NEWS: DSWD-6 briefs media on reporting children’s cases (PHILIPPINES)

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 17 (PIA6) -- Media institutions should maintain the highest ethical and professional standards in reporting of children's cases, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 6. 

DSWD gathered representatives from media outfits here, to dialogue among themselves and among children representing various institutions in a forum on Social Media Ethics. 

The forum yielded a guide as to how media practitioners, in the exercise of their work, can become a partner in the promotion of children's rights and prevention of child delinquency. 

May Castillo, DSWD information officer, said the media guidelines focus on children's absolute right to privacy, and respect for his dignity at all times.

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AWARDS: Kara David, I-Witness receive UNICEF prize in Korea

GMA Network television host Kara David and her "I-Witness" team received the prestigious UNICEF Child Rights Award this week at the Asia Broadcasting Union awards ceremony in Seoul, Korea for the documentary "Alkansya."

GMA News TV will show the“Alkansya” I-Witness documentary in a special, primetime airing on October 27, Saturday, at 10:00 p.m. on Channel 11.  

David’s “Alkansya” stood out from over 40 entries from the Asia and Pacific region as the besttelevision documentary on children’s rights. 

“Alkansya” tells the story of Anthony, a 12-year old boy from Eastern Samar who has to dive for sea cucumbers everyday. 

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NEWS: Kids’ summit caps national children’s month (PHILIPPINES)

Monday, October 8, 2012 - KIDS will have the last say - at least chronologically - in this 20th National Children's Month that adults launched through a "Kapihan" media forum last Wednesday morning at the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

The young will express their thoughts and sentiments at a Children's Summit on October 25-26 and then show off their artistic expressions at the "Children Got More Talent" city level competition on October 29 to cap the month-long observance.

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NEWS: Feature: Children’s Month celebration underscores media role in protecting children’s rights (PHILIPPINES)

This year's Children's Month celebration in October underscores the important role media plays in protecting the rights of children. 

Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Leticia Diokno said that in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of National Children's Month, the agencies and local government units are guided by the theme, "Bright Child ay Siguraduhin, Responsableng Pamamahayag ay Palaganapin!" 

The celebration, Diokno said, aims to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the Filipino children. Likewise, this year's celebration intends to emphasize the role of media in protecting the children's rights.

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TRAINING: Samar holds Advanced Media Skills Training for the youth

DARAM, Samar, Aug 30 (PIA) -- Thirty children and youth participated in the Advanced Media Skills training conducted on August 24 at Barangay Saugon in the island town of Daram, Samar. 

The participants aged 11 to 17 were from the municipalities of Daram, Gandara and Santa Margarita, all in the province of Samar, according to Janice Tapil, a Plan Philippines youth volunteer. 

The training was led by Plan Philippines, a non-government organization that advocates and protects the rights of children and AnakTV, whose advocacies are for child-sensitive and family-oriented television programs.

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PRESS RELEASE / VIDEO CONTEST / OPPORTUNITIES: Mulat Pinoy launches Facebook app for video contest (PHILIPPINES)

Sexual Health: Shout Or Shush?

Mulat Pinoy’s Third Annual Video Contest For The Youth

Got something to say about sexual health? Just log on to Facebook!

Young Filipinos interested in joining Mulat Pinoy’s latest video contest only need to get on their favorite social network to submit entries talking about teen pregnancy, sex education, sexuality, HIV/AIDS or whatever they might think is related to sexual health. With the help of IT company Brewed Concepts, Mulat Pinoy launched the Sexual Health: Shout Or Shush Facebook application on Friday, August 10. Through this app, users can submit their videos and view other entries. When public voting for the winners begins in November, Facebook users can vote through this app as well.

To join Mulat Pinoy’s video contest, simply follow these instructions:

1. Log on and Like the Shout or Shush Facebook page (www.facebook.com/shoutorshush).
2. Click the Shout or Shush app (beside Photos). Click “Go to App” and allow it to access your information and post on your Wall.
3. Your name and date of birth will be copied from your Facebook profile information. If you’re going to be over 30 years old by the time the deadline rolls in, you won’t be allowed to join!
4. Enter your address, contact number and email address. Make sure to read and agree to the Terms and Conditions before you click “Register”.
5. Submit your entry. You can upload a video, or hit “Record” to use your computer’s webcam to shoot video of yourself. You can preview the video before clicking “Submit Video”.
After you submit your video, a moderator from Mulat Pinoy will review the entry and approve it for viewing in the Gallery. Once your video appears in the Gallery, you can share it on your Facebook Wall!

Sexual Health: Shout Or Shush is open to all Filipinos aged 30 and below. Video entries should be no more than two (2) minutes long. Entries can tackle any issue related to sexual health, especially issues that are important to young Pinoys. The deadline for submission of entries is October 15, 2012.

For more information, visit www.mulatpinoy.ph and Like the Shout or Shush Facebook page (www.facebook.com/shoutorshush).

CONTACT:

Regina Layug Rosero, Mulat Pinoy Project Coordinator
Telephone: (02) 4330456
Email: regina@mulatpinoy.ph

Web: http://www.mulatpinoy.ph/
Email: popdev@mulatpinoy.ph
Facebook: Shout Or Shush
Twitter: @mulatpinoy #shoutorshush

IT / NEWS: Tools for accurate data reporting

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with leading telecommunications provider Globe Telecom in delivering an integrated mobile and desktop social system that can be used to report real-time data on maternal and child health for improved public health care, particularly in far-flung areas.

Real-time Community Health Information Tracking System or rChits was developed and tested by the University of the Philippines – Manila for the National Telehealth Center (NTHC). It is a five-month project funded by UNICEF with Globe providing ICT support. The project falls under the iAccess pillar of Globe Bridging Communities, the CSR arm of Globe. It enables key agencies to gain state of the art ICT to increase effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian and welfare services and gives opportunities for greater grassroots access to ICT solutions through research and development.

full article on the Manila Standard Today website

NEWS / TV: Discovery to produce children’s programmes

Discovery is to enter the genre of children's television in the second quarter of this year, with launches of Discovery Kids in India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"Discovery Kids will offer Indian children the ideal combination of learning and entertainment. A unique network in the kids' genre, Discovery Kids will offer children in a fun and entertaining way to satisfy their natural curiosity with stimulating and imaginative programming," said Mark Hollinger, president and chief executive, Discovery Networks International, during his keynote address at FICCI Frames 2012 in Mumbai.

"The network will ignite viewers' imagination through its compelling and differentiated content. In light of the massive digitisation drive in India, we believe viewers will express their demand for such distinct television networks. I cannot think of any other country more poised for the launch of such a remarkable network."

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ARTICLES: Teaching Kids To Shape Media

By MAG CRUZ HATOL

February 12, 2012, 12:11am

MANILA, Philippines — A connection between a global internship program and media education may be remote. But trust young Filipinos in contriving an appropriate link.

That is what a small group of Adamson University students figured out when their AIESEC chapter linked with the National Council for Children’s Television in spreading the gospel of media literacy in five heavily populated public grade schools in Sampaloc recently. Just armed with grit and bravura, the group led by Gerard Teodosio, 19, whose AIESEC job it is to forge workable external relations, convinced the education bureau in staging the project.

The group not only signed up NCCT but also enlisted the assistance of two foreign exchange students, Joy Zhang, 19, of China and Rieska Febriana, a 20-year-old Indonesian. Together, they mingled with and cajoled kids in Grade 4 and 5 of General Licerio Geronimo, Benigno Aldana, Trinidad Tecson, Moises Salvador and Benito Legarda Elementary Schools, all in the university belt. It was no ordinary feat engaging hundreds of enthusiastic pupils out to make the most of their furlough on campus.

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ARTICLES: Social media vs child abuse (PHILIPPINES)

THEY are dubbed the “digital natives.”

Indeed, for the youth of today, the Internet has become an integral part of their lives.

According to Delia Hernandez, a professor at Ateneo de Manila University, people now communicate through texting, blogging, collaborative authorship, online messaging and content sharing either photos or videos or both.

In her presentation during a recent forum on social media and child abuse, she said the Internet has become an indispensable element in the lives of everyone, including children, given the widespread availability of Internet access in homes, schools and public places.

full article

ARTICLES: Make wise use of internet, youth told (PHILIPPINES)

by Domingo B. Natividad V

QUEZON CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) -- “We have to be responsible.”

So said Undersecretary Leon Flores, chairman of the National Youth Commission in an interview with the radio program “Talking Points” on Tuesday at DZRB-Radyo ng Bayan.

Flores urged the youth and some youth organization to “make wise use of the Internet and the social media” and not be a case of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” – that is having two separate personalities, online and in real life.

The NYC chief admitted that the youth on social media, on some occasions, have become less respectful in their participative discussion on social issues. “Habang nagko-comment sila sa mga news items, (gumagamit sila) ng malulutong na mura (While commenting on news items, some youth are using derogatory words),” he said.

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EVENTS / ARTICLES: Visayan youths represent Philippines in Seoul Int’l Youth Film Festival

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines (PIA) – Three youths from the Visayas who were declared champions in the recently concluded Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival, will represent the country in the Seoul International Youth Film Festival (SIYFF) on July 7 to 13, 2011.

Said youngsters are Wency Anotado of Santa Margarita, Samar for his mini-documentary film entitled "Batang User," Jericho Codilan of Salcedo, Eastern Samar for his Public Service Announcement (PSA) entitled "Kalsada," and Mareza Impas of Camotes, Cebu for her work entitled "Pasagad."

Mr. Mag Hatol said since its founding in 1999, the SIYFF has become a notably major festival for young people in Korea.

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EVENTS: Children take center stage at the 1st Visayas Youth Media Festival (PHILIPPINES)

TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, May 21 (PIA) – Children literally took the center stage as the Kabataan sa Visayas Media Festival officially opened on May 20, 2011at Robinsons Place Tacloban.

The exhibit of the entry photos is a storybook on the “issues and concerns of children” from all over the Visayas as seen by children’s eyes and as captured on still photos by children themselves.

The exhibit which is located at the second floor of the Mall just outside the cinema areas, also shows the “Dreams of Children,” a silent but glaring call for the adults, the parents, the society as a whole to open the door to the children’s dreams.

The young volunteers participation and the ingenuity of festival executive director Mag Cruz Hatol made the opening ceremonies exceptionally one of its kind with the guest of honor, Mr. Boy Abunda joining the children in media and the professional local media practitioners in taking a photo of the other guests and co-organizers, Mr. Richard Kulzim, a German diplomat and executive director of the Goethe Institut, Mr. Rodel Bontuyan who is the Visayas Area Manager of Plan Philippines, Director Olive Pecson Tiu of the Philippine Information Agency Region 8, Director Julius Navales of PDEA -8, and Professor Joey Llansa of the Leyte Normal University.

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EVENTS: 1st Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival gets support of Leyte government (PHILIPPINES)

TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, April 22 (PIA) – The Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival, the first ever Youth Media Festival, which is set to be staged on May 20 to 22 in Tacloban City, Leyte under the auspices of Anak TV, has gotten the support of the Provincial Government of Leyte through Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla.

“Okay to this,” Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla wrote as he expressed his support to make the first youth media festival successful and meaningful, after reading the letter of Anak TV.

To Anak TV, youth are effective change agents and honest recorders of the truth around them. Governor Petilla who is a known advocate of the youth with his landmark programs geared towards his dream for the youth of Leyte, shares the vision and mission of Anak TV.

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NEWS: Young journalists, key to free media

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 29 (PIA) – Through the power of young journalists and broadcasters to “carry the torch of our heroic predecessors,” incidents akin to the Maguindanao Massacre would no longer ensue.

This was the message of Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado during the 16th month commemoration of Maguindanao Massacre victims.

Local media practitioners and students of Mass Communications, major in Broadcasting of Bulacan State University (BulSU), graced the program held in front of the monument of La Solidaridad bureaucrats: Marcelo del Pilar, Jose Rizal and Mariano Ponce.

Alvarado said similar incidents should not arise under a civilized society. Vigilance, he said, is necessary to avoid such cases.

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EVENTS / FESTIVALS: Call for participants to 1st Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival (PHILIPPINES)

ACLOBAN CITY Leyte, Feb. 19 (PIA) –- Anak TV is calling on all interested youth from the Visayas to participate in the first Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival which it is spearheading on May 20, 21 and 22, 2011 at Tacloban City.

The contest is open to all youth living, studying or based in any of the Visayan islands, provinces, towns or cities. They must not have reached age 18 by May 31, 2011 to qualify. Youth temporarily outside of the Visayas for reasons of schooling may still enter for as long as their permanent residence is in the Visayas.

Youth are encouraged to use any camera, whether hand held videos, handycams, digital cameras, mobile phones with camera capability, etc.

Deadline for submission of all entries is Friday, 8 April 2011.

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EVENTS: Region 8 launches on first youth media festival (PHILIPPINES)

TACLOBAN CITY LEYTE, February 14 (PIA) – The first youth media festival dubbed as Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival is scheduled to be conducted sometime in May 2011.

A focus group discussion conducted on February 11 at the Hotel Alejandro, concluded that the Youth Media Festival is an idea whose time has come, considering the exponential growth in the number of Filipino youth who tries media through various tools available to them.

Spearheaded by Plan Philippines and Anak TV, the meeting was attended by representatives of UP Tacloban, Leyte Normal University, Philippine National Police Regional Office 8, Commission on Higher Education, PDEA Region 8 director Julius Navales, Totch dela Cruz of Plan Philippines, and PIA 8 director Erlinda Olivia Tiu.

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OPPORTUNITIES: Red Cross sponsors competition for young journalists

Young reporters interested in covering armed conflict and humanitarian action are invited to enter a competition sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The deadline is October 1.

The four selected candidates will have the opportunity to attend a one-week ICRC delegation in Georgia, Lebanon, Liberia or the Philippines. The mission will take place January or February 2011, and the candidates will present their resulting news reports in Geneva, Switzerland on May 8.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 and have demonstrated volunteer work in a humanitarian field. Candidates will be evaluated through a communications project, which can be submitted in English or French.

For more information, click here.

NEWS / IT: UNICEF gets mobile IT van for street kids program

MANILA, Philippines – Eight-year-old Christian seems like an ordinary child who should be in school like many children of his age.

But the boy only finished Grade 1, and spends most of his time at the wet market either carrying sacks of vegetables or peeling onions to earn some money.

“Huminto kasi ako. Pinahinto ako ng nanay ko,” he said, referring to his grandmother.

His usual routine at the wet market starts at 12 midnight and ends around 7 in the morning.

“Minsan P80, minsan P100. Pinambibili ng pangkain. Nagsasaing kami,” he said, when asked about how much he gets paid from his jobs.

Christian is just one of the hundreds of thousands of street and street-working children in major cities in the country.

“We estimate 250,000 street children at the moment, scattered throughout cities and 50,000 of them highly visible, spending most of their days and nights on the streets,” according to Vanessa Tobin, country representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Tobin said hunger, sickness, deprivation of a home and education are just some of the things that children on the streets have to deal with.

“This situation puts them at risk of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, violence and exploitation, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS, street fights and gang brawls,” Tobin said.

Mobile education, child protection

On Tuesday afternoon, mobile phone manufacturer Sony Ericsson, its sister company Ericsson, and SM Supermalls, presented UNICEF with a mobile IT van to support its Mobile Education and Child Protection Program for Children on the streets of Manila.

Like Efren Peñaflorida’s pushcart classroom, the mobile IT van contains teaching materials. It is also equipped with a laptop and mobile broadband access and other communication tools. Sessions can be conducted right where the children and their families can be reached.

“The Mobile Education and Child Protection Program for Street Children is very innovative and involves the local government and non-government partners (NGOs) working together to give these children a second chance. The partners target areas with a high incidence of street children and provide direct services to street children and their families,” Tobin said.

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ARTICLES: Harvesting the benefits of educational TV

By Mag Cruz Hatol - April 4, 2010, 9:43am

Time and again, we are asked if television can actually help children, especially those in preschool ages.

We know that appropriate media can help develop logical thinking, writing and math skills among kids. That was proven by earlier studies.

We also know that educational TV and interactive media can indeed enhance kids’ creativity.

Educational television has been proven to yield positive effects on the intellectual and academic development of children under ten. Now that Batibot is returning to the Pinoy TV screen, it is wise to remind parents, who themselves were fed a diet consisting of Batibot and Sesame Street, that there is an undeniable link between Sesame Street viewing and toddlers’ readiness for the early grades. We know that preschoolers who watched the program with regularity demonstrated the highest levels of academic performance, especially when the subjects were related to numbers and letter skills as well as identifying body parts.

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