The reporters reacted enthusiastically to education themes analyzed by Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, ABS-CBN Maria Ressa, CHED Commissioner and TESDA Board Member Dr. Nora Ricafort, and Bureau of Alternative Learning System Director Carol Guerrero.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus announced that for want of quality and speed in education of the nation, he is trying to put together a P26- billion campaign for computer infrastructure. The reporters asked: Are there enough trained teachers? What about barangays without electricity? National Computer Director General Tim de Vera assured them that his office is involved in setting up the pilot phase.

UNESCO Communication Chair and Manila Bulletin columnist, Dr. Florangel Braid, flew to Tacloban to inaugurate the UNESCO-funded E-Center for the DOH-REACH-EV (Department of Health -Regional Electronic Access to Communication for Health in East Visayas). She learned from her seatmate who worked for the Commission on Audit that the COA national survey on the use of computers led to the discovery that most of these computers have been wasted. Congressmen tend to donate them to schools without properly trained teachers nor maintenance technician

Source: Point of Awareness by Preciosa Soliven
The Philippine Star, p.18, March 29, 2007 .

____________________________________________________________________________________

Practical advice on do’s and don’t’s in relation with the media

Anuje brought several materials from Bangkok, among which was the handbook, Media Relations for UNESCO and her partners in education, science, culture and communication. This UNESCO bible on media relations is written by the late Michel Barton, whom I was priviledge to work with while I was training as Secretary General in UNESCO Paris.
         
Michel Barton stated, “Keeping ordinary citizens informed about issues and developments in the fields of culture, education, the sciences and communication is a key part of the UNESCO mandate.”

 “Two myths about media relations need to be dispelled. The first is that they imply an important financial investment. Nonsense. All that is required is a good story – facts, figures, analysis – distributed in good time to the right people. That takes a certain anmount of energy, but very little money.  The second myth is that media relations are a complex matter to be handled by specialists only. The truth is that theory in this field would hold in a thimble. What media realtions require to be effective is an  understanding of how the press and electronic media work, common sense – and practice.”

There is enormous interest in the public and media for new data and insights on issues that are UNESCO’s bread and butter, such as clonig and bioethics, oceans and coastlines, education of girls, the digital divide, freedom of the press, teacher’s salaries and working conditions, as well as endangered cultural treasures.
“This demand affords UNESCO with constantly renewed oppurtunities to advertise its concerns and programmes and to irrigate public opinion with its values.”

What the public and media hunger for is the issue itself, not about the institution – and even less about its servants.

Source: Point of Awareness by Preciosa Soliven
The Philippine Star, p.18, March 29, 2007