The Associate in Arts (AA) Program of the University of the Philippine Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Education (FEd) held a series of online seminars and workshops on podcasting, art illustration, and website creation on 24 July, 31 July, and 14 August 2021.
The initiative was conceptualized and spearheaded by Dr. Merites M. Buot, Professor at the Department of Human Kinetics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and the current AA Program Chair. This initiative is a response to one of the AA program’s objectives which is to help students develop skills and competencies in the study of the Arts and Humanities as well as to encourage them to showcase their artworks and other artistic output.
The first seminar-workshop in the series titled “A Beginner’s Guide to Podcasting” had Mr. Enrico Feria, an AA student, as the resource person. Mr. Feria is also a blogger, self-proclaimed photographer, and a podcast host. Currently, he hosts Rhyme & Reason Podcast which can be accessed on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, and Google podcast platforms. During his presentation, Mr. Feria detailed the characteristics and requirements of podcasting and highlighted its significance as a performance art. In his concluding message, he advised the attendees to plan ahead, stay motivated, and just be yourself when creating and recording a podcast.
The second session, dubbed as “A Beginner’s Guide to Art Illustration,” featured Ms. Miki Yobel Tolentino, also an AA student, as the resource person. Ms. Tolentino has worked as a freelance graphic designer and is currently employed as a full-time graphic designer and illustrator. She is also part of the media and creatives committee for two separate organizations where she edits weekly publicity materials. During the workshop, Ms. Tolentino shared the basics of digital art from brushes and colors to tips and tricks in sketching and drawing digital illustrations. She reminded everyone that digital art doesn’t have to be expensive; you just need to acquire the right tools and have the passion for it.
The third event tagged as “A Beginner’s Guide to Website Creation,” showcased Ms. Gracienett Castillo, a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) student, as the resource person. Ms. Castillo is a scholar for Digital Marketing and E-commerce Course Training of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and has worked as Technical Assistant and Digital Marketing Assistant for offshore companies. During the seminar, she discussed the intricacies of website creation and emphasized the importance of selecting a compatible and appropriate platform for the website. She advised the participants to consider the purpose and long-term goal of the website before setting it up.
The fourth workshop, billed as “A Beginner’s Guide to Creative Writing,” is slated on 28 August, 2021 from 10 AM to 12 PM via Zoom. Ms. Krista Marie Fama, a graduate of BA Communication Arts (cum laude) from UPLB, will be the resource person. Currently, Ms. Fama is a Project Staff of the Faculty of Education of UPOU. She will share her expertise and passion in creative writing and hopes to inspire everyone to write and tell stories.
The workshop is open to AA, BES and BAMS students. To register, please fill out the online registration form. For updates and inquiries, please visit the AA Program Facebook page.
Sustainable Development Goals
Written by Jaime Guimbao
Edited by Joane V. Serrano and Anna Cañas-Llamas