The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Department of English under the Faculty of Arts and Letters, in collaboration with the Indonesia University of Education (Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia) (UPI) English Language and Literature Study Program, the UST English Language Studies Society (UST ELSSOC), and the UST Graduate School (UST GS) conducted a community development event aimed at lessening the growing number of language-based bullying cases in the Philippines.
The event titled “Breaking the Silence: Effective Approaches to Combat Language-Based Violence” was held on October 3, 2024, at Bueno Integrated School in Capas, Tarlac, with 60 teachers from the Sta. Juliana High School and Bueno Integrated School in attendance.
The lectures helped teachers recognize linguistic signs of violence, enabling early intervention and support for affected students, and a workshop to develop resource materials and awareness campaigns that promote non-violent behaviors and positive communication among students and staff.
UST Department of English academic staff Prof. Rosalyn G. Mirasol, Ph.D., and Mr. Wilfred Gabriel A. Gapas delivered lectures on literacy for educators and staff and on identification and prevention of language-based violence at school, respectively.
The Head of the UPI English Language and Literature Study Program Prof. Eri Kurniawan, Ph.D., provided strategies and practices for using positive language at school. Meanwhile, UST GS Ph.D. English Language Studies students Ms. Gernah May Y. Santianes and Ms. Mearie Jean A. Faustino discussed strategies and practices for using positive language at school.
A workshop on developing resource materials or awareness campaigns was facilitated by the Department of English academic staff, UST-ELSSOC officers, and MA and Ph.D. students of the UST-GS.
The Chair of the Department of English and Program Lead of the UST-GS English Language Studies Cluster Prof. Rachelle B. Lintao, Ph.D., headed the Philippine delegation while Kurniawan and Muniroh comprised the Indonesia participants.
