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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH
VOL. 2 | NO. 27 August 12-20, 2014
Teach Filipino solidarity to youths by Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) – Teachers should tell more about Filipino solidarity to their students. Philippine Information Agency Director
General Jose Mari Oquiñena conveyed this message to hundreds of elementary and high school teachers at the Pintig Pinoy lecture here recently organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) – Negros Oriental.
SIQUIJOR (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Siquijor province pooled efforts and resources to conduct a seminar recently on climate change adaptation and energy audit to the members of the small and medium entrepreneurs in the province. DTI-Siquijor provincial director Nimfa Virtucio in her opening remarks explained the importance of convergence for SMEs development and to strengthen advocacy on climate change adaptation and energy conservation.
The activity, she said is part of the DTI’s SMERA (SMED Roving Academy) that brings learning program through a series of training and seminars to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help them become competitive both in the domestic and international markets. PIA-Siquijor through this writer also briefly explained that business should embrace the need to tackle climate change and enhance energy efficiency to improve their competitive position because Climate Change and Energy Efficiency advocacy are a shared challenge. DOST provincial director Mario de la Pena also gave his message for DOST’s part
DTI, DOST, PIA hold energy audit, climate change adaptation seminar
Energy Audit and ClimateChange Adaptation Seminar to SMEs under furniture, food processing, Gift Decors & Housewares (GDH), Metals & Engineering and Tourism sectors in Siquijor province. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor)
and introduced the participants and the resource persons. DOST7’s Engr. Edgar Osorio talked on energy management in response to the call for climate change adaptation while E n g r. R o b e r t o Edra presented actual Energy Audit with the Furniture Makers in the island as the subjects. Participants come from the gift, decors and housewares ( G D H ) , engineering and metal, food processing, furniture and the tourism sectors. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7Siquijor)
The activity aims to empower teachers in their role in shaping youth’s social participation today. Oquiñena said that the issues of climate change, the dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea, poverty and corruption are problems that challenge Filipino solidarity and can be overcome if people would unite to face these “bullies.” Oquiñena emphasized that the school teachers play a big part in molding every youth’s well being as they grow up and they should take advantage of this by imparting the value of unity and solidarity to their students. “You have been given a task, a responsibility and an opportunity to co-create a person especially now that the challenges are very tough, (we have) climate change, poverty, the threat of war, the lack of food, etc. This is the time we teach a very important lesson, the ability to be a unifying person,” Oquiñena said. “We can only face climate change and other challenges if we learn how to be one. We cannot address social concerns kapag watakwatak tayo,” he added. This is part of what he calls the ‘Filipino’ brand which young people should learn today. Oquiñena explained that the Filipino brand connotes excellence, right attitude towards others and the ability to set aside insecurities, biases and self pity in order to work for the good of the nation. Aside from these, ‘Filipino’ brands also exhibits confidence in facing challenges and compassion to fellow countrymen. He noted that the country experienced colonization thrice and this led to the perception that Filipinos are treated as second class citizens. But Oquiñena believes this can still be changed if teachers can inspire students to have the sense of purpose and passion in their lives. “We should make sure that we will raise children that will have an intelligent heart before an intelligent mind, because an intelligent heart is a sure foundation for development,” he remarked. Meanwhile, the Pintig Pinoy lecture was attended by SSG Advisers (Secondary Schools), main high school principals, Araling Panlipunan department heads, district HEKASI coordinator, central school principals, DepEd, Sillimanians and elementary and high school teachers. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)