Sunday, October 16, 2005
AFTER THE SWEAT AND TEARS
Glimpses from the recently concluded hell-semester
SO MUCH *toooot* has transpired in the past few weeks that I've barely managed to take a single picture of what's been going on. Cutting to the chase, our wallets are empty after spending much on two productions. And worst, our thesis... submerged into stormy waters and no where to be found on the Gantt Chart.
Here is a brief recap of what happened in the past few weeks.
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Dead-air
The program council pushed through with our symposium "Dead Air" on September 22. We invited two seasoned local radio broadcasters and a representative from the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) to discuss the critical challenges that broadcast journalists face today.
The vocally powerful Rod Victorino of Hot FM.
The concept of the event was wonderful. We created it to enlighten all broadcast journalism students regarding our program and our theme this year "Courage Under Fire: The Passion of the Filipino Journalist".
But on the flip side, only a fourth of the JOU population attended. Much of the fourth year were doing field work in Investigative Journalism while much of the third year were rehearsing for their news programs. Even the second year were at practice for their Physical Education routines for the finals.
Our very own Jay Rolusta, under fire.
JOU1-1, the early birds with perfect attendance in all our activities this semester, arrived and listened to the speakers. Only two of the three speakers arrived. I invited Jay to give us all an inspiring speech.
Jay, a friend and classmate from JOU4-2 and also our VP-External, wasn't only the director and project manager for "Dead Air"... he was also a victim of the theme at hand.
Coincidently, during the days prior to "Dead Air", he was absent and facing trouble in his own hometown of Los Baños, Laguna. Jay is an SK Chairman and also has some airtime on a local radio station there. He, himself, was experiencing the type of harassements and even death threats that our theme was focusing on.
The council prays for his safety.
Company call with the two speakers.
The concept of the activity was great, but it was also a great waste. We were not satisfied with the audience turn-out. In the second semester, we plan on having a sequel to "Dead Air" this time involving every student in the program.
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Bb. at G. AB Com
After BJPC's "Dead Air" was CPC's "Binibining at Ginoong AB Com 2005" at Lake Park. I was in attendance to show support and also visit some of my friends in our sister program.
The champions and the runners-up.
I was rooting of course for the COM4-1 finalists, Jo and Jet. Jet [see picture, far right] won first runner-up while a familiar face, Matthew Fernandez of COM4-2, won Bb. AB Com. Matthew was a former HF staffer (Batch 18).
COM4-1 in full gear and support.
I was with Celine Angue and Judy Lauz during the event. Jerwyn, my VPAPU co-probee buddy in first year, was also there.
The Creative Media Unlimited duo JD and his girlfriend Lovely.
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License to drive
I managed to squeeze in and apply for my non-pro license at the LTO in Noveleta. It took the entire day and gave me a headache waiting. But finally having a non-pro was worth it.
Inside the car.
It compliments the second-hand car that my dad bought my brother and I last month. It's a Honda Civic from 1995. It's dark green and the interior cabin is comfortable. Not exactly luxury, but for something with age, it's not so bad.
The Honda Civic '95.
I've been trying to get my hands on it and drive it around but my dad insists I have one of our relatives to accompany me in test driving.
Test drive.
I wish I could drive it starting now, but gas prices have been jacked up so high these days that it gets intimidating on the wallet.
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Journallers II: Taal Volcano
Of course, the pearl in a bed of oysters. Our adventures to Taal Volcano for our production in Video Post-Production came to a cataclysmic delay. We breached the October 7 deadline, thus getting ourselves either a failing grade or a flat uno.
A highlight of this semester.
I was in tears after realizing that I was failing my group especially Aya, our irreg classmate, who has been volunteering to edit our material since before. I felt bad because I was always assuring her that we had reservations at an editing house already.
With my friend Joyce on the boat ride.
But it didn't work that way as our reservation was missed. It was a problem in our group to assemble the storyline and the script so the editing process will be faster. Basically, we edited during the weekend and submitted the finished program three days after the deadline.
Mark during the hike on a narrow and steep portion.
We could've just abandoned the project knowing the misery of the grade we got. But the production would've gone to a waste. So we went on with editing at JD Apolo's, dishing out Php 8,400. The finished program would last over 26 minutes long with several segments and of course my signature OBB.
The DVD cover I designed for "Journallers II: Taal Volcano".
The program is in SVCD quality. I designed a cover for the DVD container box which houses the CD. We still have to submit the one with the cover (even after knowing that we've all been graded already).
Hermie etches "Broadjourn" onto the volcanic rock.
I admit our faults, we submitted beyond the given deadline. In the industry, if you breach the deadline it's not your grade that will be damaged... it's your reputation. In school, it's "You have a grade of 1.0..." but in the industry, it's "You're fired!".
My argument is that this past semester was hell. The curriculum isn't forgiving because it's a battle between thesis research and several productions. I don't want Broadcast Journalism students to cut down on the quality of their productions. I also don't think thesis and productions should be held at one time, because everything gets affected.
Your IJ docu turns out shallow. Reason? Lack of time and research.
Your thesis can't be done on time. Reason? Several productions.
Broadjourn pin w/ a Taal Crater in the background.
I am happy that the productions are over. Our thesis has suffered enough already under the stress of these other productions and now we're left picking up the pieces.
To all my classmates who've encountered sleepless nights of editing, stressful times of production, and frustrating bouts against thesis requirements... this shot is for you. This one goes out to all of you.
The first semester of fourth year college has ended.
Only nine units left remaining. Only one semester left to go.
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