𝐊𝐖𝐅 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐒𝐔 𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐝𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐎𝐔

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

 

Pinagtibay ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at Isabela State University (ISU) ang kanilang ugnayan tungo sa pagtataguyod ng kapakanang pangwika at pangkultura sa pamamagitan ng paglagda ng Memorandum ng Unawaan (MOU), noong 16 Enero 2026 sa Bulwagang Romualdez, tanggapan ng KWF.

Layunin ng kasunduang ito na higit na mapatatag at mapaigting ang pagkakaisa ng dalawang panig sa pagsulong, pagpapaunlad at pagpapalaganap wikang Filipino at iba pang mga wika sa Pilipinas, kabilang ang Filipino Sign Language.

Sa panig ng KWF, nilinaw ni Tagapangulo Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran na mahalaga para sa intelektuwalisasyon ng wikang Filipino ang aktibong ugnayan ng KWF at mga institusyong akademiko sa mga programang pananaliksik, pagsasanay, at adbokasiyang pangwika, dahil ito ay hindi lámang tungkulin ng iilan.

"Ang kasunduang ito ay buong sinusuportahan ng Komisyon," pahayag ni Dr. Benjamin M. Mendillo Jr., Komisyoner sa Pangasiwaan at Pananalapi ng KWF.

Ipinaabot ng Pangulo ng ISU na si Dr. Boyet L. Batang ang ganap na pakikiisa ng ISU sa pagpapatupad ng mga programang nakapaloob sa kasunduan.

Kasama rin sa mga dumalo mula sa ISU sina Prof. Dr. Precila C. Delima, Pangalawang Pangulo pára sa Academic Affairs; Prof. Dr. Isagani P. Angeles, Pangalawang Pangulo pára sa Planning and Development; Prof. Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Pangalawang Pangulo pára sa Research and Development, Extension and Training; at Prof. Dr. Hilda A. Manzolin, Pangalawang Pangulo pára sa Administrative and Finance.

Kasabay ng pasasalamat sa mga dumalo, binigyang-diin din ni Dr. Carmelita C. Abdurahman, Komisyoner sa Programa at Proyekto, na ang kasunduan ay hindi lámang magpapatibay sa pagkakaisa ng dalawang panig, kundi magpapatatag din sa diwa ng pagiging Filipino. 

Framing the Future: Mapúa SoMDA, Sony PH hold film workshop

 

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

 

Mapúa University School of Multimedia and Digital Arts recently teamed up with Sony Philippines Film School Caravan to host “Framing the Future: The Essential Gears and the Stories You’ll Tell.”

The film workshop served as a bridge between high-end technology and the art of the narrative, specifically designed for students and aspiring visual storytellers.

“Framing the Future” featured highly acclaimed Filipino cinematographer Tey Clamor, LPS, who is known for her work on films such as “Isa Pa With Feelings,” “Balota,” “Metamorphosis,” and “Babae at Baril.” Clamor shared her professional insights and technical expertise during the event.

The session provided attendees with deep dives into cinematic storytelling and industry trends, practical knowledge on the tools required for modern filmmaking, and a unique opportunity for students to test the latest Sony cameras and equipment firsthand.

Mapúa Multimedia Arts program chair Aleia Garcia acknowledged the Sony Philippines team led by Demand Creation Executive Allison Datu, Senior Marketing Executive for Digital Imaging JD Domingo, Marketing Executive for Digital Imaging Ralph Salazar, and Marketing Communications Manager Pearl Lumanao, as well as Aputure Philippines Marketing Associate Razel Olifernes for partnering with the school to organize the workshop.

Garcia also thanked SoMDA Dean David Corpuz, Creative Cluster Head Jonah Lim, Digital Film program chair Karen Rey, Broadcast Media program chair Norman Manalaysay, The New Builder adviser Seymour Sanchez, Hiraya Student Council led by adviser Ian Boots Bautista, and faculty and students who took their time to attend the event.

A heartfelt acknowledgement was also given to SoMDA technical assistant Ruby Sagun, who recently passed away, for her tireless support throughout the planning process.

Beyond technical training, the workshop focused on encouraging attendees to embrace the beauty of storytelling through moving images. By sharpening their craft and discovering new tools, students are empowered to tell stories that will set them apart in a competitive industry.

“To everyone here, please know that this is more than just an event. This is to encourage ourselves to embrace the beauty of storytelling whether through film, photography, or writing. This is our shared purpose,” Garcia concluded.

The Sony Philippines Film School Caravan 2026 will next visit the Mowelfund Film Institute with Clamor and commercial director and Sony Product Expert Nigel Laxamana for Cinematic Live Production with the Sony Cinema Line on February 5, and CIIT College of Arts and Technology with award-winning filmmaker Lee Briones-Meily on Feb. 6.

Adoption training program boosts rice production in Guimba

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 




In Barangay Lamorito, one of Guimba’s 64 villages, 24 farmers, including women, are taking part in a classroom-style training program aimed at improving rice production. The initiative seeks to raise farm productivity while contributing to broader food security goals.




One of the participants is Rina Pagaracan, a rice farmer who manages a one-hectare farm together with her husband.




“The better we learn about improved farming practices, the better we can sustain our everyday needs,” she said.




Rina is among more than 100 farmers trained in good palay farming practices under a project led by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Guimba, the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), and the Cooperative Enterprise for True Economic Reform (CENTER).




Making the rice granary more productive

Guimba is the largest rice producer in Nueva Ecija, the country’s top rice-producing province. The municipality is home to around 12,000 palay farmers cultivating approximately 15,000 hectares of predominantly flat agricultural land. About 95 percent of rice areas are irrigated, enabling Guimba to produce at least 192,000 metric tons of palay annually --- roughly 11 percent of Nueva Ecija’s total rice output.

Despite these favorable conditions, rice farmers in Guimba continue to face persistent challenges. High production costs, increasingly unpredictable weather and climate conditions, and the impact of rice importation policies have all contributed to declining farm incomes.

To help address these issues, PEF and CENTER, with support from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), conducted research and field demonstrations in 2023 on hybrid rice varieties and improved farm practices to increase productivity.

Two years later, the results of these demonstrations --- together with PhilRice’s PalayCheck System models --- were consolidated into a modern palay farming technology module. This module now serves as the foundation for training rice farmers in Guimba, translating research-based practices into practical, field-level learning.

Current training sessions focus on fertilizer management, pest management, crop calendar usage, farm planning, and clustering. MAO staff lead the sessions, visiting barangays alongside local farmer technicians who have adopted and demonstrated the technology's effectiveness.

Building a better future for rice farmers

According to CENTER Chair Catalino Obinario, the Palay Technology Adoption Program is designed to strengthen the resilience and long-term sustainability of rice farming in Guimba. A multi-pronged approach underpins the initiative, with continuous monitoring and evaluation planned over the coming years.

“There will be regular interviews with technology adopters to assess whether recommended protocols are being followed and whether the trainings are producing the desired results,” Obinario said. “We will also organize farmers’ field days to showcase their farms and encourage other farmers to adopt these practices.”

Over the next five years, CENTER, PEF, and the Guimba MAO aim to expand the program’s reach by encouraging wider adoption of improved farming technologies. The partners also plan to strengthen the rice consolidation and processing capacities of local farmer cooperatives and associations, while fostering collaboration with key rice industry stakeholders --- laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and sustainable future for rice farmers in the municipality.