Digital content, heed of the times

I have always been a digital baby even if social networking sites have not yet emerged when I was born. It makes sense to say that my father was updated in the latest trend with technology.

My personal computer at 10 years old

          Growing up, I came to know the internet so well. I had amateur blogs and social networking profiles put up on the web without parental guidance. Content wasn’t my issue, I only wanted to be in the trend.

            The forum last September 21, 2011 at Cebu Normal University was an eye-opener for teens and campus journalists who went through the same story as mine. Ervin Oliva, Yahoo! Country editor for the Philippines clarified casual blogging from being a citizen journalist online. He said that Citizen Journalism online is a form of social responsibility by informing the public but it is easier, faster and reactions can come in at anytime. He even emphasized it as being real time and accessible defeating traditional media such as print, TV or radio.

            As a student taking up Mass Communication, it seems to me that the media industry is in turmoil trying to keep up with the digital age and its competition. New websites being put up here and mobile services introduced there. However, can online journalism be a substitute for traditional journalism? This question has been going on since I could remember. For me though, it can never be such. The threshold of online media does not reach all areas in the country. Not everybody is literate enough to know how to use a computer. Mobile devices are almost in everybody’s hands but content is sacrificed to a mere 160 character news bite with space. But, we cannot just simply eradicate online journalism. It is a form of convenience for those who can access the web and for those who are always on the go. One of its great advantages is the feedback that is received real time. Yet, as I have pointed out, it is a form of responsibility. I’d have to agree with Mr. Oliva that we all need to be careful with what we post online. It may be just easy for us to start a conversation with someone but with the internet, privacy is close to nothing. It is too public to start with, controversies may spark at anytime.

            It is even so amazing how Mr. Bong Secuya, was able to turn a fan site into a hit website. He explained what he did and how he started. To me, his talk made me realize that nothing is impossible yet there are always risks involved. He narrated his story of being in jail for saying something against Pacman’s manager. Again, it all boils down to responsibility.

            Online Journalism the big thing in the industry yet it cannot replace traditional forms of media. It also carries with it the issue of being a responsible journalist/citizen journalist considering that it is very public and audience feedback can be made in an instant. A story’s content is the meat that sells, online journalism can get the content to places but what it has used to be of will still remain.

Making it Legal

Just a few days back, I turned a year older. Not just any other year old but I was on my 18th year. According to our ever trusted wikipedia (pun intended), it is a coming of age of any Filipina Women. In simple terms, it was the borderline where childhood and being an adult met. Hello, welcome to a great big life.

For some women, they prefer having a big grand debut complete with the grand cotillion, 18 roses, candles, treasures, shots and what have you 18 somethings. There are dances, surprise numbers and a whole lot of things that could only happen in one night. As for me, I preferred making it simple and intimate.

The advantages of having a one night debut is an issue I cannot speak for myself since I didn't throw one. Yet, as an outsider looking from where my sight leads me, it is a night of being served. It's all about you and nothing else. For one night you get to wear the best dress, sit in a high throne above everyone else and think that you are really in control. I'd beg to disagree.

On the contrary, a birthday is a birthday. Just a day intended to celebrate thank the Lord for a great life. An art professor from the university that I am admitted to said that it's useless spending a lot on a night. "Parang weird nga," she added. Perhaps right, it is a memory for one night but the true test of being mature lies beyond what your party music tells you to do. 

I may not have had my grand debut with my guests wearing long dresses and thick make-up underneath their faces but I had the best day of my life sharing it with the people who has stood through me for better or worse. I'm happy my life has been simple as it has even been. No fancies, just plain love. Isn't that a hard basis to say that I'm legal?

Student Models, Ideal Nurses

Exams are the hardest part of a student’s life.  All the endless preparations, sleepless nights and on the spot nervous breakdowns, it sure is a roller coaster ride. Yet, for these two students who topped the nursing board exam, they are sure glad the exams are over.

           

            The Nursing Licensure Exam, a 500-item multiple choice exam which tests a nursing student if he or she is worthy the license, was conducted last July 2 and 3 of this year. Out of almost 80, 000 takers, Jacob Reyes and Lowel Andrew Batomalaque who were from Cebu Normal University, landed on the top.

            Reyes who was an active student got the top 6 spot and Batomalaque was in the 8th place. Both went to the same review center after graduation but had different strategies in mind.

            For Reyes, he scheduled his readings for every subject. He turned away from parties, outings, and barkada trips. “After every review, I immediately went home and continued reading my books so as not to get behind my target dates,” he added.

Lowell Batomalaque, top 8

 Batomalaque on the other hand, added the factor of emotionally preparing himself. “I admired the words of encouragement I got from our Dean and the review center staff before the exam date. It was really helpful.” He also emphasized on spiritual preparation since he is a devout catholic. “Having strong faith in God can make wonders.”

       There were a lot of things that pushed them to give their best. Like most of us do, the family always comes on top of the list. To become a competent nurse was a motivation for them. Reyes even recalls, “I missed the Cum Laude spot by a painstaking decimal of 0.01!” Even so, achieving things were their natural drives.

            However, nursing has become a trend upon college degree programs. A lot of discussions stirred up about it not being an ideal course for fresh high school graduates. But for two determined individuals, this wasn’t a problem for them upon taking the board.

            “Nursing is a really noble and heartwarming profession,” says Reyes. “If the only aim of taking up nursing is for financial security, then they might as well give up his hope for nursing is not profitable. Yet, if someone takes up nursing with the aim of serving the people, then congratulations!, he/she just found a very ideal degree program,” added Batomalaque.

Jacob Reyes, top 6

            It is passion that makes these two individuals stand out among the rest. “Sincere Thank yous and warm smiles from the patients are priceless, it gives me a sense of purpose and happiness,” says Reyes as he recounts his student nurse days.

            Despite success, they are still willing to share a message to those who are currently enrolled in the course. “On duty days, just be there for your patients and you will feel the authentic joy of serving others”, says Reyes. “Don’t be taunted with the current situation for only those nurses who lack in passion and creativity are surely bound to fail,” added Batomalaque. 

            They do not fear unemployment for their passion and determination will get them far. What is there when one gives up? For Jacob and Lowell, they only know that giving up isn’t an option and that the Lord always answers prayers.

            Their four years in the academe was full-packed with lectures, discussions, hospital duties and of course exams. The board exam finalized their status as registered nurses. As some nurses would choose to go abroad, both would rather serve their people here. Truly, Lowell and Jacob are student models and nursing examples.

Published in the Sun.Star Newspaper last Sept. 5, 2011.

Arrival

When a good old friend lands from the land of milk and honey, the pack comes in as if trying to suffice a grand reunion. “Hi, Hello! How have you been?” and “Golly, you’ve gone so thin! What have you been up to?” were simple phrases I could not miss. Of course, I wasn’t present at all times this cluster would meet. I was in demand for school and more so, my competition in trying to get into the media industry.

We shared giggles and laughter as we dug in to our late afternoon snack. Flashbacks came and more stories surfaced. Who wouldn’t want to talk about more than year of absence from the city of birth? The endless chatter seemed to have flown off the window as time passed.

Looking at these individuals who are now posing to become professionals, I tell myself what a shame it has been. Being so privileged to be in the same city, we barely meet. We tell ourselves we’re busy or it’s time to move on. Now that a colleague arrived we all gather as if we were still in the same room where we used to sit.

True, I have missed sitting with these guys. But what is more chatter than spending moments together. We should have, but we didn’t. The reality of being busy scares me into forgetting where we got hold of each other. Give me five years more and we’ll be landing on different ports, missing each other. When we all come back for our own arrivals, the pack will meet again. Privileged abused, shame.