By Lyka Lamparero, Editor-in-Chief, Angelicus

COMMITTED to upholding truth as one its core values, Angelicum School Iloilo hosted a hyflex digital literacy webinar on Sept. 27, 2022 with speakers from Central Philippine University (CPU) and West Visayas State University (WVSU). 

The webinar, attended by YS5 to Senior High School learners and the school’s faculty and staff, aimed to empower learners on the importance of digital literacy and how to combat misinformation and disinformation by learning how to spot fake news and false information online.

CPU Library and Information Science Professor Ana Mae B. Cantel, the main webinar facilitator, started her discussion by asking the learners to write their expectations about the said workshop. She then discussed the difference between disinformation and misinformation, underscoring how widespread they are on various social media platforms. 

“The journalist seeks and delivers the truth and nothing but the facts,” said Cantel, pointing out the alarming situation wherein people are more convinced of the unfounded and unfiltered statements of influencers than credible news organizations. 

Another speaker, Dr. Manuela Lozañes who heads the readers services section of the WVSU library, tackled the different types of biases and how they affect people’s way of consuming information; and the different types of fake news and how to detect each one of them.

Furthermore, Aura Carmela Ferrariz-Sendico, assistant principal of Angelicum School Iloillo capped the webinar by emphasizing that “… we live at a time that might be considered as “ironic”. Yes, it creates confusion most of the time even to the point of our division as a nation and division as a global community. But, if we arm ourselves with the skill of analysis, then, we will be coursing through this life armed with the truth, veritas.” 

The webinar was made possible through the digital literacy programs and extension projects of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foundation, Google.org., Limitless Lab, and Break the Fake Movement.

The webinar was spearheaded by Angelicum School Iloilo librarian, Noreen Jill Gallo, and made possible through the digital literacy programs and extension projects of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foundation, Google.org., Limitless Lab, and Break the Fake Movement. /END