Page 41 - B-iikm-21

Resisting Disinfodemic: Media and Information Literacy for Everyone

and by Everyone

Lether Lugo Ageas is School Librarian II and designated AC Processing Officer of Dipolog School of
Fisheries, Olingan, Dipolog City. She started working in this institution since July 2002 up to present. She
earned her degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Library Science at Mindanao State University,
Marawi City, and year 1998. She is a licensed librarian (year 2000) and a licensed teacher (year 1999).

Going back to my college days 22 years ago at Mindanao State University - Marawi City, our professor

in Computer Science subject taught us MS DOS which is a system that used a command-line interface
for the user to input commands. The lesson really amazed me and definitely, I have learned so much
about it! It started from a keyboard to input data and to receive output in plain text then afterward MS
DOS created programs using a mouse and graphics to make work simple and fast. Decades later, several
users explored to different programs until free software came out to even make work easier and more

systematic. Why I have ruminated all of these? Well, simply because this is how the brains of the people
work especially in circulating quick information.

Media and information literacy imparts indispensable knowledge specifically on how it is transmitted and
channels it to the receiver and indeed to the democratic societies. We live in a democratic country wherein

people have the right to participate directly or indirectly to a certain action that sometimes may affect us.
This also promotes equality in order to have an unwavering administration. The freedom of political
expression, press freedom and freedom of speech enable the people to act spontaneously. But there are
some may misunderstood the information; few are receiving the true information and most may hear out-
of-date or false information. This is the sad reality. That is why, the value of information we receive

regulates our insights, attitudes, and principles. This information could be from other individuals, the
media, libraries, learning centers, publishers, museums, archives and on the internet.

The recent pandemic the country is facing today has excessive effects to the people. Incorrect information
not only kills the public but it causes more angst because of how we interact and respond to it. As much

as possible, we should be responsible with our actions. We should evaluate first the media we receive if
it makes sense or not. If not, then disregard it. We should not dare to relay bias or bogus information.
We should learn critically in order to respond positively. Hence, we should be smart and wise at all times.
This is one way to get resisted to disinfodemic.

My experience of resisting disinformation promotes healthy behaviors towards my family and at work. I
always see to it that my kids learn to determine whether something is credible or not. I teach them to
listen carefully and be vigilant in what they are doing. At work, I do not entertain pessimisms but instead
I work efficiently to achieve my every day’s goal. I plan my activities in one whole week. I do have my
own calendar for me to keep updated. If new information comes in, I immediately sort and interpret it

intelligently so that everyone is not at risk. I will make sure that no one will be affected.

41