Angara visits 5 Northern Mindanao schools, leads first DepEd Management Committee Meeting in CDO

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



As part of ongoing efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) to address on-the-ground concerns, Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited five schools in Northern Mindanao and spearheaded the agency’s first out-of-town Management Committee (ManComm) meeting under his watch in his two-day official visit.

Secretary Angara visited the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) and City Central School in SDO Cagayan de Oro; Kinanao Pamalihi Elementary School and Opol National Secondary Trade School in SDO Misamis Oriental; and Sinaloc National High School in SDO El Salvador City.

Sec. Angara personally checked in on teachers and learners and assessed the conditions of classrooms and facilities. He also took the opportunity to discuss DepEd's current programs, emphasizing key initiatives being implemented under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We are here to assist you and I think with good coordination, mas marami rin tayong solusyon,” Sec. Angara said.

A key highlight of Angara’s stop at Kinanao Pamalihi Elementary School was the turnover ceremony of a Last Mile School building, a significant project dedicated to the indigenous Higaonon community. At City Central School, Angara also inaugurated a newly established Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC). The state-of-the-art facility includes a hydrotherapy room, speech laboratory, computer laboratory, drone simulation facility, and a Madrasah classroom, catering to the diverse needs of the student population.

Angara also presided during the DepEd ManComm meeting, which focused on updates on the preparation of the agency in the upcoming international large-scale assessments including PISA and the Early Procurement Activities to be conducted this year. Additionally, the rollout of the Alternative Learning System – Senior High School (ALS-SHS) program was also discussed.

Joining Angara were other top DepEd officials, including members of the Executive Committee, as well as Bureau, Service, and Regional Directors from across the country. Some Executive Committee members also visited various schools, including Cagayan De Oro National High School, West City Central School, Gusa Elementary School, and El Salvador National High School.



Angara also attended the 53rd National and 14th International Convention of the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators (PAFTE). Addressing participants, he laid out the department’s vision for advancing teacher education and professional development, underscoring the vital role educators play in shaping the nation’s future.

23rd PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival: Premio del Público Winner Announced!

Wazzup Pilipinas!!?



Instituto Cervantes is thrilled to announce that the winner of this year’s Premio del Público (Audience Choice Award)! of the 23rd PELÍCULA>PELIKULA Spanish Film Festival is Casa en llamas (Dani de la Orden, 2024). The award-winning film will be shown once again on October 13 at 5:00 PM at the Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza, as a special closing feature of the festival.

Casa en llamas follows Montse, a determined woman set on reuniting her distant family for an ideal weekend at the Costa Brava. However, what begins as an attempt at familial bonding quickly unravels into chaos, as her dream of togetherness spirals out of control. This darkly comedic film, filled with humor and heartfelt moments, resonated strongly with PELÍCULA’s audiences. It has earned acclaim for its witty portrayal of family dynamics, capturing both the light and dark aspects of familial relationships.

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 .

Why the Environment Must Be a Priority in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a country where natural disasters are a regular occurrence, it’s surprising that environmental concerns often rank low on the list of critical national issues. But should we allow the environment to be relegated to "others" when its fate directly impacts our health, safety, and future?

The Philippines: A Nation at Environmental Risk

Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries on Earth. Typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes frequently wreak havoc on communities, and climate change is intensifying these already severe events. The destruction is inescapable, but as the environment slips further down the national agenda, we are essentially ignoring the very thing that could help mitigate these risks.

The Environment is the Foundation of Health

It’s no secret: a greener environment means a healthier population. The World Health Organization has deemed the air quality in the Philippines "moderately unsafe." The consequences of this are already being felt. Cities like Makati, Pasig, and Quezon City rank among the most polluted in the National Capital Region. Air pollution is causing respiratory illnesses, while coal plant emissions are contributing to an estimated 2,400 premature deaths every year.

But imagine this: clean air, unpolluted water, and accessible green spaces. All these elements contribute to improved mental and physical health, easing the strain on our already fragile healthcare system. Health isn’t just about hospitals and doctors—it’s about the air we breathe and the water we drink. When the environment thrives, so do we.

Pollution: A Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore

The Philippines is the third largest contributor to plastic pollution globally, producing 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste annually. This waste doesn’t just disappear. It chokes our oceans, kills marine life, and threatens coastal communities. In a country reliant on fishing and tourism, allowing plastic to destroy our waters is like cutting off our lifeline.

Water and air pollution have also exceeded acceptable health standards, leading to rising greenhouse gas emissions. As cities become more urbanized, the pressure on natural resources intensifies. But the solution to these problems is clear: an urgent shift toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The Cost of Environmental Degradation

Natural disasters—floods, droughts, and typhoons—are becoming more frequent and intense. Deforestation, another serious issue, leaves us more vulnerable to flooding and soil erosion, accelerating the destruction of agricultural lands and endangering food security. Our forests, which serve as natural barriers against disaster, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Without them, we are left defenseless.

And it’s not just the land. Rising sea levels and plastic pollution are damaging our coastal ecosystems and threatening the livelihoods of millions who depend on marine resources. The crisis isn’t looming—it’s already here. How long can we ignore the environmental disasters unfolding before our eyes?

The Link Between Poverty and Environmental Degradation

The cycle of poverty exacerbates environmental destruction. Impoverished communities often rely on unsustainable practices, such as illegal logging, to survive. These activities strip the land of vital resources, further eroding the environment. Deforestation leads to flooding; overfishing depletes marine stocks; pollution poisons the water. The result? The most vulnerable are left even more exposed to environmental harm, creating a downward spiral that becomes harder to escape.

Our Constitution Demands Environmental Protection

The Philippine Constitution is clear: "The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature." Yet, despite these words, environmental protection remains sidelined. Why are we not holding our leaders accountable to this constitutional promise? Why are we not making the environment a central issue, as it so clearly should be?

A Call to Action: How to Care for What You Don’t See

Perhaps part of the problem lies in a disconnection from nature. Many Filipinos, especially those living in urbanized areas, rarely experience the natural world firsthand. Without a personal relationship with nature, it’s easier to disregard its importance. But caring for the environment isn’t a matter of sentimentality—it’s about survival. We need to reconnect with our surroundings, not just for aesthetic reasons, but because our lives depend on it.

Environmental Responsibility is Everyone’s Duty

The environment sustains us all. It provides the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe. We cannot continue down this path of environmental neglect without paying a steep price. Every time we ignore the destruction of a forest, the pollution of a river, or the extinction of a species, we are chipping away at the very foundation of our own existence.

The question is not whether we should prioritize the environment—the question is, why haven’t we already? Environmental degradation affects every facet of life: from the health of our people to the strength of our economy. It is time we made it the priority it deserves to be.

The Time for Change is Now

The environment is not just a backdrop to our lives—it is the stage upon which our future will be played out. If we want to live in a world where natural disasters are less frequent, where our air is clean and our water safe, we must act now. We must demand more from our leaders, our industries, and ourselves.

The environment is not "another" issue. It is the issue. Because without it, nothing else matters.