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Million pieces of information

That’s what DEVCOM students will be going to deal with

So, we are tasked to gather some of those

And the WAR begins

As part of Development Communication students, we are expected to develop our competence in gathering data. When we are tasked to gather information in Municipal Hall, our group “MunisiPioneers” was challenged, owing to that information under government are undeniably confidential.  

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Gathering data is our mission

Various obstacles are the enemies

Bullets of time struggle, traffic and lack of source

Shot us consecutively

We encountered several struggles. First is that we in the group are not yet acquainted. We probably feel ashamed of each other. Second, time struggling. We have a different schedule and so, it’s difficult to make our visible free time to work on this task. Third, the endless traffic in junctions. It’s, unfortunately, time-consuming. As we commute from UPLB campus to Municipal Hall of Los Banos, we are running out of time. Fourth, the confidentiality of Municipal Hall’s general information. We are not allowed to route and get information around the second floor and third-floor offices unless the Mayor’s office permitted us. Fifth, the lack of sources. We tried to get information on the bulletin boards and municipal website but some information is only provided. Lastly, the different cultures and moods of the staff in each office. Some are accommodating, some are not which is understandable knowing that we disturbed their certain works on some point. 

But we soldiers remain standing with a flag in our hand

The Flag of Development Communication

Observation, search and interviews are our weapons

A formal letter is our shield

Effective Communication is our nuclear bomb

And used all of it in combat

Working systematically is a must in gathering data under the government sector. We inquire and gave a request letter to the Mayor’s office for us to have permission to route and gather data in each of the offices. Next, we inquire to the Public Information Office which gave us an extra task to gather information on the first floor offices which is an advantage to us, for us to accommodate by other offices. We administered a personal interview in the staff through performing effective communication which gave us more credible and reliable information. We need to set our minds that not everyone will accommodate us the way we want to. We need to work professionally. We should respect all the people we encountered and adjust to their personalities. While the rest of the data, we try to be resourceful and search for other sources.

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Attack! Loud explosion are unveil

Silence for a moment and enemies raise their white flags

And so, Mission is accomplished

War ends with a flag in our hands.

Gathering data a vital part of our lives. Challenges are always present but what matters are we have no room for surrendering. We tried all practical ways and used it as our weapons to overcome those. We need to be efficient because not all primary sources are always available. We should resourceful and always prepare a letter for formality. So, for the next CDC freshman, all of you should learn from our experiences. We recommend that you should always be pleasant, good-nature and professional especially if you’re going to choose an interview as a method of gathering data. Thus, in the end of the day, we will have the same outcome. We will shout: “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!”

Who would have thought that gathering data would be that fun?

I am grouped with Alex and Diego, and with the combination of our name initials, we came up with “MAD”. We were assigned in Brgy. Timugan but we wanted a bonus so we also aimed for Brgy. Bagong Silang.

On September 30, 11:00 am, we went straight to Brgy. Timugan office and ask the needed information personally. By communicating in person, we got the right information faster and we were able to establish a connection with the barangay officer which we can use for future assistance. It’s fun because the person who accomodated us was welcoming and kind, he didn’t  asked for a letter and even called the person-in-charge of barangay level units to make sure that the data given to us are accurate.

But what if your your plan like ours in the bonus part didn’t work out?

We really didn’t hike to Brgy. Bagong Silang because of the bad weather but I have a friend who happened to be the SK chairman of the said barangay and so we asked him if he could give us the information we needed. It’s our last option since the hike will be very dangerous.

Here are the tips I could give, given the experiences and realizations I had :

1. Be polite and always smile. You’re the one asking for something so make yourself reliable. It’s a great way to establish a connection when asking for information. It will lessen the awkwardness and people might be more approachable. Smiling really gives a lot of good karma. 
2. Establish your credibility. Introduce yourself and tell the purpose of your presence because there are officers who ask for letters or more background before giving the needed information.
3. Have back-up plans / be prepared. You never know what’s going to happen in the midst of gathering data or even before and/or after gathering data. Weather, nowadays are unpredictable and so do peoples’ minds. One second, the weather’s good, another second it’s raining hard. Some officers or persons-in-charge are not that approachable and they tend to ask for letters so better be prepared. Don’t forget to bring an a umbrella!

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Make sure that when going to a war, you’re with your armours and coats.

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Waking up, mediocre, is normal.

However, staying mediocre is a choice.

When given the chance, I would always reflect on myself – my skills, qualities, strengths and weaknesses. I concluded that I am still mediocre- normal, average. However, acknowledging that, I aspire for growth, improvement, and development.

As a media writer in the making, I assessed myself on how much I possess the following qualities and skills of a media writer:

Qualities:

Skills:

Giving myself a rating ranging from 2.00 to 3.00 to most of the qualities and skills, I honestly had a hard time giving myself a rating of 1.00- the highest rating, for the reason of not being able to live up to that. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean I will remain like this. I’m willing to do the work.

I came to the UP because I still had so much room for improvement. Not because I’m already the best.

“FIGHTING!”

One would always tell to Another

Being a media writer takes a lot of effort and courage. It does not come instantly. You must have certain qualities and skills in order to be efficient–qualities and skills “think” I lack of.

There are 10 qualities of a media writer and I rate myself with the college type of grading.

1. Curious or Inquisitive – 3

2. Intelligent – 4

3. Industrious – 2

4. Resourceful – 3

5. Persevering – 2

6. Imaginative – 3

7. Puts a premium on accuracy and truth – 2

8. Loves to read – 2

9. Interested in and loves people – 1

10. Service-oriented – 1

I never thought that rating myself would be that hard but it allowed me to contemplate and reflect.

Am I in the right path?

I should aim for the uno, but how? I cannot even give myself one.

Given the qualities, I think I should really work on my ‘intelligence’ because it is very important for media writing and other forms of communication and I lack more of it. Intelligence helps you in writing clearly and effectively, which is the very goal of media writing.

“Ipapamukha sayo ng UP na bobo ka .”

Another would say to One

“Then me” couldn’t agree more but after contemplating, it made me realise that walang bobo sa UP. Nonetheless I gave myself a rating of quatro, and I have to note that quatro in UP means a chance, either you pass or you fail. And that’s where I stand, either I improve or let my intelligence shrink. Of course, I won’t let myself do the latter.

And so there are 5 skills, I, as a media writer should have, which I rate again through the college grading system.

1. Gathering data – 3

2. Verifying and clarifying information – 3

3. Organising information – 3

4. Writing clearly and effectively – 4

5. Proficiency in operation of communication tools and devices – 4

I’m really not good with the skills listed above but among them, I would consider ‘Gathering data’ as my highest competency, I maybe shy at times but I can appoach people to gather information, I can also do researches be it through the net or through textbooks/articles. I have developed this skill because when I was in high school, I’ve done some researches and interviews mandated for academic purposes.

What you thought enough, will never be,

And as for the skill I want to develop the most, it would be ‘Writing clearly and effectively’. I wanted to write confidently without panicking and thinking if my work is good or bad. I know that it is very important as a writer and a communicator and it will also help me in my years as a DevCom student.

but practice makes progress.

I clearly rate myself low all because I think I have so much to improve on every skill. I don’t have enough experience to tell that I mastered each skill and yes, I’m only halfway but I’m in progress. There’s only one way–no stepping back. I am working to get that “qualification”–that qualities and skills, and soon, I’ll be the media writer I dreamed of.

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Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on

Maxwell Maltz

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Decision making is a vital part of our lives. Its requires effort, time, and a rational mind to achieve a more significant cause. Despite the situation, many have already chosen their desired path to take like it is nothing. Maybe it is a faith that leads them to be in that position, but what about the others? The lost souls, who continuously lingers in the background searching for a deeper meaning in their lives. It is not an easy life to live with, but I should step forward and ‘take one for the team.’

Being a UPCAT passer was a life-changing situation; however, taking up a course that was not in my field of interests is a different and undoubtedly a complicated matter. This situation is how, I, Marian Carmela G. Ilinon became a lost soul. My life had an unexpected turn the second I heard of the news that I will be taking up Bachelor of Science in Development Communication. It can be a good thing considering that I have yet to discover my true passion. On the other hand, it can bring bad news too when taking into account the fact that I do not have precise knowledge in this field where oral and written activities are active. Then I realized, instead of mulling over the past, I decided to take the opportunity as a chance to enjoy a new life out of my comfort zone and as a development communication student. It will be a challenge for me to take, but I am willing to sacrifice just as much to discover my true identity and improve myself as a person. With this, I decided to infuse my interests in reading, love for sports, and skills in drawing in studying the course because I know that it will be necessary and helpful in some way considering that it is interdependent in the skills needed in the development communication course, particularly, in writing and design.

I have no clue what my passions are, but one thing is for sure, I aspire to be someone who can influence others to have the courage and strength to continue searching for our missing piece. We should keep our battle no matter what because it is God who laid out the path that we will take. It will not be easy but always remember that every decision that we make matters, because as the quote said, “we die trusting the living who follow to find meaning in our lives” – Captain Erwin, Attack on Titan.

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On the 22nd day of September year 2000, a female infant was brought to the world named Marie Janille Bes Berdin. An addition to the family of 7 that eventually became 8 after two years. She grew up at her permanent home on Bacacay, Albay with her ever-growing number of cats, which is now at 12. Also, she only studied at three schools; one each for kindergarten, elementary and high school.

During elementary, she engrossed herself in journalism.

She started as an editorial writer then a broadcaster to eventually a feature writer. Each had their competition but feature writing was the only path that paved way for DSPC. Truthfully, broadcasting was something she was interested in but the timing wasn’t right. Eventually, that led her to feature writing. What enticed her to write feature articles was the emotion she can embed on what she writes, the freedom to write anything in particular, and the flowery words she gets to add as spices to her work. Her interest eventually came to a halt during high school. That’s when she started to get lost. Lost in a sense that what she used to love doing eventually she lost interest in, which were reading and writing. That continued for years until the year 2018. She wanted to regain what she lost so she started reading 10 pages of a book each day that eventually leveled up into reading a book in one sitting. It started from love stories to fiction then nonfiction, which focused more on the human mind or psychology. Fast forward to Senior High School, the time she discovered what she is good at and what she loves doing- Speaking. In terms of writing, Janille was still in the process of polishing her skills regarding such especially when the strand, Humanities and Social Sciences, required her to but she learned to love doing it through time. Speaking in front was a staple in the strand so she spoke in front so many times she lost count. For every single time she spoke in front, her love for speaking grew. When the College Entrance Tests season arrived, she proudly wrote in the UPCAT application BS Development Communication as her first choice and BA Communication Arts as her second.

The UPCAT results arrived, no one named Marie Janille Berdin qualified. The University of the Philippines has been her dream ever since she had three siblings who graduated from the mentioned university. Two from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and one from Diliman. At first, it was upsetting. However, she just saw the results as an essential bump in her journey. Carrying that optimism, she applied for reconsideration with the course BS Development Communication. In the end, she became one of the successful waitlist applicants from almost 3000 aspirants. Before getting into UP, she faced bumps. Now, she’s studying in UP expecting even more bumps along the way that she knows are essential for her growth as a writer, a communicator and generally, an individual willing to serve the people in her country. Once was lost, eventually was found.  

Unlike others, Kristine Maeko D. Cueto, a 17-year old BS Development Communication student studying at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, went through a rough road upon entering her dream university. She had to experience a lot of discouragements and failures on the uncertainty of her future before being offered a slot on a UP campus and a course she least expected the most. When she wasn’t included on the list of passers in the UPCAT for the Manila and Diliman campus, she applied for reconsideration at the Los Banos campus. But then, she was not included in the list of accepted applicants and was waitlisted. When she was on the brink of giving up on UP, her friends and family would always say to her “kakayanin!” It gave her the strength and motivation she needed to continue to pursue UP. But if she did not hold on and have faith, she wouldn’t be here, writing this entry.

Kristine’s interests revolve around music and theater back then, but she developed a hobby of reading ever since she was 12 years old due to the influence of her peers. As she grew up, she had a fondness over adventure and science fiction books, but lately, she wants to venture out of her favorite genres and explore books that are classical, contemporary, and non-fiction. Because of her love of reading, Kristine had experiences of writing stories but she never had the confidence to share it to the world. Only familiar with writing creative fiction and play scripts on her school plays, media writing is a whole new world for her. Even though Kristine doesn’t have much experience, she wants to specialize in civic, political and environmental reporting. She believes that she can do her best in those areas because they interest her the most.

Although development communication never crossed her mind to be one of the courses she will be studying, she believes that she is placed in this course for a reason and for a purpose. As an aspiring lawyer and motivational speaker in the future, she believes that development communication can be a way for her to get out of her comfort zone and overcome her shyness. Moreover, with the experiences she had encountered as a Humanities and Social Sciences student in senior high school, she was able to adapt with the work she is going to do, but of course, it’s not that easy. Instead of losing hope on an area that is not her forte, she took that as a motivation to work harder. With eagerness to serve the country, Kristine is more than ready to take on the challenge as a future development communicator, and an Iskolar ng Bayan.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

All things are worth it when you start as “nothing” and ends in a “becoming”. As a beginner in media writing, I am proud to say that I am an average person possessing qualities of a media writer. I didn’t rate myself in an advance because the education I’m pursuing will be worthless if I am now a great writer. We are considered as lifelong learners. Every day is a new learning experience. Indeed, the lesson I take is what I will have to combat the re occurrence of the situation and use it to improve my flaws.

The set of qualities and skills that a media writer should have is like my savings. I work hard for it and it takes time to earn it one by one. In these following qualities:  service-oriented, loves to read, resourceful and intelligent, I rate myself a three (3).  I come up with this rating because I know my shortcomings in developing these qualities. Most of the time my procrastination was prevailing. Consequently, I failed to possess these qualities. From this I realize that being too comfortable doesn’t help us grow, it makes us stagnate. Because of my motivations and settling my purpose as a media writer I am willing to learn and gain improvements for development. While the rest including curious or inquisitive, industrious, persevering, imaginative, puts a premium on accuracy and truth and interested in and loves people I rate myself two (2).

I gave myself a higher rating in these qualities because I do believe that I continue learning because of my perseverance to acquire it. I’m not intelligent but I have the eagerness and diligence in the things I should work on.

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Every time I failed, I always seek positive thinking, therefore, I make meaning for the word FAIL as “First Attempt In Learning”. This implies that I should always think that there’s an area for improvement. The continuing pace of developments makes us be a great person and one that helps others who are failing and forget about their self-worth.

In these following media writer skills: gathering data, validating and clarifying information, writing clearly and effectively and proficiency in the operation of communication tools/ devices, I rate myself three (3). The reason behind it is the introvert personality that I must change. Knowing that as a Development of Communication student, there’s no room for timid people.  On the other hand, I gave myself two (2) rating in the quality of organizing information. Owing to my experience working in several writings in journalism and literature paper outputs which we are required to organize all the information we gather.

Above all, this self-evaluation has become instrumental in helping me realized what qualities and skills I should work on and improve. Consequently, I am optimistic to gain learning in Development Communication 11 which will be my training ground and stepping stone to be an effective media writer. I am proud to be “nothing” at first and excited to end soon in “becoming” an effective media writer.

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.

-Benjamin Franklin

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Unsure of the things she is about to face, a nineteen-year-old brave soul, Marianne Jaraplasan entered the University of the Philippines empty-handed. Even with the certainty that BS Development Communication will be very difficult for her, she still chose the course when applying for a reconsideration. She doesn’t have any formal experience in writing for a school newspaper or broadcasting, the farthest she had was writing compositions and scripts. Despite all these, she is still determined to pursue DevCom because she finds her passion in the very essence of it—to write and to help the poor and the marginalized people—to help them help themselves.

There is not much exciting events in her life that can touch hearts but there’s more to her soul that one cannot fathom. She really loves being with kids and lolo’s and lola’s on the streets for she is deeply fascinated about how they get there. She is amazed by how they look forward for a better tomorrow regardless of their situation—and that made her want to serve the people even more. Isn’t it what an Iskolar ng Bayan really should be?

She is a blank sheet of paper and she wants to be as good as those she looks up to in the institution she is now in or even a better one. She wants to be an efficient writer who helps people by the way she works. She aims to be one of those researchers and journalists that helps people, and to use her skills for the development of the society and the betterment of their lives.

Is it weird to find home in the homeless people? I don’t think so.

Being an “Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Bayan” is a privilege and a responsibility at the same time. She has learned so much with people who are deprived of education. Streets are not only for the homeless but it is also a shelter of life lessons where people must look to live forwad. So as a DevCom student, she will serve the people with all of her, she will reach to the people in need and help them. Now, she is studying and at the first semester of her freshman year, it is still a very long way to sablay, but she will never stop. Para sa Bayan, she will strive to be the best that she can be for her to be of a great help in shaping our nation.

Fatshe leso lea halalela

Escaping my mouth, these are the words that accompanied me in my journey. Words from a favorite musical. Words, whose meaning I always carry. Words of wisdom from the past and words of hope for the future. Words that are forever imprinted in my heart.

As I looked at my window, I saw a grand parade full of color. Three different cultures under the banner of red, white and black: The enchanting sounds of the Blaan and Tboli tribe, the magnificent resonance of the Muslim gongs and the shouts of joy and merrymaking from the Christian settlers. Then, a sudden beep woke me from that moment, and that’s when I realize that I’m far away from home. I can feel the sad tunes of my homeland reverberating my soul as another bird leaves the nest. I have left the warm embrace of the Crowned City of the South in exchange for finding my path, and I bid farewell to my family for the fruition of our dreams. Despite all of these, I am still me.

I still remember the little Jerome marveling at framed photographs back at home. Even as a child, the University of the Philippines Los Baños had a very special place within him. This was the institution that molded his father and grandfather, and he also wanted to be a part of it.  I have always wanted to be a part of it. Growing up, I already knew I was different from other boys. I did not fancy cars, robots, toy guns and the like. Instead, I find refuge in dolls, princesses and fairy tales, Broadway musicals, flora, fauna and dabbling in the mystical arts. I am a child at heart and daydreaming had already been a part of my reality. Years in high school has allowed me to adapt and evolve. To spin new stories in the thread of life. During those times, I went by many names: Minerva, Tyrande, but the name that stuck the most was Zawadi, meaning “gift” in Swahili. Presently, Zawadi has become my alter ego. A persona I use to hide my true self. The embodiment of all my positive attributes. I have traversed many worlds. The lives I lived are equal to the number of pages I have read. I am not that much of a writer but I already knew my purpose. That is why I chose Development Communication even though many were against it. I want to help. More importantly, I want to serve my fellowmen as being shaped by experience, I know how hard life can be. I write because I want to read and create stories. I write because I want to tell those stories. I write because I want those stories to change.

I write because I want to read and create stories. I write because I want to tell those stories. I write because I want those stories to change.

Zawadi

As I peer into the future, I know for myself that I have a gift… that I am a gift. That is why whenever I feel down, I always hear those words whispering in my ear. They reminded me of my purpose. They reminded me of why I chose UP and what I am fighting for. They reminded me of my identity. This bird is now ready to fly and it will never forget.

Fatshe leso lea halalela (The land of our ancestors are holy)

Giza Buyabo (I will return)

The Lion King (musical), 1997