ONE VOICE: ARE PROFESSIONALS BEING UNDERVALUED?

Someone once told me that there are only three ways to get rich here in the Philippines. First is to be born rich with silver spoon on your mouth. Well, golden spoon would be better in my opinion. Second is to be a politician. And third is to be an artist.

Injustice is present in every direction you look within the boundaries of this country. The gap between the poor and the powerful widens more and more as time pass by. In the right, you’ll see the percentage of unemployed graduates growing every year. We have this so called Palakasan System in our country. Competition is tough for job-seekers, but not for those with backers. In the left, you’ll see teachers and other professionals working their butts off only to receive a certain amount just enough to support their needs or even less, while other undergraduates, such as artists are paid huge sums of money. With this trend, we can’t blame why graduates choose to depart our country and work abroad.

If I were asked what the greatest challenge there is facing the Filipino people today, I would have to say graft and corruption of politicians which leads to poverty. Yes, their dishonesty is against their sworn duty to the public. Such act is immoral, but who are we to judge them if they get tempted, with the ample amount of compensation, not only these politicians but also all the other government and non-government employees receive?

I don’t understand why artists get paid huge amounts of money. I am aware that entertaining people and being on-call twenty-four-seven is a tough job but they in return, get famous and perk out of it. So aren’t that and an adequate amount of compensation enough? Why should celebrities be one of those with high-paying jobs if they don’t even have to spend much because they have sponsors to provide most of the tangible things they’ll need?

As a youth, I would like to be a model to my generation and make a promise to make a difference in this prejudice system of ours by voicing out my opinion and hopefully be able to initiate a change someday. Let us not take for granted the help that these underprivileged workers offer us and our society. Who would maintain peace and order without police and military men? And if not for our teachers, how would we be able to count our earnings and spell out success?

Learn by heart: every individual in this world of ours is significant

SCIENTISTS OF YESTERDAY EQUALS THE YOUTH OF TODAY

Is it still possible to claim that we, the youth of today is the hope of tomorrow with Premarital Sex, Drug Addiction and Teenage Pregnancy as just few of the many issues linked to us so called potential leaders?

Scientists, I must say. We ourselves possibly hate the subject science but may also be unaware that we, in fact, are practical Scientists. The youth of today is open-minded, naturally curious and experimental; descriptions that best fit no other profession but a scientist.

To be open-minded is good but why do we get engaged into wrong doings? Isn’t it because of our being inquisitive? As they say, curiosity killed the cat. My attention was struck by a condom advertisement for it seemed to have us, the youth, as its intended audience, with a catchphrase saying “get into it”. Get into what, using condoms? Why then would we use condoms if not for sex? Mass media may be one of the main causes for the false culture implied into our young minds.

Given that we are naïve, we easily get influenced. We tend to imitate what we see on TV, hear from the radio and read from papers. Temptation is hard for us to conquer that we become gutsier and even more experimental. It’s a courageous act to stay pure when we belong to a society where the basis of acceptance is to get into what everybody else is doing.

Great, if we become modern versions of Albert Einstein and Galileo, and make use of our potentials not exactly to discover or invent hi-tech gadgets but to at least make use of them for the common good. But as what I see now-a-days, these God-given potentials have misled us to the wrong path.

Still, let us please not be judgmental. Incase we have forgotten, Sir Isaac Newton, who is considered to be one of the most important scientists of all time, was merely a quiet boy and an inattentive student before he had formulated the laws of gravitation and motions. Instead, I am calling everyone, despite our age differences to be supportive. Kindly, remind us, the youth, of what is expected from us. And in time, we would realize that it is still in our hands, where hope remains.

HOW TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW

Who wouldn’t know America’s favorite talk-show host, Oprah Winfrey? Incase you don’t, then surely your very much familiar with our very own Kris Aquino. As well as Korina Sanchez and Mel Tiangco who are both not only talk-show hosts but are also popular news anchors. Besides talking, a common thing these people do once the cameras and lights are on is asking questions, or what we call an interview.

An interview has two basic types namely: formal and informal. A formal interview is usually conducted after a prior appointment with the interviewee or which we sometimes term as the source. He should know before hand the topic of the discussion. On the other hand, an informal interview, also known as an ambush interview is on-the-spot and usually occurs to public figures such as politicians and celebrities where they get to be questioned spontaneously in an unexpected time or place.

Whether formal or informal, the interviewer has to be prepared with good, relevant questions. Preparation also requires research. As an interviewer, you ought to have adequate background information regarding the topic which would be discussed.

Ask the most necessary questions first. This is most important during ambush interviews where there is limited time. Also, the interviewer should be prompt when he has asked for an appointment for he is just asking for a favor.

To avoid distracting the interviewee’s attention, the interviewer must observe proper grooming as well as hygiene and must dress appropriately. The interviewer on the other hand must also pay attention to what the source is talking about and use facial expressions properly to encourage the source.

Certain media practitioners these days tend to put aside ethics, which they have sworn to take into considerations. A credible interviewer figures out a way to get his source to speak but still keeps in mind the interviewee’s rights, especially to keep his silence regarding an issue raised.

The interviewer must be cautious in asking sensitive questions so as not to offend the interviewee. In talk shows, the host sometimes plays with words and does not shoot a question directly to get a more honest answer. Hard-nosed questions should not hurt, embarrass or intimidate the source.

To keep it short, just remember that the key in conducting an interview is trust. A journalism professor has said it all, “Interviewing is the art of gaining trust, then gaining information.”

SIBLINGS AREN’T ALWAYS JUST A PAIN IN THE ASS

Cherry and Cecille are siblings who happened to be both my classmates back in elementary and high school. Cecille, who’s good in sports, being the eldest often complains about her sister’s “kill-joy” attitude, while Cherry, who excels in class, being more mature, complains about Cecille’s being irresponsible. Besides being two different people with contrasting characteristics, their birth position seemed to have interchanged which often resulted to small and big clashes to the point that at least one or even both of them end up saying “I’d be better-off without a sister”.

Easy for them to say but (knock on wood) wait ‘til they lose each other and realize how it is to be the only child. Sure, being the unica ija or unica iho as we Filipinos term it, gives you better chances of getting what you will need or want. You could get to have a better education, a room, clothes, and other stuffs of your own. You wouldn’t be obliged to share with someone else in the family, especially when it comes to your parents’ undivided attention. Best of all, competition would not be an issue. Don’t we just hate it when we get to be compared with someone else? It’s like we could not grow as unique individuals. And yes, this most often happens to siblings and may result to inferiority complex.

Let us look at the brighter side. Siblings may be annoying at times but accept it or not, would still be those first few good souls to remind you that the whole world has not totally turned its back on you when we are on our darkest hours. People we mingle with when we are in school, our workplace, or our favorite hang-out place may be deceiving but those inside our humble homes would forever remain true and would readily support and protect us twenty-four-seven

Being the only child may offer more tangible advantages, but with it comes more responsibilities. Imagine the burden of running errands for your parents and being scolded all by yourself. Doing household chores would be a lot easier with helping hands. And if you commit mistakes, you know that there are two or more of you to be blamed. In time, we would have to return our parent’s efforts on raising us. It will be a fulfilling but huge responsibility since we would also be raising a family of our own at the same time. Who then would we share these responsibilities with?

“The more the merrier” as they say. Nothing compares to having someone who truly knows and understands you during your ups, despite your downs. And this someone may be in no other place than our own homes and may be no other than our own sibling or siblings, no need to be searched for, only to be further appreciated.

THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE DONE

Stupidity: lack of intelligence, perception, or common sense. If Encarta is not mistaken, I believe that I have experienced stupidity countless times within a decade and seven years of my existence in this planet. Who would have not? Its human nature, isn’t it?

Most of the time, people, as well as I act stupid for laughter. But it may also be unintentionally committed. Just like when I doubted God’s presence. I may not be certain if it really is the stupidest thing I have done but it is indeed something I forever would remember.

It was the darkest chapters of my life when I questioned if He really does exist. I got tired of asking “why are these happening?”, “what have I done?”, “why me?” and so on. And so I just asked, “Are you really there?” My thoughts were so suspicious. I remember that someone once told me that God is just a mere image of hope for the people, nothing more than that. I told myself that he might be right. No one has seen him, and the books of the bible were just written by human-beings, imperfect, just like me. I thought that I may just be wasting my time asking for forgiveness and blessings from something or someone I am not so certain of.

Bewildered, a verse unconsciously came into my mind, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.” That’s faith. God is like the wind, we don’t see it and yet when we feel it, we’ll know that it’s there. In the end, I have come to realize that God answers all our prayers but in three ways: he says “yes”, “no” and “wait.” I learned that if he doesn’t answer my prayers. It is because he would answer it in his time or he has something better for me. Still, despite my stupidity, I know and feel that God loves me.

VJ Hunt '07

There is just so many things that I’d like to tell the world about the VJ Hunt that I don’t even know how or where to start. I don’t know how I’d express all my thoughts in an uncluttered manner. I do think that people tend to be speechless not because they have nothing to say but because there are so many things running in their minds that they do not know how they’d get it all out, not forgetting every single detail.

For fear that I might miss what I really wanted to say, I’ll start it of with this statement: I am so proud and honored to have been part of this production!

My statement may sound cheesy and the word “honor” may sound too big for a school production but for those who have failed to be a part of it, put your shoes in ours and you’d say exactly the same or even more.

For the benefit of people who are not from AUF, and those from the University but are not well informed, VJ Hunt is an annual University-based competition organized by the SAMASKOM, or Samahan Ng Mga Mag-aaral sa Komunikasyon. The chief in-charged of the production would be the 3rd Year Mass Communication Class of the year. In short, we are in-charged.

It’s primary objective is to discover students with the passion and skill for speaking not only in public but also in front of the camera and give them the opportunity to expose what they have. Who knows, they might be the next big thing like our very own Donita Rose and KC Montero of MTV.

Although VJ Hunt is an annual event, it has been reinvented this year. The competition has been opened to high school participants all over Pampanga. Four high schools namely Special Science School, Pampanga High, L’Altra Montessori and AUF Integrated School have competed in the pair category while seven college representatives competed in the solo category.

Another element which has just been added is the “theme”, which was “Retro”. It was certainly a great proposal. But as much as I loved the idea of having a theme, I was kind of hesitant. Designing and setting the stage wasn’t the dilemma. It may be tough but it was fun and we know that everything will eventually come into place. What made me kind of hesitant about the idea was requiring the participants to dress up ala Retro. Primarily because they might have to spend for their outfit. And also, we Filipinos have this characteristic of always being on safer side. We have this mentality that if we dress up, we’d be noticeable in a negative manner, that we’d fail to try out new things and always stick on what is basic. But they totally proved me wrong. I was extremely thrilled to see the finalists in their Retro costumes. They all looked fabulous!

I really appreciated how these people exerted efforts on looking and being their best despite the fact that even if they win, the only thing that they will get, besides from fame and pride is a very simple trophy, no cash, no freebies.

I really loved all the finalists. They were not only competitive. They were both interesting and interested. They were fun to work with, easy to instruct and more than willing to make our work lighter. They have been very patient, understanding and appreciative. It was a school competition, so as expected, we wouldn’t have the budget for perks. So seeing them build friendship between their co-candidates and knowing that they were having fun and they were learning would have meant a lot for them but more especially to us. It’s one of the factors why we feel fulfilled.

After weeks of labor and months of planning, the VJ Hunt has finally happened. It wasn’t exactly as organized as we wanted it to be but we believe that it was successful and above the average. We received a positive feedback from the audience and our mentors. We were so happy. The outcome was worth the stress, not to mention, the pimples. But I’d be a lot happier if I didn’t get more acne. Well, that’s life! I am just so proud of our accomplishment. It has been a product of our education, experience, determination and most important of all, unity…

Congratulations ABMC 3! I love you all!

Charge to Experience

“Charge to experience” would have to be one of my favorite lines. I believe that it is a defense mechanism for us people whenever we commit a mistake or get into a not-so-good situation. It’s what we say to ourselves and to other people to uplift souls despite a negative experience. Come to think of it, I think this line applies to me every single day. It’s a simple and positive way of saying “yes, it wasn’t that good but you will learn from it”