REFLECTION IN E-TECH

E-tech means Empowerment Technology and what I had learned about this subject was all about ICT or Internet and Communication Technology. ICT deals with the use of different communication technology such as mobile phones, Internet and etc. to save, send and edit information.

Internet means connecting a computer to any other computer anywhere in the world. We can access in the internet anytime and anywhere. In learning about internet, I learned also about the World wide web-an information system that allows documents to be connected to another documents by hyperlinks. The hypertext document that is connected to the world wide web is called Web Pages. A location that is connected to the internet that maintains one or more pages on WWW is also called Web Browser, this is also a software application. I had learned also about the difference of Static Web and Dynamic Web Pages. Static means unchanged or constant while the dynamic means changing or lively. Static is a flat page and it cannot be manipulated by the user. Dynamic can operate more effectively and it can be use easier by the user because you can easier update and expand. Internet also learning the Social Media. At first, I thought social media is just all about Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, I thought it is just all about socializing. But while learning this, I already knew that social media has Six Types; Social Networks one example of this is Facebook. Book marking sites, example is Pinterest. Social News that allows user to post their own news. Media sharing-that allow you to upload and share media content like music and video, one example of this is Youtube. Microblogging sites that focus on short updtes from the user, so the best example of this is Twitter. And lastly the Blogs and Forums which is allow user to post their content like for example Blogger. I just realized then that Social Media was widely used by the people because of its Types or Features. You can be updated everyday using Social Media. No one can stop you to use Internet everyday but you need also to control and limit yourself in using this because Internet has Internet Threats that can harm you. Internet threats was one of the topics that I had learned in E-tech. I’[m thankful because I knew now what are the threats that can harm me in using social media. I really need to control and limit myself in using social media because of this threats. Through this Internet threats we must know the Online Safety and Security that can help us to be safe and secured online.

Learning the Internet was fun because of the new experiences especially exploring the world of social media. Internet is truly a powerful tool. It is also our source of knowledge. We should know what is the importance of Internet in our lives now especially for us the 21^st Century Learner. Controlling and Limiting ourselves in using internet will be more enjoyable.

INTERACTIVE VIDEO ABOUT ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS AND MANANGEMENT

YOLANDA PEOPLE FINDER

On the 8th day of November, year 2013, people are living their lives peacefully until a massive tragedy shook their innocent lives.

Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the world history. It killed a total number of 6,300 people in the Philippines.

The vast use of ICT had a great impact in terms of informing others on what is happening during this calamity. The typhoon is talked about on social networking sites and the storm became a trend world wide, dubbing that Typhoon Yolanda is one of the strongest typhoons in world history.

Aside from the social media, Google offered a help to the Filipino people by allowing them to use their web application called Google Person Finder.

Google Person Finder is an open source web application that provides a message board for survivors, family, and loved ones affected by a natural disaster to post and search for information about each other’s status and updates. It was first created by Google engineers in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Through online platforms, people posted calls for help, survivors let the world know they were safe, and photos and videos were posted to describe the situation on the ground, and help plan relief efforts. Maybe you even donated money online to one of the many emergency relief funds set up in the wake of the disaster. The role of social media in the Haiyan response highlighted the role of information and communications technology (ICT), communication, and civic participation in promoting social change indeed, the world has become hyper-connected.

It helps to spread the information about the  current situation of the victims.

v  It  helps to locate where the  victims are.

v  It helps to connect with people, and to inform them about important issues affecting their lives and their communities.

v  It helps to know what are the different needs of the yolanda victims.

This proved that ICT has an important role not only during typhoon Yolanda but also in other calamities that will happen, happening and already happened around the world.

''God gives his Hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. And we really are the Strongest nation! Torn and Broken but still standing.''

ROLE OF ICT IN MILLION PEOPLE MARCH

The so-called Million People March was the first of an ongoing series of protests in the Philippines calling for the total abolition of the Pork Barrel fund, triggered by public anger over the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. Initial calls circulated through social media (mainly on Facebook and Twitter) to convene a protest on August 26, 2013 at Luneta Park in Manila as well as other cities nationwide and overseas. Some media commentators consider this as the first ever massive rally in the Philippines called and organised mostly through social media channels.

Using the power of social media they are inviting the people to join the protest for the pork barrel fund mess to be stopped. Their Facebook status says ” what we need is a  MILLION PEOPLE MARCH by struggling Filipino taxpayers- a day of protest by the silent majority that would demand all politicians and government officials to stop pocketing our taxes borne out from our hard works by means of this pork barrel scams and other creative criminal acts.”

ICT has almost become the platform of change because the protest is mostly organized through social media channels. Through this millennial tool, Filipinos, once again showed their love for their country and for the people who works hard for their living that pays their taxes veraciously yet some government officials or NGO’s won’t do the same thing and pockets the money of their countrymen. As time goes by, social medial will always be a part of our great history because no matter what the situation is, Filipinos will surely fight for what is right, cry for what is just and tussle for what is best for our country by the means of everything.

On the day of the protest itself, the hashtags used by the coordinating group #MillionPeopleMarch and #ScrapPork reportedly trended first in the Philippines to show widespread support for the cause and that a large number of people monitoring the event.

"In union there is strength''

-aesop

ROLE OF ICT IN EDSA DOS

The power of the thumb

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), in a special report published in 2002, called it the “Text Revolution.” It noted how traditional gateways of information—usually through the mass media — were turned upside down as text messages passed on from one individual to another became a grassroots movement-of-sorts, “where the incredible is trashed and the believable passed forward.”

“Text was also instrumental in mobilizing the thousands of unorganized and unaffiliated whose only ticket to the increasingly frequent rallies against President Estrada was a texted invitation on their — or their or neighbor’s — mobile phone,” the report noted.

In January 2001, Filipinos toppled a corrupt president through People Power II, using one technological tool to maximum advantage-the mobile phone. The short messaging service (SMS) or text messaging provided opportunities to pass on messages rapidly to large groups of people. A content analysis of the text messages revealed three themes, namely: political information and persuasion, protest humor, and political emotions. Political information included rumors and beliefs, persuasive messages to join mass actions, and practical instructions about mobilizing huge protest rallies. Political jokes passed around permitted Filipinos to derogate President Estrada and his allies, and provided opportunities to ventilate pent-up social angers. 

Texting during People Power II demonstrated the mobile phone's capacity to disseminate political messages in a rapid, multiplicative, yet discreet fashion, resulting in a massive and peaceful social force.

In People Power II, it was not the hi-tech mobile phone technology that paved the way for peaceful political transformation in the Philippines. Rather, political operators used the short message system (SMS) technology, more commonly called texting, to mobilize a huge number of people for street protests against a corrupt leader(Beja, 2001). Text messages rapidly spread the call to go out to the streets (Coronel, 2001); in a sense, Estrada was texted out of power (Ricafrente, 2001). By using text messages,rally organizers mobilized crowds in front of the historic EDSA shrine barely an hour after the Senate vetoed the opening of bank evidence against President Estrada (Villamor, 2001).

Nobody then realized how texting could help spark a peaceful revolution, at least until that fateful day in January 2001 when Filipinos ousted a corrupt and philandering leader.

''People Power was never about the heroes of the myth; it has always been about the people.''

ROLE OF ICT IN RECENT HISTORY

EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION

Information and Communication Technology(ICT) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries.

The media had come to it's success not by accident; for Philippine media today is a product of context and history.

When Martial was proclaimed on September 21, 1972, all the papers including so called ''oligarchic press'' and broadcast stations were closed.

In order for Cory Aquino to mobilize a popular democratic movement, she needed Radio Veritas, a 24-hour AM radio station operated by the Roman Catholic Church, because it served as the primary communication platform for the democratic opposition. With all other non-government media shut down, Aquino and her cadres used Radio Veritas to inform Filipinos of political developments and organize them for nonviolent protests. After Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, Marcos prevented local media from broadcasting news of his death, and Radio Veritas, the only station in the Philippines to carry news of Senator Aquino’s assassination, galvanized the two million supporters to come to his funeral.According to former President of the University of the Philippines Francisco Nemenzo, “Without Radio Veritas it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to mobilize millions of people in a matter of hours.”

Radio Veritas Asia is the Catholic shortwave station broadcasting to Asia. It is based in Quezon City, Philippines, and is owned by the Philippine Radio Educational and Information Center, which previously owned the original Radio Veritas from 1969 to 1991.

Radio Veritas embarked on different means of delivering its religious message. It started using new technology such as the Internet and webcasting, and plans to upgrade to digital broadcasting.

The broadcast tapes of the 1986 People Power Revolution are housed in the RVA archives. UNESCO has catalogued the audio files as part of the selected collection included in the Memory of the World Program and Digital Preservation of Documentary Heritage.

These are the importance and functions of ICT in People Power Revolution.

''I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.''

-Corazon Aquino

ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AND ACTION

Environment is basically the surroundings of life. These surroundings include living and non-living things which make up of natural and built environments. Natural environment is composed of things which exist naturally whereas built environment is one that man has made. However, environmental conversation is a practice of protecting the environment, an individual, organizational or governmental level.

SOME WAYS TO CONSERVE ENVIRONMENT

1. RECYCLING

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gases emissions (compared to plastic production for example). Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from land filling).

2.  COMPOSTING

Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Anything that was once living will decompose. Basically, backyard composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses. By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Finished compost looks like soil–dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor.

3. REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION

Reducing water consumption in the home is a simple and easy way to decrease water and energy bills and lessen your household’s impact on the environment.

Conserving water resources, even in areas without shortages, helps reduce the need to build dams or extract water from rivers, decreases wastewater produced and treated at sewage plants, lowers energy requirements for treating and transporting water and wastewater, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

4. PLANT TREES

Tree planting is the process of transplanting tree seedlings, generally for forestry, land reclamation, or landscaping purpose. It differs from the transplantation of larger trees in agriculture, and from the lower cost but slower and less reliable distribution of tree seeds.

5. TALK ABOUT IT

Talking about on how to conserve and preserve environment is a good way to protect mother earth. We are responsible for taking care of it because if we protect our environment, we can save our lives.

There are various ways through which we can conserve the environment. In our homes we can make effort into trying to conserve the environment through using environmental friendly sources of energy and building materials. These alternative sources of energy may include solar energy as source of power in our homes and energy conservative stoves for cooking. This will help in the environment conservation since people will cut down fewer trees for energy and construction purposes.

In conclusion, environment is a source of live and it needs our effort to conserve it. Every individual should be sensitized on the importance of conserving the environment. For the success of conservation to be achieved we should use conserve energy by using alternative sources that are friendly to the environment. Government should input strict measures of environmental conservation such as prohibiting illegal cutting of trees, waste disposal methods by the public.

"Take care of the Mother Earth and she will take care of you."