Author: lissdelizo

After finishing a bunch of exams in UP, all I can say for sure is that UPCAT is the easiest exam of the university so here’s some tips in surviving exams here, more specifically in the College of Development Communication,

1) Set ‘Em Straight, or Not

More than just being early, coming to the class with your mind set onto listening and comprehending lessons is a must. Turn your “aral mode” on, as everyone would say. “Acads First” is another mantra to ponder upon. Set your goals straight, but it is your choice if you will prioritize your studies before other things. If you know you can handle and juggle your time between academics and your social life or “chill-muna mode,” then you can probably handle both.

2) Everything all at once

In my experience, it is better to do more than just listen to your professors when they are delivering you a lecture. It is much better to take down notes whilst listening to what they are saying as it would make you remember things much better. Note-taking is an important skill to have during these times. These will be the ones that you will review before the exams.

3) Mnemosyne

You can either make another set of notes or use the slides that your professors have given you. It is preferred to read the whole reviewer before thoroughly going through it, part by part. Use abbreviations or mnemonics to make memorizing much easier.

4) REpeat / reiterate

Firstly, review by yourself, it is better to talk by yourself when memorizing or comprehending the topics or lessons or you can just review silently, whichever first you the best. You can review with friends so that you can share ideas so everybody may benefit from the discussion

5) Take breaks in between

It is important to note that you are not a superhero who has unlimited physiological capabilities. You get tired, you get drained, you get bored. It is better to take breaks in between reviewing even just for a few minutes so your brain can handle it all. Even during exams, you should take breaks when you know that you can’t continue for a prolonged amount of time. Take deep breathes. Sigh every once in a while and you’ll realize that you’ve finished the exam.

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The Bañamos Civic Parade: A march for visibility

Streets filled with students wearing ethnic clothing, civic groups promoting spine health, and organizations advocating polio vaccination – these can be found among the 13,000 people who flocked to the streets for the Bañamos Festival 2019 Civic Parade held last Tuesday, September 17.

“Ganito po talaga kami karami every year,” Member of the organizing committee Jammil Avellano said in an interview. “Sa order po ng participants, mauuna ‘yung mga government officials, followed by the sponsors, then our departments, schools, and various civic groups in Los Baños.”

Avellano mentioned that since government officials spend much time inside their offices, putting them at the front of the parade would give them more recognition. Meanwhile, civic groups, local businesses, and established corporations would advertise their products and advocacies.

For most people, the Civic Parade is a part of local tradition. For others, it’s about visibility.

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Colegio de Los Baños (CDLB) Principal Ricardo L. Patalen hopes to instill this parade philosophy in his students. “CDLB supports the Bañamos Festival, and it’s our commitment to participate every year,” he shares. “First of all, we show the people of Los Baños how we walk, and it’s also an advertisement for our school.”

“We asked them to wear ethnic clothes which they used as costumes for their Dance Festival in school last week,” Patalen adds. “We also required them to join the parade, but it is not compulsory. It’s in the syntax. It’s their option to join. We want them to experience this, but again, it’s not compulsory.”

Meanwhile, a trailblazer of the Civic Parade, the Autism Society Philippines – Laguna Chapter advocates their cause through the yearly march. “Gusto naming ipaalam sa mga tao na may mga serbisyong available for them and nandito kami to help,” organization representative Mrs. Marivic Ramos said.

According to her, they use such occasions as avenues to forward their cause: letting people know that there is help for those with autism.

Not everyone attended the parade for the same purpose. Some claimed that they did not know why they were there, and that they joined because many people were parading.

A total of 112 groups participated in the Civic Parade. Included in the list of participating groups were LGBT Los Baños, Samahan ng mga Magkakambing sa Los Baños, Ahon sa Hirap Microfinance Inc., Solo Parent Federation of Los Baños, and many more. Also joining the parade were corporations such as Jollibee, KFC, and Banco de Oro (BDO).

The Civic Parade is one of the activities of the 18th Bañamos Festival, with the theme “Tagumpay ng Bayan ay Matatamasa ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa”. The said festival celebrates the 404th foundation anniversary of the Los Baños municipality

Unpacking “development-oriented” topics

what makes a topic development-oriented?

Based from the premises given by Batch ’15 Alumni Derrick Ordoñez, Batch ’16 Diwa Velasquez, Batch’ 16 Faye Marie Sueño and Batch ‘ 15 Nur Lemuel Castillo, development orientation can be considered through numerous aspects of a certain issue or event. It may seem abstract at first but once you have read them, you will see the ground at which they all stand in unison.

According to the Ongkiko and Floor (2006), “the true measure of development is man.” That statement alone can be expounded into numerous interpretations. It is always pointing at the same idea that development is inclusive of the wellness, capability and empowerment of man.

1. FROM AND FOR THE GRASSROOTS

A common characteristic of a development-oriented topic is its angle and treatment of the issue which is based on the underrepresented people such as the grassroots, indigenous people and the marginalized sectors of society.

2. EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITIES

Another commonality that they possess is their orientation on the positive change and progression of the topic such as unfolding of individual potential which highlights the capability of the people of the community to be aroused into their learnings in order for them to organize themselves within a certain goal and then mobilize to realize their ideas into concrete and lasting outputs.

3. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

More than just being inclusive and putting the visibility of the grassroots, underrepresented and marginalized sectors of the society into the spotlight. It evident that these future development communicators include the principles at which the College of Development Communication stand upon, the 4Es: Empower, Equity, Entrepreneurship and Environmentalism. Such principle can be tightly related with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

Lessons from the first month in the university

one. be versatile

Upon stepping into the humble premises of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the sense of independency kicks in. That is where I started to do things purely and solely on my own, without restraints but with ethics in mind. Much can be said at the times that I have not asked my blocmates and friends about some academic-related requirements and just do it based on how I understood it.

Meanwhile, I also have started to gain social connections and saw the advantages in asking for guidance and suggestions from my friends and upperclassmen. They have contributed to the inclination of my works and outputs. Being somewhat dependent, let us just call it “being cautious” or “in constant inquiry,” makes you less susceptible to do mistakes based on misconceptions.

Altogether, one cannot just stay being independent or stay being dependent on their whole stay in the campus. One must seek how to be fluid with the choices they make and be versatile on the matters that need such inquiry. It is not bad to ask questions or stand on your own. What matters most is that you know how to balance both aspects of your personality.

two. another pin on the CORK BOARD

Being knowledgeable of your surrounding or the community you’re in makes you more aware of the culture that you may see to have some commonalities with yours and some with due differences with the ones that you know. Such observation leads to knowing how a community works and in that way; you can profile the community and base your actions on what you have seen and experienced.

Know-hows, where-tos and go-tos come from knowing your environment. It gives you more than just a sense of belonging but also key points of the community. This may be an advantage of yours, considering that you are new to the place.  This, in turn, makes you knowledgeable on the places that gives you the best service, the place where you get the best goods and sources of information that may give you a head start on your future endeavors.

Knowing your audience is the DevCom mantra everybody must be able to incorporate in their daily lives.

three. connect the dots

Lessons that we learn, whether in life, in school or on the internet should not be perceived based on the way they are presented. These teachings are interdependent and interrelated on each other. Seeing, knowing, and realizing the way these things are connected to each other makes you realize that these should not be compartmentalized, and should rather be given recognition on how one affects the other or on how one is related to another. These are like spider webs that create an intricate network of information that should be consolidated within our minds.

Four. break thy barriers

Surely, college will teach you how to be like a butterfly. College would teach you how to be social with almost all the people that you will meet. Every person is a vessel of knowledge and another thread of connection, if you see them as these more than just being people that you know, it would be to your advantage in certain cases.

Slowly, you will witness your social barriers crumble and fall into pieces to let people in. Some of these people may come and go but one must need to accept that fact, but some of them may stay and be your support system and source of information that shares the same pressure as you do. They become pillars that holds the same weight of the burdens you carry.

five. Exhaust thy “privilege”

Upon the hundreds of times it has been said, “studying in U.P. is a privilege” has been instilled into our minds. With this, it has become more apparent that for the people who study in the University of the Philippines are really privileged and with this privilege comes our unsaid responsibility to exhaust it and use it in the most efficient way possible. As long as not everybody has the capability to or is not relishing on the education that U.P. has, we are obliged to do what we must to educate people and empower them with what they have given us, free education.

My DevCom Survival Kit

1) Phone

What has become a necessity nowadays will be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. Having almost all the essentials for data gathering and outsourcing, your smart phone will be more than just a mechanical and virtual counterpart of yourself. You’ll be using its features, the known and the unknown for documentation and communication.

2) Laptop

With the things on your desktop crunched into a single technological contraption, it packs a powerful capacity to do things ubiquitously. Writing an article, post-processing photos, editing audios and videos, gathering data among other things, you can do all of these in just a few click of swipe. Just make sure that your laptop has the capability to do all of these, especially when you are cramming your way to submit an assignment.

3) Ticklers/Notepads and Pen

Writing important details when gathering data ensures a tangible evidence unlike virtual files that may be corrupted or deleted. In my experience, writing notes makes an information remembered easily.

4) Internet Access

It is with no doubt that access to the Internet is another necessity nowadays, most especially to communicators, what more with development communicators. Access to tremendous amount of information requires clarified and verified data. Another factor to consider is maintaining a stable communication with the members of the community.

5) Storage Devices

Backing your data up is very crucial in maintaining the integrity of your productivity. No one wants to have their files corrupted or worse, lost. No one wants to undergo the hassle of going back to square one. Multiple head scratches and face palms can be avoided by duplicating your files and keeping it another storage device. Just make sure that you can organize them well.

6) Umbrella

Staying dry and protecting yourself from the sun during field works is a must. Not just that it gives you comfort. It also saves you form hassle and hazards.

7) Identification Card

Being recognized as a student of the university and establishing your identity with the people you work with is critical as a media writer. This could also give you discounts at fares and establishments.

Data Gathering of Less Than 3

During the activity, none of us had any clue whatsoever on where to start as we were not native to this municipality. Initially, we went to Batong Malake’s Barangay Hall to ask for any prerequisites for the data gathering we were about to undertake. We were told to provide a formal letter of request before we were to be accommodated. The following day, we complied with the requirements and came back with a letter.

Learning is a life-long process and we learn from the things we do and experience every day.

Some of those are tips that we may be able to incorporate with our future endeavors. Effective communication with due respect is necessary to gain primary data. Likewise, having a pleasing personality builds an effective rapport with the audience or resource person, it creates a friendly and welcoming ambiance. Moreover, it sets the mood of the conversation. Then comes versatility which ensures the flexible flow of any conversation as well as the facet of one’s ability to adapt to what needs to be done or what needs to be complied to. Another tip would be on learning how to chip in some questions and information that would deepen the conversation which would later bring out some data that you may need.

Always be prepared for what may come before you; face them with bravery and humility.

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Among the qualities you listed, which quality would you need to work on the most?

It would be my love to read. It is something that I do on a regular basis. I need to work on reading prevalent and relevant issues and articles more.

Given your ratings, what keeps you from getting that 1.00 self rating?

I strongly believe that I still need to cross a bridge that connects my mediocre qualities to be a development communicator. I still have a lot of lessons to learn from my journey on this new environment that I have set myself into.

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Among the skills listed, which skills have you developed the highest competency? What contributed to the development of that skill?

The skill that I have the highest competency in is through gathering data. I have been immersed into such work where communication and research skills are necessary for the betterment of the outcome.

Among the listed skills, which skill would be the one that you need to work on the most to develop?

I would really need to work on my proficiency in in the operation of communication tools/devices as I have not met the basic skills in accessing and manifesting such skills needed for this course. I am yet to explore various software applications and the usage of hardware for effective media writing.

First of His Name

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I am more than who my name suggests I am. I am my own version of Alexander ㄧhaving myself named after one of the most notable people in history has become one of my stepping stones in embodying his great feats in life. Upon conquering much of Europe to the river valleys of Mesopotamia to much of Central Asia bordering China, he has done so much more than I could have. Alexander the Great has been successful in his own ways and I will make sure that I will do so too. Being the first generation University of the Philippines student in our family is already one step into my own upbringing. 

Having an affair with letters and words has been the most dominant part of my life, since my childhood up to now. It always amazes me how words can take me to places I can never reach, meet people I have never known and be lost in a world only I can ever imagine. Even my own works have taken me to a deep trance that I sometimes forget the border between dreams and reality. Now, with B.S. Development Communication, I need to deal with real life. Let us put emphasis on the application of the principles of the program into action. My desire to help the impoverished people have sparked and kindled flames which lights the way in living up to ‘Honor and Excellence’ with the idea of serving the people.

Mediocrity is only just a facade of what will then be a person of mastery. Exemplars arise in the midst of the mediocrity that surrounds them. A man who still has a lot to learn is on his way. I am a protector of people. I am my own Alexander the Great. I am Alexander Pitpit Delizo, first of his name.