𝐏anawagan para sa mga Kalahok sa ika-2 Pandaigdigang Kumperensiya sa Nanganganib na Wika

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Inaanyayahan ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) ang publiko na lumahok sa Ikalawang Pandaigdigang Kumperensiya sa Nanganganib na Wika (2nd International Conference on Language Endangerment) na may temang Pagbibigay-lakas sa mga Katutubong Mamamayan tungo sa Pagpapasigla ng mga Wika (Empowering Indigenous Peoples towards Revitalizing the Languages). Gaganapin ito sa 9-11 Oktubre 2024, 8:00nu–5:00nh sa Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas, Maynila.

Layunin ng Kumperensiya na mabigyang-lakas at kakayahan ang mga katutubong mamamayan o indigenous peoples (IP) sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pakikisangkot sa pagbuo ng mga patakaran, programa, at pananaliksik para sa pangangalaga ng kanilang wika.  Kinikilala ng ICLE 2024 ang angking kakayahan at kakanyahan ng mga IP sa pangangalaga ng kanilang sariling wika at kultura.  Sa International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) 2022-2032 Global Action Plan (GAP), tinukoy ang mga IP bilang isa mga key targets na pangkat na mahalagang maisangkot sa mga gawaing pangwika.

Kabilang sa mga magiging plenaryong tagapanayam sina Dr. Anna Belew, Endangered Languages Project; Dr. Siripen Ungsitipoonporn, Mahidol University; Jesus Federico C. Hernandez, University of the Philippines; Dr.  John Amtalao, De La Salle University; Dr. Voltaire M. Villanueva, Philippine Normal University; Rande C. Bayate, SILDAP; Frederick Barcelo, Bugkalot Old Testament Translator; Dr. Felipe P. Jocano Jr, University of the Philippines; at Tagapangulong Arthur P. Casanova, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

Bukás ang rehistrasyon sa publiko para sa isandaan at limampung (150) kalahok lamang.  Narito ang halaga ng rehistrasyon:

■ PHP1,500 – mga magbabasa ng papel-pananaliksik

■ PHP2,000 – di-gradwadong mag-aaral

■ PHP2,000 – Direktor ng mga KWF Sentro ng Wika at Kultura 

■ PHP2,400 – PWD/Senior Citizen

■ PHP2,500 – early bird rate

■ PHP3,000 – regular rate (local at foreigner)

Para sa detalye ng rehistrasyon at pagbabayad, i-click ang link na nasa ibaba, https://sites.google.com/view/icle2024/rehistrasyon

Maaari ding i-fill-out ang form ng aplikasyon sa link na nasa ibaba, https://bit.ly/ICLE-rehistrasyon_kalahok 

Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang walk-in at tanging rehistradong kalahok lang ang tatanggapin. Ang deadline ng pagbabayad ay hanggang sa 30 Setyembre 2024 lamang. Makukuha ang Opisyal na Resibo sa mismong araw ng Kumperensiya.

Para sa mga katanungan at iba pang detalye ay mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa icle2024.ph@gmail.com o numerong +63976-4820514.

Encouraging Teachers for Media and Information Literacy in the Philippines

  

In the second installment of the four-part series of Media and Information Literacy Education in the Philippine Classrooms. This article delves into how the Philippines is preparing teachers for Media and Information Literacy (MIL). This also tackles about current challenges, innovative training programs, and strategies to empower educators.

For nations to succeed in the global digital revolution, media and information literacy (MIL) is the educational bedrock that we need right now. The Philippines recognizes this opportunity. They integrated MIL education into its K-12 curriculum. However, in the previous article, we know for a fact that there is a digital divide and infrastructure issues to make MIL accessible.

In this article, we’ll dive into the human resource part of the equation – the teachers. The success of this initiative rests in their hands. Sadly, the government is not making enough effort to ensure that every teacher is well-equipped and well-prepared in the digital golden age.

In the following section, we will discuss the importance of teacher empowerment, and the solutions to make our teachers proficient in MIL.

The Need for Teacher Empowerment

It is the first step that the Philippines integrated MIL into its curriculum. Nonetheless, there are still significant gaps in teacher readiness. Many teachers feel ill-equipped to teach MIL effectively primarily due to insufficient training and resources.

We have to understand that MIL is a new subject that has been introduced to meet the demands of the digital world. Hence, the information is relatively new and not yet effectively democratized. This explains why teachers are ill-prepared. Aside from the content component problem, they also need to be trained on the execution component.

What exacerbates this problem is that they also lack the resources to avail technologies that will train them to be MIL proficient. It is not reasonable for them to shoulder all the burden of this initiative where in fact they are not being paid enough in their current role. It is clear that our educators need more support.

A Two-Pronged Approach to Teacher Training

To empower our teachers, we need a robust approach to their training. This means comprehensive initial preparation. This covers teaching them the basics of MIL and effective strategies. Furthermore, we must also provide ongoing professional development, keeping them up-to-date with the latest teaching methods and technology trends.

Continuous Learning for Educators

Think of it like a continuous learning journey for our teachers. Workshops, seminars, and peer learning groups can all help them hone their skills and stay ahead of the curve. This constant engagement ensures that oureducators remain confident and capable in this ever-changing digital landscape.

Understand that the digital landscape is also continuously evolving. Hence, there are new trends that teachers must learn in order to keep up. So, failure to finance their ongoing training for MIL will make Filipino students further left behind compared to their international counterparts who are investing in MIL.

In addition, teachers are the main actors in making the whole system effective. Contents of the MIL instruction could be obsolete down the line but the pattern recognition and the skills that these teachers will develop over time will not. So, we must invest in teacher education in MIL instruction.

Engaging Pedagogy for MIL

Effective MIL training isn't just about lectures. It's about fostering critical thinking and real-world problem-solving. We need to use a variety of teaching methods like inquiry-based learning, case studies, and even simulations. This makes MIL more engaging and relatable for students.

Now, this is a challenge for the whole educational system in the Philippines where rote memorization is the key component of instruction and assessment. For years, students have demanded to memorize rather than scrutinize the facts that they dealt with. For example, history lessons make you memorize dates and the persons involved. What they should be teaching is why the event took place, whether should it have taken place and what are wegoing to do to prevent it from happening again.

This should be the norm in teaching MIL. Students must be taught how to scrutinize the credibility and accuracy of the medium they are going to consume. Then, they must use critical thinking skills like inference and drawing conclusions based on their context and other perspective.

What we’re saying is the pedagogy for MIL should not be rote memorization but analytical thinking.

Investing in Teachers, Investing in the Future

The key message here is if we invest in our teachers, we invest in our students. They should be given support through comprehensive training and ongoing development. The end result is that the next generation has the critical thinking skills to withstand our complex media environment. The future of MIL education in the Philippines is bright, and it all starts with empowering our teachers.

BAN Toxics Calls On Shopee To Remove Mercury-Laced “Feique” Whitening Products From Its Platform, Uphold Ban

Wazxup Pilipinas!?



Toxic and pollution watchdog BAN Toxics today called on online shopping site Shopee to address the sale of Feique whitening products, which have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to toxic mercury ingredients.

“We are dismayed that online shopping platforms, such as Shopee, allow sellers to advertise prohibited or banned skin-lightening products, exposing the public to health-damaging mercury,” said BAN Toxics Campaigner Thony Dizon. “This is a direct violation of the platforms’ policies and guidelines on prohibited and restricted products.”

In a recent online monitoring, BAN Toxics purchased and documented eight variants of Feique cosmetic products, namely Feique Cucumber Whitening & Freckle-Eliminating Cream, Feique Ginseng Whitening Freckle Day Cream and Night Cream, Feique Green Tea Whitening Nourishing Anti-Freckle Set, Feique Herbal Extract Whitening Freckle Removing Cream, Feique Lemon Whitening Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream Set, Feique Papaya Whitening & Freckle-Eliminating Set, Feique Rose Whitening Anti-Freckle Cream, and Feique Snail Liquid Whitening Anti-Freckle Set.

Using a portable Olympus Vanta C Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the samples were screened and tested positive for mercury concentrations ranging from 20 parts per million (ppm) to as high as 7,500 ppm—far exceeding the 1 ppm limit set by the country's regulatory agencies, the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury, to which the Philippines is a party.

The FDA has warned the public against using “unauthorized” and “unnotified” cosmetic products containing toxic mercury, advising consumers not to purchase these violative items.

“Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result in adverse reactions including, but not limited to, skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock, and organ failure,” the FDA advisory states.

The China-made “Feique” skin whitening products were banned by the FDA in 2013, and an additional five products of the same brand, in June 2024.

“We are calling the attention of online shopping platforms to take preventive action and exercise ‘due diligence’ in removing or banning sellers that violate regulations on prohibited cosmetic products. Such measures are crucial for promoting a mercury-free shopping platform for consumers' health and safety,” Dizon said.

“Online businesses must adhere to the country’s laws and regulations, including safeguarding online consumers against health and safety risks, as outlined in Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 22-01 Series of 2022.”

BAN Toxics regularly conducts monitoring of both online and on-site markets to identify and warn the public about the sale of mercury-containing skin whitening products.

"To protect the public from the negative effects of hazardous chemicals in cosmetic products, it is high time for the government to implement robust compliance and enforcement strategies. This includes identifying importers, manufacturers, and other supply chains, particularly within e-commerce sites. Health agencies should also conduct nationwide awareness campaigns to inform consumers about the health and environmental effects of mercury," the group said.

“The government should put an end to the illegal trade of mercury-added skin-lightening cosmetics in both online and on-site markets. We urge our regulatory agencies: FDA, DTI, and the Bureau of Customs to crack down on smugglers of these prohibited and contraband products.”

BAN Toxics likewise asked the public to take caution when buying skin-lightening products, advising them to check for proper certifications and avoid products from unverified sources to protect their health and safety.




Mercury is cited by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals of major concern due to its adverse impacts on human health and the environment. The chemical is known to negatively affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems.