Eraserheads will perform live at the UAAP Opening at Araneta on September 7

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Get ready to wave your cellphone flashlights! The Eraserheads are set to perform at the opening ceremony of the 87th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on September 7.

Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro will reunite anew onstage as host school University of the Philippines jumpstarts the new season with an opening day extravaganza highlighted by performances from the iconic rock group and other amazing artists. 

Recently, the EHeads were the recipients of the Gawad Oblation Award – the highest distinction that UP bestows on its alumni for their significant contributions and extraordinary service. The iconic group was cited for how they “indelibly shaped the scope and sound of our culture”.

The band’s performance during the UAAP opening ceremony will be a homecoming of sorts for them and a chance to perform for the bigger UAAP community and sports fans of many colors.

“We’re happy to share the news that the EHeads are going to share their magic with the UAAP as we start Season 87. It’s happening at the perfect time. They’ve reached the pinnacle of their career. They’ve reached the top, disbanded, reunited and have come full circle. They are true music icons and legends and our national pride,” said UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD) Director Bo Perasol.

Besides the Eraserheads, the UAAP Opening ceremony will feature other famous artists and topnotch performers who will bring the theme of Stronger, Better, Together to life. Palawan Pay, Converge ICT Solutions, CDO Foodsphere and Strong Group Athletics are supporting the opening day event.

Separate tickets will be sold for the Opening Ceremony and the first basketball game between the UP Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles on September 7 that will tip off later in the day. Tickets are available at Ticketnet.

Enhancing Media and Information Literacy in the Philippines

  

This is the end of the four-part series of Media and Information Literacy Education in the Philippine Classrooms. As reiterated, Media and Information Literacy (MIL) education in the Philippines is evolving. This article delves into extracurricular activities as an important key factor in playing a crucial role in shaping students' ability to critically engage with media and information. From school clubs to community workshops, these initiatives are making a lasting impact on the media literacy of Filipino youth.

Boosting Media Smarts: Extracurricular Activities for Filipino Students

Media and information literacy goes beyond the four corners of the classroom. In the Philippines, it could get a boost from all sorts of activities outside school hours. These real-world experiences are helping students become proficient in media and information. As a result, they become skilled in thinking critically and consuming media responsibly.

Why Media Literacy Matters Beyond the Classroom

Classroom lessons lay the groundwork, but extracurricular activities are where students put those lessons into practice. Yes, students learn the key principles of MIL in the classroom but in order to apply these lessons, they have to adapt those key takeaways in their daily lives.

School Clubs: A Creative Space for Learning

Students must see the beauty of learning MIL through a community. Schools could better provide these avenues through organizations. In this way, they learn camaraderie and hard work towards passion. Here are some examples:

• Media Clubs: These clubs are like mini-media studios. This is where students produce newspapers, and videos, and manage social media. They're learning the ropes of media production and the responsibility that comes with it. Furthermore, this could be a good training ground for them so that when they become professionals themselves they have an idea of what good content is, how to apply good media ethics, and the like.

• Debate and Journalism Clubs: These clubs encourage students to dig into topics, analyze information, and present their findings. They're getting hands-on experience with fact-checking and ethical reporting – essential skills in the age of information overload. Also, these clubs help students to sharpen their critical thinking skills and writing skills.

Workshops and Training Programs: Learning by Doing

As discussed in previous articles, community engagement can foster an environment to normalizes clean and responsible media and information consumption. They can validate what students can learn and provide more avenues for students to learn beyond their school premises.

• Meriam's Online World: This program by the National Council for Children's Television offers workshops for teachers and students. It focuses on responsible media consumption and production. This is a fun and engaging way to understand the importance of media literacy in our digital world.

• #DigiTalino Program: This gamified training program has reached thousands of Filipinos, including students. It teaches them how to spot fake news and misinformation through interactive sessions and storytelling.

• Mindanao Youth Training: In Mindanao, workshops are helping young people become critical thinkers about the information they encounter. This is especially important in regions where fake news can have serious consequences.

What do these initiatives have in common? They care about student’s vulnerability of being victims of misinformation.They understand that a responsible and well-informed citizenry that can affect other people’s lives depends on the critical thinking capacities of all people. Hence, it is a good net effect that they’re contributing to the Philippines and to the whole world.

Reaching Communities: Media Literacy for All

As previously discussed, there is a stark digital divide among communities based on geography and socio-economic status. So, there are organizations that ensure everyone gets media and information literate.

For example, The National Endowment Fund for Children's Television supports educational

TV programs for kids. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme is training instructors who then teach media literacy in their communities. These efforts ensure that even those in remote areas get access to essential training.

We have to understand that education is a right, not a privilege for the few. So, all key stakeholders must create ways for MIL education access to be inclusive and affordable. They are doing this great cause because they believe that every person despite of any background can contribute to social greatness in any possible way that they can.

The Proof is in the Results

Studies have shown that while high school students are active on social media, they often lack the skills to create quality content. In other words, it is not enough anymore to consume and scrutinize media whether it is credible or not. The real proof of whether students learn from MIL is that they create information that contributes to the well-being of society.

This emphasizes the need for extracurricular activities that give them practical experience. Programs like #DigiTalino have reported success in raising awareness and improving critical thinking among participants.

The Bottom Line

Extracurricular activities are proving to be a game-changer for media literacy in the Philippines. It is proven that school clubs and community initiatives prepare students to gain the skills they need to navigate the complex world of media. As the digital landscape keeps changing, these activities are crucial in ensuring that young people are prepared to be informed and responsible citizens.

Viral Hoax: COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation & the Role of Media Literacy

 

This is the second part of the four-part series on Media and Information Literacy in the Disinformation Web. This article will dissect the anatomy of the COVID-19 vaccine misinformation hoax, its impact on public health, and how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) can combat such threats.

The Infodemic and the Need for Media Literacy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is just the tip of the iceberg that strained the effectiveness of our global public health. It also proved that an “infodemic” of misinformation around vaccines and health precautions could exacerbate such measure.

False claims about vaccine dangers and conspiracies significantly impacted public health efforts. People were hesitant to take vaccines for it might cause some other permanent to their. Some people even took medications meant for animals due to misinformation in the internet.

This phenomenon underscores the critical need for Media and Information Literacy (MIL). This skill empowers individuals to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media content responsibly. People should understand how misinformation spreads and should develop the skills to critically evaluate information. In effect, individuals can make informed decisions and resist the influence of false narratives.

However, it is important to note how misinformation spreads.

How the Hoax Spread: Social Media, Influencers, and Algorithms

The anatomy of this viral hoax reveals how social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube became major vectors for misinformation. They actually amplified false narratives to vast audiences.

How did they do it? First, these companies provided influencers and pseudoscientists a platform that lent them credibility to spread misinformation among their followers. Unfortunately, there were no measures to fact-check the claims back then.

Then the audience engages with the misinformation. In fact, they can easily share it to their contact list and their contact lists do the same. As a result, the algorithms in these platforms created echo chambers where false beliefs were reinforced. This makes it difficult for accurate information to break through.

Now, the problem with this kind of system is that people have biases about the information that they prefer to believe in. Hence, public health officials had difficulty getting through to ordinary folks because they had pre-conceived notions on what is already factual from what is plain hoax.

Devastating Impact on Public Health

This rapid spread of misinformation had a devastating impact on public health. There were such claims that vaccines cause autism or permanent damage to spreading COVID were not real to begin with. This led to increased vaccine hesitancy and not taking the global health pandemic seriously. It slowed down vaccination rates and prolonged the pandemic.

As a result, lower vaccination rates translated into more severe outbreaks. This strained the healthcare systems and led to higher mortality rates in some areas. Moreover, the constant barrage of misinformation eroded public trust in health institutions since they preferred to heed advice from pseudo-scientists. This made it harder to implement effective public health measures.

This could have been prevented if people just had the critical thinking skills to determine which information was credible. Moreover, government agencies should have sanctioned social media companies from spreading misinformation. This does not actually stifle freedom of information. During that time, there were compelling reasons to curb inaccuracies of unprofessional health advice because the government aimed to save lives and further stop bleeding the economy.

The DNA Alteration Myth: A Case Study in Misinformation

One striking example of the persistence of misinformation is the false claim that mRNA vaccines could alter DNA. Despite being debunked by experts, this myth spread rapidly through social media and continued to circulate. This case signifies the need for proactive communication strategies that address misinformation early on and present accurate information in an engaging and accessible way. Furthermore, this also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between health authorities and social media platforms to quickly identify and remove false narratives.

Building a Resilient Society Through Media Literacy

The COVID-19 infodemic serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by viral hoaxes in the digital age. However, it also presents an opportunity to learn and build a more resilient society. Investing in MIL education at all levels, would promote critical thinking from a young age.

In support of accurate information sources, we can empower individuals to navigate the complexities of the information landscape. They can make informed decisions about their health and well-being. This multifaceted approach, combining education, critical thinking, and collaboration, is essential for combating misinformation effectively and safeguarding public health.