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UP Cebu hosts talk, ceremony on nature restoration with indigenous culture bearers

February 3, 2024

Culture bearers from Bukidnon, Ifugao, Palawan, and Cebu will gather together this Saturday, February 3, at the Jose Joya Gallery in the University of the Philippines Cebu to lead the sharing of experiences and collaborative exploration of Kapwa values for ecosystem restoration and regeneration in an afternoon session titled “Pamati sa Kalikopan (Listening to Nature).”

Datu Migketay “Vic” Saway, who will represent the Talaandig people of Bukidnon as their chieftain, will be joined by Palawan Babaylan Janet Dolera, Ifugao Mumbaki Mamerto Tindongan, Pagdiwata Farmers of Cebu, and Living Story Landscapes and Green Releaf Sarah Queblatin.

These revered wisdom bearers from indigenous and tribal communitiess will afterwards officiate Busilak sa Kilomkilom, a solemn ceremony starting at 6 p.m. in UP Cebu’s Sunset Garden that aims to deepen the community’s connections with its ancestral and bio-cultural heritage.

The sundown ceremony aims to highlight smart and sustainable living inspired by indigenous wisdom and traditional ecological knowledge. The activity is organized by Green Releaf Initiative and Living Story Landscapes in collaboration with the Philippine Commission on Culture and the Arts (PCCA), UP Cebu College of Communication, Art, and Design (CCAD), Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, UP Cebu University Student Council, Fine Arts Students Organization, Communicators of UP, Lanog, UP Students’ Theater Arts Guild for Education.

Pamati sa Kalikopan, on the other hand, is the first in a series of events under the umbrella of Kapwa Story Circles, described as reflective strategy retreats for ecosystem restoration and regeneration leaders. It aims to tackle ancestral earth wisdom and sacred ecology. Attendance is by invitation only.

Newsrooms learn to navigate the digital  space

November 21, 2023

How are newsrooms coping with digitization? CDN Digital marked the end of Cebu Press Freedom Week with a forum tackling various topics, starting with a close look at traditional and digital media and going into the challenges that media organizations face in a digital world.

The speakers of “The Role of Newsrooms in an Evolving Digital Space” event last Sept. 22, 2023 at the University of the Philippines Cebu Arts and Sciences Hall included content creator Immae Lachica, senior copy editor Brian Ochoa, and social media manager Ralph Gurango of Inquirer.net. 

Other essential topics discussed during the forum included social media reporting as well as the key principles and ethical issues involved in reporting in the digital age.

The activity marked the end of the Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration from Sept. 17-23 in Cebu.

Assistant Professor for Political Science and Coordinator of Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment of UP Cebu Atty. Archill Capistrano shared in her opening remarks the importance of the press and newsrooms in empowering the next generation.

Student attendees from the University of the Philippines Cebu, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Normal University, and Cebu Technological University asked questions after the talk.

Unveiling the Dictator’s Dirt: 1081 Exhibit sheds light on Martial Law’s legacy

November 21, 2023

In its sixth consecutive year, the 1081 Exhibit commemorated the 51st Proclamation of Martial Law with a week-long event held from September 15 to 22. This year’s theme, “Lift the Sheets: Uncovering the Dictator’s Dirt,” aimed to honor those who were silenced during the Martial Law Era and to amplify the call for a more just, empathetic, and competent governance.

A press conference that featured guest speakers from organizations such as MLDR, Kabataan Partylist, AMA Sugbo KMU, STAMP, and COMMUP kicked off the event on September 15. The speakers emphasized the critical importance of upholding human rights and preserving freedom of speech and the press.

The following day, a Community Immersion event took place at the Carbon Public Market. Participants, including schools, organizations, and various sectors, engaged in a basic masses exposure (BMEx) that allowed them to gain firsthand insight into the daily lives and challenges faced by market vendors. This experience shed light on issues such as privatization, fascism, and the threat to livelihoods due to the loss of space.

On September 18, in collaboration with the Fine Arts Students Organization (FASO) and curator Greys Compuesto, the Multimedia and Art Exhibit was formally launched at UP Cebu’s Jose T. Joya Gallery. This exhibit featured works from different artists paying tribute to Martial Law victims.

Throughout the week, a series of forums, seminars, educational discussions, film screenings, protest actions, performances, and contests served as a poignant reminder of the historical significance of this dark chapter in the nation’s history.

The event culminated on September 22 with a closing ceremony at UP Cebu’s Performing Arts Hall, where participants, partners, and volunteers were acknowledged for their pivotal roles in making this year’s 1081 Exhibit a resounding success.

In essence, this week-long exhibit courageously brought to light the secrets of the dictator’s regime, as participants fearlessly lifted the sheets to bear witness to the bloodshed buried beneath the historical dirt. (Erna Josette Bonsukan, BA Communication 2)

Veteran journalists talk about  AI in  journalism in GMA Masterclass

November 21, 2023

Veteran journalists from GMA Integrated News talked about their experiences, professional milestones, and perspectives on the practice of journalism with easy access to such technology tools as generative artificial intelligence or AI during the highly popular “GMA Masterclass: The Cebu Press Freedom Week Special” at the University of the Philippines Cebu Performing Arts Hall last Sept. 18, 2023.

Organized by GMA Regional TV, the forum took on the theme “Journalism in the Age of AI” and featured Howie Severino, Pia Arcanghel, Aileen Perez, and Nikko Sereno as resource persons. 

The masterclass was one of the activities of the 31st Cebu Press Freedom from Sept. 17 to 23.

Students from various colleges and universities, such as the University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu Normal University, University of San Jose Recoletos, Southwestern University PHINMA, Cebu Technological University, University of the Visayas, University of San Carlos, Santo Nino Mactan College, among others, converged at the event. They were eager to learn more about the topic of artificial intelligence and how it is impacting the landscape of journalism.

The event began with a warm welcome from UP Cebu Chancellor, Atty. Leo Malagar. In his opening remarks, he underscored the importance of students remaining vigilant, actively engaged, and steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding democracy and upholding the principles of freedom.

GMA Masterclass icons also shared some advice for youngsters aspiring to be the next generation of journalists. They also gave their insights and perspectives on artificial intelligence.

Severino underscored the importance of recognizing AI as a complementary tool to journalism, while also highlighting its potential as a weapon capable of causing harm. 

In light of generative AI tools, Perez emphasized that while AI holds valuable applications in monitoring and data analytics, it is important to acknowledge its potential to generate uncanny content.

Arcanghel underlined the potential advantages of employing AI in research but confessed her hesitation to use it due to a worry about becoming overly reliant on it. 

Meanwhile, Sereno stressed the time-saving benefits of AI while cautioning against its misuse.

GMA Masterclass: The Cebu Press Freedom Week Special marked the start of the 31st Cebu Press Freedom Week aimed at providing an arena for discussion and education on various local and national issues for students and educators. (Report by Charles Jave Retanal/Photos by Adriana Villena)

Comm UP opens 1081 Exhibit to commemorate Martial Law victims

November 21, 2023

The 1081 Exhibit, now in its sixth year, commemorates the 51st Proclamation of Martial Law with an Opening Program and a Multimedia and Art Exhibit that was launched last Monday, September 18, at UP Cebu’s Jose T. Joya Gallery under the theme “Lift the Sheets: Uncovering the Dictator’s Dirt.”

Participants in this significant event pledged never to forget the sacrifices made by Filipinos who bravely stood up against oppression.

“The 1081 Exhibit aims to counter fake news and disinformation of Martial Law with the factual narrative and connect the past with the present by resurfacing the [Marcos] family’s great robbery of the country and its impact on citizens that can still manifest until today,” said Kirstein Ann Pilongo, this year’s 1081 Exhibit Project Head and current Communicators of UP Chairperson, in her opening statement.

The week-long exhibit will last until Friday, September 22. It will include forums, seminars, educational discussions, film showings, protest actions, performances, and contests that will serve as a somber reminder of the significance of remembering this tragic and dark chapter in our history.

The UP Students’ Theater Arts Guild for Education (UPSTAGE) delivered an evocative performance, strongly reenacting the torturous memories of Martial Law victims, and provoking strong emotions from the audience.

Bounded by the solemn setting, student leaders from various organizations organized a protest action, lifting their voices to address important issues and voicing their firm opposition to the current administration’s acts of injustice.

The opening event was then succeeded by the opening of the Multimedia and Art Exhibit at UP Cebu’s College of Art and Design (CCAD) COMM Wing, which was organized in partnership with the Fine Arts Students Organization (FASO) and curator Greys Compuesto. The exhibit featured a variety of artworks in many forms that reflected a visual narrative of the contradictory Martial Law Era. (Erna Josette Bonsukan, BA Communication 2)

UP Cebu holds public screening of award-winning short film ‘Sibuyas ni Perfecto’

November 21, 2023

The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu has opened to the public the screening on Sept. 1, 2023 of the Cinemalaya XIX Best Short Film “Sibuyas ni Perfecto.”

Directed and produced by Prof. Januar E. Yap of the College of Communication, Art, and Design (CCAD) of UP Cebu, “Sibuyas ni Perfecto” will be shown at 3 p.m. and then again on 4:15 p.m. at the UP Cebu Lawak Sinehan.

Yap said the film documents one day in the life of a farmer as he goes about performing a task for someone he considered a friend. He added that he leaves it to the viewers how they will see this one day in the life of Perfecto.

“Gilaum namo nga ang mga mananaway makakita o mahimong saksi sa usa ka sitwasyon nga bisan tuod og kadiyot lang o simple lang pero duna siyay dagkong kahulugan sa konteksto sa atong kinabuhi isip nasud,” Yap said.

In choosing to award “Sibuyas ni Perfecto” the Balanghai for Best Short Film, Cinemalaya cited its “quiet but coruscating take on social iniquity and how the poor’s exploitation by the rich is driven by their own denigration and self-abasement.” The Cinemalaya 2023 awards night was held on August 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

UP Cebu Creative Writing Program Relaunches Tagik Landasan Writing Workshop

November 21, 2023

The UP Cebu Creative Writing Program of CCAD is now accepting submissions for the 3rd Tagik Landasan Writing Workshop, to be held in October 9-10, 2023 at Multimedia Room (Day 1) & Joya Gallery (Day 2).

Eight (8) Slots shall be reserved for UPC students (Grade-10 & 11 and College Undergraduates). Two (2 ) slots are reserved for UPC Alumni who are based on Cebu City. Please note that previous Tagik Landasan Writing Workshop fellows as well as fellows of regional and national writing workshops are not qualified for this year’s writing workshop. Interested applicants may submit the following genres in either Cebuano or English—a suite of three (3) to five (5) poems; one (1) five-to-eight-page short story, or one (1) five-to-eight-page creative nonfiction (personal essay).

Entries must be typed in Book Antiqua, font size 12, with 1-inch margin on all sides, single-spaced for poetry while double-spaced for prose entries. Entries must not bear the author’s name. Applicants are required to submit their resume with a scanned 2×2 ID picture. A statement of intent providing a short background of their literary interests should accompany the application.

Submissions must be sent as attachments in Word file with the subject header format “Tagik Landasan_[Applicant’s Full Name]_[Genre: Poetry, Fiction, or CNF]” (example: Tagik Landasan_Aiko Sukahi_Fiction) to the following email address:[email protected] After the workshop, there will be a culminating event to recognize the fellows in Gabiing Dako: A Night of Poetry which will be organized by UP TINTA.

UP Cebu Communication Student Directs Play for Kulukabildo: Stories to End the Stigma and Celebrate Life

November 21, 2023

Watch Mavy Avila’s play “Sama sa Mga Duwaan ni Inday” in Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc.’s Kulukabildo: Stories to End the Stigma and Celebrate Life. Kulukabildo features eight plays written by Palanca-award-winning writers, translated into Bisaya, and adapted for the stage by Bisaya directors and actors.

Avila is a BA Communication IV student at the UP Cebu College of Communication, Art, and Design.

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