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Just for clarity’s sake, the points I gave for the qualities listed are as follows (with 1 representing excellence/completeness):

1. Curious or Inquisitive: 2
2. Intelligent: 2
3. Industrious: 3
4. Resourceful: 4
5. Persevering: 4
6. Imaginative: 3
7. Puts a premium on accuracy and truth: 2
8. Loves to read: 2
9. Interested in and loves people: 3
10. Service-oriented: 2

Among the qualities listed, which quality would be the one that you need to work on the most? Why?

Between being resourceful and persevering, I think that I need to become more persevering. While both are equally important, I notice myself easily giving up on tasks with no clear path to success. In the real world everything needs a little hard work, and I’m not really the type to put in the grind, from where I see myself right now. That’s going to be something that needs fixing.

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

The reason I can’t give myself a 1.00 rating is because I’m not perfect, and so long as I’m not acing every task given to me I cannot give myself 1.00. I’m willing to see my talents and skills, but only if I remain critical of my shortcomings. While I consider myself observant, I also give up quickly. I can do certain tasks easier, but if I don’t see myself doing the task easily then I just don’t do it at all. I’m good at writing in English, at least from my experience, but I also procrastinate really, really hard. I also lose interest quickly, I tend to think of people badly, and I’m admittedly not good with time. These are flaws I’m attempting to remedy, so maybe as time progresses the ratings will get higher, but we’ll see.

Next up are the skills:

1. Gathering data: 3
2. Validating and clarifying information: 2
3. Organizing information: 3
4. Writing clearly and effectively: 2
5. Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices: 4

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

I take pride in my writing abilities, although it doesn’t seem that impressive seeing everyone else’s abilities. As for what contributed to the development of this skill specifically, it may have something to do with the nature of the environment I was raised in. I’ve always watched western shows, and an early adoption of the English language has made me especially skilled with it, even though it came at the expense of much weaker Filipino skills. Additionally, I’ve also attempted to dabble in creative writing, posting works online looking for feedback and receiving criticisms and the such. If nothing else, it’s a skill that I’ve tried hard to improve, since writing is something I enjoy.

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

Communication tools and devices? Excuse me? The best I can do is a pen and paper, thank you very much. All jokes aside, I have little experience with anything going beyond the absolute minimum. My limits only go as far as Facebook and Google reach, even Twitter is something I have no experience with. In all seriousness, really, it’s something I’m going to need to fix.

Now that self-criticism is done, self improvement should follow afterwards, because if it doesn’t then all of this was for naught. Socrates said that ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’. If this is what he considered examination, then I guess I’m on the right track.

BUHAY DEVCOM: Lessons from the First Month in Uni

Living here in UP Los Banos is really different and spectacular at the same time. There will be challenges that you might face along the way but there are also great learnings that you will gain.

Honor BEFORE Excellence

There will be times that you will face difficulty in your examinations and projects but always remember to prioritize first HONOR before EXCELLENCE. Don’t Cheat! There is no shortcut to success.

Serve the People

There are some people that will say we owe something from the Government because they are the one who subsidizes our study here in UPLB. The truth is we don’t owe this from the Government but for the people who need us and we need to serve.

Join Orgs!

They say joining orgs is harmful to your academics. At some point this is true if the organization is toxic in a way that they romanticize kupal culture. But there are a lot of good and healthy orgs that you can join in the university. Just find the right one that fits your interest and passion. Orgs can help you a lot to improve your skills and expand your horizons.

Acads BAGO Landi

You will meet a lot of good looking students here in UPLB. Most of them are approachable. It is okay to have fun and explore your identity in College. Just remember your limitations and remember your priorities.

Rest twoime!

Being a college student is really hard. There are a lot of requirements to finish and exams to pass. But always remember to take a rest. Your mind will not work if your body is not stable enough.

Going to different places and gathering information is never new to me. Being a Humanities and Social Sciences student in Senior High School made me work the extra mile for information and documentation. During these kinds of activities, you can encounter different kinds of people – with different character and different culture. However, it all boils down on how do we execute these kinds of tasks.

Being able to work with your groupmates is a must. No proper communication with your groupmates leads to a conflict with your execution. Adjust yourself in the right manner and learn to deal with as many people as you can. Afterall, as development communicators in the making, we must uphold that communication will be our lifelong tool to pursue our aspirations for the society.

Not all of us are blessed with easy going respondents. Some of them are strict – requires letter, a lot of explanation and a lot of patience. But some of them are super nice – very accommodating, attends to guests very well and leaves a good impression. Although they are very different, as interviewers we must always learn to be grateful for, we are the one who needs something from them and not the other way around.

During the task, the method of data gathering our group used the most is the interview method because we want to immerse ourselves and know the place better by asking the right persons/authorities. Most of our data were gathered through asking for information and we could not have done it without proper interview etiquette and skills.

If we were given a chance to give three (3) tips that we can share with the next batch of BSDC Freshmen it would be these things:

• Just Relax – Panicking and stressing yourself out would not do you any good. Being relaxed is equivalent to showing others that you know what you are doing. Just breathe and remember the reason why you chose Development Communication and how can we be an influence for others.

• Be Confident – Having a lot of confidence is a plus in DevCom. Being confident enough can help you in a lot of activities. We will be future development communicators and we should uphold our duties as early as we can.

• Stand for truth – Always remember to only share and inform facts/information that are true and correct. We should see to it that we aim for excellence and remember that all of our actions would fall back to what DevCom has taught us.

• 

My top five insights/learnings from my first four weeks of stay here in UPLB:

I am here because I deserve to be here. From the first four weeks of my stay here in UPLB, I was confused; not ecstatic, not nervous, not proud but confused. Confused in a way that I was questioning myself. I was surrounded by a lot of students who aren’t like me: top achievers of their batch, members of their school paper, volunteers of an organization, participants in competitions. Then, there was me, standing stiffly, anxious and nervous. Let’s say, I felt out of place. What am even I doing here? Should I be here? I’m just a nobody. But I was wrong. I’m not JUST a nobody. Yes, I may not have those kinds of achievements, but I do have skills, passion, effort and perseverance. I deserve to be here.  

Don’t be afraid to experience failure. Want to be great? Stop being afraid to fail. There are times that people tend to avoid mistakes or rejections. They see failure as negative, something to be avoided. But, little did they know, failure is just a steppingstone for success. Thomas Eddison? Experienced failure. Steve Jobs? Experienced failure.  JK Rowling? Experienced failure. Even our favorite celebrities have gone through hardships and failures. But look at where they are right now. Failure is simply the chance to start again. As I’ve entered college, I’ve realized that for you to survive here, you should be brave enough to face every challenge given to you. It’s not enough if you have the wit and talent. You should also have perseverance in your heart for you to overcome everything. Failure is just part of life. It is an opportunity to improve.  

Come to class prepared. When I was in senior high school, studying my lessons only happen when examination days are vastly approaching. I’d pull an all nighter just to review every details of the topic in one subject. But two years later, as I’ve entered college, I was not only welcomed with a culture shocking environment, but also with the fact that every day is an examination day. “Bring out ¼ sheet of paper.” Okay, hello darkness, my old friend. But seriously speaking, after that incident of not knowing what to answer, I’ve started to review all the lessons that was taught that same day to prepare myself for the next meeting. That way, I won’t be left behind and would also help me remember the lessons easily.  

It’s not a competition. College is not a marathon. Having that kind of mindset is very unhealthy and draining. You don’t have to be better than your classmates. It is more important to give focus on the things that you still need to improve and not on the things that you lack. Comparing yourself to others won’t lead you anywhere. It will only plant doubts and insecurity in your heart. Remember, you’ll get there when you get there.  

Lastly,  

Family is everything. Before, entering college is one thing that I’ve been looking forward to when I was in high school. I have this image of fun and freedom in my mind; a breath of fresh air. However, it occurred to me that college also means, being away from my family. Every night, homesickness hugs me until I fell asleep. I can’t fathom the feeling of not having my sister with me beside my bed, or my mother who likes to nag me about household chores, or even hearing my father playing the piano. College may be exciting and all but it’s at the same time, a sad phase for me. That is why, I always grab the opportunity go home, when given the chance. All the stress and anxiety brought by college vanishes when I’m home.  

• 

“Others write to inform, others to communicate but only few writes for development”

BLANCO, KENT D. – Grew up in the small town of Ibaan in the province of Batangas. The youngest boy born in the family of five children. At a young age of four his father died of a cardiac arrest ever since then his mother used to raise the family on her own. He has experienced a lot of things as kid, his family used to live in a diverse society, a society of set backs and challenges. Luckily enough, his family used to overcome all those challenges, a twist of event that serves as a leap to escape from nightmares of our society. Suddenly, everything has changed but the remnants of having experienced those things remains in his heart, subsequently shaping his character and igniting the fire of nationalism. He then started dreaming of being a University of the Philippines student in which he sees as a stepping stone to get nearer to his dream of changing the society.

As a writer, the main focus was to observe how our society works, the hindrances that separates us towards development thus creating an impact to widespread of audiences giving them the inspiration to set things in motion, to become agents of change as individuals of their own environment that will shape the society. Dwelling deeper what lies within our society longing for development. Beyond the horizon of prejudices and unbalanced society a dream that a light will emerge to fill the gap, where individuals live in harmonious environment and equity-based governance. Providing them the freedom to access the truth to initiate towards one goal of building the nation.

As a UP student, being quoted as an “Iskolar ng Bayan”, to prove Honor and Excellence to help and to serve the interest of fellow Filipinos thru effective communication. To oppress what is wrong and to abide in what is necessary to deliver factual information about the current position of our country, to expose anomalies, to connect with people towards solidarity.

As a whole, a development communicator should persevere and overcome trials that may come while tackling the long journey of development. A media writer that sees both angles to judge fairly, a media writer that involves oneself to current situations at different conditions, a media writer that adapts to the needs and necessity to perform the purpose and its duty. A media writer that he wants himself to be.

Being a devcom student takes the right amount of courage, patience, pixie dust  ̶  and a bag containing the daily essentials to survive writing classes.

Facing our individual stories as writers, require the most important tools/devices. In my one-month stay in the University of the Philippines Los Baños, here are the most basic life saviors that you could possibly see in every devcom students’ bags.

• Mobile Phone

Mobile phones are your friendly handy helpers; they got you in so many ways. Being a devcom student involves a series of interviews to be conducted. Thus, it is very important to have a device in recording footages ̶ which can also be used in basic editing. Mobile phones are effective audio recorders as well; it could help you gather data clearly and efficiently. Moreover, building a tight relationship and connection with your sources will be a lot easier with having a convenient communication device.

• Storage devices

Devcom students surely does involve a lot of papers and documents. With that, it’s a must to have a sanctuary for these substantial documents. Hard copies should always have their backup friends ̶ storage devices. USB flash drives and external hard drives got you. It’s a must to safe keep your documents which may save you in your most critical moments as a writer.

• Organizers

Life’s a mess ̶ so is our documents. With just a month of being a devcom student, my organizer has already been very helpful. It’s important to classify and categorize the documents you’ll be producing to avoid mixing up important papers. Letters, readings, and course syllabuses are just some of the most important documents you should always keep safe. Developing a healthy habit of being organized will lead you onto the right track.

• Laptop

Laptops are closely related to smart phones, however it has a larger capacity and has optimized functions. A devcom student can simultaneously do their tasks with a laptop  ̶ video editing, transcribing, storage keeping, and a lot more. Thus, a writer’s life is a lot more convenient with having this device.

• Pen and Paper

It will always lead to the classic ones ̶ a basic pen and paper. These are the core tools that every writer ̶ or even any student, must have. Jotting down notes, organizing schedules, constructing drafts, are just some of the tasks wherein the dynamic duo is very essential. As the famous phrase say, “It takes two to tango.”, thus, a pen paper will always be found in a devcom student’s bag ̶  two individual elements seen as a whole.

More than these essential tools/devices, every devcom student should always keep the fire within them  ̶  burning. Have enough courage and patience in every challenge they face and always be mentally prepared and physically healthy as they face the everyday life of a devcom student.

With having these key components as a media writer, and a complete set of these basic essentials for devcom students, you are more than ready and prepared, isko/iska!

• 

She herself is a spiral  ̶  so is the new path she is taking.

Her name is Mia Carmela Bueta, eighteen years old, born and raised in the city of Cabuyao Laguna. Taking up Bachelor of Science in Development Communication, the new environment she has been facing for the first two weeks has found a way to drown her into her own spirals. Amidst sailing across the sea of uncertainty, one thing’s for sure  ̶  she got what she prayed for. Countless candles were lit, sincere prayers were petitioned, finally, God still made a way for her.

Holding a pen in one hand while lifting praises to ask guidance is her armour in facing this new journey.

Her passion is singing and making her own music. Writing has been with her not only to express what she feel; it was her outlet to hush her chaotic mind. Through singing and writing, everything becomes easier and clearer for her. One of her weird hobbies is writing short random stories usually about how it feels like to be an inanimate object  ̶  like how a wave flows freely in serenity. With that, by choosing the path she’d be taking for the next 4  years  ̶  hopefully, her goal is to appreciate the different platforms of art, as well as how people vary in expressing it.

Being an aspiring  media writer and artist who’s just an average type of her own species, it was a struggle. Endless spirals betraying her with doubts and hesitations has been her nemesis since day 1. Luckily being one of the young individuals who were given the title of being an ‘Iskolar ng Bayan’, it felt like it would be something she’d prove until her last day in the university. However, the battle was never between her and the university, her spirals was battling a spiral itself.

Development Communication will not only be a gateway for her to battle her own personal struggles, thus, it is a new chapter of her facing all these spirals not only for herself, but for the whole society as well. As she face this uncertain path, the pursuit of spirals will surely worsen. However, pursuing something for the betterment of the whole is something worth fighting and chasing.

Finally, there she is, a spiral itself onto the pursuit of all the other spirals. Ika nga ay ‘Iskolar ng bayan, para sa bayan’ ̶  and so it begins.

As a media writer practitioner, I consider myself being at the bottom. Probably, I need to be showing bit more passion and hardwork.

My reading habit is very poor up to an extent that I am so interested to them but as soon a I have bought it and started reading it, I tend to sleep over it. Finishing a book will be such a long journey, indeed.

Poor reading is to poor writing. Yes, I tend to stay long for a single writing because I really have to put effort looking for the right words that’s hard for my mind to give away.

Counter to that, I could say that I am a persevering and organized person making me enjoy accomplishing tasks and complying them on a given time. Additionally, being born in this generation, we are somehow technologically advanced and I can say that I can do good research and operation of media tools. Lastly, I can also say that I am a service-oriented citizen living and loving my people around me and striving to help them soon until such time that I can already do.

In anyway, being better snd striving for more is a great thinking to learn more and be more than you are right now.

18-year old freshman from the College of Development Communication – UPLB, Angelika Montemayor, is an aspiring leader of today. Back in her lower school years, she has always been assigned to lead her groupmates and has already captured the trust and respect of her colleagues. Technically, she had been a consistent officer of her class and of the school’s student council, and had also become the managing editor of their SHS student’s publication. But not until this start of her college life that her confidence has built herself the urge to believe that she can be a great leader to a large number of people.

Angelika’s heart has always been to be a successful professional and someday make a change by prioritizing the marginalized sector for job occupancy and being able to sustain their own needs. Having been raised in a developing country and witnessing in her own eyes the hardships of the Filipino, she has been awakened to seek for transformation.

As her goal remains a journey, she is a novice writer who aims to capture mass’ hearts and minds to get out of their comfort zones and be their own kind of change for their society’s development. Having a little background in writing will not be a hindrance for her goal rather a motivation to pursue more and dream higher. As she follows the world’s right track, Angelika will also be the lead for the people in her back and make them feel that we are all in this betterment journey.