AFTER ALL...

Everything has been said and done, and at this juncture, I would like to recognize what this teacher has asked us to do during the Final period in our Electronic Newsroom class.

Before I always question the rationale of inviting people from different fields and to serve as speakers in a form of a colloquium. But now, I might just swallow these words because I was all wrong in doubting the very purpose of these works. I was all wrong because I did not see it earlier the real essence of having the series of colloquia. I did not see the great learnings that we could just have from these.

But at least, right now, I am very honest to admit that I was all wrong. I learned a lot from the series of colloquia that we’ve had. I learned something from the field of health and medicine, business, philosophy and literature, fashion and entertainment, campus journalism, media and politics, education, sports, and military.

This would tell us that learning must not be confined only on the grounds of the syllabus distributed for each semester. It could also take place in listening to these people whose expertise in their chosen fields were already proven to be exemplary.

For this, I would like to commend the use of a series of colloquia for classroom discussions. You learn and get some networks at the same time. To the teacher who started this out in us, sorry but thank you also for letting us experience this wonderful encounter.

But still, not every colloquium turned well. I would suggest that the organizers must have prepared well before the discussion. The organizers must have assumed also of the possible technicalities that might happened during the discussion so that mean and lame chances could be avoided.

And, the series of colloquia would have been more interesting if it were patterned from different formats. Like there would be a different format for every colloquium. This is so that students will not get bored in listening to the same thing, day after day.

WHEN ME...MEETS POL...BU...MEETS MIL...

The media, being the fourth estate of the society is expected to play its role in the politics responsibly.

Councilor Jay Sangil, the invited speaker for Media and Politics shared to us his basic experiences as a journalist and as a local government official. He shared to us that journalism is a very sincere profession that must be viewed as a serious field in this world. He also related his profession to the other field he has taken- the Politics. He said that it takes enough toughness and intellect for a journalist to become part of the politics. First, there would be a lot of tests and challenges a journalist could face if he’s into politics. There would be these offers which will test his sincerity, honesty and loyalty to the ethical codes. Second, his life is always at risk. Journalists, next from the actors and actresses are the hottest persons in this world. They hit big personalities and so their life is being on put to hit.

There is still a greater hope for this country to become a successful once again because there’s still the youth who will save this country. This is the answer of the invited businessman to my question, "Is there still hope for this country?"

I must admit that with the youth who is very intellectual and genius these days, people must expect greater chances for this country. During the last ASEAN logics held in Cebu, I must say that I have discovered the new portrait of today’s Filipino youth. A picture that will stand tall against the brave odds. A picture that will keep an eye for hope. A picture that will keep his struggles on bold. A picture of the youth that will heal the wounds of this country.

ENTERTAINMENT…FASHION…BUSINESS…SPORTS…ALL INTO ONE

ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment, particularly farce and comedy has been part of the general Filipino life. He may be experiencing political turmoil, economic deficiencies, moral dilemmas, and personal gaps- but a smile and laughter still radiates from his within. This is what makes the Filipino people different from the other races.

Pong Manio, an ABMC 4 student was invited last time to talk about the entertainment world. It has been a funny and a nice discussion I must say. The person is indeed funny and the words he utters are definitely amusing. Well, nothing so serious was discussed on that day. I did not learn any significant matter as well. But, what I got from the discussion is to laugh and take a look back amid all these problems that we face. The discussion would have been more amusing if the speaker were able to interact with us, the audience.

FASHION

“Fashion fades but style is eternal”, as Isa Minel Gozun, the invited speaker for fashion said during her interview in the last colloquium.

I must agree with her when she said that because we all know that time dictates the modes and trends but one thing time can never tell us is our own style. We may all be following the same trend but definitely and still, each person’s style will always be different from the others.

The discussion became interesting when Mrs. Bautista asked the invited guest to choose one male and female from the class and suggest the nice outfits they could wear.

Again, the discussion might have been a sensible and a nice one if the organizers were able to bring wardrobes and fashion stuffs that will be exhibited during the colloquium. In a way, this suggestion might just show the actuality of the topic being discussed.

BUSINESS

The supposed monotonous discussion (since business is a very boring one) turned to a hotter discussion when a number of the students raised sensible questions to the invited guests during the business colloquium.

SPORTS

Being composed and reserved amid the lifestyle she lives makes the invited speaker for Sports to be one of the personalities in AUF be one of the few persons I look forward to.

Personally, I have been working with Ms. Roxy for my Physical Education class and I have been a witness to all her efforts as to her scholastic standings, teaching profession and to her sports organization that she handles.

LIVING A LIFE AT MANY RISKS

Medical professions have been the most dangerous field as far as malpractices and inadequacies touch the matter. In the United States, thousand of cases unresolved are about medical malpractices and so in the land of these days’ Filipino great exports (nurses) London. For this concern, a release of malpractice insurance, protecting a medical practitioner was passed.

Among the agents of the medical field, perhaps being a medical technologist is the toughest one. Everything is asked on you if you are an MT practitioner. From the spill of the physician to the records of the poor nurse, everything is tasked on you.

Having this on mind, I really have appreciated the invited speaker in last day’s colloquium who tackled about the MT profession. It is indeed a challenge and a great test for her being an MT practitioner. There is this that her life is being on risk because every chemical and substance she holds might just in a snap cause her own death. There is this she does not have enough time for herself because she concerns much for her poor patients. And worse, there is this setting when she disregards spending quality times with her loved ones, particularly her family because she is called by a life at risk.

It is just dismaying to think that with all the sacrifices these people are doing; still they receive criticisms from others. In Canada, the MT practitioners are usually the ones being sued in every accident that is happening on health establishments.

WHEN PHILO…EDUCATION…AND LITT. MEET

Talking about existentialism was the main topic discussed by the invited speaker in Philosophy. For his talk, he made mention that the moment we were born, we already have our essence and existence.

Boasting the poem he has made on the spot became the highlight of the invited speaker for Literature. He talked about his love and passion for poetry. He made mention of his inspirations in writing poems. He said that the best topics to talk about when dealing with stanzas and rhymes are death, love, friendship, and sex. I find the talk better because my classmates were challenged to forward good sounding questions to him.

The importance of education and being both a mother and an educator became the pot topic of the invited speaker in education. I have learned from her the challenges she has taken in being both an educator and a mother. For that, my praises for Mrs. Luna for all the struggles she has surpassed in her life.

Mr. Jay Pajarillo, Faculty from the Social Sciences Department of the College of Arts and Sciences, Mr. Lawrence Bansil, a student from the College of Nursing and Mrs. Luna, a former Faculty member of the Christian Formation Center of this university were the speakers for the second colloquium.

PRESS FREEDOM KOH

During the first colloquium held on March 6 at the PS 307 Building, the statement of Editor in Chief Sarah Marie Kotowich, Allimed (College of Allied Medical Professions’ Official Student Publication) that the “campus journalism in AUF is dead” created a hot discussion.

Personally, the statement does not create any after shock in me. For this is really what’s prevailing in this university, when campus journalism touches the line. Being the Editor in chief of the CAS Ideas for the Academic Year 2005-2006, I would leave a testimony that the state of journalism in this Catholic University is near death.

During my term, the adviser screened the articles. The basic reason? This university is protecting and maintaining its claim as the First catholic University in Central Luzon, therefore no paper releases must be issued that will create a nastier picture of the scene.

But, this is issue is not limited to the portals of this university; other school organs are also experiencing this worst scenario.

Now, being student writers, you and I play a very vital role in redeeming the true spirit and essence of campus journalism. The power of the pen is in our hands. Let these prolific hands mark something on the lines. At any rate, we are still all honored for this privilege- the right and freedom to speak our minds.

And so, make your move. Take pride your minds, get back your rights.

THE MOST ANTICIPATED SCHOOL PRODUCTION

I can’t wait anymore on how our first production will look like this coming March 7. This is our first production in our Comm 07 class and I could sense that this will be the most applauded and appreciated production inside the class. Thanks to Renddy, our Director, for having the patience in handling us and to Mrs. Bautista, in giving us this test.