Department of Education

Province of Antique
SAN ROQUE-EZPELETA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNERS MATERIAL

Legal, Ethical, and Societal Issues in Media and Information Literacy

(Lec)

Content Standards
The learners demonstrate an understanding of the legal, ethical, and societal issues
in the use of media and information.
Performance Standards
The learners shall be able to evaluate a case study or presentation on an offense,
investigation, and decision on any of the issues in media and information within
their community.

Learning Competencies
1. Puts into practice their understanding of the intellectual property, copy right, and fair use guidelines.
MIL11/12LESI-IIIg-17
2. Demonstrates proper conduct and behavior online (netiquette, virtual self).
MIL11/12LESI-IIIg-18
3. Puts into action their personal resolve to combat digital divide, addiction, and bullying.
MIL11/12LESI-IIIg-19
GROUP 1

Case 1: Plagiarism
1. Read the following articles on a case of plagiarism: “UP student plagiarizes prize-
winning photos” at http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/39566-up-student-admits-
plagiarized-photos and “UP grad in photo plagiarism gets redemption” at
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/12/03/1528420/grad-photo-plagiarism-gets-
redemption
2. After reading, answer the following questions:
a. First article: “UP student plagiarizes prize-winning photos”
• In what competition did Solis send in his plagiarized work?
• What sanctions did he receive from the organizing committee? Describe his
actions.
• Do you think technology and the internet have made plagiarism easier? Do you
think technology has made people more or less creative? Explain your answer by
citing examples.
b. Second article: “UP grad in photo plagiarism gets redemption”
• According to the article, how did Solis redeem himself? What job did he have?
• What project did he help?
• What is there to learn about the life of Solis?
3. Summarize the answers.
4. Choose a reporter to present the answers in class. The reporter may use
presentation software or cue cards.

UP student plagiarizes prize-winning photos

A UP student is in hot water after apparently plagiarizing several prize-
winning photographs

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – A graduate student of the country's premier

state university admitted to passing off as his own a photograph that
recently won a contest sponsored by the Chilean ambassador.

University of the Philippines graduate student Mark Joseph Solis made the
confession when Rappler contacted him by phone on Sunday, September 22.
"I'm deeply sorry. I'm in deep remorse. Right now, I already contacted the
organizers and I'm about to contact the owner to personally convey to him
my deepest and personal apology," Solis said.
According to posts on the "Narinig ko sa UP" (Overheard at UP) Facebook
page, Solishad done this at least 5 times since 2011.
The most recent photo that Solis claimed to be his won the top prize in
the Smiles for the World photo contest conceptualized by Chilean
Ambassador Roberto Mayorga.
It came under intense scrutiny on social networks on Sunday after the real
owner of the photograph, Gregory John Smith, revealed how "an impostor...
abused my copyright."
Solis submitted a photo of a boy whom he said was named Nilo and was from
Zamboanga City. The caption stated that the boy helped his father farm
seaweed.During Chile's National Day on Wednesday, September 18, at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines, Solis was awarded $1,000 and roundtrip
tickets to Chile and Brazil.Smith, a social entrepreneur, said the photo
belonged to the Children at Risk Foundation, which he founded. The child in
the photo was from Brazil, not Zamboanga City, he said.
Smith posted a comment on a recent feature article on the
ambassador claiming ownership of the photo.

OUTRAGED. The owner of the controversial photo posted this comment on the article about
the Ambassador and his contest on Rappler
Taken from Flickr
Smith pointed to his Flickr account, which contained the same photo – taken
in 2006 – along with other photos of children in Brazil. The photo was titled,
"Neptune, King of the Sea."
THE ORIGINAL. The photo, originally called 'Neptune, King of the sea' posted in the Children at
Risk Flickr account managed by Smith. Screengrab from Flickr

UP students expressed shock and anger at the apparent plagiarism.

Solis is a political science alumnus of UP and is currently taking up his
Masters in Public Administration at the National College of Public
Administration and Governance.
The website of the International Association of Political Science
Students said Solis is a legislative staff of Senator Pia Cayetano.
Cayetano tweeted Sunday, "To those asking, Mark Solis was a probationary
staff for three months. He has not been connected with our office since
June."
Not the first time
It wasn't the first time Solis joined and won a contest using photos taken by
other people.
Solis sent Smith's photo to the United Nations International Year of Water
Cooperationcontest. The caption stated this time that the child was from
India, according to posts on the Narinig ko sa UP page.
Another photo he entered into the same contest was also from the Children
At Risk Foundation's Flickr album.
In 2011, he also entered and won the first Papworth Trust's photo
competition. The owner of the photo is a Flickr user who took the photo in
2008.
Solis also entered 3 photos to a sustainable development photo
contest hosted by a European Union company called VinylPlus. All 3 photos
were also stolen from Flickr accounts.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, which also held
a photo contest in 2011, received a false entry from Solis as well.
The original photo, also found on Flickr, even had a watermark on it.
Disappointed
Ambassador Mayorga expressed his deep sadness by the turn of events.
Mayorga told Rappler he only wished to show appreciation on the Calidad
Humana  of the Filipinos. He added that he hopes this does not tarnish the
image of all Filipinos.
"The majority [of Filipinos] have plenty of Calidad Humana,"  Mayorga told
Rappler, "Unfortunately, these kind of exceptions are the risk you have in
your nice country. This shows it is necessary to take care of your good
people, preserving among them the positive elements of their personality."
READ: 'Calidad Humana' and exporting the Filipino smile
Mayorga said that they will conduct an investigation into the matter. But he
warned that Solis' conduct may forfeit his award.
Solis said he will meet with the contest organizers on Monday.  –
Rappler.com

Photographer image via Shutterstock

Case 2: Cyber Bullying

1. Read the news article about Robert Blair Carabuena and the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority Aide Fabros: “Carabuena: From bully to cyberbullying
victim” at http://rp1.abscbnnews.com/lifestyle/08/23/12/carabuena-bully-
cyberbullying-victim
(If the class has a computer, the group may also watch the news report at https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLr-laylF4s
2. After reading, answer the following questions:
• What did Carabuena do that made netizens angry?
• Describe the acts of cyber bullying that the netizens did to Carabuena. Do you
think their actions are justifiable? Defend your answer.
• How did the incident affect Carabuena’s life?
• Do you think technology and the Internet has made bullying easier?
• Give one suggestion to avoid cyber bullying. Give one suggestion to avoid being a
cyber bully.
3. Summarize the answers.
4. Choose a reporter to present the answers in class. The reporter may use
presentation software or cue cards.

Carabuena: From bully to cyberbullying victim

MANILA, Philippines -- Robert Blair Carabuena, who admitted his wrongs and issued an apology on
Thursday, has been the subject of online attacks since a video of him allegedly abusing a traffic
enforcer was broadcast and went viral on the web.

Carabuena had been caught on camera berating and slapping Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) aide Fabros on August 11 after he was pulled over for a traffic violation.

“Pending investigation,” Philip Morris Tobacco Corp. suspended Carabuena, one of its employees,
following petitions from various sectors urging the company to fire him.

In a statement, the company said while Carabuena was “not on duty for the company at the time” the
incident occurred, “it does no not condone inappropriate conduct by any of our employees.”

The MMDA also said that the direct assault case it has filed against the Philip Morris executive will
push through despite his apology, and a preliminary hearing at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s office
was scheduled for Thursday.

However, according to initial reports from the MMDA, Carabuena was rushed to the hospital after
feeling discomfort because of hurtful comments he received from several people at the fiscal’s office.

Carabuena has not been immune from online “retaliation” either. From issuing taunts of “baboy”
(pig) to assertions that he should be killed, netizens have not been kind to Carabuena, leading some
to say that the bully is now being cyberbullied.

Flame bait

Incidents of cyberbullying by Filipinos online are not new, with people even intentionally creating
what can be termed as “flame bait” to draw the ire from netizens.

One incident was that of “Ahcee Flores”, an identity created by an Internet troll to comment on
Yahoo! Philippines. A parallel Flores account was also set up on social networking site Facebook. 

Flores wished ill on the victims of an earthquake in Visayas, leading to the creation of pages on
the social networking site dedicated to sowing hate against her. Her posts also went viral online.

Even celebrities are not immune. Actress Francine Prieto also received flak for an offhand comment
about President Benigno Aquino III being “panot.”

“I deleted my first Twitter account dahil nilabas ko ang saloobin ko sa dami kong problema…ngayon
naman sobra na ang mga bastos, mahaba ang pasensya ko 'wag mo lang akong babastusin dahil kaya
ko rin maging bastos,” she said to her online haters on Twitter. 

As of posting, there are over 40 pages on Facebook dedicated to Carabuena, with names such as
“Patayin si Robert Blair Carabuena,” “Like if you want Robert Blair Carabuena to be fired from
Philip Morris”, “Ikaw na nga may pinagaralan ikaw pa walang modo, f*** you Robert Carabuena”
and “Ilechon si Robert Blair Carabuena,” among others.

“Ipakulong si Robert Blair Carabuena” is currently the top page with 23,216 likes.

There is also now a parody Twitter account for Carabuena -- @RBlairCarabuena. It has only eight
followers and 97 tweets as of posting.

Carabuena acknowledged his haters in his apology. 

“Nitong nakaraang Linggo, naramdaman ko po ang galit ng publiko sa aking inasal. Simula nang
lumabas ang ‘video’ sa media at sa ‘social media,’ minabuti ko pong manatili muna sa aming
tahanan,” he said.

Carabuena has since reportedly shut down his social media accounts.

GROUP 3
Case 3: Computer addiction
1. Read the news article on computer addiction: “Four in ten teenage girls 'are
addicted to internet: Youngsters increasingly showing signs of compulsion with their
tablets and smart phones” at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2623903/Four-
ten-teenage-girls-addicted-internet-Youngstersincreasingly-showing-signs-
compulsion-tablets-smart-phones.html
2. After reading the article, answer the following questions:
• From the research, do boys and girls share the same Internet usage? Explain your
answer. Cite statistics or data.
• Cite one real life example in your school or community of teenagers who have
experienced computer addiction. What happen to them? Have they recovered from
their addiction?
• Give two pieces of advice from Tablets for Schools to avoid computer addiction.
3. Summarize the answers.
4. Choose a reporter to present the answers in class. The reporter may use
presentation software or cue cards.

Four in ten teenage girls 'are addicted to internet': Youngsters

increasingly showing signs of compulsion with their tablets and smart
phones

 Nearly two thirds of pupils said in survey they took their gadget to bed with
them
 46 per cent of teen girls asked thought they were addicted to the internet
 2,000 secondary school pupils aged 11 to 17 asked their views in survey

Four in ten teenagers believe they are addicted to the internet with girls affected
more than boys, a survey found.
Youngsters are increasingly displaying signs of compulsion to use their tablets and
smartphones, including taking their devices to bed and in some cases even
preferring the company of gadgets to people.
The findings prompted Tablets for Schools, the charity which conducted the survey,
to launch a charter on how families can set boundaries to foster a healthy
relationship with the internet.
Teenager girls are increasingly displaying signs of being addicted to the internet
and using smart phones
Advice includes banning children from taking their devices to bed and encouraging
them to buy alarm clocks instead of using their phones for the purpose.
The survey, which questioned more than 2,000 secondary school pupils aged 11 to
17, found that 39 per cent believe they are addicted to the internet.
The figure was higher among girls at 46 per cent, whereas 36 per cent of boys
thought they were addicted.
The poll found that girls spent more time chatting to friends on social networks
while boys were more absorbed by computer games.
One 11-year-old girl said: ‘I can never get off it, and at night I stay up for two to
three hours after I’m meant to be asleep.’
A 12-year-old girl, said: ‘The internet nearly always controls my actions. I have been
told that I am addicted to the internet, and prefer its company rather than being
with other people.’
And a third pupil said: ‘If I had no wi-fi I would have no life.’
Nearly two-thirds of pupils - 64 per cent - said they took their gadget to bed with
them.
Of these, most were using their phone or computer to talk to friends on social
media, watch films or videos or play games.
One 12-year-old boy said: ‘It’s the first thing I look at in the morning and the last
thing at night. It seems I’m constantly on it.’
Nearly two-thirds of pupils ¿ 64 per cent ¿ said they took their gadget to bed with
them
A girl of the same age commented: ‘I get nervous when I’m not on the internet for a
long time. I feel like I’m missing something.’
The poll, conducted by the charity Tablets for Schools, led to the development of a
charter on internet use for teachers and families.
It urges youngsters to resist the temptation to take their device to bed and use a
proper alarm clock instead of their phone.
There should also be time limits on how youngsters can use devices with specific
times during the day or week for being ‘unplugged’.
Youngsters were also urged to ‘switch off and sleep’ and ‘don’t use your device as a
clock, invest in a real alarm clock.’
The charter also said that students should protect their study time, find new
‘boredom busters’ - activities they enjoy away from using the internet - and
dedicate certain times of the day or week to being ‘unplugged’.
Andrew Harrison, the chairman of Tablets for Schools and chief executive of
Carphone Warehouse, said tablets can be an ‘incredible force for good’.
It may be that we all, adults and young people, need to impose boundaries on the
way in which we use our digital devices
But he added: ‘This Charter of guidance from pupils themselves is invaluable.
‘Boundaries can help maintain a healthy relationship with the internet.’
A report accompanying the poll admits that use of the term ‘addiction’ is
controversial.
Psychologist Professor Tanya Byron argues that by labelling behaviour such as
technology use an ‘addiction’ we run the risk of ignoring the responsibility we have
as individuals and parents for our own behaviour,’ the report said.
Youngsters were referring to addiction in the ‘vernacular sense’, the report said.
It adds: ‘It may be that we all, adults and young people, need to impose boundaries
on the way in which we use our digital devices.
‘We might question whether it is a good idea to use devices late into the night, or
take the device to bed. Importantly it seems that a dialogue needs to take place
between young people and the adults in their lives, be it in school or at home, about
using the internet safely, wisely and in a way which enhances their wellbeing.’
The charity’s charter on internet use for teachers and families says students should
protect their study time, find new ‘boredom busters’ – activities they enjoy away
from the internet – and dedicate times of the day to being ‘unplugged’ from their
devices.
GROUP 4

Case 4: Digital divide

1. Read the article on digital divide in the Philippines: “Faster economic growth thru
SME-friendly connectivity: An AFFI appeal to TELCOS” at “
https://www.manilatimes.net/telcos-help-smes-boost-business/133504/”
2. After reading, answer the following questions:
• Describe the internet connection status in the Philippines, in terms of number of
people with internet connection, the average internet broadband download speed
compared to other countries, and the average cost of monthly Internet services.
• How does the Philippines’ slow Internet connection affect the SMEs? Do you think
a faster Internet connection can promote better income for them? Explain your
answer.
• Do you think commercial stores or offices should have websites? What are the
advantages and disadvantages that can you foresee?
3. Summarize the answers.
4. Choose a reporter to present the answers in class. The reporter may use
presentation software or cue cards.

Telcos help SMEs boost their business

BY THE MANILA TIMES ON OCTOBER 11, 2014 SPECIAL FEATURES

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) give invaluable contributions to the
growth of the Philippine economy. They stimulate domestic demand through
innovation, job creation and competition, making them a driving force behind a
resilient national economy and a stable society.

Technology plays a big role in sustaining this growth.

Major telecommunication operators such as the Philippine Long Distance and

Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom Inc. are constantly creating innovations
and new services to help SMEs boost their business operations.

“To gain a competitive edge, SMEs need to invest in technology,” said Kat Luna-
Abelarde, first vice president and head of PLDT SME Nation.

The telecommunications giant, through its enterprise arm, PLDT SME Nation, has
upgraded its current line of PLDT myDSL Biz packages, loaded with latest tech
gadgets and cloud solutions. These are powered by faster connectivity speeds for
the use of SMEs.

“We are offering superior business solutions to help entrepreneurs bring their
business online, streamline their operations, enabling them to connect better and
faster to their suppliers and their global counterparts,” Abelarde said.

The company said the new myDSL Biz now offers faster connection speeds ranging
from 4 megabytes (Mbps) per second to 15 Mbps, with guaranteed minimum speeds
of up to 1.6 Mbps, static Internet Protocol addresses, a Biz Box modem that enables
wifi connectivity for multiple users and a Sun third generation dongle for backup
connectivity. A dongle is a portable device that enables a user to connect to the
Internet at anytime and at any place. It functions as a modem but is connected to
devices via USB.

“Our partnership with Samsung ensures that SMEs can now enjoy cutting-edge
technology devices, elevating their business experience to a whole new level.
Samsung is the ideal partner in providing seamless, fully customized business
packages, all tailor-fit for SMEs,” Abelarde said.

PLDT said that business owners can now choose from the new myDSL Biz plans:
PLDT myDSL Biz Pro,Boost; Elite; Max; Max Plus; and Max Turbo.

“Our mission and vision is really to provide domestic and global reach for every
entrepreneur out there. And we hope we can do this and we address the aspirations
of SMEs and their goals and needs, we do these through a pervasive education
campaign we do everyday,” said Christian Lim, category head for data solutions of
PLDT SME Nation.
Through its SME business unit, PLDT SME Nation is helping small businesses
modernize their operations and enhance their competitiveness through fixed and
mobile connectivity and ICT solutions.

PLDT currently serves over 60,000 SME businesses across the country.

“Time and again we have seen the Filipino shine in the global arena—whether in
fashion, film, creative design and sports. The country is definitely full of world-class
talent and promising potential. However, we see that the challenge now is that
SMEs do not have the tools that would allow them to expand their businesses
globally,” Abelarde said.

Boost competitiveness
PLDT offers services that help SMEs to boost their competitiveness through the
following services:

ACCESS Solutions – Enable business with a robust and high-speed connectivity

through: Business landlines, managed PABX solutions (VOX), business-grade
Internet (myDSLBiz), dedicated Internet access (iGate), and private networking
solutions (IPVPN), and wireless voice and broadband solutions from SMART and Sun
Cellular.

OPTIMIZATION Solutions – Expand business and market reach through: hardware

(smart devices, notebook PCs), collaboration tools like Office 365 or Google Apps for
Business, create your own web presence, and improve web security.

EFFICIENCY Solutions – Empowers business with higher efficiency and lower cost
through general business applications like Video Monitoring, HR & Payroll,
Accounting, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and group messaging
(Netcast/MessageCast).

PROFITABILITY Solutions – Equips business with the competitive edge through

industry-specific applications like Point of Sale (POS), Asset Tracking, Bus
eReservation, Inventory Management, Franchise Management, Electronic Medical
Records, and SAP B1.