Our group were tasked to gather information on the community of Barangay Putho- Tuntungin, Los Baños, Laguna. Here are some of the tips that are useful in gathering data.
Practice Resourcefulness
Be strategic and prepare many ways to get the information you need. You can utilize different methods to gather data.
Remember proper phone and e-mail etiquette
When speaking through the phone or sending an e-mail, remember to be polite and practice proper etiquette.
Have perseverance
Don’t let dead ends stop you from getting the information you need. There are a lot of ways that you can possibly use to achieve what you want.
Our group #TeamBa was assigned to get the community directory of Barangay Malinta, in order to accomplish that, us three visited the Barangay Hall last September 2019. It was my first to visit a Los Banos community with my group mates. It was a roughly 30-minutes travel time from the campus to the barangay. We rode the jeepney going to Bayan and to get to the Barangay Hall, we rode the tricycle.
Upon arriving, the Barangay Hall staff were accommodating to us three. They were willing to provide the information that we asked for (such as the directory). The data gathering method that we used was interview. We personally talked to the clerk on our agenda and respectfully asked for the information that we need. They even provided a hard copy of the information for us. Overall, it was a very nice encounter and interaction with the staff of Barangay Malinta. They also asked for a photocopy of our IDs for privacy purposes, which I think is professional because the information that we requested is confidential, and even if it is for public use there is still a need to follow a proper process.
As a group, we concluded that these are the tips that we find helpful when doing community directory activities in the future:
1. Just Relax – Panicking and stressing yourself out would not do you any good. Just breathe and remember the reason why you chose DevCom and how can we be an influence for others.
2. Be Confident – Having a lot of confidence is a plus in DevCom. We will be future development communicators and we should uphold our duties as early as we can.
3. Stand for truth – Always remember to only share and inform facts that are true and correct. We should see to it that we aim for excellence and all of our actions would fall back to what DevCom has taught us.
The community directory of Barangay Malinta, in details:
Barangay Heads
Hon. Rolando L. Erroba – Barangay Head Ms. Jevarie L. Amoranto – Barangay Secretary Ms. Adelaida P. Banahisam – Barangay Treasurer Ms. Princess Dhea Mariano – SK Secretary Mr. Edmund Lloyd Velasco – SK Treasurer Hon. Jeffrey B. Alcachupas – Infrastructure Hon. Carmen J. Jumaiwd – Health and Education Hon. Jesus H. De Una Jr. – Peace and Order Hon. Benito A. Ebron – Environmental Protection Hon. Gaudencio D. Mariano – Livelihood and Cooperative Development Hon. Genaro G. Calderon – Appropriations, Ways, and Means Hon. Beny S. Moralde – Women and Family
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Heads
SK Chairman – Rakan Legaspi Sports and Development/SK Councilor – Jeffrey Bonita SK Councilor – Angelica Pascual SK Councilor – Maria Belle Bienes SK Councilor – Jerick Warde SK Councilor – Sherwin Alvarez SK Councilor – Ma. Pauline Duya SK Councilor – John Paul Manaligod
Contact Person/s
Ms. Glaiza Apple C. Subiaga (Clerk) Contact no.: (049) 557-2443
Call any of these phone numbers when something important comes up, said the Officer of the Day last August 31, 2019, at the Batong Malake Barangay Hall.
Data gathering is an essential step for all development-oriented activities. To exercise our skills, we were tasked in the end of August to gather data from assigned barangays. As a freshman student taking BS Development Communication, it’s important to learn the ropes of journalism as fast as I can.
Some of my key takeaways from the experience were as follows:
Be resourceful
Don’t go in completely blind! Chances are that you
will have saved a lot of time by checking official websites and social media
platforms. These were able to provide my group with point persons and contact
information. If you find phone numbers or e-mails listed on their websites, you
can try requesting interviews through those channels. However, they might not
always be up to date, so preparing for real-life meetings is still very
important.
Follow up
Government offices, for example, are always swamped
with work, and they might place your requests on low priority. At other times,
they might simply forget! While some might deem it a sign of impatience,
following up on requests shows that you are genuinely interested. If by
following up on your request, you reminded them that they forgot about it,
there’s a big chance that you just saved so much time.
Respect is key
Since we are dealing primarily with people in DevCom,
we should always strive to maintain good relationships with the people we
connect with. In everything, we must practice professionalism – which entails
being prompt to meetings, proper in attitude, and goal-oriented in every
transaction. At best, this can lead to less worries and smoother processes.
In the future, the networks we build with people might
prove to be valuable in other dealings. The world is small, so let’s develop
our connections!
As a writer, it is imperative that we are familiar with our community. And as development communicators it is our way of understanding the situation in the community in order for us to truly serve their needs.
In a group of three, only one hails from Laguna but honestly, even he was not familiar with the barangay assigned to them. It was a totally new experience for them to travel to a small barangay near the the beautiful lake of Laguna. Barangay Tadlac is a small barangay along the border of Calamba and Los Banos along with other small barangays.
In order to provide the following data, the group decided to use the method of a face-to-face interview. It was way easier to get the information in that exact manner. The assigned person of Brgy. Tadlac was also accommodating and welcoming. She even gave us a printed output of all the information that we need. Additionally, unlike the other groups, we were not required to provide a letter. That is why we didn’t have much difficulty gathering the data. Aside from the data required, we also found out about upcoming activities of the barangay for the community in which will be helpful for us to identify the needs of the community through those programs. This activity also served as an opportunity for us to observe the community and determine where it’s at in development.
Here are some tips to effectively and appropriately gather data from your local barangay:
Research. Before going to the barangay, make sure you know how to get there and where to go in order to get the information you need.
Documents. Provide the necessary papers, letters, or requirements if the office requires you to in order to provide you with the information you need.
Tools. Bring the necessary tools for data gathering such as a pen, notebook, audio recorder, camera, and such.
Manners. Be polite and have the confidence enough to ask questions or for clarifying information. Also, be patient and flexible enough to adjust to the office policies because sometimes they would ask you to schedule an appointment to maximize your visit and gather the needed data.
The first task that was given to us as a group was to gather information from the Municipal Hall, specifically the offices on the first floor. But in doing so, we were faced with a couple of hindrances.
Coming from different blocs, we had different class schedules and we were also busy with other things. But even so, we we’re able to agree on a specific date and time. In gathering the data that we need, our initial plan was to go through the offices one by one and ask for the information that we need. We successfully gathered data from the first three offices that we went to, but as we go on, one of the personnel told us to go directly to the Office of the Mayor since all of the information that we need can be acquired there but then we would need to present a formal letter. Luckily, we bumped into one the the office head who was a DevCom alumni and she willingly helped us with the letter so that we can submit it immediately that day. As we went back for the complete directory of the offices, we were told that they already gave a copy to a different group which was also from the University, so we had to find that group and asked them for a copy.
Here are some of the tips in data gathering that I can share based on my experience in doing the assigned task:
Always be prepared
Make sure to bring all the necessary tools that you will be needing in gathering data such as cellphone, notebook, ballpen, etc. Also, a formal letter which contains your intent and a signature from your professor since it is sometimes required. You should also know all the informations that you will be needing to gather and make sure to list them down.
Be respectful
Speak and act in a respectful manner. Introduce yourselves properly and be clear with your intentions. You cannot just barge in the offices, and ask disrespectfully for the informations that you need. Always mind your attitude and how you approach people.
Teamwork is a must
Communicate with your teammates. Be clear with your goals and make sure to estblish your plan on how you will accomplish your task. You should also be able to maximize the capabilities of each members of the group, as each individuals has their own set of skills.
Our group
the Kilay on Fleek Girls personally visited the barangay office of
Barangay Maahas, Los Baños, Laguna. We opted to visit the
office personally so that we can first handedly see the information that were
asked from us. In doing so, we can verify if they were accurate and relevant
information. Since the barangay office was the most trusted source of information,
we didn’t rely on the facts stated in the social media because some of them
might be outdated and some may be misleading.
My tips in
data gathering for the next batch of BSDC freshmen are the following:
Be resourceful
You must identify the
most convenient and most trusted sources of information asked from you. Find alternative
ways aside from social media and internet in finding such important
information. Visit the office, site, or place if possible, to obtain fresh information
about your topic.
Be respectful
As a development communicator-in-training,
you must refrain from disrespecting authorities when asking for information. Remember
to always ask humbly and do not demand for information without asking properly.
See to it that you do not step out of the boundaries when conducting data gathering.
Be as accurate as possible
All information you obtained should
be accurate and has reliable sources. It is your accountability if your data
contains false information. It will affect your credibility as a writer if you
write an article containing false information.
One important skill that a development communicator-in-training must hone is gathering data, and in order to develop this skill, one must practice it in the field as often as possible. This is exactly what we did on our first data gathering activity in Brgy. Bambang.
What method of data gathering did the group employ/use the most? Why?
Our group used the interview method because not only was it easier to gather the information we needed through this method, it also ensured us that the information we were getting was updated because it came directly from the primary source.
Based on what you learned from this activity, give at least three (3) tips on data gathering that you can share with the next batch of BSDC freshmen.
Come prepared. Bring all of the necessary signed documents, as well as your phone and earphones for the interview.
Be polite. Often, officials are more lenient and friendly when they are approached in a polite manner. Doing so will also secure a good impression on them in case you need to approach them again in the future.
Be smart in gathering data. Prior to gathering data at the venue itself, you must first determine the kind of information you need in order to be efficient during the actual data gathering proper.
“He who travels is not always a traveler. Sometimes he is a DEVCOM student.”
Unknown 20th century philosopher
A philosopher once said, “He who travels is not always a traveler. Sometimes he is a DEVCOM student.”
Named after the most successful explorer of her time who have traveled the vast reaches of the earth with his monkey-friend and a talking map and backpack, the group, Dara and the Explorers embarked on their first ever field mission. We were tasked to put into practice our observation and interview skills as we gather essential information from key offices and agencies in Los Baños, Laguna specifically Brgy. Lalakay.
Los Baños was a whole new world for me and you can just imagine how thrilled and nervous I am after hearing that I can finally roam around the Special Science and Nature City. It’s like being the only ant in a termite mound. Luckily, I have two Lagunense group mates but who are also like me was unfamiliar of our assigned barangay. And with that, allow me to narrate our group’s experience through a simple list of data gathering tips that may prove to be of help for future explorations.
Be Prepared Always
The boy scouts aren’t the only ones attuned to this statement. Even Simba’s uncle Scar in Disney’s The Lion King said BE PREPARED supported by dramatic spouting green flames. This is not a joking matter, in fact, it is actually a practical life tip. From keeping extra cash and coins just in case of emergencies, ready-made letters of request, valid IDs to important documents, it pays to be one step ahead. Time is of the essence, therefore every tick is a race especially in gathering data. This is simply because as much as we do manage our time, we do not control the time of others. Our journey was a bumpy one. After asking the driver questions frequently, we forgot to atleast check announcements or look at photos of the barangay we are headed. That’s why I also felt guilty when the Barangay Secretary reprimanded us after visiting on an unprecedented time and without even a request letter. Yes, we learned it the hard way. Nevertheless, they still agreed in giving us the information after we established rapport.
Listen and Be Patient
“Masyado kayong nagmamadali. Hinay hinay lang, ibibigay ko rin naman.”
Sec. Celestina P. Gandeza Secretary (Barangay Lalakay)
It is if not a common knowledge, has a ring of truth that most social workers and barangay workers aren’t that young anymore. So it’s best to be polite and wait patiently to avoid disrespect and misunderstanding. The person who we were able to converse with was actually a little old for her assigned job but she is still approachable even though there are times when the mood swings kick-in. She was reluctant at first after hearing of our request given that we do not have a letter to present. She was also a bit grumpy when we unintentionally hinted that we are in a hurry due to a tight schedule. “Masyado kayong nagmamadali. Hinay hinay lang, ibibigay ko rin naman.” Though nervous as we are, we still maintained composure, listened and painted a smile.
Be your Best Self
“Ah, estudyante ka pala sa UP. Akala ko nagtitinda ka ng kung ano.”
Sec. Celestina P. Gandeza Secretary (Barangay Lalakay)
From job-interviews to first dates, impressions are very important. No matter what the situation is, always see to it that you are presentable and well-dressed. Given that we just rushed to our destination without a concrete plan, we just wore our normal school outfits for the day. I am that kind of person, though not meticulous, still takes time in deciding what to wear. Luckily, it paid off. Our group leader however was not that fortunate. “Ah, estudyante ka pala sa UP. Akala ko nagtitinda ka ng kung ano.” She was a mistaken as a vendor. Truly appearances are deceiving, so keep this in mind.
There are a lot of tips out there, but given our experience, Dara and the explorers decided that these three are the most essential. Whatever you do, from gathering information to simple hang-outs, let me leave one legendary word from the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
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