Monday, August 4, 2025

Mga aklat sa Pagpapasigla ng Wikang Ayta Magbukun, inilunsad

Inilunsad ang Urtugrapiya ung Ayta Magbukun (Ortograpiya ng Ayta Magbukun) at Hinup: Aklat Ung Ayta Magbukun noong 13 Hunyo 2025 sa pasilidad ng Bahay-Wika sa Brgy. Bangkal, Abucay, Bataan. Ang Urtugrapiya ay naglalaman ng mga tuntunin sa pagsulat ng wikang Ayta Magbukun. Binuo ito ng mga elder mulâ sa iba’t ibang komunidad ng Ayta Magbukun sa Bataan, mga guro ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon-Bataan, Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), at Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF). Samantála, mababasa sa Hinup ang mga kuwento, kanta, tula, diyalogo, at listahan ng mga salitang Magbukun. Mayroon din itong mga larawan na iginuhit ng mga miyembro ng komunidad. Ang dalawang aklat na ito ay binuo para makatulong sa pagpapasigla ng wikang Ayta Magbukun at magamit sa paaralan ang kanilang wika.

Bago ang paglulunsad ng dalawang aklat, isinagawa ang ebalwasyon sa ikaanim na batch ng programang Bahay-Wika at Master-Apprentice Language Learning Program (MALLP). Iniulat sa komunidad ang resulta ng progreso ng mga mag-aaral sa Bahay-Wika. Pagkaraan nito, nagsagawa ng Focus Group Discussion (FGD) sa mga guro, magulang, elders, masters, at apprentice upang masuri ang implementasyon ng programa sa loob ng isang taóng panuruan.

Isinagawa rin ang pagpaplanong pangwika ng komunidad. Target nila na sa loob ng sampung taón, mulâ 2025–2035, lahat ng Ayta Magbukun sa kanilang komunidad ay nagsasalita na ng wikang Ayta Magbukun. Naglista sila ng mga gawain at timeline kung paano ito maisasakatuparan.    

Dinaluhan ito nina Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Jay-r Reyes, Chieftain Rosita Sison, mga guro, mga elder, mga manunulat, at mga magulang. Pinangunahan ng KWF ang naturang gawain, sa pamumuno ni Arthur P. Casanova, PhD, Tagapangulo, sa ilalim ng Sangay ng Lingguwistika at Aplikadong Lingguwistika kasama sina Lourdes Z. Hinampas, Punó ng Sangay, Jennifer S. Bactol, at Rolien Mark M. Balisi, katuwang ang Provincial Tourism Office ng Bataan kasama sina Ginette Lopez at Patricia Gail R. Miranda.

Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) Nagsagawa ng Seminar on Records Disposition Management

Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) ay nagsagawa ng Seminar on Records Disposition Management sa panayam nina Christin E. Licopit at Vanessa C. Lim ng NAP na nagbigay ng makabuluhan at detalyadong lektura hinggil sa nasabing paksa na dinaluhan ng mga kawani ng KWF.

𝐃𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐠, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐬𝐢𝐤 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐌𝐒𝐔

Sinimulan ng mga mananaliksik mulang Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) ang proyektong dokumentasyon ng wikang Isneg noong 2–5 Hunyo 2025. Isinagawa ang paglikom ng datos sa pamamagitan ng interbiyu, pagmamasid, at pakikisangkot sa gawain ng komunidad sa Brgy. Nabuangan at Brgy. Cupis, Conner, Apayao. Si Asst. Prof. Leonardo Tejano ang project leader ng pangkat kasama sina Instr. Jean Claire Bartolome, Instr. Mylene Benito, at Asst. Prof. Jay-ar Cristobal. Nagsagawa naman ng monitoring sa proyekto ang mga mananaliksik mula sa Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) na sina Kirt John Segui at Dannielle Laggui.
Nakipagpulong din ang mga kinatawan ng KWF sa mga kawani ng NCIP Conner Community Service Center at sa mga lider at elder mula sa Barren at Nabuangan ancestral domain sa Conner, Apayao upang episyenteng maisakatuparan ang proyekto.
Kabilang ang MMSU sa tatlong institusyong pinagkalooban ng grant ng KWF. Ang Dokumentasyon ng mga Wika sa Pilipinas ay isang patuluyang programa ng KWF sa ilalim ng Sangay ng Lingguwistika at Aplikadong Lingguwistika sa pamumuno ni Gng. Lourdes Z, Hinampas, Punó ng Sangay at Dr. Arthur P. Casanova, Tagapangulo ng KWF. Layunin ng proyektong ito na suportahan ang mga institusyon sa pagsusulong ng pananaliksik at dokumentasyon ng mga katutubong wika ng bansa.

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Green Multi-Party Partnership at Environmental Leaders' Summit

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Green Party of the Philippines (GPP), in a groundbreaking series of consultations which started in Luzon specifically in Marikina city with the Environmental Leaders' Summit, has also mobilized local leaders across the Visayas and Mindanao, establishing a powerful alliance to forge a unified national green agenda. The events, part of a "Green Multi-Party Partnership," are a direct response to the urgent calls for climate justice, inclusive development, and multi-party cooperation.

The movement first erupted on July 6, 2025, with the "Visayas Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action" forum held atop the symbolic hills of Mt. Manunggal in Balamban, Cebu. The day began with "Earth Caring" activities and was followed by passionate calls to action from GPP Chairperson David D’Angelo and National President Joseph Ramos. Engr. Richard Peñaflor, the GPP's National Auditor, provided data-driven insights from a Green Survey, while Cebu Provincial Convenor Baltz Tribunalo grounded the discussions in local realities. The youth were at the forefront, with Tesha Arcamo of Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan leading a creative introduction. The consultation's "World Café" style focus groups allowed for intense dialogue on critical issues, from unsustainable development to the marginalization of indigenous practices. The day concluded with the establishment of Interim Visayas Officers, a strategic move to institutionalize the momentum.

The energy then surged south to Mindanao. From July 25-28, the "Mindanao Greens Environmental Forum" was a multi-day event themed "Mindanao Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action". The journey for participants began with their arrival in Cotabato City on July 25. The following day, July 26, was dedicated to a unifying "Mangrove Day Mindanao-wide Planting Activity," a tangible symbol of their shared commitment.

The main consultation on July 27 was a full-day program in Koronadal City, where participants engaged in a series of key discussions. The afternoon was devoted to a powerful Focus Group Discussion (FGD) designed to surface community-rooted issues and solutions from the ground up. Using a structured process with colored meta-cards, participants detailed the environmental and social issues they face, proposed solutions, and articulated the specific assistance they need from the GPP. These insights will serve as the bedrock for the GPP’s national green agenda. The forum also saw the election of new Mindanao Officers and a moving commitment ceremony led by Engr. Penaflor.

All consultations, also attended by GPP External Vice President Ross Flores Del Rosario and Communications Officer Ranne Tubig, were meticulously designed to ensure fiscal transparency and prioritize grassroots voices. The outputs from both the Visayas and Mindanao forums will directly feed into a historic National Red-Green Consultation Workshop.

"Change does not trickle from the top—it erupts from the ground," said a GPP representative, capturing the spirit of the consultations. With the Visayas and Mindanao having spoken, the nation is now listening as the GPP and its allies march toward a future where nature thrives and justice prevails.
#todayph25

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Celebrating Filipino creativity and collaboration with “UGNAY”

The Rotary Club of Makati presented "UGNAY," a fundraising art exhibit at The Peninsula Manila that celebrated collaboration, culture, and creativity, examining Filipino identity through memory, abstraction, and civic engagement. Proceeds will benefit RCM’s community service initiatives.

Headlining the show was renowned Filipino artist Dominic Rubio, celebrated for his nostalgic depictions of Filipino identity and heritage. Rubio, born in 1970 in Paete, Laguna, studied Commercial Arts at the University of Santo Tomas before pursuing painting full-time.

His signature elongated figures in colonial-era attire, set against romanticized Old Manila or countryside scenes, have become icons of cultural memory. His works have been featured at Sotheby's, Christie's, and in landmark murals like "The Great Promenade of Philippine-American Friendship" at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Art patron Rosita Lara Lumagui, managing director of Worldwide Resource Solutions Philippines and a guest-of-honor at "UGNAY," noted that Rubio's work "captures the essence of Filipino culture," reflecting traditions while incorporating modern elements with a nostalgic flair.

Through his paintings and functional art, Rubio invites viewers to reconnect with and carry forward Filipino heritage. Joining him were three emerging talents: Aaron Virata Mempin, Anton Cabrera, and Jean Uy. Together, their artworks form a dialogue between tradition and innovation, bringing modernity, abstraction, and contemporary sensibilities to the conversation.

Aaron Virata Mempin, also known as A in art and communication circles, is a geometric abstract artist and dedicated Rotarian. His elegant, minimalist compositions are deeply inspired by the lines of sand, the serenity of waves, and the shifting horizons of Philippine beaches, reflecting calm and hope found in natural landscapes.

Anton Cabrera, known by his artist alias CABSTRAK, began his journey into abstract art in 2015. His bold and imaginative works are recognized for their vivid fusion of rainbows, astronomy, and raw emotional expression.

Jean Uy Yam, a mother of two and a lawyer, quietly captures the poetry of everyday life in her paintings. She has painted since high school but found more time to pursue and share her art publicly during the pandemic, debuting her work on social media to raise funds for charities like Caritas Manila and AHA Learning Center.

“Each artist brings a unique perspective,” Lumagui noted. “Aaron’s work is structured and meditative, Anton’s is intuitive and reflective, and Jean’s is radiant and deeply human. Together, they create a balanced and compelling dialogue.”

The unveiling ceremony brought together a distinguished group of guests, including Lumagui, COMELEC Commissioner Ferdinand Maceda Jr., Rotary Club of Makati President Eduardo H. Galvez, Supreme Court Justice Midas Marquez, Rotary District 3830 Governor Reginald Alberto Nolido, past Governor Maria Concepcion Camacho, and Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Abdul Malik Castelino.

For inquiries, visit The Peninsula Manila concierge or email rcm3830@gmail.com.

NAST PHL Urges Stronger Action Against Harmful Algal Blooms Threatening PH Waters

TAGUIG CITY – The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) has released a Science Advisory on Hazards and Risks from Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), commonly known as “red tides”, calling for urgent action to strengthen the country’s monitoring and management systems.

Since the first major incident in 1983, when Pyrodinium bahamense caused more than a thousand cases of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in Samar and Sorsogon, HABs have expanded to at least 44 bays and coastal areas nationwide. These toxic blooms not only threaten public health, causing shellfish poisoning and fish kills, but also disrupt aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism, with past outbreaks causing millions of dollars in losses.

Academician Rhodora V. Azanza, the lead author of the advisory, said that the current HAB monitoring and management system, designed nearly three decades ago, needs urgent reassessment to address new challenges such as climate change, aquaculture expansion, and increased eutrophication.

NAST PHL recommends a science-based national framework integrating research, monitoring, and policy action. Key proposals include (1) upgrading detection systems using advanced tools and satellite-based forecasting in collaboration with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA); (2) strengthening public awareness through education campaigns to reduce health risks; (3) conducting a nationwide conference to chart a future-oriented HAB management strategy.



As HAB occurrences typically peak during the Southwest monsoon (June–September), NAST PHL urges local governments, industries, and communities to remain vigilant and follow official advisories from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).



The full advisory, “Hazards and Risks from Harmful Algal Blooms / Red Tides in the Philippine Archipelago: Policy and Action Plan Considerations,” is available at https://bit.ly/NASTAdvisoryHAB. (ANavarro/NAST PHL)

The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) is an agency attached to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It is mandated by law to recognize outstanding achievements in scientific research and development and to advise the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the cabinet on policies concerning science and technology in the country. 

Friday, August 1, 2025

Wazzup Pilipinas Founder Ross Flores Del Rosario to Represent the Philippines at Prestigious Global Media and Planetary Health Workshop in Malaysia

PASIG CITY, Philippines — In a defining moment for Filipino media and environmental advocacy, Ross Flores Del Rosario—founder of WazzupPilipinas.com, External Vice President of GPP Kalikasan Muna - Green Party of the Philippines, and Board Trustee of the Bayanihan Para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc.—has been officially selected to participate in a landmark Capacity Development and Training Workshop Series for Media Professionals on Intergovernmental Processes and Planetary Health to be held this September 3–4, 2025, at Sunway University in Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This prestigious international program, backed by global environmental and media institutions, is designed to sharpen the skills and broaden the perspectives of selected media professionals across the world—arming them with the knowledge, network, and strategic communication tools needed to confront one of the most urgent challenges of our time: planetary health.

A Beacon of Filipino Excellence in the Global Arena

Chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants, Ross Del Rosario's inclusion signals more than personal achievement—it marks the arrival of a passionate Filipino voice at the global table. As the tireless force behind Wazzup Pilipinas, an award-winning online platform renowned for championing grassroots movements, civic engagement, and environmental consciousness, Ross has long proven that media can be both disruptive and constructive—an engine for both truth and transformation.

Now, with the full sponsorship of all travel, accommodation, and logistical expenses, he is poised to represent the Philippines in this elite circle of global storytellers and changemakers.

“Being selected for this international workshop is both an honor and a responsibility,” Ross shared. “Our words, our stories, our platforms—they shape perceptions, spark dialogue, and influence policy. I intend to absorb every lesson, challenge every assumption, and bring back not just knowledge—but actionable solutions our country can use.”

A Turning Point for Advocacy Journalism and Environmental Justice

The training program will feature in-depth sessions with global experts on intergovernmental environmental processes, health diplomacy, and the critical interplay between ecological systems and human survival. Participants will engage with pre-training readings, immersive workshops, and peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges that promise not only to educate but to catalyze real-world impact.

As part of the commitment, Ross and his fellow delegates are expected to produce three to five compelling stories throughout the year—each grounded in the planetary health framework but focused on local realities. These stories will form a global patchwork of informed narratives, underscoring how deeply interconnected humanity’s health is with the health of our planet.

Amplifying the Filipino Lens on Climate, Crisis, and Community

With the Philippines repeatedly ranked among the most climate-vulnerable nations, Ross's participation offers a crucial opportunity to internationalize the Filipino experience. From typhoons and rising seas to food insecurity and biodiversity loss, our country stands at the frontline—and our stories deserve to be heard.

Wazzup Pilipinas, under Ross's editorial leadership, will continue to bring these narratives to light with renewed fervor. With this global training fueling the platform’s next chapter, expect more incisive investigations, inspiring grassroots features, and hard-hitting opinion pieces connecting planetary health with Filipino resilience and innovation.

Looking Ahead: Global Collaboration, Local Impact

All selected media delegates must confirm their attendance and complete registration formalities by July 31, 2025. As Ross gears up for this life-changing experience, excitement is building—not only within his circles of activism and journalism but across a wider audience that believes in media's power to challenge the status quo and build a better world.

This is more than an international invitation—it is a call to action. For Filipino media. For Filipino communities. And for a future that prioritizes people and the planet.

Stay tuned as Wazzup Pilipinas provides exclusive coverage from Sunway University and beyond—stories that will not only inform but inspire.

Media Contact:
Wazzup Pilipinas Media Team
📧 wazzupfilipinas@gmail.com
🌐 www.WazzupPilipinas.com
📍 Pasig City, Philippines

#PlanetaryHealthPH
#WazzupPilipinasGoesGlobal
#KalikasanMuna
#StorytellingForChange