IskaSpeaks

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SDGs with KBs: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with Kabataang Boluntaryo

“We are all connected. Human health and the health of our common home go together.”

In today’s session in SDGs with KBs, the main topic is all about climate change and COVID-19, how the human world, the animal world, and the whole ecosystem are interconnected to one another. 

Mr. Ludwig O. Federigan emphasized that climate change and COVID-19 are both threats to one’s country. These crises are problems with no passports. This COVID-19 cannot be stopped at any borders, and this climate change which does not know any national boundaries need both government response and private sector support. COVID-19 and climate change cannot be isolated because it requires health system strengthening, real-time surveillance, workforce preparedness, and emergency response, risk communication, and global cooperation.

With that, it is now time for the government to prioritize climate change, shift gears, and embrace change. The government should include the said crisis in Post-Covid Economic Plan because COVID-19 is no longer a health crisis but now an economic crisis. We must keep in mind that both COVID-19 and climate change need to flatten their curves immediately. Because if the government and other sectors fail to make our economic stimulus sustainable and equitable, we will put the planet Earth into much deeper economic, social, ecological turmoil caused by the worsening of the said threats above.

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Speaking of  DevCom

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I get to love DevCom more while listening to the stories of the two award-winning practitioners of Development Communication.

Upon hearing their experiences, I realized that I chose the right path. Of all the communication course, Development Communication is the only “BS” or Bachelor of Science. Why is that so? Development Communication has a systematic method to accomplish before coming up with a result and solution. It has the quality that stands out among others. Moreover, this field is all about improving people’s lives. Devcom practitioners address underdevelopment issues to make a better society. Our service is what everyone needs. Devcom is for the people, by the people, and of the people.

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THE SOCIAL DILEMMA

Social media is  a drug. Question your online habit. Contemplate. How much of your life can you give to social media?

The Social Dilemma has made me believe that we are being manipulated by the tech giants, or sometimes our preferences are being used against us, for the sake of their increasing worth and profit.

I saw on the documentary how these tech companies, which should supposedly help and connect us people, has formed a rather wider division and conflict, sometimes leading to unwanted circumstances such as violence.

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Can Tree Planting Our Planet?

In this webinar, there were speakers who centered their  topic on the heavy carbon emission in our planet, and Green House Gases (GHG) that could lead to climate change. One of the major reasons of these carbon emission is  due  to the high demand in technology and the use of plastics. If this gets worse and worse, the Earth will turn into a ball of fire in the near future. Hence, the only thing that could prevent the problem is by planting trees. Trees have a great impact in the environment. Not only it provides oxygen, but also it improves air quality and climate amelioration.

Good thing is, there are business and  political leaders from Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that have pledged to  trillions of trees in order to save our planet.Also, Global Landscapes Forum promotes and aims to highlight ways of planting trees.

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UP DevComSoc: THROUGH THE LENS

“Sumunod na lang kayo, imbis na magreklamo!”

Sounds familiar, right? Or more like, sounds privileged?

It is funny how privileged people put hate on something that they do not know about. Instead of having empathy, some of them are blaming the less fortunate who continuously go outside to earn a living. They blame vendors, wage workers, commuters, farmers for having one of the highest cases in Asia. But what you do not know is that people risk their lives to have money and resources in order to survive. It saddens me that it is easy for people to judge something they do not feel and understand.

“Sumunod na lang kayo! Ang titigas ng ulo niyo!” Paano sila susunod kung wala na silang ibang paraan para mabuhay? Paano sila susunod kung ang tanging paraan lang para makakain ay lumabas ng tahanan? Paano sila susunod kung wala namang suporta sa pamahalaan? Paano sila susunod kung lumalabag din ang mga may katungkulan?” Paano sila susunod kung biktima sila ng korupsyon at kahirapan?

Sumusunod sila, sa pinakasimpleng paraan lamang na kaya nila. We are not in the same boat. Others are in the yacht, some are in the boat, but most are drowning, so have empathy. Be kind to others.

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GendER Live!

ON WEDNESDAYS, WE SMASH THE PATRIARCHY!

In a world where the patriarchal system has been normalized, I couldn’t agree more with Steinem’s satire. If men could menstruate instead of women, of course, it would be too easy for them to adapt things since nothing could change the constructed reality that they are still the superior gender in our society.

But the norm, the standard, the system, would still be same－whatever characteristics/features the powerful may possess, they would remain to be powerful, and no one could withdraw that. It is a known fact that even before we identify ourselves as men and women, society has a predetermined role for us－that men are superior and women are inferior.

This is the reason why women and other gender are still stereotyped as the less powerful compared to women. In today’s generation, we can still experience gender inequality and violence. The law may have put weight on under-representation instead of representation in spite of the fact that women nowadays are now in seat of power in the government.

Maybe, we still need to have  more and more representations, gender-neutral laws, and policies (shown in the picture) to speak for us, women, and all the other genders. Let us continue to stand up and speak up for to debunk the misconception, stereotyping, and oppression across all genders.

On Wednesdays, we smash the patriarchy!

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UP ADS FLASHFORWARD 2020: Your Visions In Focus

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“What do you want in the future?”

It was the hardest question for me to answer way back.

When I was younger, I never dreamt of being a lawyer. What I wanted was to become a fashion designer, engineer, or architect. But my grandmother pushes me to be a lawyer because she is a lawyer too. At first, I was hesitant because I cannot foresee myself doing such a job. The tables turned when I listened to Atty. Vida Verzosa’s talk, I got inspired to pursue law in the future. Indeed, the speakers Atty. Vida and Kuya Bonz Magsambol helped me to figure out my dreams. I knew Kuya Bonz Magsambol way back in high school. We had the same Alma mater. My teachers used to tell me how great Kuya Bonz is. He became the editor-in-chief of our school paper, but he was way older than me, so I did not get the chance to work with him. Three years after, I also became the editor-in-chief. That time, he visited in school and became our inspirational speaker. During the introduction, the emcee mentioned that the course of Kuya Bon was BS Development Communication. I started to become curious. I asked everyone about that degree program. When I found out the answer, I knew I would love DevCom. I learned that Devcom is working for the people, by the people, and of the people.

Here I am now, a Development Communicator in-training. Kuya Bonz is one of the reasons why I am here. And once I get to be a Development Communication practitioner, I also promise to love my work and enjoy every minute of serving the people.

Fernando Amorsolo’s Palay Maiden with her girlfriend.