DevCom, The Undiscovered Country

This is the story of DevCom so far.

DevCom is understood by DevCom people who underplay it;
DevCom is understood by Senator Imee who undercuts it.
I blame the DevCom people!
(upper double image[1] from Reddit.com).

As World’s #1 Blogger, I am saying DevCom Island in the last 49 years has been largely unexplored even by UPLB people who created it!

The Rappler report says (Bonz Magsambol, 14 October 2020, “Senator Imee Marcos Schooled About DevCom After 'Cute,' 'Archaic' Remark[2],” Rappler.com):

"It is politicians like Imee Marcos and her family, especially her corrupt parents, who have made DevCom relevant then and now," says the UPLB College of Development Communication Student Council. ¶ Senator Imee Marcos is under fire over her remark that Development Communication (DevCom) is "cute," "archaic," and "old-fashioned."

In the first sentence I quote above, the DevCom Student Council has a fallacious argument – that is argumentumad hominem, attacking persons: “corrupt parents.” Also non-sequitur, does not follow.

The second sentence I quote where DevCom is described as "cute," "archaic," and "old-fashioned" is perfect– I agree with Miss Imee 100%!

Nora Quebral invented the concept of Development Communication, DevCom, in 1971[3] (Wikipedia) – half a century ago, making it archaic! The sound DevCom is cute, yes, but the concept is old-fashioned because when DevCom people do practice it, their language is 50 years old. There is no distinct DevCom vocabulary.DevCom people have not come up with a certain style of writing or treatment that tells you immediately, “That’s definitely DevCom.”

Wikipedia has a list of 6 DevCom educators, all of whom I happen to know personally – they do not write in any distinct essence that may be called DevCom.

In 5 words, DevCom is “communication in support of development.” With that, I am sadly reminded that the DevCom people have neither defined nor explained what is it they mean when they say “development.”

Let me put it this way:

Development means progress towards prosperity of people in a social context.

But that is always happening every single day. What the DevCom people want but have been unable to articulate is that:

Development means progress towards prosperity of people in a social context – including & especially the poor.

DevComers are intelligent people; unfortunately, they never talk about the poor in society being necessarily included as targets of development.

Suggestion: Let the UP Los Baños people explore Secretary of Agriculture William Dar’s “The New Thinking for Agriculture” with those “8 Paradigms” that feed it. By the way, Mr Dar is an alumnus of UP Los Baños, with a PhD in Horticulture obtained in 1980. (Likewise, I am an alumnus, BSA Ag Education '65.)

Another suggestion:In writing the concept of Development into actual vocabulary and volumes of Communication of DevCom people, consider that:

DevCom must proVIDE – promote Village Development.

Thus, Development becomes a real, big new world for DevCom, not simply a vague word in the phrase communication for development. Repeat:

DevCom must proVIDE – promote Village Development.

That way, DevCom remains cute but no longer old-fashioned and no longer archaic!@517

 

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[1]https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/jbd11w/the_uplb_college_of_development_communication/

[2]https://www.rappler.com/nation/imee-marcos-schooled-development-communication-remark?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1nXYz0U8eVYHhl_wlS2OJI21lW0EtXixdzjHnKmXUgb68Q9nFElEveZc0

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_C._Quebral