Ako si David Andrei Mendoza, kasalakuyang nasa unang taon ng Kolehiyo sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman (UPD) sa kursong Computer Science.

Pinili ko mag-aral sa kursong Computer Science dahil sa aking interes sa mga computer applications na ginagamit natin sa pang araw-araw. Kung ito man ay mga productivity applications katulad ng buong Google Suite at Notion o kaya naman ay mga entertainment applications katulad ng Fallout Series at Spotify. Pangarap ko na makasama sa isang organisasyon o kumpanya na may layon na bumuo ng mga makabubuluhang computer applications na ikabubuti ng lipunan.

Ngunit, ano ba ang mga pinag-aaralan sa aking kurso? Ano ba ang Computer Science?

Ang Computer Science, o Agham Panpanuos sa wikang Filipino, ayon sa Britannica, “The study of computers and computing as well as their theoretical and practical applications. Computer Science applies the principles of mathematics, engineering, and logic to different functions, including algorithm formulation, software, and hardware development, and artificial intelligence” (Britannica, n.d.).

Kagaya ng mga larangang Piska at Medisina, napakalawak rin ng pag-aaral ng Computer Science na maari pa natin itong maintindihan sa pamamagitan ng isang mapa batay sa ideya ng Domain of Science. Sa larawan, makikita ang iba’t ibang kategorya at koneksyon ng mga paksa sa larangang ito.

Sinasabing nahahati ang Computer Science sa tatlong pangunahing kategorya. Una ay ang Theoretical Computer Science, saklaw nito ang iba’t ibang Computer Science theories, algorithms, at cryptography. Pangalawa naman ay ang Computer Engineering na kinabibilangan ng programming languages, operating systems, at computer architecture. Pangatlo ay ang Applications na napapaloob ang artificial intelligence, virtual at augmented realities, pati ang image processing (Domain of Science, 2017).

Sa lawak ng Computer Science, maraming oportunidad ang naghihintay para sa isang nagbabalak na pumasok sa larangang ito. Maaaring sa akademya na nakapokus sa teoretikal na aspekto o kaya naman sa mga praktikal na pamamaraan gamit ang Computer Engineering o Applications ng Computer Science.

Sa kasalakuyan, napakapopular ng industriyang Computer Science sa Pilipinas, partikular pagdating sa mga praktikal na aplikasyon nito. Sa katunayan, ayon sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), sa taong 2020, ang sektor ng IT-BPM (Informtation Technology-Business Processng Management) ay nakapag-ambag sa Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ng bansa ng 26.7 bilyong dolyar o halos 1.3 trilyong piso kung sa palitang dolyar-peso noong 2020. Batay rin sa DTI, Pilipinas ang may hawak ng 13% ng global market share ng sektor. Nakagawa ito ng halos 1.3 milyong direktang trabaho at sumatotal na 4.5 milyong trabaho, kasama ang 700 na kumpanyang BPO (“US Dollar to Philippine Peso Spot Exchange Rates for 2020,” n.d.; Department of Trade and Industry, 2022). Ilan sa mga saklaw na trabaho ng IT-BPM ay Contact Centers, IT and Software Development, Animation and Game Development, Global In-House Centers, at Healthcare Information Management (“What is IT-BPM?”, n.d.).

Bukod pa rito, ayon sa 2020 Occupation Wages Survey ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), sa sampung trabaho na may pinakamatataas na bayad, tatlo ang direktang konektado sa Computer Science (Computer Network Professionals, Software Developers, at Systems Analyst) habang dalawa naman ang hindi direkta pero maaring konektado (Mathematicians, Statisticians, at Actuaries, pati ang Electronic Engineers; Philippine Statistics Authority, 2020).

Tunay na maraming Pilipino ang nakakapaghanapbuhay gawa ng mga oportunidad sa Computer Science. Ngunit, kung ating mapagtatanto, nangingibaw sa larangang ito ang paggamit ng wikang Ingles.

Ang koneksyon ng paggamit ng wikang Ingles sa Computer Science ay maaaring mabakas mula sa impluwensiya ng mga tanyag na tagapagbunsod nito. Si Charles Babbage ang kinikilala bilang “Father of Computing.” Si Ada Lovelace ay tinaguriang “World’s first computer programmer.” Ang itinuturing naman na ama ng modernong Computer Science ay si Alan Turing. Lahat sila ay mga matematikong taga-Britanya (“Charles Babbage,” n.d.; Britannica, n.d.; The Twickenham Museum, n.d.).

Kung titignan naman ang mga kasalukuyang nangungunang unibersidad sa buong mundo na nagtuturo ng Computer Science, walo sa sampung nangungunang unibersidad ay galing sa mga bansang may pangunahing wika na Ingles. Samakatuwid, sa Ingles nila itinuturo ang kurso (“QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022: Computer Science and Information Systems,” n.d.).

Sa iba namang mga nangungunang unibersidad na hindi Ingles ang isa sa mga pangunahing wika, ang mga itinuturong Ingles na konseptong Computer Science ay direktang isinasalin sa ibang wika o itinuturo pa rin sa Ingles nitong anyo.

Pagdating sa Pilipinas, walang kurikulum ng Computer Science ang nakalimbag sa wikang Filipino o ibang mga wika sa bansa. Kahit ang pangunahing pampublikong unibersidad ng bansa, University of the Philippines System, ang kanilang mga kurikulum sa Computer Science ay nakasulat sa wikang Ingles (“5 Best Universities for Computer Science in the Philippines” n.d.).

Kahit rin ang mga malalapit na kurso batay sa work opportunities sa Computer Science katulad ng Information Technology (IT) at Information Systems (IS), walang kurikulum ang gumagamit ng wikang Filipino o ibang mga wika ng Pilipinas (“Top Tech & IT Colleges in the Philippines in 2022” n.d.).

Bilang isang estudyante ng Computer Science sa University of the Philippines System, kahit ang guro ay paminsan-minsan gumagamit ng wikang Filipino sa diskusyon, nangingibabaw pa rin ang paggamit ng wikang Ingles dahil ang mga mahahalagang konsepto ay nakasulat sa wikang ito.

Sa kabilang banda naman, mahalagang aspekto rin ng Computer Science ang programming languages.

“A programming language is an artificial language that can be used to control the behavior of a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages, like human languages, are defined through the use of syntactic and semantic rules, to determine structure and meaning respectively. Programming languages are used to facilitate communication about the task of organizing and manipulating information, and to express algorithms precisely” (“Programming language,” n.d.).

Maaaring malaman ang dalawampung pangunahing programming languages sa taong 2022 ayon sa pamantayan at datos ng TIOBE Index. Kung susuriin, lahat ay gumagamit ng wikang Ingles (TIOBE, n.d.).

Halos isang-katlo ng nalimbag na programming languages ay nanggaling sa mga mga bansang may pangunahing wika na Ingles. Mula sa higit na 8,500 programming languages, halos 2,400 nito ay mula sa Estados Unidos, 600 sa Britanya, 160 sa Canada, at 75 sa Australia. May iilan rin naman sa mga nangungunang programming languages ay galing sa mga bansang hindi Ingles ang pangunahing wika, subalit, Ingles pa rin ang ginagamit. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang PASCAL (Switzerland), PHP (Denmark), Ruby (Japan), Lua (Brazil), at ang Python (The Netherlands; Y Studios, 2018).

Para naman sa mga programming languages na hindi gumagamit ng wikang Ingles, marami-rami naman ang mga ito at nanggagaling sa iba’t ibang dako ng mundo. Maaring makakita ng isang kumprehensibong listahan nito sa isang webpage ng Wikipedia. Mapapansin natin sa kadami-daming programming languages na gumagamit ng wika sa labas ng Ingles at kahit milyon-milyong Pilipino ang kasalukuyang nasa industriyang Computer Science, iisa pa lamang ang kilalang programming language na gumagamit ng wikang Pilipinas. Ito ay ang Bato programming language.

Ang Bato ay batay sa kilalang programming language na Ruby pero mayroon itong Filipinong sintaks. Ito ay gawa ni Joel Bryan Juliano, isang Filipinong software developer. Noong 2016, sinimula niyang gawin ang Bato upang maturuan niya ng programming ang kanyang pamangkin sa wikang Filipino. Napagtanto kasi ni Joel na magiging mas madali para sa isang tao na matuto ng programming kung ang mga konsepto nito ay batay sa isang wika na gamay niya. Sa partikular, ang wikang Filipino para sa mga Pilipinong nais na matuto ng programming ngunit hindi bihasa sa wikang Ingles. Ngunit, sa kasalukyan, mas ginagamit lamang ang Bato para sa simpleng pagtuturo. Malaking pagsulong pa ang kinakailangan upang magamit ito nang malawakan sa mga unibersidad at mga organisasyon (Punzalan, 2019).

Programming ang tawag sa proseso ng paggawa ng mga partikular na direksyon para isang makina katulad ng kompyuter upang tuparin ang kinakailangang gawin. Madalas ginagamit ang mga programming languages sa proseso ng programming.

Ang wikang Ingles ang itinuturing na unibersal na wika ng mundo. Maaring ito rin ang masasabi pagdating sa Computer Science. Ang mga konseptong Computer Science na ginagamit sa edukasyon at pagtatrabaho ay halos nakalimbag lahat sa wikang Ingles.

Marami nang mga bansa ang sinusumulan isalin ang mga mahahalagang konseptong Computer Science sa kanilang sariling wika lalo na pagdating sa mga programming languages. Ito ay upang ang kanilang mga mamamayan na hindi bihasa sa Ingles ay maaaring matuto ng Computer Science.

Bagamat, ang Pilipinas, kahit mayroong malaking tatak sa industriya ng Computer Science, lalo na sa sektor ng IT-BPM ay maliit pa rin ang progreso patungo sa paggamit ng kanilang sariling wika para sa pagkatuto at aplikasyon nito. Sa halip, wikang Ingles pa rin ang nangingibaw sa larangan.

Malawak na pag-aaral at industriya ang Computer Science. Maraming oportunidad ang makakamit dito. Subalit, para sa isang Filipino na hindi sapat ang kakayahan sa wikang Ingles, maaring itong maging hadlang sa pagtahak ng Computer Science. Isang larangan na maaring makapabigay ng malaking kaluguran sa karera at magandang hanapbuhay para sa sinusuportahang pamilya. Dagdag pa rito, nahahadlang rin ang potensyal ng Pilipinas dahil kung mas maraming Pilipino ang maaring matututo ng Computer Science, mas malaki ang magiging pagsulong sa larangan at mas uunlad ang ekonomiya ng bansa.

Sanggunian

5 Best Universities for Computer Science in the Philippines. (n.d.). Uscollegeinternational.Com. https://uscollegeinternational.com/best-universities-computer-science-philippines/

Britannica. (n.d.-a). Ada Lovelace: The First Computer Programmer. Britannica.Com. https://www.britannica.com/story/ada-lovelace-the-first-computer-programmer

Britannica. (n.d.-b). computer science | Definition, Types, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/computer-science

Charles Babbage. (n.d.). History.Computer.Org. https://history.computer.org/pioneers/babbage.html

Department of Trade and Industry. (2022, May 2). DTI Chief: US IT firm eyeing high-value BPO presence in PH. https://Www.Dti.Gov.Ph/. https://www.dti.gov.ph/archives/news-archives/dti-chief-us-it-firm-eyeing-high-value-bpo-presence-in-ph/

Domain of Science. (2017, September 6). Map of Computer Science [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzJ46YA_RaA

Philippine Statistics Authority. (n.d.). Occupational Wages Survey (OWS). Psa.Gov.Ph. https://psa.gov.ph/occupational-wages-survey

Programming language. (n.d.). Cs.Mcgill.Ca. https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/p/Programming_language.htm

Punzalan, J. (2021, November 19). This software engineer developed a Tagalog programming language used by educators. Speedmagazine.Ph. https://www.speedmagazine.ph/bato-tagalog-programming-language-by-joel-bryan-juliano/

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022: Computer Science and Information Systems. (n.d.). Topuniversities.Com. https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2022/computer-science-information-systems

The Twickenham Museum. (n.d.). Alan Turing. Twickenham-Museum.Org.Uk. http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=66&ctid=1&cid=13

TIOBE. (n.d.). TIOBE Index for May 2022. Tiobe.Com. https://www.tiobe.com/tiobe-index/

Top Tech & IT Colleges in the Philippines in 2022. (n.d.). Coursefinder.Ph. https://coursefinder.ph/top-tech-it-colleges-in-the-philippines-in-2022

US Dollar to Philippine Peso Spot Exchange Rates for 2020. (n.d.). Exchangerates.Org.Uk. https://www.exchangerates.org.uk/USD-PHP-spot-exchange-rates-history-2020.html

What is IT-BPM? (n.d.). Itstartshere.Ph. https://itstartshere.ph/it-bpm

Y Studios. (2018, August 18). The Language of Codes : Why English is the Lingua Franca of Programming. Ystudios.Com. https://ystudios.com/insights-passion/codelanguage

Growing up, I would always hear such phrases like, “I’m a visual learner”, “I learn best through writing”, or “I’m very good with hearing”, which led me to believe that perhaps people really have preferred styles towards learning.

If I were asked what kind of learner I am, I would probably say that I am a visual learner. I enjoy reading books with pictures, or else I would be a little slow in getting through the pages. I understand scientific concepts better with diagrams. I also explain things more efficiently through graphic organizers and mind maps.

But with that being said, I did not really question the scientific basis behind learning styles towards learning. I just believed that it is innate to us that we have our own tailored learning styles.

Having been curious in the past few days, it really shocked me on finding out the pieces of scientific literature about learning styles toward learning.

This inquiry aims to investigate the effectiveness of the idea of learning styles toward performance in learning. The concept of learning styles is explained alongside the well-known frameworks. Then, the studies that support the success of learning styles are also discussed. On the other hand, the counterpoints to the notion of learning styles are investigated to see whether or not how significant it really is toward the progress of learning.

First and foremost, what are learning styles? The concept “learning styles” refers to the idea that individuals differ in regard to what mode of instruction or study is most effective for them. Proponents of learning-style assessment describe that the optimal mode of instruction requires diagnosing individuals’ learning styles and tailoring instruction accordingly (Pashler et al., 2009).

Neil D. Fleming is a teacher at the secondary level, teacher education, and in university (Lincoln University, New Zealand). He has 9 years of experience of being a senior inspector for over 100 high schools on the South Island of New Zealand. This involved being a critical observer of over 9000 “lessons” in classrooms (Fleming and Baume, 2006).

Colleen E. Mills is a New Zealand management academic specializing in communication. She is currently a professor of management at the University of Canterbury.

There are many different frameworks aiming to describe learning styles, some of which are Kolb’s Theory of Learning Styles and the VAK model. But Neil Fleming and Colleen Mills’s VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/Write, Kinesthetic) model is one of the most prominent. It was introduced as an inventory in 1987 that was designed to help students, educators, and others learn more about their individual learning preferences.

According to the VARK model, learners are classified depending on these types of preferences (Fleming and Mills, 1992). Visual learning (pictures, movies, diagrams), Auditory learning (music, discussion, lectures), Reading and writing (making lists, reading textbooks, taking notes), and Kinesthetic learning (movement, experiments, hands-on activities).

Regardless of learning styles’ point of origin, their concept has become ingrained in popular culture. This is very evident in several data.

Wellcome Trust is a politically and financially independent global charitable foundation aiming to grant funding, and promote advocacy campaigns and partnerships to find solutions for today’s urgent health challenges. Its founder, Sir Henry Wellcome, was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. Based on his will, in which he left his wealth and his collection of historical medical items, to improve health through research.

In their 2013 study, it was claimed that 76% of teachers in the United Kingdom used learning styles in their teaching (Wellcome Trust, 2013).

In 2014, another research found that over 90% of teachers in five countries (the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Turkey, Greece, and China) believed individuals learn better when receiving information in accordance with their preferred style (Willingham et al., 2015).

Despite the popularity and widespread acceptance of learning styles, scientific evidence suggests that people may not be classified as one kind of learner or another.

Dr. Harold Pashler is a distinguished professor of Psychology and a faculty member of the Cognitive Science Program at the University of San Diego in California, USA. His main areas of interest are human learning and the psychology of attention. Pashler’s learning
research focuses on methods for optimizing the acquisition and retention of knowledge and skills

According to a 2008 study, Dr. Pashler and his research team found that there was “virtually no evidence for” learning styles. After investigating numerous studies testing the validity of learning styles toward learning, there were actually few in number that used sound methodology to actually test it. Furthermore, of those that did use appropriate methods, several were found to contradict the presupposed effectivity of learning styles toward education (Pashler et al., 2008).

Based on another research published in 2017, the British Journal of Psychology found out that the students when tested on their preferred learning style (visually or verbally), resulted just them liking the words or pictures better, not that the words or pictures worked better for their memories (Knoll et al., 2017).

Then, in a 2019 publication, Polly Hussman and her team tested 426 anatomy students to take a studies strategies survey and a VARK questionnaire. They monitored the students’ study habits and course outcomes. Results showed that the majority of students did not have a correlation between their strategies and their VARK assessment. The performance of students in anatomy did not correlate with their VARK scores, rather it was the study strategies that positively correlated with the final class grade. The alignment of the study strategies with the VARK assessment had no correlation with anatomy course results. All in all, the study presents evidence that learning styles did not increase academic performance (Husmann and O’Loughlin, 2019)

With data suggesting that learning styles may not be indicative of better learning, then how should one approach it?

Daniel T. Willingham earned his B.A. from Duke University in 1983 and his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Harvard University in 1990. He is currently a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia since 1992. Until about 2000, his research focused solely on the brain basis of learning and memory. Today, all of his research concerns the application of cognitive psychology to K-16 education.

Willingham explains in a 2018 interview from the Atlantic that people should stop constricting themselves as visual, verbal, or some kind of other learners. He also stated that there are no positive or negative effects in categorizing oneself into these learning styles. He then emphasized that everyone is capable of thinking in words or in mental images, plus each has their own personal skillsets on how to think and decide what is the best one for them in a given situation.

Furthermore, on his website, he claimed that learning theories really seek to categorize kids. Once people are classified as visualizers and or verbalizers, this becomes the basis to inform instruction. He then emphasized that scientists can’t help teachers in this way. There haven’t been developed categories that have proven meaningful for instruction. He also added that one does not have to believe in learning styles theories to appreciate differences among kids. To hold an open-minded attitude in understanding the differences of each student, and to try to develop such attitudes within them (Willingham, n.d.).

As for several scientifically-backed techniques that learners can use in their studies as opposed to learning styles, Dunlosky and his team published their findings in a 2013 study.

Ten techniques were tested upon students in terms of their learning conditions, student characteristics, materials, and criterion tasks. Practice testing and distributed practice received a “high utility assessment” while Elaborative interrogation, self-explanation, and interleaved practice scored “moderate utility assessments”. The other five techniques, summarization, highlighting, the keyword mnemonic, imagery use for text learning, and rereading, received “low utility assessments”. (Dunlosky et al., 2013).

So going back to my initial perspective, am I a visual learner? Perhaps not, after reading the scientific literature regarding the topic. I also realized that despite believing in myself that I am a visual learner, I did not take into consideration the other abilities I was utilizing to accompany my visual capability in accomplishing different tasks.

Moving forward, as a student and an inspiring educator, I will now stop limiting myself to being constricted in such categories. I will be free to greatly utilize the different capabilities of the human body to learn topics and teach others. This time it will be multiple perspectives toward learning, not just mainly focused on visual, kinesthetic, or other types, but a combination of all of them. Besides, would it be better for someone to learn a lesson poorly using a single style, rather than excelling in a topic with the help of all sorts of methods?

References

Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266

Fleming, Neil & Mills, Colleen. (1992). Not Another Inventory, Rather a Catalyst for Reflection. To improve the academy. 11. 10.1002/j.2334-4822.1992.tb00213.x.

Fleming, N., & Baume, D. (2006). Learning Styles Again: VARKing up the Right Tree! Educational Developments, 7, 4-7. http://www.johnsilverio.com/EDUI6702/Fleming_VARK_learningstyles.pdf

Husmann, P.R. and O’Loughlin, V.D. (2019), Another Nail in the Coffin for Learning Styles? Disparities among Undergraduate Anatomy Students’ Study Strategies, Class Performance, and Reported VARK Learning Styles. American Association of Anatomists, 12: 6-19. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1777

Khazan, O. (2021, June 21). Are ‘Learning Styles’ Real? The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/the-myth-of-learning-styles/557687/

Knoll, A. R., Otani, H., Skeel, R. L., & Van Horn, K. R. (2017). Learning style, judgements of learning, and learning of verbal and visual information. British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953), 108(3), 544–563. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12214

Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6053.2009.01038.x

Willingham, D. (n.d.). Daniel Willingham’s Learning Styles FAQ. Daniel Willingham–Science & Education. http://www.danielwillingham.com/learning-styles-faq.html

Willingham, D. T., Hughes, E. M., & Dobolyi, D. G. (2015). The Scientific Status of Learning Styles Theories. Teaching of Psychology, 42(3), 266–271. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628315589505

An Inquiry Project for English 13

Submitted to: Ma’am Anne Arellano

Submitted by: David Andrei A. Mendoza, Eng 13 WFU1

As the year approaches into an anti-climatic ending, we witnessed how an invisible enemy brought the whole world to its knees before our very eyes.  Who would have thought that something that is named like a beer brand, “corona” would plunge most countries on Earth into a recession. The COVID-19 virus has truly ravaged the world in epic proportions, rendering the world’s economy down to a halt, leaving millions of people jobless and causing thousands of untimely deaths.

Sadly, as a teenage Filipino, my country wasn’t spared from this worldwide travesty. Going back from the first suspected case in the Philippines back in early January, then all the way until today wherein the country is still handicapped by the virus, especially on an economical level. Generally, according to the Asian Development Bank, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation is continuing to go down significantly this 2020. (fortunately, it’s expected to bounce back the following year and hopefully so)

The country’s social distancing protocols have made it so that only the economy’s “essentials” like the medical workers and  service workers can go back to fulfill their responsibilities, while the others are left displaced or stuck in their homes. In addition, if you were under the age of 21 (now it has been adjusted to under the age of 15, as of October 16, 2020) you are restricted to go outside of your house unless there’s an emergency. In that case, it means that  the majority of the healthy young people in the Philippines is nowhere to be found outside, in turn, they are robbed of the chance to interactively help in the community and dynamically grow into their careers.

As much as it’s the best interest of the government to improve the situation of the nation through these protocols, I believe that young and healthy teenagers like myself and many more out there can do more than just being idle at home. We feel that we would be a significant help right away if we were just allowed outside of our homes more and fulfill our duties such as having meaningful but safe interactions in the school and the community. Though at the end of the day, we respect what the elders and leaders of this country have in plan for everyone and we are on board in going back to the normal way of life.

But yet again, this doesn’t mean that the youth don’t have their own set of struggles during the pandemic nor don’t have the adaptability to continue to contribute despite the restrictions.

The Filipino youth were no exception in terms of their job security as according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, about 1.7 million Filipinos aged 15 to 24 were without work back in July 2020. There was also a country’s worst youth jobless rate of 32.1% in the National Capital Region that accounts for more than third of the economy. The companies prioritizing more seasoned workers, as well as the quarantine age restriction playing huge factors in the unemployment.

The COVID-19 pandemic also forced the suspension of on-site education for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. What started as a week-long suspension starting on March 10 until March 14, became a halt of the school year altogether when it became apparent that the virus wasn’t going away anytime soon. This prompted the Philippine’s Department of Education (DepEd)  to devise a plan to continue the nation’s education for the upcoming school year, in which they settled on the  “blended learning” system, a combination of online classes and modular learning. This received a lot of backlash from the Filipino masses as they feel like the country isn’t ready for this set-up and rightfully so, because even according to Deped’s very own survey, out of the 700,000 teachers that answered it, 13% of them don’t have a laptop or computer for teaching. Then, half of those who have gadgets, only less than 50% of them have a stable internet connection. Furthermore, according to the Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, the estimated cost of all printed modules would be 93.6 billion pesos, which is 35 billion pesos short of the DepEd budget. All of which are factors that greatly hinder the effectiveness of the new blended learning system for the Filipino youth.

The pressure and changing times of the pandemic that brought isolationism and stressfulness have made the youth more vulnerable to mental illnesses. For example, as reported by the perception survey of the, “Through Her Lens: The Impact of COVID-19 on Filipino Girls and Young Women” program on 1,203 girls from ages 13 to 24, majority of the girls reported that the pandemic has negatively affected their mental and emotional capacity. They worry of not just catching the virus but also their families not having a secured future due to the possible chances.

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Since the Filipino youth have been rendered idle inside their homes. There were no other ways to get their voices heard but through the power of social media. The young Filipinos would always take their chance to express their stances on different issues. Due to their activeness, topics like, “Mass testing now PH”, “Academic Freeze”, and “Oust Duterte” have trended across all social media platforms multiple times, which is a testament of their outspokenness. Additionally, they have also been widely critical of other governmental problems like the Manila Bay renovation and the Deped’s “Ham and Cheese” controversy.

Despite the ongoing issues they have today, the Filipino youth continue to stay supportive. The interaction in social media and in online games like “Among Us” have become an avenue to maintain social relationships. Also,  when times get tough like the recent Typhoon Ulysees, the young netizens didn’t miss a beat in sharing factual information and chipping in donations for those who were affected. Besides that, youth-led organizations like “Ideal Positive Alumni Community” helps in acknowledging the good deeds of young Filipinos during the pandemic.

Some youngsters have dedicated their time fact-checking COVID-19 information for the benefit of the public, one example of this is the,  “#WeRiseAsOnePh” movement. 

Others have applied to become contact tracers of their respective cities. In 6 districts of Quezon City, there were reported 140 young Filipinos  handling contract tracing duties according to Manila Bulletin in October 2020. Moreover, during the same month, Valenzuela City recruited an additional 226 youth contact tracers to help the fight and as well Cebu city numbering up to 100 against the virus.

Several have opened their very own tutorial and commission services to gain extra profit, as well to help other students in need of academic support. Online businesses have also become popular as more youngsters started to open up their own ventures.

Generally, simple yet important actions like following medical guidelines, social distancing policies, strengthening of  relationships with friends and families, as well as being critical of daily information are here to stay for the youth.

To say the least, the COVID-19 pandemic has terribly shook the world down to its core. My beloved country, the Philippines, despite the prolonged lockdowns, is still ravaged by the COVID-19 virus. For us, the filipino youth, that instead of having  the time of our lives during our younger years, we are instead left to face an arduous task of fighting an invisible enemy by merely isolating ourselves from the rest of the society and hoping that it would all go away. 

But don’t count us out just yet because despite the restrictions, various socio-economic, and just the overall uncertainties, we are still able to adapt in these trying times. 

We are still able to maintain important relationships on our lives through social media, offer our time and resources for those in who are in need, and a whole lot more of creative actions we can do that add up to make a significant difference. Yet, most importantly, we follow the simple social distancing protocols and medical advices that keeps everyone safe because at the end of the day, it’s not about us, the Filipino youth, it’s about the Filipino people. And sooner or later, together, we will get back to our normal way of life. 

References used for the information and data:

• ABS-CBN. (2020, June 16). Thousands of teachers lack gadgets, internet to cope with pandemic: DepEd. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/16/20/thousands-of-teachers-lack-gadgets-internet-to-cope-with-pandemic-deped
• Asian Development Bank. (2020, April 3). Philippine GDP Growth to Slide in 2020 Due to COVID-19, Strong Rebound Seen in 2021 — ADB. Adb.Org. https://www.adb.org/news/philippine-gdp-growth-slide-2020-due-covid-19-strong-rebound-seen-2021-adb#:~:text=In%20its%20annual%20flagship%20economic,(COVID%2D19)%20in%20the
• Chavez, C. (2020, October 5). FOOT ‘SOLDIERS’ OF THE PANDEMIC: What contact tracers do to help stop the spread of COVID. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/05/foot-soldiers-of-the-pandemic-what-contact-tracers-do-to-help-stop-the-spread-of-covid/
• Department of Education (Deped) of the Philippines. (2020a, March 9). Statement on suspension of classes in NCR. Department of Education. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/03/10/statement-on-suspension-of-classes-in-ncr/
• Department of Education (Deped) of the Philippines. (2020b, August 6). Official Statement on the Opening of Classes. Department of Education. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/08/14/official-statement-on-the-opening-of-classes/
• Ideas Positive Alumni Community. (n.d.). Youth leaders spread hope amidst the COVID-19 crisis by sharing right information and stories of inspiration. Ideaspositive. Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://ideaspositive.org/youth-leaders-spread-hope-by-sharing-right-information-and-stories-of-inspiration-amidst-the-covid-19-pandemic/
• Jiao, C. (2020, September 4). Filipino Youth Bears Brunt of Philippines’ Unemployment Pains. Bloomberg. https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/filipino-youth-bears-brunt-of-philippines-unemployment-pains
• Letigio, D. D. (2020, November 28). Cebu City contact tracers assured: Salaries to be released by year’s end. INQUIRER.Net. https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/352651/cebu-city-contact-tracers-assured-salaries-to-be-released-by-years-end
• Pedrajas, J. (2020, October 21). Valenzuela City gets 226 new contact tracers. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/21/valenzuela-city-gets-226-new-contact-tracers/
• Santos, A. (2020, October 6). In the Philippines, distance learning reveals the digital divide. Eu.Boell.Org. https://eu.boell.org/en/2020/10/06/philippines-distance-learning-reveals-digital-divide
• Through Her Lens. (2020, October 15). Through Her Lens: The Impact of COVID-19 on Filipino Girls and Young Women. Reliefweb. https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/through-her-lens-impact-covid-19-filipino-girls-and-young-women

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I myself can say that right now i am a reserved person in public. I am conscious of my actions towards others up to the point where I mind too much of what I am doing. I also don’t bother being invaded of my personal space as long as they are comfortable within themselves.  As much as I am a very reserved person, I can be very vocal at times when my interests and passions are the things to talk about. Sometimes even being defensive on my own ideas when I disagree with other people. But I do it in a way where all people can express their ideas and learn as they go.

Now with that being said, just because these are the things you think about yourself, that doesn’t mean these are what other people think about you. Right now I am considered awkward for my movements and actions when I’m just being conscious of myself for others. I have been also called weird for not bothering someone’s personal space. And I have been considered a judgemental person for disagreeing with other people.

We can always make our own assumptions about other people, as long as we are fair and respectful about it. We should not forget to accept people for who they are because everyone is different and can do whatever that will make them happy.

Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can break your heart. Technology has brought us closer even when people are far apart. Presence doesn’t matter these days as long as you’re in touch. We interact with people on the internet whether we know them or not. It’s literally a whole another society we are part of. The least we can do is be very respectful to each and everyone. We don’t know what other people are going through each day. They may be just using the internet to feel they are part of something and be happier. This poster may hopefully be a small part of several large steps to make the internet a better place for each and everyone.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.