UP Cebu Communication Program - CCAD

Congratulations to Jennirose Lavilla, Zoel Angelique Radaza, and Aimee Suma-oy for successfully defending their undergraduate thesis proposal on June 4, 2026, entitled Burikat Nga Naabot Sa Amerika: A Feminist Discourse Analysis of Slur Reclamation Through Cindy Cinco's Performance of Agency on Facebook in the Construction of the ‘Proud Burikat’ Identity.

Advised by Asst. Prof. Maurice Jitty Villaester and paneled by Asst. Prof. Jorisse Gumanay-Nasol, PhD, and Asst. Prof. Atty. Archill Niña F. Capistrano. The study explored how the Visayan derogatory label burikat is reappropriated in digital spaces through the online persona of Cindy Cinco.

Grounded in Feminist Existentialism and Warning Theory of Slurs, the research examined how acts of self-representation on social media can transform stigmatizing labels into symbols of pride, agency, and identity. Under Critical Discourse Analysis the study aims to reveal the complex power structures that continue to shape such forms of empowerment.

This achievement reflects the researchers' commitment to advancing feminist scholarship and the role of communication in understanding regional discourses in the digital age.

Congratulations on this significant academic milestone.

Congratulations to our Communication Juniors, Isabella Marie Mondragon, Jinelle Simbajon, and Mi Kizziah Reeve Tantog, for successfully defending their undergraduate thesis proposal, “Choosing Home Amid Risk: A Narrative Analysis of Displaced Mananga Residents’ Settlement Decisions Following Post-Disaster Relocation Policy in the Aftermath of Typhoon Tino,” today, June 4, 2026, at the Multimedia Room (MMR).

The study examines how displaced residents of Mananga make sense of their decision to remain in an area officially classified as hazardous despite post-disaster relocation efforts. Grounded in Brenda Dervin’s Sense-Making Methodology and the Leila Scannell and Robert Gifford's People–Process–Place Framework of Place Attachment, the research explores the meanings, experiences, and attachments that shape residents’ settlement decisions. Through qualitative interviews and narrative thematic analysis, the study seeks to illuminate how notions of home, belonging, and everyday lived realities influence responses to post-disaster relocation policies.

The thesis proposal was completed under the guidance of Asst. Prof. Maurice Jitty Villaester and evaluated by panelists Dr. Marie Rose Arong and Mx. Jawjaw Losenada.

We extend our warmest congratulations to these students on this significant academic milestone and wish them continued success as they move forward with their research journey.

Congratulations to our Communication Juniors, Erika Bianca Sanchez, Rythrishia Llagas, and Feirnchae Lim for successfully defending their undergraduate thesis proposal entitled, “The Deterritorialization of Butuanon: A Deleuzian Analysis of Language Across Contextual Domains in Butuan City", held today, June 4, 2026 via Zoom.

Under the guidance of Dr. Gregg S. Lloren and evaluated by panelists Ms. Rochelle Valencia and Dr. Aurelio Vilbar, the study examines the changing linguistic landscape of Butuan City, where Cebuano has become the dominant language and Butuanon increasingly occupies limited communicative spaces.

Drawing on the philosophical concepts of deterritorialization, difference and repetition, and Fishman’s domain theory, the research investigates how social, institutional, and technological forces—including emerging AI technologies—shape the use, movement, and transformation of Butuanon across various domains of everyday life. Through a qualitative case study involving multiple generations of Butuanon speakers, the study seeks to contribute to broader conversations on language change, linguistic diversity, and the preservation of underrepresented Philippine languages.

The program congratulates the researchers on this significant academic achievement and wishes them continued success as they move forward with their research.

Congratulations to our Communication Juniors, Maria Angelica Colonia, Sam Cuizon, and Justine Andrie Obejero for successfully defending their undergraduate thesis proposal entitled, “Bridging Blurs Between Binaries: A Phenomenological Study on the Identity Negotiation Strategies of Cebuano Drag Queens in their Masculine-Presenting Daily Lives and Feminine Drag Personas”, held on June 3, 2026 at the Center for Media and Excellence (CME).

Under the guidance of Dr. Gregg S. Lloren and evaluated by panelists Mx. Jawjaw Loseñada and Mx. Maybelle Grace Aton, the study examines how Cebuano drag queens navigate, negotiate, and reconcile their masculine-presenting daily lives with their feminine drag personas across different social contexts.

Grounded in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI), the research contributes to Philippine drag scholarship by highlighting the lived experiences of Cebuano drag queens and exploring drag as an ongoing process of identity construction and negotiation beyond performance.

The program congratulates the researchers on this significant academic milestone and wishes them continued success as they move forward with their study.

"Technical communication succeeds not when information is merely transmitted, but when audiences construct meanings that remain both accessible and accurate."

Congratulations to our BA Communication senior, Jarrod Owen T. Ygot, for the successful Thesis Defense of his undergraduate study entitled, “Understanding Technical Communication in Campus Radio: A Non-Computer Science Students-Based Analysis of a DYUP Sugbo TekToks Episode,” held on June 1, 2026, at the Radio Room of the Undergraduate Building, University of the Philippines Cebu.

Grounded in Second-Order Cybernetics by Heinz von Foerster, the study examined how technical Computer Science concepts were communicated and interpreted within TekToks, a Computer Science-led campus radio program of DYUP Sugbo. Focusing on a selected episode featuring Project MANGGA (Mango Automated Neural Net Generic Grade Assignor), the research explored how technical content was encoded by Computer Science student-hosts and guests, how non-Computer Science students interpreted these discussions, and whether audience interpretations aligned with technically accurate meanings as validated by a subject-matter expert.

Using a qualitative exploratory case study design, the researcher conducted a textual analysis of the selected TekToks episode, semi-structured interviews with sixteen(16) non-Computer Science students from different colleges of the University of the Philippines Cebu, and a Key Informant Interview with the Project Leader of MANGGA. Through thematic analysis, the study investigated how technical information travels from message production to audience understanding within a campus radio environment.

The findings revealed that TekToks successfully made complex Computer Science concepts more accessible through conversational language, Cebuano-English code-switching, relatable examples, humor, and analogies. Participants generally understood the practical applications and broader purpose of Project MANGGA, particularly its use of artificial intelligence in agricultural innovation. However, deeper technical concepts such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and machine learning processes were often interpreted partially or inaccurately, demonstrating that accessibility does not always guarantee technical precision.

The study further found that audience understanding was shaped by prior knowledge, educational background, and personal experiences. Consistent with Second-Order Cybernetics, listeners did not passively receive information but actively constructed meanings based on their own contexts. While the program effectively encouraged engagement and comprehension, expert validation revealed instances where audience interpretations diverged from technically accurate meanings, highlighting the continuing challenge of balancing simplification and accuracy in science communication.

The researcher sincerely thanks his Research Adviser, Dr. Belinda F. Espiritu for her invaluable guidance, patience, and unwavering support throughout the research process. He likewise extends his gratitude to the members of his Research Panel, Asst. Prof. Maurice Jitty Villaester and Atty. Carine Era Asutilla-Lapid, for their insightful comments, critical recommendations, and encouragement that greatly strengthened the study. Special appreciation is also extended to Prof. Jonnifer R. Sinogaya for serving as the study’s subject-matter expert and for his generous sharing of expertise during the Key Informant Interview.

The study calls for more intentional and audience-centered approaches to science and technology communication in campus media. As technical knowledge becomes increasingly relevant in everyday life, effective communication must move beyond merely simplifying information and strive toward fostering accurate understanding, critical engagement, and meaningful public participation in discussions about science and technology.

Episode 3: “Pila pa ka Pila?” — Directed by Jia Enad, the episode follows the paper trail behind a proposed cinematheque, interrogating the costs, delays, and bureaucratic barriers that raise a larger question of whether its actual absence is due to economic incapacity or lack of institutional will.

“SINE ‘TA NA!”
Series Producer: Margie Markland
Creative Director: Kai Osorio
Publicity Manager: Charice Mae Basilan

“PILA PA KA PILA?”
Starring: Danielle Aballe-de Los Reyes, Marlon Douglas Hofer, Mayor Nestor Archival
Director: Jia Christy Enad
Producer: Ricardo Ray Arancon
Assistant Producer: Jia Christy Enad
Editor: Ricardo Ray Arancon
Assistant Editors: Clay Aiken Camus, Samantha Lyn Talla
Director of Photography: Samantha Lyn Talla
Interviewers: Jia Christy Enad, Ricardo Ray Arancon
Camera Operators: Loinne Shie Antopina, Charice Mae Basilan, Clay Aiken Camus, Samantha Lyn Talla
Sound Recordists: Kirsten Abcede, Rogielyn Rosales
Production Assistants: Kirsten Abcede, Loinne Shie Antopina, Ernie II Gelbolingo
Casting Directors: Kirsten Abcede, Jia Christy Enad, Rogielyn Rosales, Samantha Lyn Talla
Music Credits:
Cafe au Lait (Reimagined), Valse n°1, ‘Snowfall’ by Scott Buckley Au - Piano Ambient, ‘Intro’ by Red Roses Realm ID - Ambient
Special Thanks: Luna Gazette, A Little Tea, Cebu City Mayor’s Office

"Pila pa ka Pila?" - SINE 'TA NA! Episode 3 Episode 3: “Pila pa ka Pila?” — Directed by Jia Enad, the episode follows the paper trail behind a proposed cinematheque, interrogating the costs, delays, an...

Episode 2: “Kumusta ang ‘Industriya’?” — Directed by Rainne Nocete, the episode revisits the rise and disappearance of Cebu’s cinematic spaces to scrutinize who bears responsibility for their decline, pressing cultural institutions and public officials to move beyond political divides in sustaining Cebuano film culture.

"SINE 'TA NA!"
Series Producer: Margie Markland
Creative Director: Kai Osorio
Publicity Manager: Charice Mae Basilan

“KUMUSTA ANG ‘INDUSTRIYA’?”
Starring: Marie Rose Arong, Bienvenido Fernandez, Elmer "Jojo" Labella, Jobert Maseda, Cebuano People
Director: Rainne Nocete
Producer: Margie Markland
Assistant Producer: Katrina Dela Peña
Editors: Margie Markland, Rainne Nocete
Assistant Editors: Katrina Dela Peña, Athena Quidlat
Director of Photography: Margie Markland
Interviewer: Mark Aaron Collera
Camera Operators: Margie Markland, Rainne Nocete, Athena Quidlat
Production Assistants: Reaneil Paulin Cañete, Mark Aaron Collera, Eunice Iglesias, Nicole Kaye Santos
Lead Researchers: Reaneil Paulin Cañete, Eunice Iglesias
Gaffers: Reaneil Paulin Cañete, Eunice Iglesias, Nicole Kaye Santos
Original Score: Reaneil Paulin Cañete
Special Thanks: Jiji Borlasa, Ligaya Rabago, Cine Oriente, Sinulog Foundation, Inc.

“Kumusta ang 'Industriya'?" - SINE 'TA NA! Episode 2 Episode 2: “Kumusta ang ‘Industriya’?” — Directed by Rainne Nocete, the episode revisits the rise and disappearance of Cebu’s cinematic spaces to scrutinize ...

Episode 1: “Asa ang Masa?” — Directed by Jana Puerto, the episode turns to both filmmakers and audiences, examining how regional cinema struggles to survive amid limited institutional backing, scarce distribution spaces, and uncertain public engagement.

Premieres at 5 PM. 🎞️

"Asa ang Masa?" - SINE 'TA NA! Episode 1 Episode 1: “Asa ang Masa?” — Directed by Jana Puerto, the episode turns to both filmmakers and audiences, examining how regional cinema struggles to survive ...

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗣 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 🗳️

We proudly announce the newly elected officers of the Communicators of UP for the upcoming academic year. As you take on this new chapter of leadership, may you continue fostering solidarity, critical engagement, and meaningful communication within and beyond the community.

Congratulations once again and good luck on your journey! 🌻🧡

Congratulations to our BA Communication students Rainne Yzabel Felizarta and Gabriel Emmanuel Solamo for successfullly defending their thesis proposal entitled, "On Air, On Cue: A Phenomenological Study on Emotional Labor and Affect Among Radio DJs in Cebu City" today, March 29, 2026 at the Multimedia Room (MMR).

Their study seeks to explore the lived experiences of radio DJs in Cebu City, particularly on how they regulate and sustain emotions in their broadcast performance. Grounded in Grandey's Emotion Regulation Theory and Hecht's Communication Theory of Identity, their study aims to understand how emotion regulation strategies affect the communication process of radio DJs and how their identities are negotiated on-air. Through the lens of hermeneutic phenomenology, the study will provide a deeper understanding of the work of radio practitioners and inform relevant institutions on more sustainable media working conditions.

The thesis proposal was advised by Maurice Jitty Villaester and paneled by Ms. Maybelle Grace Aton and DJ Billy of 96.3WRock.

Their study reflects the value of communication research in understanding the intersection of emotion, identity and performance in the broadcasting industry. Congratulations to these students, and we wish them success as they continue their academic journey!