NBA Star Kyle Kuzma Updates: Quotes and Snaps during the first days of his Philippine tour

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



We were fortunate enough to be able to attend Kyle Kuzma's press conference (August 26, 2024) and also got an up close opportunity to interview him.

Afterwards, he headed to a basketball clinic for kids in partnership with the Quezon City LGU and Navitas, a non-traditional learning center focused on educating kids in non-classroom type environments. Here, he led the kids in drills and participated in scrimmages.

The day before (August 25, 2024), he had a special guest appearance with a But First, Coffee Philippines event held at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia.

For more updates on photos and videos, please visit our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wazzuppilipinas

Here are the events together with some photos, Wazzup Pilipinas was able to cover:

August 25 - But First, Coffee Fan Meet

 

August 26 (AM) - Press Conference and Media Availability

August 26 (PM) - Basketball Clinic in Partnership with QC LGU

Below are some of the questions and answers transcribed from his interviews:

  

On relationship with Kobe:

[My relationship with Kobe] means the world, it means everything. I think I was very blessed and fortunate when I first came into the NBA to build relationship, real relationship with [Kobe] and ask him about a lot of different things whether it was basketball, life, business, relationship, what to do, what not to do. You know I think coming into the NBA being 22 years old, 21, 22 and having somebody like that as a mentor you know to just guide me but also just for me to take his words and do whatever with them is invaluable.




On his passion for fashion:

Q: At least in your 24 hours in Manila did anything resonate with you of course in that sense Kyle and of course at the Asian fashion and culture?

I feel like it always has. I feel like I've always admired Asian fashion. I think a lot of the trends are always set over here. You know I think you know people on the east side of the world are very tasteful. You know they care about materials, fabrics, what they wear, how they present themselves, greetings so I think naturally I've always kind of took that a little bit so.




On clothing brand Childhood Dreams:

I really want to bring more of it out here.

I think that's something that is my next steps—meeting more people over here [like] distributors to share my artistry and what I look at as clothing. So that's definitely the top of my agenda for sure.




On his passion for art:

I've always been interested in art. I think it started as a kid. I used to draw as a kid a lot whether it was elementary. I always had a notebook with me drawing anime characters and Dragon Ball Z and certain landscapes and houses and stuff. So I think naturally being that way as a kid really made me who I am today with how much I love actual art or collecting art or clothing and fashion because that's art as well.

So I think it all just ties in and that started when I was child.




On non-profit supporting single mothers and their children:

I think that's super important. I know when I was a kid I didn't have a good life for sure but also it was challenging in a way. I grew up with a single mother.

Mom worked a bunch of different jobs. Two jobs sometimes. Grandmother had to raise us a bunch of times. I had to babysit by myself at a young age with my two younger siblings. So I understand what it was like to have humble beginnings and you know not a crazy head start into life and I think that the way my mom is, she runs our nonprofit. She is president and I think it's important to give back and especially it's related with me– like you said– single mothers, underprivileged kids.

That was me. That was us. So it's important.




On building a winning culture with the Wizards:

I think that's the most important thing to me right now because you know the past two seasons

I've had career years and I've gotten better and better. I like to win. I felt how to win and I think that having career years are good but you know it's not as fun if the people with you aren't having career years as well and having collective team wins so I think this year is all about building that and helping others get better.

So yeah that's super important to me you know trying to just build a winning culture. Last year was the first year of our rebuild. This is year two.

We're a young team but we have a lot of talent and you know good character guys. We had a mini camp a couple weeks ago with the whole team the new guys so it'll be great. What is it like right now you know more the Mamba mentality of course you gotta build and rebuild to be successful in your own way.




On taking on a leadership role and having a Mamba Mentality:

You just have to live it everyday. I think I do that because at the end of the day I've been in the league for eight years, and I love it just as if I was a kid still. You know as you get older you take a little bit more breaks in the off season but you know when I have a basketball in my hands when I'm training I feel like a kid again and I think that's what always keeps me going and pushes me to kind of strive for that mentality.

It’s all about passion so you know if you love something you're gonna do it to the best of your ability so.




On what Filipino fans can expect from him:

A lot. Like I said, this is my first time being here and [I got] unbelievable reception and love coming here. I've always wanted to come here so I think now that the world is really open back up and a lot of us are able to travel more and be back over in Asia Southeast Asia and Philippines something that I plan to do every year to get back on track. Because at the beginning of my career I was always in Asia and they got derailed a little bit but I'm back.




On his message to Filipino fans:

Thank you guys for all coming out. This is incredible– just the love here is amazing. I truly, truly appreciate it and I'm excited to see a lot more to come.

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.