OLD DAYS

I can’t imagine the differences we have now. We were once like soul mates, we share the same thoughts and ambition in life. We both love to talk and the passion in venturing in the field of media.

We met back in our elementary days. I recall she was the one who initiated to be my best friend. Since then we plan together and spend our high school in the same school. Though were no longer classmates then our friendships was not affected. We regularly visit each other on the weekends, since her house was few blocks away and we make sure no secrets are kept.

Until we have to separate ways in college. Though we both endeavor in the field of mass communication I preferred Auf while she stayed at HAU. I don’t know the main reason but as we step in college we seldom see each other. Maybe the schedule or the fact that college life requires a lot of time. This lead in weakening the friendships, sometimes I feel she is now a stranger. I must admit she has changed, the way she carry herself and her points of view in life. There are times that we disagree with each other unlike before that we share the same thoughts. I feel the differences. At times I want to tell her, I don’t like what she does but I can’t. It’s like I have no longer the authority to advise her, for I don’t know who she is now. I just missed the old days.

Health Wise

Today we failed to present our part in the colloquium. Though Gean and I planned it well, there are just things you can’t control. The night before, our guest text Gean and said she can’t make it. It was 10 in the evening when he informed me so I was horrified and really tried our best to find a replacement. After two hours of text brigade, convincing people, we give up and address our problem to our professor. Luckily, she understood us and gave us another chance considering the other group will still present.

Joyce and Archie successfully did their colloquium. It was about medicine and they invited a Medical Technologies practitioner. I thought our class will be a passive listener since medicine is not our field. Surprisingly, on the middle part of the discussion everyone is participative and have a question to ask. Issues about blood transfusion, aids, HIV where raised which our guests gladly answered, as she said in her best abilities.

Though our course is far at hand with medicine still you can’t go away the importance of health. It is inevitably a concern of every person. That’s way people must look forward on venturing awareness in health. Thanks to our guests for imparting some of her knowledge with the matter.

Existence with Faith

I didn’t finish my column on our editorial class so I was late for our colloquium. Today’s guest was Sir Jay Paharilio, a faculty here at Auf and teaches Ethics. I was late so I had only heard the latter part of his talk. As far as I could remember it was about Philosophy and existence of God. Am not really a fan of any philosopher so I was not really paying attention but what caught me on the open forum, is when Sir Jay said something like “This people (philosopher) are not to be questioned about their ideas but rather to be respected for their ideologies they had contributed.” I suppose since man is trying to go beyond his limitations he go against what is seems to be normal. He tries to search for the explanation of everything that exists. Sometimes he wins and earns our respect for contributing essential however there are certain things that are simply unexplainable. And one of those is faith. Many might questions it that even you at times is confuse but nevertheless you still have that faith with Him. Maybe because it is truly magical, He has His on way of assuring you He is there. The bottom line is whether you believe or not or perhaps still searching God remember that life is short, so live it to the fullest for there is no take two.

Stand Up Reporting

As mass communication students we are trained to be future media practitioner. Part of it was stand up reporting, where a reporter on the spot reports the current event and can include an interview. So you may tell its not an easy job. For there are tendency to buckle up, forget some lines or worse, to be totally mental block in front of the cam. But on the brighter side, it can be repeated as long as the battery is charged fully and an enough memory for the camcorder. And of course, you can’t miss the importance of time, reporting is often bound by time and wasting it, is a no, no.

And for this day I had test myself to do stand up reporting. After 3 times of postponement, finally we experience it. It was a first time so I was expecting it to be disastrous but I guess it turns out good though it was not the best. Perhaps the practice helps a lot. Thanks to Kuya Rovio, a criminology student, who is very cooperative and didn’t give me a hard time to have him for my ambush interview. Unlike, some tricycle drivers on the side gate (take note I said “some” and never did I generalized them) were obstinate. I consider chasing and convincing them as the hardest part of the activity. I was losing hope when Melford was counting my 15 minutes duration and still can’t find an interviewee. It took us to changed location to find Mang Sergio, my savior. He was an angel sent above! Hahaha! He was very outspoken and even told me he likes sharing his points of view to the youth because we are the one who’ll face the consequence of this year up coming election.

Anyhow, our stand up reporting is all about the up coming 2007 May election though mine, focus on the proclamation rally of our President for the team Unity in Pampanga because I think it is interesting to know what her Cabalen have to say as she endorsing them.

Proclamation Rally in Pampanga

Last Febraury 22, we witnessed the proclamation rally of Team Unity in Pampanga. The set location was in Clark Expo but I don’t know what happened that late in the afternoon we headed in Convention San Fernando, Pampanga. The venue was jam-packed with people and with our attire, as we are going to do stand up reporting for our RTV class, added insanity.

Entering was a shambles. Everyone is in commotion, as they are all trying to enter and get free foods, sponsored by the candidates. Thanks to our press id, the guards made a line for us to finally get inside.

We missed the speech of Mr. Angara and Mike Defensor, and I was somewhat disappointed since I really want to hear them talk. I believe both are good in speaking and I want to hear what they have to say. May disappointment continues as each senatorial candidates failed to deliver their reforms. I was expecting to be persuade and convince by they’re political plans, but I left the Convention very upset. I can’t believe that all they’ve said was about they’re relations with Capampangans, that they have a blood of Capampangan and their wives are Campampangans.

I was bewildered that politicians’ strategy was as simple as trying to speak in the dialect of each province. Uttering few words doesn’t mean any, especially if it only tells your background. Hence, if the dialect was used to relate your reforms and be understood by the set audience then it should have been an excellent job.

Running for a national positions requires knowledge and not only relationships.

AD SPEAK (Feb. 16) Colegio de San Juan de Letran

Televised Political Ads

Since the candidacy period has started you’ll be overwhelm with various televised political ads. They are airing as frequent as of those of introducing products. Senatorial candidates owned most ads since they are vying for national positions and see television as the best medium to address a larger audience.

Most of their ads contains their historical background, being politically inclined or it can be their own teledrama lives. Trying to send a message for credibility and that they do understand our dilemmas. Hence, some brags about the bill they have passed and they’re reforms. Well, at least they have something to brag about rather than those “pacute” ads, showing they know the latest moves in the latest dance craze.

Moreover, since these are ads they should not only enclose testimonials but give us a promise, thus in a televised political ads they used the ever “gasgas” line of every politicians “they are our hope”. To eradicate poverty and to fulfill the every dream of Filipinos is their mission but hey, it’s been decades and nothing has change. Perhaps, it had been your ancestors’ time when that promise has been used but up to now it was never accomplish.

But what meanly concerned me with these ads are the effects on people. Does those ads results for good or bad election.

With the used of televisions and being in the field of mass communication, I’m very much aware of the effects of watching TV. Mainly, we know for a fact, that TV inform, persuade and entertain us but thus to use it as a political strategy is alarming.

Perhaps, with the variations of televised political ads being informed is achieved. We now know the candidates for the senatorial positions and we have a glimpse of whether their background or reforms.

And to see them move with the latest dance craze and act in front of the cam, I guess that’s truly entertaining and can persuading. Making it a problem. Don’t you think now that they have achieved all the elements used for television is a bad idea? Thus this not led to vote for the wrong politicians.

Yes, we are informed and give us choices but isn’t unfair for those who can’t afford for a political ads, since it takes millions to produced one. Creating it can already cost a lot, as you hire a team to do it and before you air it; it should be tested in different audience to see the result. Hence, airing them in the two competing networks on their prime time slots needs big funds.

And in the long ran when these politicians won, who will pay for their lost money for those expensive ads.

Moreover, creativity can be abused since we are entertained. They can manipulate people with the used of techniques in advertising unknowingly.

Televised political ads are just a waste of money. Posters and campaigning to each provinces is enough for campaign strategies, they already spend so much for that. Thus the used of television can lead to nothing but to be abused, people are just persuaded for the wrong way.