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This question might bring you to a seen of LizQuen’s movie “My Ex and Whys” when Cali— a blogger, asks her worth to be cheated by her womanizer boyfriend Gio, it might sound ridiculous to relate but oftentimes in reality, we also doubt ourselves if we deserve everything that is happening to our lives.

A year has passed since I answered my UPCAT Application Form, bunch of “what ifs” have popped into my mind especially in choosing what campus and course I will pursue. Luckily, I passed and was offered a degree program I think I would love but, is my desire enough to become an effective communicator? Apparently it won’t, but it can fuel us to learn more and possess the qualities and skills of becoming an effective media writer.

Pursuing Development Communication was my personal choice and in that I already expected that there are default qualities I have to develop. If I have to rate myself in UP way I have a 1.6 grade from these :

• Curious or Inquisitive – 1
• Intelligent – 2
• Industrious – 2
• Resourceful – 2
• Persevering – 1
• Imaginative – 1
• Puts premium on accuracy and truth – 1
• Loves to read – 3
• Interested in and loves people – 1
• Service Oriented- 2

 I admit that I rarely read books ever since I was in grade school. I get bored when I read, maybe because I still have not found the genre I would love or I do not persist to search the meaning of the new terms I encounter while reading and so I cannot understand some parts. Also, I grew up in a rural place where availability of the books is a hard time especially on the entertainment novels which you can only avail when you cross the sea to the nearest city. While on positive side, being persistent I think was developed because of our imagination and curiosity to help people, which I credit to experiences.

Media writers must be skillful as well, sadly I only got 2.25 grade from these ratings:

• Gathering data – 2
• Validating and clarifying information – 2
• Organizing information – 2
• Writing clearly and effectively – 2
• Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/ devices – 3

 Validating and clarifying information is an essential skill a media writer must have. Credibility on the sources of information is now threatened because of the manipulation on different forms of communication. As a former member of the school publication in high school it was our duty to ensure accuracy on the information we will be gathering and releasing, perhaps I have practiced these skills.

While in producing our outputs it is a mandate to have the capability of using media instruments, I admit I have no background in operating devices and tools relating to communication and this is a challenge for me to practice. Unavailability of these devices before I entered college is I think the primary reason why I am not knowledgeable enough to use these vital materials in communication.

In every new venture we have in our lives there are always pros and cons depending to what we are before or where we came from. But we also have to remember that in every beginning we are prone to new set of learnings. As of now I am truly not enough to be called a “Media Writer”, but rest assured that I will use every lesson I will be learning in this journey to build my unique identity in the media world. It takes time make beautiful things.

 I am not enough and I will never be enough— because in this ever changing world to be enough is lame.

Aside from having good qualities and skills, development communication students should also be equipped with the essentials which they will be needing along their journey. Below are my top five DevCom must-haves:

Every development communication student should always see to it that they have at least pen and paper in their bags for these are the things they will be needing the most. Even though we already have different technological devices, taking a pen and paper with you will always be a much safer choice for most of these devices tend to run on low battery at the end of the day.

Smartphones are of the most important device for development communication students. Through this, one can accomplish numerous tasks with convenience – from taking down notes, capturing important events and even recording audios. However, after hours of usage, most smartphones tend to get low battery. That’s why having a powerbank along with your smartphone would be the best combo.

Being a development communication student requires a lot of paperwork, editing, and interviews to be done. With that, having a laptop of good quality will definitely make your journey through DevCom a lot more easier. Laptop and earphones is also a good combination specially when you are tasked to transcribe all the interviews you did. With these combo, convenience is definitely just right in front of you.

Since there are a lot of things to be done here in DevCom, students must also make sure that they have good storage devices with huge storage capacity in order for their files to be safe from data corruption. Keep in mind that it’s always better safe than sorry.

Last, but definitely not the least, DevCom students should ALWAYS bring an umbrella and a bottle of water with them wherever they go. The tasks will not be easy and no one will be ever be sure of the weather for the day so readiness is the key to survive and also, always remember to stay hydrated!

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Being in the university is dream come true for a lot of freshmen. Sharing their first-hand experiences with their own families and friends can really be a really long story. As for me, I am away from my family which hinders me to share every detail of my stay here in UP. However, being able to live independently and learning from everyday experiences can be considered a bonus for me. I never thought that I would survive this long without crying and telling my parents to come pick me up.

After a month of my stay in the university, I can say that I am getting used to it and it is a lot more bearable now even though I am apart from my family. Here are my top 5 learning during my not-so-long stay in the university.

• Top 1. Being masipag is the key – Everyone knows that studying requires a lot of patience and hardwork. In my first month in the university, a lot of readings have been given and a lot of quizzes and exercises have already come along our way. Take home assignments and reflections are always present and I couldn’t have done it if I am not being masipag. Having this quality can make your life a lot easier. If you do all things that you have to do without procrastinating then it would give you a lot more time to rest and think about things.

• Top 2. Being matipid is the key – We are still working and a lot of our resources especially money is from our parents. I do not have a job to save my life so I rely on my parents for money. Being able to spend your money wisely can help my parents a lot. They give me allowance as well as pay for my dorm rent. So, I really cannot afford to make them send money always. Our family has other expenses aside from my schooling so I need to work on with what I have. Being able to find alternatives and substitutes for things that offer the same result can come in handy.

• Top 3. Being matapang is the key – Being alone in this new environment makes me want to go home from time to time. However, I learned to be strong and find friends that can keep me company while I am away from my family. Having the courage to study here is already a good start. I think that the University of the Philippines never forgets to teach its students courage to face all challenges and to be strong no matter what happens.

• Top 4. Being malusog is the key – With all the requirements and stuff going on in the university, you can never afford to get sick. Missing one class is like missing half of your life. Choosing what to eat and how many hours of sleep you get is also a factor to consider. All these things can affect how you perform in school the next day. Our physical bodies have their limits. So, let us take care of it before it kicks us out of it.

• Top 5. Being matanong is the key – As a freshman, I have a lot of things that I do not know. That is why I learned a habit to always ask. It is never wrong to ask for information as long as you are not bothering someone. Making sure of what you know is a must to avoid confusion and conflicts. Never pretend that you know it all because we all have a space for learning and new information.

So that is my top 5 learning during my first month here in the university. This is just the beginning and I know that I will be able to learn a lot more in my upcoming years in the university. Hoping that these learning will remain and continue to be of use during my DevCom journey.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

Benjamin Franklin

Being a Development Communication student is easier said than done. Just having the confidence and skill for writing is really not enough. Sometimes, we need a little something extra to help us achieve the best results that we aim for. Let’s dive in to my Ultimate DevCom Survival Kit!

Just a reminder, you do note (not) forget one of these things. If you do, prepare the proper dose of resourcefulness you have in you. Grab a pen and paper and I will make you absorb and see what is inside my kit.

Smart Phone – Let’s hit it off with a smart phone. Years have passed since the first release of smart phones. Since then, a lot of updates and technological advances had been applied in their production – a lot of new features and programs. Smart phones tend to do a lot for us now. We get to have a lot of tools inside our phones. Instead of bringing a lot of things, our phones can contain most of those things now. Need to do an audio recording? Your phone can help you with that. Need to take photos and videos? That is an easy task if you have your smart phone. Need to access information from the internet? Your phone will be glad to help you. I can cite countless of things but I know you do know what your smart phone can do.

Laptop – Let’s go with a bigger tool from my kit. Yes, smart phone can be really handy but complimenting it with this one, you can already finish and do a lot of things. If installed with the right software and equipped with the right hardware, you can finish tasks well and fast. It’s true that things that you can do with phones can also be done in here. However, there are limitations to what phones can offer and I think that laptops have the remedies to those limitations. Video editing can be tiresome with a phone, in laptops, you can see it in a whole better view. Designing posters, creating layouts for different projects can be way easier and doable with laptops. So, if you don’t have one, start saving up. I am sure that it will be worth every bit of your savings.

Pen and paper – Let’s do it old school. Phones do have note taking apps and features but doing it manually by hand gives you the legit feeling of being a writer. Pen and paper might seem a waste but when you use it efficiently and regularly, you get to discover the art of taking notes. Practicing your penmanship is also not a bad thing. You never know that these skills might come in handy.

Umbrella – Let’s go crazy! This one seems a little bit absurd but I am really serious about this. Being in the field work mandates us to be ready at all times. When you are outdoors and you are conducting your research or an interview, you never know what is going to happen. Better be prepared for unexpected heat and unexpected rain – we never want to risk our health. Having a right state of health can equate us to perform our job very well.

Money and Identification Cards – Let’s go back to the basics. It is a fact that we cannot turn our eyes away to our necessities. In order for us to go to different places for our field work, of course we need to have a basic amount of money that we can use. We cannot always ask for favors to survive. Identification cards are also a must because sometimes other people tend to ask who we are and asks for verification. For them, it is a security matter and these identification cards also can help us in different circumstances.

Well, that concludes the tour of my Ultimate DevCom Survival Kit. I have my own version and you can also make yours. Just make sure that everything you include; you use it efficiently and comfortably. Always remember that these tools are only there to help us and not for us to always rely on them.

She wants to find something she wanted all along, somewhere she belongs.

There was a girl named Althea, who at first knew what she wanted to become, to be a Civil Engineer. She was introduced to this kind of field because her father was an Architecture graduate and from there, a dream of becoming one was made. Since then, all her goals were just set to achieve that dream. When she was finally near to enter college, she started to question herself if that was what she really wanted to be in the future. Out of all the college entrance examinations, she only took the UPCAT exam. It was UP or nothing for her because even though she wanted to take other exams and try to study in Manila, her parents didn’t allow her.  It is a difficult situation since her future only depends on that result. It almost got her to the point that she will just take whatever course as long as it is UP. Long story short, she passed the UPCAT (UP Mindanao, Computer Science) and got reconsidered in UP Los Baños with the course, BS Development Communication. 

Althea is an adventurer. She likes to explore new things and travel around places. In every place she has been to, she always makes sure to document it by taking numerous photos and videos since she’s a memory hoarder and loves to look back on every special event in her life. She is also a ‘techie’ person and loves to explore gadgets. One thing is for sure, she’s always on her phone. She devoted all her free time scrolling through social media and surfing the net.  Reading books is not really her thing Rather than reading books, she is more interested in watching movies and series. Writing and giving speeches gives her a lack of confidence because she’s not really good at expressing her thoughts and opinions.

Taking DevCom as her course will be really challenging for her since majority of her interests were not really related and contradicts it. She wanted to step out of her comfort zone so she can discover of what she’s capable of doing. Maybe, God directed her towards this path because He knew that she may discover some talents, especially in the field of communication, she didn’t know she has. It is exciting for her to see how this degree program will mold her into something that she can’t even imagine she can become. She hopes that she can improve and overcome her fears. This will help her learn a lot which she can use to survive and finish this degree program.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

  Proverbs 3:5-6

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The decision to take a communication course did not actually came easy for her. Way back her junior high days, she was still unsure of what she would like to do for the years to come. After all, she is much of an indecisive person. Nonetheless, realizations poured in towards the start of senior high school. Her love for reading books, her feeling of fulfillment seeing her news articles published in their campus paper, her dedication for leading youth workshops, her satisfaction after successfully speaking in front of a crowd; these things made her see where and who she wanted to be. These are what pushed her to take up Humanities and Social Sciences strand in senior high as an aspiring journalist. Imagine the joy she felt when they visited the studio of “Dito sa Laguna” – a program produced by the UPLB’s very own College of Development Communication, for their one-day exposure trip! By that time, she already imagined herself studying in that exact building.

As a girl who likes everything planed, whether it may be short or long-term goals, she already pictured out herself being honed as a development communicator. Until one day, this plan of hers eventually failed to be in action. It took her one academic year in UPLB before she finally landed to the course her heart truly beats for. Apparently, life didn’t go as planned for the 19-year-old Eunice when she learned that she wasn’t able to achieve the course she had always laid eyes on. “Maybe this is a redirection that would lead me to something better”, “A year later, will I still be aspiring for DevCom?”, “Who knows maybe I’ll learn to appreciate the course I am in?”, are just some of the thoughts she had in mind on the onset of her Iska journey. Nevertheless, here she is now, pursuing BS Development Communication; determined more than ever, heavily fueled by passion, and finally, travelling the road she knows she is set for. Amidst the uncertainties, this is one thing she is certain of.

And now, being in that university and taking up the course she was just once dreaming of, she realized that what she had chosen has a greater picture behind. Truly, it is a privilege, and at the same time, it is a responsibility. Life may have given her an unexpecting turn but what matters is the perseverance to keep chasing a future where she envisioned herself to be. This aspirant is more than willing to be transformed, empowered, and challenged to be better than who she is now. With a pen on one hand and a paper on the other, she is ready to write and to speak up for the betterment of the people; to be an embodiment of a true blooded Iska.