Author: kayegaller

Months ago, I was scared of being left behind the class because of my so-so writing skills. But now that the semester has finally come to an end, I believe that my qualities and skills have improved already.

Here is the re-evaluation of my qualities and skills as a media writer:

The writing activities inside and outside DevCom have contributed in the improvement of my qualities. Though the lectures, activities, and writing exercises, I was able to realize the importance of enhancing these qualities so that the quality of my works would upgrade as well.

Writing clearly and effectively is one of the skills I have improved a lot. Our exercises in DEVC11 required us to have this skill and I’m glad that I was able to hone it over time.

Through our news writing exercise, I was able to gain more knowledge in organizing information. I know that its only a basic skill, but I really had difficulties in identifying what information is more important and what’s not.

The skill I have improved the most is gathering data. It improved a lot during our data gathering exercise. Because of that exercise, I learned to maximize my time and effort in gathering data so that I wouldn’t be wasting more time in the future processes.

My weaknesses back then are now turned into strengths. I believe that these qualities and skills are still improvable and yet to be stretched to their full potential.

Our first semester in UPLB is finally over. We have faced various obstacles along the way but here we are, very much alive and still kicking. We may have survived and conquered every challenge we encountered; but we can’t deny the fact that along our journeys, we made several mistakes which made us want to go back to our first day as freshies. I know that if life has served us a ctrl+z option, we would have all taken it.

Here are the five things I would have advice my old self to better prepare for the rage of the first semester.

Don’t stress yourself out

I can still remember the anxiety I felt the moment I knew that I’ll be studying in the country’s premiere state university. In my initial weeks as an iska, I thought of the worst things that could happen to me in my classes and imagined the lowest possible scores I could get in my exams. My perspective on these things changed when I realized that I was overthinking things so much that I often forget to focus on the real things happening in my acads. There were times that I spend more time contemplating with myself than reviewing for the exams. I often spend my nights overthinking as well. Good thing, I somehow learned to chill, balance everything out and disregard the ideas that are not worthy of my thoughts.

Don’t be afraid to socialize

I’ve always been afraid of initiating conversations with people I’m not socially connected with. The moment I knew that I’ll be dealing with students from other programs in our GE classes, I started to overthink. But the three months I’ve spent with my classes made me realize that this thing I’m afraid of is actually normal in college. Months ago, my superfreshie self would have been terrified about this, but I would definitely tell her to maximize the number of people she’ll connect with because aside from the fact that she’ll be needing them, they will also make her UP life worthwhile.

Exert greater effort on your acads

There were times in my first semester when I do my acads without exerting any effort; I just comply with the requirements. This is one of the things I’ve regret so much because I realized the value of every point I could possibly get if I exerted extra effort on my works. I also want to advice my superfreshie self to do more recitations in class because every point it makes contributes greatly to the overall grade.

Value the time you have with your supercs

The last three weeks of this semester have been the saddest weeks of my freshie life. These weeks made my supercs and I realize the remaining days we have with each other. My initial days with my superclassmates didn’t start off great because, as expected, I got too shy to approach and interact with them. But the succeding months I’ve spent with these people taught me that the shyness I felt wasn’t totally worth it.

These people are so fun to be with and they’re one of the primary reasons why I adjusted swiftly with the life in UP. If I were given the chance to talk to my first-day-old-college self, I’d tell her to appreciate all the moments she have with her first college friends, ’cause the time she has with them is only temporary.

Seek God’s help

This has been one of the advices I stated in my Weekly Writes Week # entry. But sadly, this important advice is also one of the things I often fail to remind myself in times of my hardships. To seek God’s help would be on first few advices I’d give to myself on the first day of classes. I’d tell my old self that there are a lot of breakdown moments that are waiting ahead for her but praying and asking God for strength would be more than enough to heal herself.

Neither can the wave that has passed by be recalled, nor the hour which has passed return again.

Ovid

Dalawang araw nag-init ang bulwagang Baker nang magpasiklaban ang mga guro, staff, at mga estudyante ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangkaunlaran. Ang kauna-unahang CDCiklaban, na noo’y kilala bilang Devcolympics, ay pinangunahan ng CDC Student Council.

Saksihan ang mga kaganapan sa makasaysayang pagdiriwang ng pampalakasan sa kolehiyo mula sa bidyo na ginawa nina Roella Marcelle Bautista, Kaye Galler, Cedric Katigbak, Kristina Perez, at Karen Vargas. Ito ay ang pangatlong episode ng UPdates.

“Pasko, pasko, pasko na naman muli!“

It’s Christmas time everywhere, and it’s more evident in UPLB as the grand display in front of the campus is officially opened. This year’s Christmas tree lighting had the biggest audience in the history of the traditional ceremony.

Kaye Galler, Cedric Katigbak, Kristina Perez, and Karen Vargas, freshmen of the College of Development Communication, show the most awaited Christmas event in UPLB on the 2nd episode of UPdates.

Who said that learning is static and will never be fun?

Learning can be more fun and interactive with DOST’s nuLab!

Roella Marcelle Bautista, Kaye Galler, Cedric Katigbak, Kristina Perez, and Karen Vargas, freshmen of the College of Development Communication, showcase the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute’s nuLab or the new mobile science learning facility in UPLB as the 3rd episode of UPdates.

“Limited lang ba ang job opportunities para sa isang devcom graduate?

“Basta gwapo or maganda, devcom ‘yan!”

“Is devcom just like any other communication courses?”

Kaye Galler, Cedric Allen Katigbak, Kristina Isabel Perez, and Karen Vargas, first year students of BS Development Communication in the University of the Philippines, answer the most challenging questions and clear the most intriguing misconceptions regarding development communication as a field of study.

Learn more about the field by watching this video:

Think big. Dream big.

For the past years, this has been the vision of one of the growing cities in the Philippines—Taguig.

The city of Taguig is commonly known for being highly urbanized. But beyond the high-rise buildings and popular attractions lies the home of the thousand Taguigueños who think big and dream big.

Kaye Galler, Cedric Allen Katigbak, Karen Anne Vargas, Kristina Perez, and Shann Elyse Pasion show how they de-stress for the stressful exams week.

+ A friendly advice from the fresh Iskolars ng Bayan.

Kaye Galler, Kristina Isabel Perez, Karen Anne Vargas, and Cedric Katigbak recorded the colorful and meaningful scenes of UPLB’S 101st Loyalty Day. 

Plus, an interview with a devcom freshgrad after CDC’s Speaking of Devcom: Conversations with DevCom’s Finest.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gwTqzHlrNfNe_KbKF_WeTQl6XlM54cZ2

The most awaited college entrance exam of the aspiring future iskos and iskas has finally come this year. Hundreds of determined and passionate souls have gathered here in the University of the Philippines Los Baños last October 5 and 6 to take the UPCAT 2020. Excitement, anxiousness and happiness are all painted on the faces of the examinees as they enter and exit through the doors of their testing centers.

Among the 167,000 hopeful examinees of UPCAT 2020, I have fortunately interviewed some of them together with their families. Let’s take a closer look on the insights and experiences of some of these students as they take the first step towards being an iskolar ng bayan.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HC5G9JAFvnSEB8ccRP3WJDcMO1e0AHFF

Karl Jhon Señadoza, a student from St. John Colleges, said that he chose UP because he wanted to take a course in college that is associated with plants. UP has been his dream university since then and he knows that it is best known for agriculture-related things.

He honestly said that he didn’t prepare much for UPCAT. He only had a week of review which he did on different days. Karl said that he felt pressured at the start of the exam because of the large number of students who are competing for the slots. Some parts of the exam seemed easy to him which he did not expect.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1w1FnxiFr1ObE5icsZu1WNg8-qnh0kZk9

Cheska Diana Samaniego, an aspiring iska from San Pedro, Laguna, chose UP because it always regards honor and excellence. Her cousin, a UP graduate, also inspired her to choose the university. Since she was a kid, she has seen how her cousin handles his/herself which she admired. The premiere university’s known quality of education has also become one of her reasons in taking the UPCAT.

To prepare for this year’s UPCAT, Cheska joined Brain Train’s review center and also had a self-review of the past topics and lessons they had. Just like what we had experienced last year, she also had a hard time balancing her Grade 12 acads and UPCAT review. When asked about her experience on taking the exam, she said that it was really hard and her expected difficulty of the exam doubled.

Cheska’s mom gives her full support on her daughter who was an achiever and a consistent honor student since elementary. Since they’re all the way from San Pedro, just thinking of her daughter studying far from them seems difficult for her already. Despite this complexity, she’s still willing to give her support to whatever her daughter wants.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1U2J5kVfONGxRlZ2KzkvCIv6e61R6Wm2l

Two students from St. Scholastica’s College – Westgrove have caught my attention as they happily chitchatted and took selfies around SEARCA. Ysabella Tuazon and Julianne Baquiran both chose UP because of its prominence, quality education, and free tuition. They both enrolled themselves in review centers last summer. According to Julianne, their school alloted time for CET reviews which they used productively.

The main thing that highlighted Ysabella’s UPCAT experience was the pressure she had with the overwhelming number of students who also took the exam. The exam itself was bearable for her though she had difficulties in answering Math. Ysabella’s overall UPCAT experience became memorable for her despite the hardships. “I think yung experience of the UPCAT parang sobrang pinaghandaan na it has to be super memorable. I guess naging memorable naman siya,” she said.

Feeling surprised, Julianne cannot believe that the exam is finally over. “I’ve prepared for almost a year already and it just finished after five hours. Naging revelation ko rin naman na kinaya ko naman,” she said.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=12GKz074vWxV0mb6En-WqQtYPmTHYyNVJ

While patiently waiting outside the CDC building for her son/daughter, Maricar Cañada shared how supportive she is towards her child’s dreams. She said that her son/daughter really wants to enter UP and he/she is really making a way to make that dream come true. Mrs. Cañada supports her child’s finances in getting the requirements needed for UPCAT even though they’re not financially stable. Her family highly supports her child in every possible way because they see how enthusiastic her child is in getting into UP.

The UPCAT2020 stories of every student who took the exam might be full of struggles and anxiety. But they have to keep in their minds that in this journey, what matters the most is the perseverance and hardwork they gave for the preparation of one of the biggest entrance exams of their lives.