Galleries

QUALITIES

Before:

Curious- 1

Intelligent- 2

Industrious-1

Resourceful-2

Persevering-1

Imaginative-3

Puts premium on accuracy and truth-1

Loves to read-2

Loves people-1

Service-oriented-1

After:

Curious- 1

Intelligent- 2

Industrious-1

Resourceful-1

Persevering-1

Imaginative-2

Puts premium on accuracy and truth-1

Loves to read-2

Loves people-1

Service-oriented-1

Looking back, I thought I was on the verge of attaining what a media writer character is. But I was wrong. The four months of learning and practicing media writing, I have seen how much I persevered, and that I had to be as resourceful as I could to deliver the content for my audience.  It was not an easy task, but as long as my main agenda is to serve the people with truth, I did not stop finding it. There may have been changes, and realizations on what I have to work about my being, but I wouldn’t be able to assess those if it weren’t for all the learning I gained.

SKILLS

Before:

Gathering data-2

Validating and clarifying information-1

Organizing information-1

Writing clearly and effectively-2

Proficiency in operating communication tools-2

After:

Gathering data-2

Validating and clarifying information-1

Organizing information-2

Writing clearly and effectively-2

Proficiency in operating communication tools-1

I am not even close to being skilled enough! 

That’s what I realize. Or I just don’t fit in to the high standards of journalism? Nevertheless, with the pile of pasang-awa or bagsak drafts, I have seen how much there is I have to improve in which before I thought I am good enough. 

I am still grateful to be able to criticize and scrutinize my own work. There I slowly get a grasp of validating information, and focus more on gathering and organizing my information.

It was fun doing vlogs, getting to know myself more, and having a glimpse of what a media writer had to go through in the real field. 

Five months ago, I found assessing myself as a media writer a bit challenging because of my lack of confidence that I possess any of these qualities and skills. Five months had taught me a lot of things and enhanced some of my skills and even made me identify my hidden ones.

The photos below show my assessment as a media writer before and after a semester at the university.

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

Same as before, I need to work on my curiosity. I should be more curious about different things for me to gain more knowledge, learnings, and experiences. I am still not that curious enough to explore more or to want more.

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

I might have gained some self-confidence in that five months of being a Development Communication student, but I think it’s still the thing that keeps me from getting that 1.00 self-rating. I think I still have to gain more self-confidence to rate myself as high as 1.00.

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

The skill that I have developed the most is gathering data. It is because for the last semester, I have done a lot of gathering data from different places and different people. I have learned to ask more things than before for me to have extra data to use when I needed it.

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

Writing clearly and effectively. Because I have noticed that even though I have written so many papers in my stay at the university, I still tend to write unclearly. Sometimes, I don’t even proofread my work.

In my first semester as a UPLB BS Development Communication student, I have learned to always do my best and to plan and do ahead of time to have better and high-quality outputs.

As a writer, I should think that every work that I pass should be done with all my best. I should stop making outputs without thinking and planning because all my efforts would be just put into waste.

Maogma. Mahigos. Tultol.

Joyful. Hardworking. Peaceful.

Nestled between the foots of Mayon and the ocean lies Tabaco, a city in Albay home to its well known padyaks and local bolos. Founded on 1731 and established as a city on March 4, 2001, Tabaco has been home to over 130,000 people.

Urban legend in the city says that during Spanish colonization, Spanish soldiers arrived at their shores asking the name of the place in their native language. The Tabaqueños at that time did not understand them, so instead raised their bolos, yelling “tabak ko!” to which the Spaniards mistook as Tabaco. This was how the city name came to be, and up until now bolo making has been one of the major industries.

Also known as the “Padyak Capital of the Philippines”, Tabaco has padyaks (pedicabs) as the most common mode of transportation in the area. Padyak production is also part of the city’s industry, as these products have been shipped locally and in other countries.

Tabaco also takes pride in being Bicol’s Siyudad in Pagkamoot, or the City of Love. It’s easy to feel peacefulness in the area and the friendliness of the people. It’s also hard not to fall in love with scenery for you can have one of the best views of Mayon Volcano’s perfect cone shape in its quiet grandeur. You can always catch a glimpse of her everywhere you are in the city.

Whenever I’m outside the city I always find myself going to back to its familiarity. Growing up in Tabaco as my hometown, I will always find pieces of home that you can’t find anywhere else wherever I go. As the Tabaqueños say… sa Tabaco sana an! (sa Tabaco lang ‘yan!)

Clips used in the video:

1. https://youtu.be/yneoB8SY6hA (TC Aerial Shots)
2. https://youtu.be/G778gkuPsA8 (Tabaco City Timelapse)
3. https://youtu.be/OynO_LPxHGM (Inquirer)
4. https://youtu.be/LnO44Mp1u0A (Tabaco City Street Dace Exhibition)

I can’t imagine that five months have passed since I started studying at the University of the Philippines. Remembering the things that happened in those five months make me laugh and sad and make me think that I should have done better if I knew better. But I can’t bring back the past for me to change it the way I want. But what I can do, is to be better.

Listed below are the five things that I should have done to be better.

I can’t count the number of times when I missed opportunities to say my thoughts out loud; thoughts that should have helped me to do much better, thoughts that should make people think that I CAN think and HAVE brilliant ideas, and thoughts that should have changed the turn of events that happened in my life. I often think that every thought that runs in my mind is wrong or will make other people think I’m stupid.

I should be more confident in myself and start thinking about positive things. I should not be afraid to make mistakes, because these mistakes can teach me lessons and make me so much better than my old self.

For the past semester, I spent a month being alone. Not all the time of day, but most of the time. I stuck with the people that I already knew. I was afraid to approach people and be close to them, for I think that they won’t like me or welcome me in their group. There was a time when I thought it’s okay; when I thought that I can survive the semester without being friends with others, but I thought it wrong, facing my problems is impossible without any friends. Thank God that He gave me people that I can be with for the whole semester.

I was used to planning what I should do in my mind, but don’t do it. I was always planning that I will do this on this day, this at this time, this at this hour. But none of that ever happened. I slept at those times that I planned to be productive.

These things resulted in me cramming all the time. This cramming gave me low-quality outputs.

In just a semester that I have experienced at the university, I always said the words “AYOKO NA”. If things get difficult to deal with or when I don’t know what to do anymore, my mind and body seem to give up. And when these times come, I always say, “Bahala na nga si Wonder Woman.”

When time is running out, I sit on our couch, stare on the laptop, and just do whatever the things I should do. When this happens, I tend to forget that I didn’t have the chance to eat dinner.

“We turn not older with years but newer every day.”

Emily Dickinson

What does a DevComm graduate has yet to unveil in finding out the best route to carry the duty of media writer? Imagine a signboard “Media Writers Wanted” displayed, currently being removed outside the veranda of a grey building. The glistening hope landing someday on the job is now a dream come true as soon as she left her car. It was white and neat and the immaculate representation of the workplace she now yearns even more to embrace. Merrily flaunting her outfit, she sets forth to be the media writer the company accepted. Believing she was qualified for the job, with competitive credentials and achievements, to be PICKY was a challenge she was ready to be for the rest of her stay.

Passion. She had been passionate with her work, not forgetting to whom she wishes to help with the knowledge she gained during classes, seminars and workshops. Slowly but surely, her igniting passion is constantly fueled by her heart’s biggest desire to pursue the path she chose: for the marginalized. With all the unexpected conflicts Filipinos experience today, no wonder it is more engaging to be invested with one’s work that can help and nurture the next generation.

Intellect. Cramming and intellect never goes out of style- and that’s what she did. It may have naturally caused the psychology behind our likeliness to be productive during deadlines. However, it also became our body’s final resort to do things better with less time possible, still working smart. With intellect, there are less chances of making wrong decisions because one is more informed, and acknowledging of what is essential.

Ceaseless. The start of the application was filled with fear, knowing it would be a tough job, a tough time. And yet, she grew tired of the shadows and created her own light to enable her life’s meaning. Struggling as it seems to figure it out, she is now more confident in making way for development and for the people she wishes to benefit from her upbringing to be competent enough for the job.

Knowledgeable. It was massive. She learned a lot. even with her eyes closed. She was stressed, overworked and a lazy at times, but these circumstances didn’t hinder her learning. She acquired knowledge through ways she didn’t even imagine she would be experiencing such as rejections and failure to impress her professors. Nonetheless, she is now more equipped for bigger and more difficult moments.

Yearns to be of service. She has always been a volunteer at heart and even today, she managed to be a person of help to people. Her drive to be someone’s shoulder to lean on upgraded with a bigger dream to do better para sa Bayan.

This abbreviation is the total embodiment of what I learned as a Development Communication student. The first day I step foot in UPLB, I thought I was ready for the hardships, for the challenges, for the pressure. But, I was wrong.

CDC molded me to be the person prepared for anything. I am sure I wasn’t the only one who changed to be their better selves. I have always thought little effort is enough when you’re here, and I am completely wrong. There is no course that can compare to the practicality and the beneficial learnings I earned while in Devcom. I may not be too knowledgeable in other fields along with my mediocre skills but, this semester was an eye-opener.

I have to be better, for the people waiting for me.

“You’re hired!”, ‘yan ang sasabihin ng employer mo sa’yo once na maayos ang sagot mo sa interview. Alam mo na ang gagawin in the future?

Yes, ma’am! Thank you po for teaching me until now, lalo na po sa patience ninyo kahit late ako magpasa ng mga outputs ko.

Note: To understand this entry better, refer to Week 2.

Qualities of a media writer

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

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

Development Communication was a field unknown to me, and yet, it is the thing that led me to many realizations and discoveries about the real world. It restores my connection with my culture and its people, and change my attitude towards providing service to my beloved country. However, through the course of studying DevCom, I realized that it is my lack of curiosity or inquisitiveness, which had led to failure to achieve my goal of addressing the issues of our nation through writing. Since we often forget to prioritize problems that have a huge impact on the lives of the many. So, I wanted to be more curious about these things so that I could improve my understanding of it that would help me serve my fellow people better in the future.

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

Being introduced to this field for the first time has prevented me from giving myself a 1.00 rating. Considering that I have yet to incorporate in me some qualities required to be a good media writer such as interested in and loves people, and service-oriented. Therefore, I need to gain more experience and knowledge about what DevCom does and means so I could maximize the use of these qualities in performing my responsibilities not only in school but also in other places like home and work.

Skills of a Media Writer

1. Gathering Data – 1
2. Validating and classifying information – 2
3. Organizing information – 3
4. Writing Clearly and effectively – 2
5. Proficiency in the communication tools/devices – 2

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

Data Gathering is already a part of our day-to-day activities. Hence, it is the skill that I have developed the highest competency considering the experience and learning that I have gained through time. Also, this is an important skill as it provides prior knowledge regarding the topic of your interest. So, if appropriately used, one will be able to provide relevant and truthful information to the people.

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

Through our undertaking of the DevCom courses, I realized that I had to focus on my organizational skills, specifically in arranging information from most unimportant to most comprehensive or significant. Because of how I always found it difficult to deduce the most essential information from the data that I have collected through the data gathering procedure.

Source: All images are from pinterest.ph by Chris Ryniak

Old self, can you still hear me? This audience looks interested knowing how our conversation went out earlier this week.

If you are too curious, check this video:

The University of the Philippines held an annual Christmas Lighting ceremony, Pasko sa Elbi: Isang Pasasalamat, on November 19, 2019.

The ceremony, hosted by the Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts and Office of the Chancellor, started at 5:30 PM. Different performances from Choral Ensemble, Dr. Antonio Quilloy, UPLB Street Jazz Dance Company, and UPLB Filipiniana Dance Troupe were presented during the program.

Here is a video of the UPLB’s Christmas Lighting Ceremony.