This is it.

Here it is, as promised.  This sem's pains in the ass.  The fruits of my (and my groupmates') labor.  Enjoy.

I suggest clicking on the videos to see a larger version of the videos.  =P

Part 1

Balitambayan - The Final Cut (Part 1 of 4)
Uploaded by jmtuazon

Part 2

Balitambayan - The Final Cut (Part 2 of 4)
Uploaded by jmtuazon

Part 3

Balitambayan - The Final Cut (Part 3 of 4)
Uploaded by jmtuazon

Part 4

Balitambayan - The Final Cut (Part 4 of 4)
Uploaded by jmtuazon

Also, please don't forget to drop by our J111 Feature Writing Class Web Magazine aptly named On the Rocks.  Enjoy people!  I'm still not done with this sem yet!  Ugh!

I Just HAD to repost this (from Gibbs)

This one's from Gibbs Cadiz.  (http://gibbscadiz.multiply.com)

A verbatim sampling of comments generated by Janina's walking away with the Bb. Pilipinas-World crown recently despite her, uh, creative way with the English language.

Says Rody Vera, who forwarded these gems: “Eto ang malupit... mga comments ng mga nagmamagaling. I find [this] funnier--kasi itong mga ito hindi ninenerbyos nung sinulat nila ang mga comments na ini. Ilan lang ba sa atin ang tuwid ang ingles pag ninenerbyos?

Korekek! Not clear where they came from, but I'm guessing these comments sprouted in online forums that went into overdrive tsk-tsking Janina's improbable win. Their authors, as you can see, are so deserving of that fine admonition: “Physician, heal thyself.” Or, if they're too dense for it, perhaps a gift of a mirror?

1. “THE BLAME WILL GOES TO THE ORGANIZERS..SA SCREENING PA LANG DAPAT DI NA YUN NAKAPASOK..BKIT KC DI MGA ARTISTA INI ENCOURAGE NILA SUMALI? MGA MODEL? DAPAT KC KAHIT DI TAGA GMA PINASALI NILA. GANUN BA SILA MAG SCREENED? DIOS KO SA TAGAL KO NA NANOOD NG BEAUTY PAGEANT ITO NA ATA ANG PINAKA WORST AS IN ITO TALAGA..HIMALA NA LANG ANG PAG ASA NG MGA YUN!”

2. “i dont think this is funny. guys let us not be so self-righteius.”

3. “ang galing ni janina i guest she deserve that.”

4. “Poor Janina, the nation almost hates your triumphant. You don’t deserve the title. Sheila is correct you’re better to go back in elementary school for remedial class, surely you will learn and could able to speak English fluently and correctly. Please, don’t be arrogant next time if someone is asking you simply, by the time the host asked you, how do you feel tonight, you’re just only answering, 'No, I’m not pressure' is that a correct answer. how dare you... All i can say, you should learn more in English language, read English reading materials and practice your pronunciation.”

5. “i think she do not deserve to be bb.pilipinas world. even a grade one student know simple subject-verb agreement. plus, being a mass communication major, she must know the right pronounciation of words. she kept apologizing about her nervouseness...”

-------------------------------

Kayo na ang humusga!  Haha.

DESPERATE (AND I MEAN IT)

People of this world, I hope you can help me with this troubling predicament I'm currently buried in.  (If you want to directly know my request, please scroll to the bottom most part of this entry)

I, and my whole class, has been, unfortunately, a victim of our College's faulty bureaucratic process.  Let me narrate to you my awful plight:

In one class, whose name shall be insconpicuously hidden under the guise of "Broadcast Journalism 101," we were tasked to create a TV News Production as a final requirement.  We were to gather national and international news and produce a 15-20 minute show on them.

Unfortunately for me, I was picked to become this project's Executive Producer, the main overseer of things.

Days went by and we would cover several events, armed with mics and videocams of our own, because our department's equipment are jurassic, to say the least.

The time came when the idea of reserving the TV Studio in the College sprang up.  However, we didn't know how to proceed, because we were almost all journalism majors in class.  Some broadcomm friends, however, suggested that we should ask the people in charge of the reservations and assert our right of the usage of the TV studio.

Prior to talking to these people, we caught news that the other "Broadcast Journalism 101" class, likewise under the same prof, was able to secure a reservation for the TV Studio at a certain date.  And so, armed with this precedence, we went to the people in charge to ask for a reservation of our own.

The people in charge, however, were apprehensive of giving us a slot, may be because we were journalism majors.  They had qualms about it, and they consulted the department chair.  They talked with the chair for about 10-15 minutes inside their office, with us waiting right outside.  At the end of their talk, they told us to fill up the reservation form and told us to go back next week to see which schedule is free, because, the person said, most broad classes would be having their finals next week.

However, most of us were busy the next week, so the earliest I got to return to the office was last Wednesday, because classes were suspended the day before, and, as I said, most of us were busy last Monday.  However, when I came by the office last Wednesday, no one was in the office.  I had an appointment that day so I just decided to come back the next day.

When I came back the next day, the other person in charge entertained me, and suggested that he could place us in the Monday 1-4pm schedule, and if it'd be needed by a Broad class, he would bump us into the TV Studio in the Media Center.  We just had to have the signature of our professor, and we could make the reservation.  Rats.  Our professor wasn't in the college that day.  We decided to just come back the next day.

Friday came and we were able to secure our professor's signature.  I went to the reservation office but lo and behold, the slot has been taken, mere minutes ago.  I asked the person if he could give us the TV studio instead, and told me to ask the permission of the department chair first.

So there I went hunting for the department chair.  When I found her and asked permission, she told me to ask the admin because, she said, my request was an administrative matter.

So off I went to the administration office.  The facilities officer, however, was apprehensive (again) of giving me a slot.  She then told me to write a letter of request to the Dean.  The approval of which, however, is uncertain.

And if you are a friend of mine, you just have to know that of any thing in this world, the thing that I hate the most is UNCERTAINTY.  At that moment, I just told myself, "FUCK OFF!!  SCREW THIS SYSTEM!!!" and went on to take matters into my own hand.

Now why am I this adamant?  It's because of two things.  One, we were tasked to create a TV News Production in this class.  However, we don't have equipment, the department only has one camera (to be shared by the two BJ101 classes), and it's jurassic, again, to say the least.  This is quite unreasonable, don't you think?  Two, they won't let us reserve the TV studio, even if our requirement is a TV NEWS PRODUCTION, which can only be properly done in a studio.

Why am I mad?  BECAUSE THEY LET THE OTHER CLASS RESERVE A SLOT on a certain schedule, but told us to come back.  How unfair can things be?  I don't want to accuse or anything, but the difference I can see here is because the other class's Executive Producer is a BroadComm major, and I'm not.

What should be done here?  I know I should give them the benefit of the doubt.  This is the first time this course is being offered in Masscomm (thanks and no thanks to Cheche Lazaro's prodding).  Therefore it's open to a lot of flaws and vulnerabilities.  But to be considerate, why would you require the students to produce something like that without proper equipment?  And why wouldn't you let students use the proper facilities if it's needed for class?

Case in point:  the BJ curriculum is as faulty as it is right now.  In the future, they should give access to BJ students to the facilities and equipment of the college, no matter how jurassic they may be.  We need freakin' equipment!  It's quite unfair to let one class use it and not the other class.  It's either they let students use the facilities, or totally overhaul the BJ curriculum.

Haayyy... finally, I'm able to vent out my anger.  I'm planning to write the authorities about this, for future purposes.

In any case, no matter how much whining I do, I still have to find a freaking studio.

So here's my DESPERATE REQUEST--PLEA, IF YOU MAY:
DO YOU KNOW A PLACE WHERE WE CAN SHOOT OUR STUDIO FOOTAGES (THE ONE WITH THE ANCHORS ON IT)?  A SIMPLE PLACE IN A HOUSE WITH WHITE/CREAM BACKGROUND AND MINIMAL TO NO ECHOES WOULD DO (AND WITH PROPER LIGHTING AS WELL).  I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME.  WE NEED IT BY EITHER WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY NEXT WEEK.

Text me at 09266830106.  THANKS IN ADVANCE! =)

I'M DESPERATE!!!
(Mind you, I've already lost pounds because of this freakin' nagging matter.  That's how desperate I am.  BJ is making my life HELL.)

SOOOOOPER FUNNY THING HAPPENED TODAY.

OH.  MY.  GOD.

To those of you who know my current state of political ideology (inside UP, for that matter), you gotta hear this.

I believe alam nyo naman who's the biggest casualty sa aking bout with Kule last year, right?  If you don't, shame on you.  Here's a clue:  Malaki sya.  Wahahahaha =))

Anyways.  So I was covering the rally with some groupmates at Liwasang Bonifacio a while ago.  Then I went to the tent where all the speakers, mostly from the youth sector, were staying.  And then I saw this good friend of ours na nga, si BIG casualty as in BIG BIG LITERALLY BIG casualty (wahaha tama na ang mean ko na).  Anyway, so yun nga, nakita ko sya.  And then right behind her is this friend of mine na student leader from La Salle Dasma.  So nag-wave ako sa friend ko na ito from la salle dasma (medyo malayo ako from the tent eh, so I waved na lang).  Then si friend naman from la salle dasmanag-wave back.  And then, sinenyasan ko si friend from la salle dasma kung pwede sya ma-interview, so I put the mic in front of me, then tinuturo ko sya (bali ang gusto kong sabihin eh gusto ko syang interviewhin).  Pero di nya nagets agad ito at inulit-ulit ko ang naturang gesture.  And then much to my surprise, lo and behold, nagrespond itong si BIG CASUALTY friend natin by gesturing TO ME, na kung sya daw ba yung gusto kong interviewhing.  Aba'y putsang inang yan.  Paglingon nya sa likod nya, nakita nyang yung nasa likod nya ang kausap ko.  MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PAHIYA ANG LOLABELLES!!!  WAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH TAWA TALAGA AKO NANG TAWA AFTER BUT NO, WALA NAMANG NAKAKAALAM NG BIG CASUALTY NA TO SO NGAYON KO LANG SYA NAKUKWENTO WAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAH!!

Wala lang sobrang funny lang.  In fairness naman, at least nalaman ko na papansinin naman pala nya ako kung papansinin ko rin sya.  Wahahahahaha =))  Yun lang.  =D

The Fabric of the Microcosmos

At the risk of sounding bitter over my loss, I now post here my post-election assessment piece, which shall also become my J111 "Whatever" Article.  Hehe.  =P

They say that our university is the microcosm of society.  Every evident social structure, semantic and symptom can be found inside the very walls of our hallowed institution.  We abide by the same code of rules and thrive under the same set of natural, social and political norms that govern the outside world.  If you want to know the current state of society, the issues that have to be dealt with, and the triumphs that our nation has achieved, you only need to look into our very own university to find the very fabric that weaves our larger society.

We have produced hundreds of great men and women that have become harbingers of our country’s progress.  We are a factory of presidents, senators, government officials, lawyers, doctors, and a lot of other personalities that are held by our people to the highest esteem.  We have made groundbreaking discoveries, stunning developments and noteworthy contributions to every field of endeavor known to man.

Indeed, we are the very source of society’s nourishment that aids in its growth and development.  But, sad to say, we’re also responsible for society’s rotten lot, the dreadful few people that have created a culture that has entrenched itself in society’s very roots, eagerly awaiting its painful demise.

I need not talk of large-scale corruption and bribery that has begotten our country lately.  I also need not talk of deposed presidents, even those who refuse to be unseated.  Talks of outlawed criminals and sinister masterminds are likewise unnecessary.  Those issues are best left for the experts to be dealt with.  But beneath all these issues troubling our society today lays an awful truth, idly waiting to be discovered.

For years I have considered myself a spectator of politics, specifically the elections, in the university or in the national scene.  I have made my thoughts known through writing, especially on pertinent issues that needed utmost concern.  I stood by the sidelines and watched how each politico paraded his achievements on the floor, wooing support from unassuming constituents that would soon fill the ballots with their prospect leader.  I saw what was considered “the circus” play before my very eyes, each stunt and trick better than the one that came before it.

It came, therefore, as a surprise that I found myself being wooed to play a part in this grand circus of politics.  I immediately resented the idea, but behind my mind I knew I wanted to dabble my feet in it anyway.  I wanted to give it a try because I knew I had something to offer, and I knew I could do a lot of things for my fellow students.  But the thought of this dirty role-playing game swamped with nifty tricks up every man’s sleeves made the decision-making very hard for me.

It was a tough race to begin with, but it didn’t stop me from facing the fierce competition head on.  With loyal friends by my side, I dived into uncharted territory, unmindful of the dangers that lurked beneath the dark waters.

And, as it turns out, those years of being involved in the issues as a spectator by the sidelines were merely the tip of this gigantic, inconspicuous iceberg.  Being the player in this game of politics involved a lot more than just being mindful of the issues that concern the everyday iskolar ng bayan.  It took a lot of courage and strength, will and determination, integrity and conviction.  I’m lucky I still came out of it alive, merely bruised and battered, but still standing and walking tall.

I learned that it is true what they say: you can never really know and understand something unless you’ve experienced it yourself.  And, judging by the many trials me and my party mates had to endure, the field in the university is indeed as mired by mud as it is in the bigger world out there.  Politicking is nothing new, and dirty tactics to discredit the other was the norm.  Black propaganda left and right, elbowing one’s way to the top, just to get that prized position everyone’s clamoring for.  A candidate affiliated with a certain fraternity has been attacked by releasing fraternity pictures depicting pledges during a hazing session.  A party’s position on a certain issue is being questioned.  A certain candidate’s credentials for running are being put to the test.  Ironic how the people who are disgusted by national politicians’ dirty antics are the very ones doing the very same nasty tricks to woo would-be voters to their favor.

Between all the mudslinging and controversies, I just had to ask myself: is this all worth it?  Is every issue raised against the competition rightful just to get what one wants?  What is it that we want anyway?  Why did we choose to run in the council?  Didn’t we all want to serve our fellow students?  Aren’t we all one in all our causes?  What is the point of all the trouble?

In the middle of it all, the students were forced to make a difficult choice.  Thankfully it was not a matter of personalities as it is out there, because that would’ve definitely spelled a different game.  But even though the issues were central in the campaigns, the attitude of the candidates towards those issues became the steering wheel that drove their struggles into people’s hearts and minds.  And that made the choice even more difficult.  It therefore became a bit tempting to just abstain from voting than making that awful leap of faith.

If this is what’s happening in the grassroots level of society, what are we to expect when these people step out to face the real world out there?  If at the very first steps of this game of life, a person is exposed to such horrid and awful realities, what chance is there for him to take on a crueler and ghastlier reality out there?  If this is the state of affairs of our youth of today, what hope is there left for the future of our motherland?

They say our university is the microcosm of society.  No wonder our society is stricken with many ills and pains.

Therefore I tell you, if you want to change society, you better start with this university.

Bumoto po tayo sa March 4! CMC Audi!

Awareness. Community. Training.
Dito nakasentro ang General Program of Action ng ISA.

1. Una, Awareness. Naniniwala ang ISA sa paglabas ng impormasyon upang makabuo ang mga estudyante ng sariling opinyon.
Ito ang tinutugunan ng mga proyekto naming:
•    Awareness Campaign
•    CMC Represent o pag-anunsyo ng mga event na maaaring kalahukan ng mga mag-aaral bilang Volcorp
•    At ang Onederwall Freedom Wall.

2. Ikalawa, Community. Dahil naniniwala kami sa pagbuklod ng mga estudyante bilang isa, para sa isang CMC.
Upang makamit ito, nariyan ang mga proyektong:
•    MEH! Ang Management, Environment and Health program na kinabibilangan ng mas pinaayos na locker system, pag-compile ng lumang readings, time synchronization, at segregation para sa mainam na CMC
•    At your service! Printing services at first aid kit
•    Back at One, o pagtala ng ating kasaysayan bilang kolehiyo
•    SCORE! O Strengthening the Council of Representatives upang mapabuti ang partisipasyon ng mga orgs
•    ISAsmall world after all o pagsama sa mga international students sa ating mga activities
•    College Takeover, o pagpapakita ng pagpapahalaga sa faculty at staff
•    Ang Oneline online website para sa college calendar at student output
•    Ang Comfortable Research Lobby
•    At ang drive-in para sa student films.

3. Ikatlo, Training. Naniniwala ang ISA sa empowerment ng mga estudyante sa larangan ng skills at academics.
Nariyan ang:
•    I-arte mo workshops para sa arts
•    ONE-stop workshop para sa course-related skills, know-how, at software
•    BC Props and Costumes Archive at paggamit sa Mac labs sa editing
•    Comprehensive Contacts Database para sa Productions
•    At Beat Reporting Guide.

Nakaugat sa tatlong ito – Awareness, Community at Training o ACT – ang ating iisang paggalaw o interdependent student-centered activism, sa harap ng mga isyu sa loob at labas ng kolehiyo.

Dahil naniniwala kami sa tunay na consensus.
Dahil naniniwala kami sa inyo.
Dahil naniniwala kami sa tunay na pagbabago.

Tayo ay ISA PARA SA ISANG CMC!

IBOTO!

 

ANNA CANLAS

CHAIRPERSON

MARK DANTES

VICE CHAIR

SOPHIA MO

SECRETARY

TRACEY CASTILLO

TREASURER

 

CLAIRE JIAO

CMC COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE

 

SHERWIN SU

BROADCOMM REPRESENTATIVE

RANDOLPH LONGJAS

BROADCOMM REPRESENTATIVE

KAI CRISOLOGO

COMRES REPRESENTATIVE

J KATHLEEN MAGADIA

COMRES REPRESENTATIVE

CALOY SOLIONGCO

FILM REPRESENTATIVE

SAMANTHA LEE

FILM REPRESENTATIVE

JM TUAZON

JOURNALISM REPRESENTATIVE

PATRICIA ROQUE

JOURNALISM REPRESENTATIVE

Love in Between Heaven and Earth

DISCLAIMER:  This is my J111 feature article on Love/Relationships.  As promised.  =)

Love in Between Heaven and Earth

     A certain shampoo brand definitely has reason to urge people to go black last Valentine’s Day, and do away with the usual red that symbolizes the occasion.  People nowadays are becoming less and less enthusiastic about V-Day, to the extent of going as far as renaming the yearly event to Single Awareness Day or SAD (thus when they greet people, they say “Happy SAD!”, which can get pretty hilarious).  Is it because a lot of people refuse to commit, that’s why they’re not engaged in romantic relationships?  Or hasn’t fate bidden them well and still hasn’t fulfilled its promise of delivering their one true love?

            If we feel the air today, the general atmosphere of love speaks either of singlehood, unrequited love, failed love or forbidden love.  Most of the songs that top the charts are melodies of heartache, frustrations and unreciprocated feelings.  Is it because it’s true what they say that Filipinos are essentially hopeless romantics? Or are we just too engrossed with the idea that some time, some day, the one that’s meant for us will come for us and knock us off our feet?

            We are not at all unfamiliar with the idea of forbidden love.  Since time immemorial it has manifested itself in different forms and managed to change throughout the years.  We’ve heard of May-December love affairs, extramarital affairs, homosexual relationships, incestuous relationships and the like.  There’s something to the idea of “the love that we cannot have” that makes us fall for it even more.
 
            Take Meredith*, for example, who, throughout the years, has fallen in love with one of God’s future servants.  Meredith is in love with a seminarian, a man called to God’s service to become a priest.  She’s been having this “secret relationship” for quite a while now, even before the man entered the seminary.

            “When I learned that he’ll enter the seminary, I was depressed.  I did things that I shouldn’t have done because of depression,” she says, saying how it felt to have been broken the news.  Despite that, she never tried to force the man not to enter the seminary.

            “At some point it was also my dream for him, to be able to fulfill his dreams.  I know that he really wanted to be a seminarian,” she narrates.  Even if her heart was breaking she didn’t think much of herself, but of what her loved one wanted to do with his life.  “I don’t want him to experience what I’m currently experiencing (not being able to do what I want in life),” she continues.

            Mae is another young woman who has a relationship with a seminarian.  Their relationship has been going strong for four years now, and nothing seems to go their way, not even God’s persistent calling for His son.

            “I met him when I was in grade six,” she says.  “Sometimes there’s a feeling that you’re at odds with God because you’re literally in competition for a man’s heart.  But I’ve never blamed God.  I know He has plans and that everything has a purpose.”

            Just like Meredith, she never demanded that the man leave the seminary for her.  “I’ve never thought of imposing on him.  I don’t want to be selfish.”  So even though they’re always apart and rarely see each other, she persists in making their relationship stronger.  “Of course I always want to be with him, but since he’s inside, I take it as a trial for the both of us.”

            Mae is very optimistic about their future together.  She’s actually very thankful that the man she loves is a seminarian.  “It makes me feel blessed that I'm in love with someone who is very close to God,” she joyfully relates.

            People like Mae and Meredith are considered a martyr for choosing to bear the pains of loving a seminarian.  But despite the world seemingly looking down on them for choosing to be in a forbidden relationship, they refuse to see it that way.  “Personally I don't think it's forbidden. If that's how people call it, it’s fine by me. I think we’re just happy with our relationship so we choose to pursue it. We don't see anything wrong with being happy,” Mae explains.

“If you’re in my situation, you won’t really see it as forbidden.  The seminarians are undergoing formation to become a priest, but they don’t necessarily have vows which get broken when they choose to love a woman,” Meredith adds.

            Benedict, a junior seminarian who admits that he is in love with a young woman, puts it in another way.  “We seminarians are also human beings, we feel, we love.  And I believe that this is an integral part of discerning about our vocation, our call to love, to spread God’s love to the world through the sacraments and pastoral care. If we don't know how to love or be loved, how would we be able to fulfil our call? How we have loved and have been loved is the same love that we could give to others, including God.”

            But loving someone while discerning to heed God’s call is not as easy as it may sound.  While there are a lot of kicks for all the affectionate feelings like the average young couple gets, there are still qualms that Benedict encounters along the way. 

    “I'm reminded by how powerful a choice is and the consequences of a decision. There is a plethora of feelings that flood into my mind whenever I'm caught in the middle of two extremes. But ironically, I don't feel torn or fragmented, rather, I feel whole, integrated.  These moments allow me to examine myself,” he says.

    Despite the strong feelings he has for this young woman, Benedict still chooses to pursue his chosen vocation.  “Considering the changes in my life, the people I've met and the things that I've learned, I would still choose my life as a seminarian. And I believe that I wouldn't be able appreciate and value her more if not for my seminary formation.”

    What’s admirable about these three personalities is the fact that they chose to go on and fight for their love despite the many hurdles they encounter along the way.  Many people see the relationships they chose to have as something unexpected by society, but the criticisms they receive didn’t stop them from loving and being loved in return, no matter what the consequences may have been.

            If only many of us choose to love the way these people did, to give ourselves no matter what the odds, to brave every single bit of pain and consequence, then there can possibly be no acceptable reason in this world to wear something as desolate as black next Valentine’s Day.