Are you IN or OUT?

(Problems will be encountered by Graduating Journalism Students)

• Falling ad revenue.
• Plunging profits.
• Layoffs.
• Downsizing.
• Bankruptcy filings.

There is no doubt that this is going to be a tough year for the media in Philippines and beyond.

Journalism students graduating this year have the talent and the skills thatthe industry needs, but the question is whether news organizations will invest in them.

I guess even student journalism award winners are finding it tough. It’s not that there is a lack of job opportunities, but there is definitely a lot of competition for the more interesting roles, naturally.

In fact, the traditional path of a journalism career has clearly shifted. In the past, a journalism student would learn about being a newspaper reporter, and then take a job at a small-town paper, eventually moving up to a medium and then larger paper. Now, the reporter might launch a blog, an audio podcast or video reports as a one-person operation, handling editorial and business duties simultaneously.

Right now, graduating journalism like us must give an understanding of business so that we can make good decisions as journalist and managers, so we can work independently and sustain journalism as well. So I think to teach the necessary business and entrepreneurial skills that many graduates will be needed.

Students of Journalism have a grasp on the rapid change in the market and that’s helping out, but, like everyone else, is struggling to connect with the change and should be able prepare for the wild ride. I’m glad that we have a Corporate Communication class because it just not learning so many things like doing some press releases, speeches, brochure, magazines and etc. but also opens our minds to be aware in real the corporate world.

Well, I’m not yet sure what will ensue to me. Personally, I must prepared to practice journalism across all platforms, and not just to think myself as TV journalist, newspaper journalists or even Web journalist because “Everybody has to be able to do it everything.” Yes, a Biology graduated can do it also like Mr. Alex Santos (a well-known TV Anchor of ABS-CBN).

Learning more will not end in the four corner of the classroom but gaining experiences outside of it is best thing that you could acquire.

“The Sweetest Trap”

Love flows from the beauty around us

Love smiles through those

We hold especially dear

Love speaks soft words that

Help guide us

- Joel Winsome Williams

Giving you a chance to make a date sketches with your special someone, “where it should be and what should you do?” So how will you make an Ordinary nights turn into a night to remember.

Well, this will I do. Find a few minutes alone with him and say, “I’ve been dying to see the new Austin Powers flick, haven’t you? If you’re not busy this weekend, we should catch it together? Simple as that but you know, I’ll make sure that he will be clueless for everything will happen. As if nothing will take place.

As my first surprise, I will give him a ticket trip to Paris. Why Paris? It’s because ever since when I was a kid it has been my dream to be in this place. It was known as one of the romantic place for a couple. I’m also too curious to see the Eiffel Tower with matching colorful fireworks at night. With this I would like to share it to him.

Still without knowing him, this will be my second surprise. I will garnish our hotel (a room where we will spend our night together) with some red and pink petals of roses and scented candles.

I will be the one would prepare for our dinner. To win the heart of your
“love” feed him the best you can serve. So I’ll be cooking for our both favorite foods and desserts. I think this will be the greatest thing to share with… together. Of course, we are going to try to eat the most delectable food serve in the hotel.

To make our dinner date inclusive, we will have a glass of Champagne. Actually, for some who don’t know, France is distinguished for its prestigious specialty wines including Champagne, Bordeaux, and Burgundy which named for their regions of origin.

At the same time as we enjoy eating the meal together, I will give him simple gift. A wooden box filled with all our pictures together (funny, wacky or even stolen shots), postcards of all the places we plan to visit together, a book of love poems which I’ll make him promise to read every night, a CD of all our favorite songs, some pieces of our favorite candies, a DVD movie of Music & Lyrics (which all about how to be inspired with someone and fall in love) and lastly, a big card that 10 reasons why I loved him.

The night will not just end in that way because my surprises are not yet over. I will ask over to wait for a moment; I make believe him that I’m just going to play our favorite songs as our background music.

He will be surprise for the third time because I’ll be going to play a piano for him and take note I’ll be singing also. Singing is really not my avenue for this time I will do it. It is also the perfect time to make him feel that I’m perfectly complete with him in spite of I may not completely perfect.

It song goes like this, (Lyrics of You Are The Music In Me by HSM)

When I hear my favorite song / I know where we belong / Ohh, you are the music in me / Yeah its living in all of us / And it’s brought us here because / Because you are the music in me / Na na na na (Ohh yeah) / Na na na na yeah yeah yeah /Na na na na / You Are The Music In Me /

-30-

(Most Memorable Events last 200

For 20 years of journey, another memorable year has passed but served as the way to gain more perspective and experiences in my life.

As I gratefully share 3 of the most remarkable moments that I will never forget are…

First, the funniest moment that I can’t help to laugh and laugh every time I think of it. Actually, it’s Monday night, 3 days before the Valentine’s Day, my girl friends (including gay friends) and I decided to go around, hang-out and meet some new guys out there.

So to look attractive, I planned to wear my prettiest outfits, applied adorable makeup, and even wore false eyelashes. That night (supposed to be a very special), at somewhere in Q.C. bar, I found myself talking to a really good looking guy but while I was happily chatting away, I slowly noticed he suddenly backed off and stared at my cheek. I asked myself, does something wrong with me? Confused, I immediately looked in my mirror and found one of my false eyelashes stuck to my cheek. Oh my Gosh! It looked like I had a large hairy higad on my face! I’m sure it was a pretty gross sight! At least, we enjoyed the night before the midterm exams.

Secondly, being a Trainee but not just only a simply trainee because they treated us as a professionals at the Manila Standard Today.

For almost 2 months, I’ve been assigned with several assignments such as to be a part of top corporate and travel agents clients of the Traders Hotel, the Slimmer’s World Miss Bikini Philippines 2008, Body shots 2008, Photo Exhibit at Filipinas Heritage Library (Living by Water), 40 years of Peta with a concert, I don’t drink & drive campaign, Press conference with the Click 5 and Of course Smoke Free Campaign at Eastwood City which for me was really a disaster because on that night there’s heavy rain and I need to go there but it turned into a good output.

It’s a great feeling to experience covering all these events and in the end of the day, I fulfill it the way it should be.

I learned that I better prepare myself to embrace all of these time pressures in doing a good story that sells and pressure from the editor.

Finally, my family still celebrated the Christmas all together. I think there’s no more than precious gift that I could receive last Christmas but to celebrate and to be with them.

We went to the church to attend the mass (which we always do every Christmas) to give thanks to the Lord, our creator for the blessings that we have received and we’re going to receive.

Personally, I prayed that my family would still be complete and intact for upcoming years. I also prayed that for the next Christmas I could treat them like trip to Disney Land where all of us can enjoy and have fun out of the country.

After we attended the mass, we did some picture taking session and of course the exciting part the exchange of gifts. Well, as everybody wants, eating time! We ate the delectable foods prepared by my lovable mom. We totally sang and danced all night. As all I can say, we definitely enjoy to the fullest.

As you notice, there’s no unusual things happened but (you know?) what made it special because we’re all in this together on that special night. I guess that’s the spirit of Christmas to have Family bonded and be united.

-30- 

(The worst gift you have given and received)

Every gift is a blessing whether it is small or big, expensive or not because the most important thing “The thought that counts”. But what if that thought is not enough to be appreciated by someone you have given?  So this would be the start of my article.

Back when I was elementary years, for every Christmas party that I’m going to attend, mostly my mom was the one who bought and wrapped my gifts. She usually bought photo album or picture frame for my exchange gift which worth fifty pesos (50). One time we were now about to exchange our gifts to each other and it was my turn to give my gift (which inside of it was the photo album), I excitedly gave it to my “monita” with cheerful smile. A few minutes later I noticed it seems that she was not happy with her gift. At first I didn’t mind it but when I saw she threw the gift and trying to tear the photo album I right away went to her and shouted “Bakit mo tinapon yung regalo ko sayo?” She madly answered back “ayoko ng gift mo!” I felt embarrassed on the front of her friends and I really don’t know what I am going to do to her but instead I meekly picked the photo album and said “Kung ayaw mo ng regalo ko sa’yo, akin nalang!” Honestly, the only thing that comes to my mind was my mom exerted her effort to buy the beautiful colored pink photo album and patiently wrapped it with a special glossy gift wrap to look more captivating and elegant. She just simply discarded it. I really want to cry on that time because she didn’t like what I gave to her but I realized it’s worthless to do it. (She’s crazy!) She doesn’t know how to appreciate. Anyway, it makes worst when I went home because my mom asked me how’s the party is. I simply said “ok naman po.” She asked me again if my monita like the gift, I hesitantly replied and pretends that she really like and joyfully enjoys my gift to her.  “Buti naman nagustuhan niya kasi nahirapan talaga akong hanapin yun at nag-iisa na lang din yun”, my mom said. Actually, she didn’t know that the gift was on my bag. If only she knew everything.

On the other, the worst gift that I’ve received was something to do with the picture frame. Actually, I really don’t mind if what gift will give to me for as long as that there’s an effort and the intention is clean. Again, it was happened on our Christmas party. My 3 “pasaway” friends gave me a gift and of course I was surprised because they remembered me. (Sila mag-bibigay) They said that the gift was very special and I would definitely like it. At first, I felt something fishy because they were laughing at me but still I excitedly opened the gift (I really can’t wait to see it). Wow! I’m a little bit shocked because there’s a picture of my crush wearing his Toga. He is really handsome in his simple pose. His expressive chinito’s brown eyes, wholly nose and endearing smile is almost perfect to make me inspire and live in everyday life. But wait, I was totally stunned when I saw him that his going to my place. I’m currently holding the picture frame with his picture. He asked me where I took his pictures. I tensely said that it was just given by my friends as a Christmas gift and I don’t know why. He said that the picture I was holding lost in his wallet for almost 3 days. It means that my friends secretly stole it. The only words that I’ve said were, really? And so I immediately gave it back and act as if that I’m not interested to his picture. My fantasy stopped on that very moment. I couldn’t even look straight to his eyes because maybe he might already know that I’ve crush on him. After the party, I talked to him and said that my friends just kidding me around. They just thought that I have a crush on you but they are probably wrong. I strongly insisted it. And then I whispered a name of his friends telling that it was really my crush. He simply laughed and said “Ibibigay ko pa naman sana yung picture ko, pamasko sana kaso si *** pala gusto mo.” Deep inside of mine I said “Sayang!” I really regret that made me to pretend just to cover up my hidden admiration to him. All I can say, “The truth will set you free.”

-END -

“Gender is not a basis to become a better person. Neither its not a problem nor hindrance. Gender is not a destruction to achieve our very own goals in life because in the eyes of our God above we are equally human”.

There is a saying that “Less talk, less mistake” and simply means the more you will talk the more you will ruin it”. Yes, I agree but in my case it usually happens in vice versa. The more I talk, talk and talk, the more I could easily express my feelings or emotions to others. Let just say if I’m very angry I couldn’t help myself to talk and say all the bad things comes from my mind and even though it doesn’t really need to say, I could easily do it that honestly I don’t feel to do it. Actually, in our home, my mom is commonly my war mate. She is also fond of talking mostly if she get mad to us, the past issues and it was already happened she will brought it up all over again. So until it wouldn’t end. But of course to defend my loving mom maybe this is the way she could release her anger so that it will not keep her inside anymore. And I think it feels good after that. In some certain point I realize like mother like son.

People might know me as an easy going person and full of laughter but on the other side of mine I’m also too sensitive and moody at the highest level. There was some instances that like for example in the morning I maybe very happy but when the night has come I feel depress or lonely. So what you see to me is not the really you can get from me.

As I remember when I was 16 years of age (4^th yr. high school) I have been more curious about so many things. I experienced to sleep over with different houses together with my friends and see the real world of curiosity. I have been exposing in too much smoking and drinking liquor also.

Eventually, the start of my college days has been very exciting and full of liberty. Actually, I have tried to become more adventurous to myself. I meet some people who taught me to experience what a teen age is. On that time for me, I really want to explore the things that I could reach and do like everybody can do. I made so many stories or excuses to my parents so that I could go wherever I want; too many lies were created and childish stuff. In one certain point I regret which something precious I couldn’t anymore bring back. Now I have learned with all my mistakes and I don’t make my mistake letting yesterday use up too much today. When all is said and done, it is best to leave it that way.