Princess Tamera, News, CMO, Campus Journalists, November 2020
Sydney, Australia — Equipped with the knowledge and skills harnessed from Sintang Paaralan, BA Broadcast Communication Batch 2013 alumna, Monaliza Mamac became the first-ever Filipina Scholar to receive the prestigious Michael Alexander Kirkwood (MAK) Halliday Medal for her contribution to the University of Sydney’s Department of Linguistics. She demonstrated not only academic excellence but ability in contributing to projects that have a direct impact on people and communities.
After finishing her undergraduate program as Cum Laude from the PUP College of Communication, Mamac went to Australia and completed her master’s degree in Cross-Cultural and Applied Linguistics in University of Sydney through the help of Australia Awards Scholarships. The prestigious and competitive scholarship offered by the Australian government aims to give the next generation of Filipino leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research, and professional development in Australia’s universities.
The award is given in honor of the founding professor of the Department of Linguistics at the University, Michael Alexander Kirkwood (MAK) Halliday, Ph.D. – one of the most renowned linguists in the world, credited for creating the field of Systemic Functional Linguistics.
Mamac incorporated Appliable Linguistics, a view of linguistics developed by MAK Halliday, and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) theory, a model of language also developed by Halliday, in her graduate thesis titled "Re-instantiating legal statute into public legal information texts for young persons: Are the texts accessible enough?". She exhibited various meaningful projects that demonstrated how a study of language has real-world applications. She created a set of guidelines on how laws should be written for young people. As a fruit of her hard work and effort, she was awarded in recognition of her "forward-thinking" Master's thesis.
In an online interview with the PUP Campus Journalists, Mamac said that her award was a product of small changes that she started within herself and her family; and is now reaching every youth.
"Makakatulong ito sa inyo now that you are in the times of uncertainty at walang nakaka-alam kung kailan nga ba matatapos and pandemyang ito. Buksan natin ang ating mga mata sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. Palagi tayong magpakita ng kabaitan sa sarili, sa pamilya, kaibigan, at komunidad," Mamac quipped when asked what her message to PUPians is. "Pag ginawa niyo ‘yan, diyan mag-uumpisa ang pagbabago," she added.
At present, Mamac is already pursuing a teaching and academic research career. She said that she plans to continue creating projects that will benefit the local communities wherever she may be. #
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