DZUP, the college radio station of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, is set to air more episodes of its programs “Go Teacher Go”, “Tabi-Tabi Folkloradyo”, and “Yun Yon” as the programs’ partner-producers renewed their contracts for another year.
The signing event held on Wednesday, March 15 was attended by UP College of Mass Communication (CMC) Dean Fernando Paragas, UP Department of Broadcast Communication Chair Alwin Aguirre, DZUP Station Manager Ivy Claudio, and representatives from the UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED), UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) Diliman Chapter.
During the event, Paragas expressed his happiness that DZUP’s long-time collaborators had committed to continuing to produce educational and development-oriented content that could counter misinformation and disinformation.
“Kailangan talaga na makapagbigay táyo ng impormasyon na tama. Kasi, kapag mayroong information gaps, doon pumapasok iyong mga fake news, iyong mga maling kaalaman. ‘Pag merong kakulangan, doon sila pumapasok. Kayâ, masaya talaga akó na nandito kayo at may mga mananaliksik at creative workers na tutulong sa DZUP to produce content,” Paragas said.
For his part, Aguirre emphasized the transformative role of media in society.
“In the Department, we are trying to push for this idea that media is not only a tool or a channel for information, communication, or education, but we should [also] see media as life. Because if we see media as life, it is something that we cannot escape. If we cannot escape it, then it is something that we should actually harness and make productive,” Aguirre said.
“I believe that the kinds of stories that we should tell must be about our story as a community, as a nation that will redefine what life is,” he said.
“And these programs are an example of a way to change life. It’s a life that we should fight for. With you, we can develop a life that is empowering, transformative, generative, where people could thrive, where people could see their worth, where the environment is humane, where the environment is hopeful.”
In her message, Claudio discussed DZUP’s plans to improve its terrestrial and digital platforms to reach more people and provide them with access to the station’s slate of educational materials.
“Go Teacher Go!” is an award-winning radio program jointly produced with UP NISMED that has been providing educational content primarily for teachers to uplift science and mathematics education at the basic education level since 2011. It currently airs twice a month on Thursdays, 1-2 pm. “Tabi-Tabi Folkloradyo” has been discussing Philippine folklore with the help of educators and researchers from UP CAL since 2013. It airs twice a month on Fridays, 1-2 pm. Meanwhile, “Yun Yon” is a radio program co-produced with the AUPAEU Diliman Chapter, serving as a platform for union members to discuss pressing labor and social issues. It has been on DZUP since 2012 and airs twice a month on Thursdays, 11 am-12 nn.
At the event, the terms of reference between CMC and the UP Integrated School (UPIS) for a two-week internship program at DZUP was also signed. Six UPIS students are expected to gain hands-on experience in broadcasting in March.