DepEd to Honor Educators at National Teachers’ Month Culmination

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


In celebration of the indispensable role that educators play in shaping the nation, the Department of Education (DepEd) will conclude the grand festivities of the 2024 National Teachers’ Month (NTM) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Thursday, October 3.

The culminating event for this year’s National Teachers’ Day will be graced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos as guests of honor. During his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Marcos acknowledged the critical role of teachers in the country’s educational recovery: “Sa madaling sabi, kung talagang ninanais nating maging matagumpay ang hinahangad nating pagbangon sa larangan ng edukasyon, sila, ang ating mga guro ang dapat nating itaguyod at patatagin.”

Joining the First Couple in the celebration are Education Secretary Sonny Angara, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and NTM Coordinating Council Chairperson and Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto Sobrepena. The event will feature a day-long program that includes raffle draws and performances from various artists and celebrities.

“Always remember the significant role our teachers play in the progress of our nation. We count on you to continue prioritizing the welfare of our students,” Secretary Angara remarked.

With the theme “Together4Teachers,” this year’s celebration shines a spotlight on the tireless

dedication of Filipino educators and underscores their vital role in nation-building.

The event is expected to draw approximately 10,000 participants, including public school teachers, education stakeholders, DepEd officials, and local government representatives from across the country.

The National Teachers’ Day celebration, hosted by DepEd-NCR and co-led by DepEd’s External Partnerships Service (EPS), is in accordance with Republic Act No. 10743, which officially designates October 5 of each year as National Teachers’ Day.

How do ordinary people ‘sense’ water quality?

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This is an international study on how communities living along the Marikina River experience, practice, and perceive water quality.


The researchers recommend that local experiential knowledge of water quality be taken into account when creating policies on water purification and distribution, as peoples' sensory experiences are the main way they define “good” water. This is particularly critical when tackling issues such as contamination from microplastics, which are otherwise colorless, tasteless, and odorless.


Seeing—and tasting—is believing: a qualitative study of communities living along the Philippines’ bustling Marikina River underscores the importance of taking into account local peoples’ everyday experiences, practices, and perceptions in establishing water quality.



Anthropologists Gideon Lasco of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Development Studies Program and Anita Hardon of Wageningen University’s Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation Group undertook a four-month exploration of human-water relations in communities along the Marikina River. They followed the river upstream, interviewing water drinkers, distributors, and regulators from low- and middle-income groups.



The researchers found that people rely primarily on their own sensory experiences of the water—such as its color, taste, and smell—to evaluate its quality. For instance, while clear water is considered safer than muddy water, clear but rusty-tasting water is inferior to sweet-tasting water. But more importantly, according to the researchers, people saw water quality as dynamic and changeable, depending on current and future circumstances: a recent typhoon might make the water muddy for a few days, but it is seen to gradually clear up and improve.



Access to clean water is also influenced by social and economic factors: the urban communities downstream of the Marikina River can afford to rely on water-refilling stations and bottled water despite the significant financial cost, whereas upstream communities tap into natural sources like springs despite the risks of contamination. Furthermore, while privatization of the water distribution system has expanded water access, many low-income and upstream communities still lack consistent access to piped water.



In conclusion, Lasco and Hardon recommend that policies on water purification and distribution take into account local experiential knowledge of water quality, with the understanding that people’s sensory experiences are the main way they define “good” water. This is particularly critical when tackling issues such as contamination from microplastics, which are otherwise colorless, tasteless, and odorless.



SOURCE:

https://archium.ateneo.edu/dev-stud-faculty-pubs/250/




Cover photo: A map of the Marikina River showing the various areas visited by the researchers. (PHOTO CREDIT: Gideon Lasco and Anita Hardon)

23rd PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival: Opening Weekend!

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The PELÍCULA>PELIKULA Spanish Film Festival is back for its 23rd edition, celebrating the best of Spanish and Latin American cinema. Organized by Instituto Cervantes, the Festival will run from October 5 to 13, 2024, at the Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza, with a dynamic lineup of films and special events throughout the opening weekend.



The Festival kicks off on October 5 with the highly anticipated screening of Pablo Berger’s award-winning animated film Robot Dreams at 7:30 PM. This heartwarming film tells the story of a lonely dog who orders a robot to be his companion. The film, which premiered at Cannes and was shortlisted at the latest Oscar Awards, has garnered critical acclaim. Prior to the opening film, audiences can enjoy the screening of Fuenteovejuna at 4:30 PM, a film adaptation of Lope de Vega's iconic play.



On October 6, the festival offers a free animation workshop for Kids with Spanish filmmaker Mario Torrecillas at 10:00 AM. This will be held at the grand atrium of Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong.



On October 6, the screenings kick off with Carmen at 2:30 PM, a flamenco-infused adaptation of Merimée's classic tale, where the passionate Carmen's quest for freedom clashes with her lover Don José's jealousy. At 5:00 PM, 7 mesas de billar Francés follows Angela, who revives her late father's billiard hall while navigating personal loss and financial challenges. The day concludes with La llegada (Upon Entry) at 7:30 PM, a tense drama about a couple detained at Newark airport and interrogated by border agents who suspect they may be hiding something.



Audience members are invited to enjoy the festival’s bonus program: for every 5 films attended, they will receive exclusive merchandise from Instituto Cervantes de Manila. Film lovers can collect stamps on their Película ballots at each screening to earn their rewards!



And the coming week is also promising! On Monday, October 7, at 1:00 PM, Mario Torrecillas will deliver his talk From Comics to Film, which will discuss his work as a comic author and his experience of adapting comics to cinema. And then, at 2:30 PM, he will present the film Loli Tormenta (2023), of which he wrote the script.



On October 8, Tuesday, don't miss the Q&A session with Luis Roca and Marta de Santa Ana, the director and producer of the documentary Benito Pérez Buñuel, who will engage in a discussion with She Andes, a documentary filmmaker from Mapúa University School of Media Studies. This is an exciting opportunity to explore the nuances of documentary filmmaking and engage with the creative minds behind the work.



The 23rd edition of PELÍCULA>PELIKULA is presented by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, Embajada de España en Filipinas, Shangri-La Plaza, and Red Carpet Cinemas. The festival is held in collaboration with MTRCB, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Teatro Real, Embajada Argentina en Filipinas, Embassy of Brazil in Manila, Embajada de Colombia en Filipinas, University of the Philippines Film Institute, De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde, CMB Film Services Inc., University of the Philippines Department of European Languages, Far Eastern University - Institute of Arts and Science, Ateneo de Manila University - Modern Languages, Meridian International College, CIIT College of Arts and Technology, Mapua University School of Media Studies, i-Academy Makati, Asia Pacific Film Institute, Kinoise PH, and SINEGANG PH. The Festival is proudly sponsored by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., Arthaland, Ayala Corporation, BOYSEN, Fundador, Terminal Six, and Barcino.



All screenings are free of charge, and films will be shown in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles.



For more information and updates on the festival, including the full schedule, please visit the Instituto Cervantes de Manila website at https://manila.cervantes.es or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila .