DepEd, DTI, Thames ink agreement for E-Commerce Work Immersion for SHS learners

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Senior High School learners are set to gain a competitive edge in the booming e-commerce industry as the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Thames International signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Thursday to equip students with essential industry skills.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership since championing opportunities for Filipino learners is one of the marching orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"I'm really really happy today. Nabanggit nga ni [Jaime Noel J. Santos, Co-Founder and President of Thames International] na isa ito sa pangunahing utos ng ating mahal na Pangulo na bigyan natin ng trabaho, bigyan natin ng pag-asa ang ating mga kabataan. At bago natin sila mabibigyan ng trabaho, kailangan natin bigyan sila ng karanasan,” Secretary Angara said.

Secretary Angara also emphasized the government’s commitment to providing Filipino learners with opportunities for employment and growth.

“We commend Secretary Sonny Angara for his visionary leadership in education, making this project one of his priority programs early in his tenure. His support for digital skills development aligns perfectly with our goals,” DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said.

Thames International, a pioneer in e-commerce education, has developed a specialized Senior High School curriculum piloted in 15 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The program will be rolled out nationwide in phases, starting with NCR, Regions III, and IV-A, followed by Regions VII and XII, and eventually covering the entire country.

“This project was three years in the making. We started this in the pandemic based on a demand and supply philosophy. The e-commerce industry was growing so fast, and there was a lack of manpower,” Mr. Santos said.

Santos added that, unlike traditional academic tracks such as ABM or STEM, the new program will provide students with hands-on experience and industry exposure.

The Adulting-Challenged Entrepreneur

 

Who is Red?

His name is Red Leachon. He is a law graduate turned struggling entrepreneur. As the title perfectly describes him, He is an adulting-challenged entrepreneur. Being adulting-challenged means facing difficulties in fully embracing adult responsibilities due to a lack of life skills. Nevertheless, that's just part of my current state. He also an entrepreneur struggling to make a dime, but he always believe that every entrepreneur starts that way. In general, He is one of the typical millennials who struggle through life.

His Journey

So, how did he end up as a life skill-deficient and struggling businessman? Like any typical story, He graduated from law school, and he thought he would take up a Master of Law degree or return to the Philippines to get his law license. He was avoiding the brutally competitive job market back then. He always thought he could practice law immediately without delay. Unfortunately, that did not happen because his parents told him he must learn how to stand on his own two feet. He was failing miserably. He applied to several paralegal positions via LinkedIn, but He did not get any interviews. He tried to upskill himself with courses like bookkeeping and other online certifications, but he ended up not finishing them because he spread himself too thin.

Finding His Path

As a result, he figured out ways to earn some money and get the ball rolling. At first, he worked as a waiter in a restaurant and sold lumpias because he make those deliciously. Then, he decided to pursue his dream of running a print-on-demand web shop, which he was afraid to push through during law school due to fear of failure. Thankfully, the website has been launched.

However, the website was not getting any traffic. Consequently, He had to learn lead generation, paid ads, content marketing, basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and copywriting. It did not immediately resolve his financial problems, so he had to figure out what jobs to take to fend for himself. While studying these skillsets, he realized he had a knack for writing. Since he was learning content marketing and copywriting, he decided to monetize those skills.

The Writing Journey

He researched how to land writing jobs until he figured out two things: he must start for free (or at least get a low-paying writing job) and he can start a newsletter business. He was surprised that writing could be a lucrative job because he usually thought writers were meant to struggle. It all boils down to strategy.

He read and watched videos about copywriting, content marketing, content writing, and even ghostwriting. Then, He practiced. In fact, He is creating a writing portfolio so He can pitch it to clients. Regarding the newsletter business, He started a newsletter in the law and politics niche. His aim is to write and grow an audience because it could serve as a portfolio for his writing services.

Overcoming Life Skill Deficiency

Now, the question is how do he resolve my life skill deficiency? He try to discipline himself. He set routines, especially for scaling his website and building his writing portfolio. He look for income opportunities like selling items and taking on-call waiting work. Also, He focus on his goal to get licensed so he can become a full-fledged lawyer and worry less about finances. The bottom line is, He move forward. Whether broke or evergreen, He always try to move forward.

Moving Forward

If you find adulting challenging, it's important to keep moving forward. As for him, you can support his journey by purchasing from his store and subscribing to his newsletter through the links below. Additionally, you can hire him as your freelance writer. Your support in hiring him for freelance work will help finance his business and daily expenses.

Print on Demand Shop: Wear Liberal

Newsletter: The Armchair Legist

Freelance Writing: redleachon@gmail.com

By sharing his journey, He hope to inspire others facing similar challenges. Remember, the key is to keep moving forward, no matter how tough it gets.

Coach Boost Gio and Kwento Co

About Kwento Co

Kwento Co is a diverse and dynamic media and information literacy website. We are a team of accomplished content creators, artists, influencers, and young entrepreneurs who are passionate about helping micro to macro-sized businesses market their services through effective digital marketing strategies- tailored for their brands.

 

This Press Release has also been published on VRITIMES

Disinformation, Misinformation and Media Literacy

  

In today's world, we're bombarded with information from the news, social media, and even our friends and family. But how can you tell if what you're seeing or hearing is true? That's where media and information literacy come in!

The Problem:

The internet has made it easier than ever to share information, but it's also made it easier for false information, or misinformation and disinformation, to spread. Misinformation is false but without malicious intent, while disinformation is false and with malicious intent. This "fake news" can be harmful, leading to confusion, bad decisions, and even violence.

Examples:

Imagine you see a post online claiming that eating a certain fruit can cure all diseases. This might be appealing, but without checking the source and verifying the information with reliable sources like medical websites or doctors, you can't be sure it's true.

Other online resources:

Many great websites and organizations can help you develop your media and information literacy skills. These resources can teach you how to:

Find reliable sources of information: Look for websites with a good reputation, such as those from government agencies, educational institutions, or reputable news organizations.

Check the facts: Don't believe everything you read or see online. Use fact-checking websites and tools to verify information before sharing it.

Be aware of bias: Everyone has biases, including news organizations and individuals. Be critical and try to understand the perspective of the information you're consuming.

Think before sharing information: Before sharing anything with anyone, be sure it makes sense, comes from a trustworthy source, and is supported by proof.

Educational Materials About Media and News Literacy for Students of All Ages:

Many schools are starting to teach media and information literacy as part of their curriculum. This entails becoming knowledgeable about various media platforms, the production and dissemination of information, and how to test information.

Media & "Filter Bubble":

You may find yourself in a "filter bubble" on social media where you only see content that supports your own opinions. This may make it more difficult to be exposed to other viewpoints and critical thought.

Truth matters:

Developing media and information literacy skills is essential for everyone, regardless of age. It empowers you to be a critical thinker, responsible consumer of information, and informed citizen.

Trust me?:

Don't rely on one source of information. Always try to find many sources that confirm the information you're seeing.

Types of Misinformation and Disinformation:

Misinformation and disinformation can come in many forms, including:

Fake news articles: These articles look like real news stories, but they contain false or misleading information.

Social media posts: On social media, false information can be manipulated.

Misleading images or videos: Create a false impression using images and videos.

Out-of-context information: Taking information out of context can change its meaning.

Misinformation vs. Disinformation:

While both are harmful, it's important to understand the difference:

Misinformation: Spread, often due to lack of knowledge or verification.

Disinformation: spread to deceive people and manipulate their beliefs.

Tell me the meaning of fake news.

"Fake news" is a term often used to describe false information. But, "misinformation" and "disinformation" are more accurate terms as they show both the intentional and unintentional spreading of false information.

Media and Information Literacy Project:

"These videos are produced under the Initiative for Media Freedom (IMF), a five-year program implemented by Internews.

The content of these videos are the sole responsibility of the Department of Journalism, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Internews, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), or the United States Government."

Tell me the importance of media literacy?

Media literacy is important because it helps you:

Be a critical thinker and problem solver

Make informed decisions

Avoid being misled by false information

Take part in democracy

More definitions:

Media literacy: The ability to understand, test, and create media messages.

Information literacy: The ability to find, check, use, and create information.

Solutions:

Here are some things you can do to improve your media and information literacy skills:

Be skeptical: Don't believe everything you read or see online.

Check the source: Find out who created the information and what their agenda might be.

Look for evidence: Does the information make sense? Is it backed up by facts?

Think: Consider different perspectives and ask yourself questions before sharing information.

Coach Boost Gio

About Kwento Co

Kwento Co is a diverse and dynamic media and information literacy website. We are a team of accomplished content creators, artists, influencers, and young entrepreneurs who are passionate about helping micro to macro-sized businesses market their services through effective digital marketing strategies- tailored for their brands.

This Press Release has also been published on VRITIMES