Malditang Librarian

The National Library of the Philippines with the Association of Librarians in Public Sector, Inc. (ALPS) is inviting librarians for a free webinar on the subject of Library Resiliency. This will be hosted by REGALO Touching Lives. The webinar will be on June 11, 2020 (Thursday), at 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The platform can accommodate up to 2,000 participants. After registration, you will be e-mailed a link to view the webinar on the scheduled date and time. To register for this webinar, go to https://tinyurl.com/libraryresiliency From the National Library: "The Public Libraries Division (PLD) through its Training Section is making major shifts in direction to cope up and remain resilient quickly amidst the rapid shifts in this difficult time. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the face-to-face training has transitioned to cloud services to make sure to enable connections, particularly to public libraries affiliated with the National Library of the Philippines. Through this Webinar, public l...

TBA Studios is making Smaller and Smaller Circles (2017) free to watch on Youtube. The Filipino crime thriller directed by Raya Martin is a movie adaptation of the novel with the same title by F.H. Batacan. The film stars Nonie Buencamino, Sid Lucero, Carla Humphries, Ricky Davao, Bembol Roco, and Christopher De Leon.  Movie Summary Two Jesuit priests, Gus Saenz and Jerome Lucero, perform forensic work to solve the mystery revolving around the murders of young boys in Payatas, one of Metro Manila's biggest slum areas. While dealing with the systematic corruption of the government, church and the elite, the two priests delve into criminal profiling, crime scene investigation and forensic analysis to solve the killings, and eventually, find the murderer. Watch the movie on Youtube I have read the book before, you can read my book review in this blog post . I have also watched the movie a few years ago and I have a movie reaction . Here's some excerpts from my movie review with...

The disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has given us a glimpse of the ‘new normal’ in the country’s education landscape. Higher education institutions are at the helm of revolutionizing and reshaping their curricula and learning system. During the latest E-Skwela webinar: “Navigating COVID-19: Reshaping Higher Education in the Philippines”, authorities in the higher education sector agreed that flexible learning and technology-enabled teaching is the future the country is leading to. However, to smoothly transition, our speakers claim that it would require multi-stakeholder collaboration, relevant innovations, and intensive planning and research. The latest E-skwela episode was hosted by Globe myBusiness in partnership with the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA). The webinar stimulated a discussion on ideas and strategies from a panel of...

Now more than ever, the Internet has become an important avenue to bring creators, enterprises, and the audience closer together. Globe Studios Head and Executive Quark Henares shared his insights on this topic in part two of PURVEYR’s Perspectives — a digital creative conference on culture, work, and lifestyle — which delved on the subject of the Internet. Henares was joined by music producer and artist similar objects (Jorge Wieneke V), and digital PR and marketing consultant, Thysz Estrada, as panelists. The discussion touched on the Internet culture and the role of the Internet in careers and modern industries, especially in the context of the current global health situation that we are facing. Marvin Conanan, the founder of PURVEYR, facilitated the open discussion. Internet culture In the Philippines, accessing the Internet nowadays is a piece of cake, as compared to let’s say 15 years ago. This opened the gates for more to embrace the Internet culture and from then, it has evol...

The word 'icons' spelled out in sign language Are you interested in learning sign language? Here's a free online crash course for you. The De La Salle-College of St. Benilde is offering a free course on the Filipino sign language via Facebook live on the School for Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) Facebook page. The first lesson will be on May 30, 2020 (Saturday), at 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The next lessons will be on June 6 and 13.  While the lessons are free, donations are encouraged for the #SignsForSigns fundraising campaign. They also have a Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Learning Kit for those who will donate the minimum donation of 350 pesos. There are also options to donate 550 and 1000 pesos. Interested donors can go to this Google form . Donations will be for the following: Raise funds for the Deaf students living allowances who are stranded in their dormitories, for FSLLP faculty who are on no work no pay scheme, and for FSL Access Team for Covid 19 who re...

With the education sector at the crossfire of the COVID pandemic, schools and other learning institutions are now in an environment that is heavily reliant on digital platforms as a result of physical distancing measures. While some have utilized digital learning tools and techniques in the past, discussions on its doubts and effective use are still ongoing. Aiming to shed light into the discussion as well as to spark an exchange of ideas and best practices, Globe myBusiness is holding its latest installment of the E-skwela Online Learning Sessions on Tuesday, May 26 at 10 AM via livestream at the official Globe myBusiness Facebook page. The webinar intended for basic education teachers, higher education professionals, faculty members, administrators, policymakers, and parents will discuss the use of instructional tools for online learning, and how these particular technologies can accelerate learning delivery. The discussion will be divided into two key topics and will feature a pan...

Spending time together while following the eStorytelling Sessions of Smart is becoming a nightly habit for parents and children. Spending time together while listening to entertaining and educational stories is becoming a nightly habit for parents and children following the eStorytelling Sessions of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). Launched in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and The Storytelling Project, and aired live every 8:30pm on the Smart Communities Facebook page, this is Smart’s way of bringing the magic of stories into people’s home through technology. “We want to promote storytelling as a recreational activity that parents can do with their kids, especially now that they are confined in their homes.  The goal is to get people to tune in, keep them engaged, and keep them learning during this time of social distancing,” says    Ramon R. Isberto, Head of Public Affairs of PLDT and Smart.   "As a parent, I acknowledge the importan...

Recently, the Professional Regulation Commission released Resolution No. 1240 series of 2020, "Reiterating favorable ways of learning that can earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credit Units particularly during the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 Crisis and Extending the Acceptance of Undertaking for the Renewal of The Professional Identification Card (PIC) until December 31, 2021." The resolution was signed on May 15, 2020. Due to the pandemic, many seminars, workshops, and conferences have been canceled. PRC reminds professionals that there are still other ways to earn CPD units. Text from the PRC website : Acknowledging the fact that professionals are constrained from attending Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs and learning activities that entail mass gathering due to the imposition of social distancing during this time of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency,the Professional Regulation Commission is reit...

Globe partners with Philippine Red Cross to support rapid COVID-19 response app With the unfamiliar situation brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, Globe believes that knowing how to stay informed in such times is crucial in ensuring the safety of Filipino citizens and in helping frontliners contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. That is why Globe is teaming up with the Philippine Red Cross to support RC143 , a contact tracing mobile app created by Red Cross that can help medical frontliners identify possible patients and help users track their levels of exposure to the virus. RC143 is a navigational tool that uses Bluetooth and GPS to trace contact events between users. Through the app’s unique contact tracing feature, users can assess their risk level of contracting the virus as well as get in touch with Red Cross representatives to know more about COVID-19 and for medical assistance. With users’ consent, the app periodically gathers information through phones’ wireless capa...

Almost ten years after the last novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay , bestselling author Suzanne Collins has a new novel also set in Panem: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snake s. The Hunger Games trilogy was very popular in the 2000s. Most of us are probably familiar with the story of Katniss Everdeen and The Hunger Games. In a post-apocalyptic world, Panem, a state which was once known as North America, stages an annual Hunger Games where 24 tributes from its 12 Districts fight to the death. This is Panem's way of controlling the districts and preventing another uprising. The 12 Districts work to the bone to support the lavish lifestyle of the Capitol. The Hunger Games in the story is part beauty pageant, reality show, gladiator game, and the Minotaur's Labyrinth. The four movie adaptations ran from 2012-2015, with the last novel made into two movies: Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2. The movies has also been blockbuster hits, starring Jennifer Lawrence as the main protago...

John Piper, a renowned Christian pastor, teacher, and founder of desiringGod.org , launched a free eBook: Coronavirus and Christ . It is available as a free eBook and audiobook. Translations in different languages are also available, including Filipino. While free, it is also available for purchase in paperback and Kindle formats. Book Description from Amazon: "On January 11, 2020, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) reportedly claimed its first victim in the Hubei province of China. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic. In the midst of this fear and uncertainty, it is natural to wonder what God is doing. In Coronavirus and Christ , John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him. What is God doing through the coronavirus? Pipe...

Here is a free reference source on COVID-19 made possible by the Reading, Early Grades, Art and Language  Education (REGALE) cluster of the UP College of Education: COVID-19 Dictionary for Filipino Children or Diksyunaryong COVID-19 para sa mga Batang Pilipino.   It is available in English and Filipino. The dictionary also has a video version for the deaf, to show the words and their meaning in the Filipino Sign Language. "We made the dictionary in the hope that if children understand the pandemic better, they can also keep safe from it more effectively. They could also contribute to the goals of the community in preventing the further spread of the disease which is rapidly infecting people all over the world," according to Dina S. Ocampo, PhD, from the preface of the book.  Sample page from the book Download COVID-19 Dictionary for Filipino Children: English version or Filipino version The dictionary features words related to COVID-19, with their pronunciation, meanin...

The World Health Organization recently launched a new mobile application, WHO Info. This app is designed for the general public to receive real-time news and updates from WHO and COVID-19 news from all over the world.  This app will provide information on the progress of finding medicines and vaccines against the disease. It also shows real-time trackers of COVID-19 cases by country. The WHO Info app is designed to be simple and intuitive for easier navigation. With the spread of fake news about the disease, this app is a great source of reliable information. Download WHO Info for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store WHO also launched another app, WHO Academy, which is for supporting health workers during the pandemic. The app offers access to tools, information resources, training, and online seminars to enhance their knowledge and skills on COVID-19.  WHO will also be establishing a WHO Academy site in Lyon, France, on May 2021. According to WHO, "The state-...

The National Committees on Historical Research, Libraries and Information Services, and Museums of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is offering a financial assistance program for cultural heritage workers in the following fields: library and information services, museum services, and historical research.  The one-time cash assistance grant provided will be 5,000 pesos. There are 70 slots for licensed librarians.  The deadline of application is on May 24, 2020, Sunday . Read the complete guidelines: Cultural Heritage Workers Assitance Program Online Application Form and file for Declaration of First Time Recipient (accessible on the later part of the Google form) The criteria for selection of beneficiaries include: At least 21 years old, displaced from work, and experiencing a loss of or decrease in income due to the impact of the Enhanced Community Quarantine and the COVID 19 public health crisis. Cultural Heritage Workers shall include librarians, co...

Source: Odiongan Public Information Service Facebook page The Sangguniang Kabataan of Odiongan, Romblon launched "Libro on the Go", a mobile library program where they lend books to interested readers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  According to Kaila Yap, SK President, "The program aims to encourage the youth to take this crisis as an opportunity to be intellectually productive by reading books." She said that through the act of reading, they can 'go to other places' through their imagination while staying at home. It is also a means to improve reading and thinking skills even if they are not in school.  Libro on the Go was inspired by the Merkado on the Go program of the Odiongan LGU where market goods are being brought to the barangays to be sold, rather than have people crowd in the local public markets.  They started with a few books but eventually, many have donated books for this program. They started on April 17 and collected almost 300 books from d...

IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions)  Document Delivery and Resource Sharing Section recently launched an Inter-Library Loan tool for libraries all over the globe, Resource Sharing during COVID-19 (RSCVD) .  How the service works: If you need a research paper, article, or book chapter, you can request it from a participating library who has the material through interlibrary loan. In the RSCVD website, you can input the title, DOI, or URL to the search interface. This service is for librarians from academic, school, public, or special libraries in not-for-profit institutions. An institutional e-mail address is required. It is for electronic resources only as most physical libraries are currently closed.  Visit the website:  rscvd.org "Upon your request, volunteering committee members and librarians will, first, verify your affiliation and make sure that the request is coming from a library, not an individual. Then, several volunte...

Get Kurit Iloilo: A Visual Story Art Book for free download. This is a coloring book published online by Kasingkasing Press and the Fine Arts Major Organization of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City. The book is authored by Ilya Angela Salveron and Maria Clarisse Jaro; cover art and illustrations by Fine Arts Student A.Y. 2019-2020; book cover artwork by Bhryx Colacion and Merry Chrislen Estember; with an introduction by Ma Rosalie Abeto Zerrudo. The book is dedicated to the "children of Iloilo." The book features drawings in the local setting inspired by Sooc, South San Jose, Molo, Iloilo. The illustrations often feature children playing traditional Filipino games and the ubiquitous sari-sari store.  Download Kurit Iloilo: a Visual Story Art book From the book's introduction: "Kurit Iloilo is a visual story art book for interactive drawing and coloring. The reader can activate the living heritage village of Iloilo in the urban setting tacked in between bu...

Globe partners with DOST to improve COVID-19 reporting and tracing via TanodCOVID As the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic, Globe continues to do its part in keeping families connected during these challenging times, while assisting organizations and government agencies in flattening the curve. Through its innovative developer group Globe Labs , the telco giant is once again taking new steps by partnering with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) for the implementation of a new online platform called TanodCOVID . An SMS-based self-reporting platform, TanodCOVID aims to improve the country’s capacity to trace suspected COVID-19 cases. A program funded by DOST-PCHRD, TanodCOVID was developed by Ateneo Center for Computing Competency and Research (ACCCRe) of Ateneo de Manila University, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Manila – National Telehealth Center (UP-NTHC) and the DOH-Epidemiolog...

Last April 27, 2020, Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) in partnership with Emerald Publishing held an online lecture forum on the topic of COVID-19 Post-Community Quarantine Strategies for Libraries . I think this is the first PLAI webinar streamed online. COVID-19 has changed our lives in a matter of a few weeks. All over the world, there are lockdowns, community quarantines, and other restrictions that make our usual social interactions impossible. Of course, this has also impacted libraries. I think this is a good move by PLAI to conduct a lecture-forum online. It's good that librarians in different parts of the country and even outside can participate at no cost - you only need a good internet connection. As a librarian, I am also confused - what do we do now with this pandemic? This forum has been a great help, the featured speakers shared what they are doing to adjust in the midst of the pandemic. There were many useful ideas on what librarians can do now. ...