If my 16-year-old were to look at where I am now, I don’t know if she’ll be satisfied and happy for me. But, I know that the person I was last September 2021 would be more than proud at the situation of my to-do list and my mental state.
Ay s’ya tama na ang Ingles at ako’y gahis nang mag-Batanguenang Tagalog. Kung inyong nabasa ang aking unang blog dito ay mababasa n’yong isang malaking hakbang ng pakikipagsapalaran ang aking ginawa. Mula sa STEM strand at sa mga hilig na naka-angkla sa agham, pinili kong pumasok sa UP at kuhanin ang program na Development Communication.
Simula noong naging pamilyar ako sa DevCom, ang tanging naiisip ko lang talaga ay isa itong paraan para matupad ang munting pangarap kong makapag-ambag sa larangan ng journalism.
Totoo naman. Kaso ay napakababaw pa ng pagpapakahulugan kong ito.
Mula sa mga linggong nagdaan, sa mga aralin sa DEVC 11 at DEVC 10, nagkaroon ako ng panibagong pagpapakahulugan sa Development Communication.
Ang Development Communication ay hindi lamang nalilimita sa gawaing pangsulatin. Hindi lamang ito para sa mga media companies at para sa pangkatuwaang pagsulat lamang.
Sa likod ng kaliwa’t kanang mga sulatin, nakaratay ang dahilan at rason kung paano nakapagpapatuloy ang isang development communicator, at ito ay ang kagustuhan at kakayanan ng isang development communicator na maging kinatawan ng mga mamamayan para ang kaunlaran na para sa kanila.
Sa likod ng mga news stories at radio and tv productions ay nahihimlay ang mga katangian ng mga development communicators na kung wala ito ay hindi lubusang maituturing ang mga media outputs bilang produkto ng mga development communicator.
Hindi man ako naging sobrang aktibo sa mga synchronous sessions, malaki ang naging kaibahan ng pagtingin ko sa Devcom noon at ngayon. Nito ko rin napagtanto kung gaano ako ka-swak sa pagiging isang development communicator, mula sa mga traits and skills na napag-aralan sa DEVC 11.
Marami, kung hindi lahat, ay nakikita kong naipakikita ko kahit sa mumunting paraan. Ngunit ang pagiging service-oriented ang siguradong sigurado ako na taglay ko. Katulad ng palagi kong sinasabi, masarap sa feeling ang maglingkod sa mga tao at makita at marinig kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong ng paglilingkod sa kapwa.
Kung noong simula ng semestre ay mayroon akong tunnel vision na para sa career na broadcasting at journalism lamang ang devcom para sa akin, ngayong patapos na ang semestre ay nagiba ang tunnel na ito at naipakita sa akin kung gaano kalawak ang abot at ang maiaambag ng mga development communicators sa mga mamamayan at bansa.
Hindi naging madali ang unang semestreng ito pero bilang isang Batanguenang may natural na taglay na kayabangan, maipagmamalaki ko kung gaano ako lumago bilang isang tao, estudyante, at development communicator in training.
Inakyat at bumaba ako sa mga panahong kinakailangan at handang-handa na akong tapusin pa ang kung ano ang nasa harapn ko upang makapagpatuloy.
Dati-rati ang lakas ng loob kong hilingin na magkaroon ng pagkakataon na kuhanin ang mga asignaturang gusto kong kuhanin. Matutupad na naman nga pero ‘di ko inakalang ganire ang proseso at tila Hunger Games na “May the SAIS gods be in your favor” talaga ang hihilingin mo sa sarili mo at mga kaibigan mo.
Di pa man ako pumapasok sa UP ay nakikita ko na sa Twitter ang mga patutsada tungkol d’yan sa SAIS. Akala ko nama’y kung ano laang na programa o activity hanggang sa nakita ko rin ang parehong patutsada ng mga kaibigan kong pumapasok na sa Ateneo.
At iyon nga, naka-enroll na ako sa UP at nalaman ko rin ang katotohanan tungkol sa SAIS.
Wala pa talaga akong karanasan sa mala-Hunger Games na pilian ng kurso at propesor. Pero ang tanging masasabi ko lamang ay alam kong may maigaganda pa ang kabuoang ayos at sistema ng SAIS.
Unang-una, hindi makatarungan na may mga estudyanteng makararanas ng hindi maayos na takbo ng SAIS at mabagal na internet connection. Naalala ko noong simulang nakuha ko ang aking UP mail, sinusubukan kong makapasok sa website ng SAIS para malaman ang aking mga kurso at mga propesor pero palagi na lamang error ang lumalabas.
Aking sinubukan pa ng ilang ulit sa isang araw dahil naisip ko’y baka naman are ay dahil lamang sa mabagal na internet. Aba’y hindi, eh! Kaya’t kinabukasan ay nag-email ako sa SAIS helpdesk at UP ITC para humingi ng tulong. Sumasagot naman sila, kaso ay hindi agaran, kaya’t maiinip ka’t maiinip.
Bukod pa sa inip sa paghihintay ay nakaramdam din ako ng mumunting anxiety dahil simula na ng mga synchronous meetings ng ilang kurso. Ayaw na ayaw ko ang mahuhuli sa mga ganoon kaya’t pang-abot ang aking mga dasal na sana nama’y sumagot na sila at mabuksan ko na ang SAIS.
‘Di nagtagal ay sumagot na sila ngunit ‘di pa rin ako agad makapasok sa SAIS. Mabuti na lamang at napakiusapan ko na makikitingin ng aking class schedule para masabihan ko rin ang aking mga propesor tungkol sa aking UP Mail, na mali ang unang naibigay sa akin, at makahanap ako ng aking mga blocmates.
Ngayon, ‘di naman ganoong kakomplikado ang SAIS. Nakakalito lamang talaga ang interface nito. Sa aking nalaman mula sa mga ibang estudyanteng nakaranas na sa paggamit ng SAIS, malaki raw ang inilaang budget para rito at ang hindi ko mahinuha naman ay kung bakit hindi ayusin ang interface ng SAIS para mas maging student-freindly ito at hindi maligaw ang mga gumagamit.
Maigi naman at nagkaroon ng tila isang tutorial para sa aming unang beses na gagamit ng SAIS sa pag-enlist, pero kahit na ganoon, malamang sa malamang ay marami pa rin ang maliligaw at mauubusan ng units.
Kung pag-iisipang mabuti, magandang hakbang tungo sa pagtuturo ng pagsasarili ang hayaan ang mga estudyante sa pagpili ng mga kursong nais nilang kuhanin. Ngunit ang nakapagpapasama rito ay ang hindi maayos na sistema ng kagamitan sa pagpili ng mga kurso. Kaya’t ako’y sang-ayon sa panawagang #JunkSAIS lalo na kung hindi magiging maayos ang paggamit asa budget na inilaan para rito.
Mula pa noong unang linggo ng aking Weekly Writes naipakita ko nang ako ay isang Batanguena at hindi ko ikinahihiya iyon. Kaya halina’t panoorin ang AV Plug na ire at kapag lubusan nang humupa ang kaso ng COVID ay par’ne na sa amin at ika’y suminsay na!
Title: Ala Eh, Sinsay na dine!
Objectives: To promote the rich culture of Batangas City; and to give back to the hometown which provided more than just a dwelling place.
Credits: (all in youtube)
johncell Capiroso, Chris Arcas, Jeremie Mazenauer, ian alcantara, IGC Creative Lab, and Jireh Obniala
I wouldn’t have considered DevCom and accepting the slots given by the OUR if it weren’t for my lovely Aunt.
Since WordPress won’t let me upload the pictures, visit this link to view the pictures instead: https://bit.ly/3qzAdCs
This is a tribute to her. Not only does she stands up as a true second mother to me, she also has a great contribution to how strong my faith in God and in humanity is.
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
It was the 12th of August when I received the life-changing email. I was already enrolled in a State University here in Batangas and was preparing to have classes the next Monday, but it all changed when I woke up with an email from the Office of the University Registrar of the University of the Philippines Los Banos.
Regardless of where I’ll be studying, I’ve already made sure to purchase stuff that would most likely make me more comfortable working and studying at home. Though, my mind was not really ready to take on the challenge of being a fulltime College student.
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
From August to September, all I did was to try and be socially active. It was very taxing, considering that I am an ambivert and cognitively an introvert, I don’t really enjoy socializing virtually. However, tables somehow turned when the classes started. I suddenly had a surge of energy to reach out and try to be sociable with my blocmates. So here is the 1st monthly recap that would cover the things that helped me adjust and situate myself to feel like a college student already.
September 13
When Green Day sang, “Wake me up when September ends” I felt it. I may be excited to finally say that I study at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, but I am still not mentally prepared to venture on another mind-boggling academic adventure while at home. Hence, I tried to make my room feel and look like I’m in a computer laboratory in a university campus.
PREPARATION
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Considering that going out nowadays are not as strict as the first months of the implementation of community quarantines, I still resorted to buying stuff online, particularly at Shopee!
Keyboard
My laptop’s keyboard has ZERO problems, but I am internally a clout chaser and I genuinely love the sound of chonky keyboards. I tried to look for a cheap yet nice keyboard online as a first step in purchasing the nicer keyboards. Partly because I had a tight budget. But having a movable keyboard helped me to practice typing fast and correct my posture when writing in my laptop.
Laptop Stand
It was a struggle to find the sweet spot where the laptop camera can only get the picture of my head and shoulders without compromising the angle of the screen and see the contents clearly. It has motivated me to find a great laptop stand to use for this second year of online classes. Apart from providing my laptop some elevation, it also comes with three mini drawers where I can hide my phone when I need to focus, and where I put my sticky notes for easy access when note taking.
Other than that, when I am not using my laptop, I can also use it as a flat surface where I can write. But most of the time it serves its purpose of being a laptop stand.
Notebooks
It has been a part of me to make my notes presentable not only for those people who would borrow my notes but also for my study habit. I am a part visual learner and a part kinesthetic learner, and having the hobby to take down notes in a creative way has helped a lot. That is why I purposely ordered three B5 notebooks as a preparation for the courses I am currently taking.
I have always been proud of my ability to retain information once I wrote it and saw it in a notebook, that is why having notebooks is a must for me. I also find relief in writing notes creatively which can outweigh the stress that I might feel while studying.
Highlighters and pens
Of course, I cannot write anything creatively with just a black ink pen. I also purchased several pens and highlighters. These highlighters and pens are the Shopee finds I am most proud of! Not only does it help in jotting down notes, but it serves its purpose more when I am annotating some of my printed readings.
These are most of the Shopee finds that I would recommend for a student to look out for.
APPLICATIONS
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Having a prior experience to online learning setup, I can say that I learned my lesson and tried to utilize the following applications as much as I can.
Notion
Notion comes in handy, especially for people who loves to be organized. It has so many features that really helps in making sure that work is being done. Aside from this, it can also be customized to the owner’s liking. Widgets can be added, pictures and playlists, too! Further in this blog, you’ll see my own notion interface where I really made it my safe space in my laptop.
Discord
An alternative to Facebook Messenger. Discord is a messaging platform commonly used by gamers to reach other players while playing. Discord can accommodate hundreds of people in one server and channels where anyone can chat can easily be made. Apart from the text channels are the voice channels where video or voice calls are done.
This application comes in handy nowadays, considering that Facebook Messenger are surely bombarded by multiple groupchats. Using Discord can be a breath of fresh air for those who are already over the interface of Facebook Messenger.
Spotify
I cannot stress this enough but a day without music is a day wasted. I might love working in a quiet environment, but great music is definitely an exception. I cannot work or study well without any background music. Spotify is the most ideal application for music playing, especially if you can afford the rates they have with their premium feature.
My music choices varies depending on what my mood is while studying for an exam or while working on a requirement. Some days, I even play classical music on the background while attending some synchronous classes. This engages me and keeps me awake especially when the courses are done during the general nap time, a.k.a. after lunch.
Zoom
Being one of the common platforms used in online classes, installing Zoom is a must. From the first time I used this application, I can say that it really improved well.
Google Suite
One of the most accessible suites in the internet nowadays. Google Suite includes several online applications which can easily be shared to colleagues for a harmonious teamwork. One of the highlights of this Google Suite is the Google Calendar, which is very handy for those people who tend to forget their tasks or commitments when stressed, just like me!
desk and desktop layout
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Now, of course to work efficiently I need to feel like I’m working or learning in a place where I can focus and organize my stuff to avoid distress. The GIF above sums up what my desk looks like, well, minus the scattered pieces of papers. As you’ll see my laptop stand and keyboard that I copped from Shopee, and I cannot stress it enough that it really helps me work well especially now that writing or typing is one essential task in completing the requirements for every course I am taking.
As you’ll see from the GIF, most of the stuff are in color blue, now that was intentional because almost all my stuff are literally in blue! It is such a soothing and cooling color that it centers me and calms me down whenever I know feel my anxiety creeping up.
Apart from my calming desk layout is my desktop layout, which I tried my best to personalize and customize to my liking. I might become quite messy in real life but I put my best effort to organize my files and applications in my laptop.
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Contrary to those people who like their applications and shortcuts scattered in their desktop interface, I like it clean. With only six icons at the bottom of my desktop and another six on my taskbar, I can avoid the anxiety of having too much on my plate right away and proceed to starting my work in a relaxed manner. This mindset and effort kept me sane especially during weeks where requirements just pile up.
The GIF above shows my personalized Notion page which I call “Tahanan”. I treat it as my safe space when I am all by myself in doing requirements. Aside from that, I also put pages of my hobbies to destress me when things go south. The theme I chose to use in personalizing my page was Leigh Bardugo’s Duology of Six of Crows just because I’m not over it.
timetable
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
I found myself personalizing my class schedule to my liking and of course I aligned the theme of the graphic to my Notion page. I had trouble getting my schedule since I wasn’t able to access SAIS easily, but once I saw what my schedule is, needless to say, I was surprised.
Speaking of schedules, one useful feature of the Google Suite is the Google Calendar, too! If you’re like me, forgetful and unbothered, I highly recommend using Google Calendar and syncing it to the calendar in your phone to have it remind you minutes prior to events or deadlines!
In relation to schedules, I pace myself by practicing the Pomodoro technique.
study habits
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
There are a number of websites that offer the feature of Pomodoro. One can customize how much time to set when working and time to set when resting. Pomodoro technique helps me pace and keep myself focused on what I am doing. It also motivates me to work and look forward to the rest that I am about to have once the time is finished and once I have done some work.
For my pacing, I work for 40 minutes and rest for 10 minutes. After 5 cycles of this, my rest is elevated to 15 minutes to refocus and rest my eyes to avoid strain and burning out from what I am doing. With this pacing, I can say that I have sufficient rest before engaging myself once again into more challenging requirements, which is very important!
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Aside from typing my thoughts and realizations for daily tasks, I also find time to jot down notes. I always say that I am a visual and kinesthetic learner and jotting down notes helps to satisfy that habit of learning of mine.
From my Junior High School experience, I always try to listen to discussions and ask for copies of the visual aids or highlight important words on books, and when exams are nearing, it is when I devote my time in creatively jotting down notes as a way to retain the knowledge I got from listening to discussions.
Knowing one’s study habits is one way to learn effectively and have retention and not just memorization.
STRUGGLES
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Disclaimer: I am not clinically diagnosed with any mental health issue, but I have been experiencing tendencies and common symptoms.
Anxiety
Worry. Intrusive thoughts. Self-pity.
Anxiety attacks, on the worst case, makes me want to stop, drop everything, and sulk in the corner of my room. Lighter attacks, however, could make me ramble and overshare. Regardless of the level, my anxiety is my number one problem especially when subjected to confrontations, deadlines, and a big group of people, virtually or not.
Noise
Adding salt to injury, I am severely sensitive to noise. Not necessarily to any sound, but to noise, only to nonsense noise. In line with this, I have almost zero tolerance for nonsense which only adds to my irritation for noise.
Social Media
Though it’s one way to be updated with news, local or international, social media’s influence can get into my head and consume me. With the issues surfacing nowadays, it is quite draining to keep up with it and resist or agree with the stand of majority.
These are the most prominent struggles I encountered and are currently encountering. There may be dark and slow days, but there will also be better and brighter days. That is why whenever I feel that I’ll be succumbing soon to my anxiety, I take it easy and pace myself and let me feel those emotions, rather than gaslighting myself into forgetting about it.
UPLB LIFE
CDC, UFC, and UPC experience
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
Being an ambivert, socializing is a great challenge for me because my social skill would depend on my mood. Leaning more towards being an introvert, I was too scared to create and initiate friendship in a virtual environment. I have always favored meeting and getting to know others in person.
However, I tried my best to get out of my comfort zone and socialize with my blocmates, reach out to them, and try to fish out conversations with them. This leap out of my comfort zone, with a little nudge from my pabibo self landed me the nomination to the College Freshman Council and election as the College Representative to the University Freshman Council (UFC).
Now, apart from my classes and blocmates from different courses, my connection circle grew as I work under the UFC’s Propaganda Committee. I have also extended my connections further as I joined the varsitarian organization for students from Batangas, UP Caballeros. For an ambivert leaning towards introversion, it was a huge risk that I was, at first, skeptical about, but now, I couldn’t be more prouder of myself.
GIF and its elements are made by Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
The UFC experience is somehow new to me since the last time I was given the chance to serve in a council was when I was in elementary. With co-servant leaders with different backgrounds and credentials, I look forward to improve my way of leading and serving our constituents, and also being more woke to issues that they are more familiar with.
As for the Caballeros, I can proudly say that at this very moment, I have found the family in the university and that family is with them. I may belong to the baby batch of the organization, but I feel like I truly belong with them; not only because we are all from Batangas, but because of the common knowledge we have that by the end, we will be the ones who will be there for each other.
“Lagi’t laging babalik sa kabatch at lagi’t laging babalik sa pinagmulan”
Connecting with these people made my first month bearable, they made it easier to venture into the unknown depths of College. However, no matter how content I am with how much distance I’ve made from my comfort zone, I know that I am suspended by a rope to my zone that would be my guide going back to my shell once I feel that there is just so much happening in the world where I walked into.
My life doesn’t entirely revolve around College. It’s too sad of a story if that was the case. But behind every hard work and stressful situation I feel lies my support system and my hobbies which I look to as escapes from reality. My extended family, no matter how much distance we have from each other, they are there to guide and support me as I become the new Iska in the family. For my hobbies, I make sure to read at least one book per month, or write one chapter per month.
These center and nudge me to focus on the goal but also give myself a break, a rest to recharge.
I might have woken up too early, but it is also too early to leave everything hanging.
Hello there! If you’re seeing this, then the universe want you to know . . .
Almost every Tarot card reader on Tiktok
Tarot cards are used by psychics and card readers to spiritually engage a person’s spirit and emotions, and most of the time predict what the future may hold.
In the past weeks, I visited three of the upperclass DevCom students whom I trust to know their way around the course to prep me into divulging into the world of DevCom.
Being a STEM student when I was in Senior High School, entering the DevCom world and adjusting has never been easy. Writing might be a passion of mine, but I never really imagined this kind of writing. I have been used to writing freely where the topic, theme, and time depends on me.
Visiting the three upperclassmen I know gave me a glimpse on how they managed to keep on going, keep on writing even when the writer’s block is just around the corner.
GIF, vector art, and card layout made by Mary Lou Feliz Torino
For this week’s blog, I have transcribed the answers into cards, a somewhat make-believe tarot cards. As these types of cards could predict a future possibility or guide a person’s motivation and perception, the answers given by the three upperclassmen could guide and predict which tools development communicators like me should be prepared with.
Let me introduce the three great upperclassmen I approached for this blog. The GIF below shows the cards of Mr. Kent D. Blanco, Ms. Geraldine L. Brotonel, and Mx. Carlos Enrico V. Hermoso (from left to right).
GIF, vector art, and card layout made by Mary Lou Feliz Torino
All three individuals are from the Batch 2019 of BS Development Communication, and we all are part of the same varsitarian organization for students from the province of Batangas.
KENT D. BLANCO BATCH 2019
GIF, vector art, and card layout made by Mary Lou Feliz Torino
When I reached out to Kent, he immediately asked if it was for DEVC 11, and of course I said yes. He gave me his list and it is exactly what I thought would be the most essential for development communication students: Laptop, Pen, Paper, Mobile Phone, and Powerbank.
GERALDINE L. BROTONEL BATCH 2019
GIF, vector art, and card layout made by Mary Lou Feliz Torino
Unlike Kent, Ate Gelay gave me three of the most essential tools for her. These are Laptop, Pen, and Paper. She also told me that she usually uses her laptop when writing, but she goes back to the basic pen and paper when she faces a difficulty in writing and start note taking first.
CARLOS ENRICO V. HERMOSO BATCH 2019
GIF, vector art, and card layout made by Mary Lou Feliz Torino
Lastly, Caloy gave me the most brief answer with just the basic pen and paper.
“In writing, I always like to go back to the basics of everything. With a pen and paper, I usually write my drafts and outlines before I start typing an output. Writing words and ideas physically help me retain more information, while helping me remember my ideas throughout my process.”
Carlos Enrico V. Hermoso, 2021
It is quite evident that going back to the basic writing materials is one way to combat the writer’s block that hinders writers to produce and give life to their ideas. However, with the advancing times we have, keeping up with the technological advances we have shall also be done with the use of laptops, phones, and bringing a back up like a powerbank to avoid drained batteries.
With the current online setup, all the tools mentioned above still holds their worth for communication students. Laptops and mobile phones are commonly used to reach other people and gather information that is not available at home or within the writer’s community. Moreover, utilizing the basic tools—pen and paper, are truly useful and it somehow engages us to take notes and annotate on our own ways to find our groove in writing easily.
Now that the tarot cards are drawn, maybe I’ll find a legitimate tarot card reader to explain what the cards really mean for our future . . . ?
sixtyfifty2021 