng Kasaysayan" talk.

LPU College of Arts and Sciences Dean Marilyn Ngales, Broadcasting, Communication, Journalism, and Multimedia Arts program chair Joanna Rojo, Psychology professor and officer-in-charge head of Psychology and Philosophy Mylah Sison, former BCJMMA head Rebecca Nieto-Litan, and faculty members Mira Ticlao and Jerick Sanchez, also graced Lycinema 2024.

For the second time, Razel Olifernes and Mikee Ricafort hosted the program. The Brand Management and Activation class and the Lyceum Visuals and Motions Guild (LVMG) co-organized the event.