IN WHICH DO YOU BELONG?

The UP Mass Communicators Organization is inviting you to join our celebration of 15 years of Molding, Challenging, and Outshining, with Level XV: MCO Academy!

In MCO we celebrate diversity while working as one organization. Whether you are a smartass geek, a hallway hottie, a party person, a teacher’s pet, a creative punk, or a born leader, MCO has a place for you. We develop individuals to become responsible media practitioners while fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie. MCO is not just an organization, it is family. So whether you are from CMC or not, we are inviting you to take part in the various activities we have lined-up for the whole semester!

Classes start on July 17 with our Acquaintance Party for interested applicants. Watch out for the unveiling of the Level XV exhibit and “Grand Pakain” on July 21 at the UP College of Mass Communication.

In MCO there is always a place for you…

Class Officers: The Executive Board

Hallway Hotties: Business Affairs Team

Teacher’s Pets: Human Resources Team

Party People: Special Events Team

Smartass Geeks: Research and Academic Training Team

Creative Punks: Media and Public Relations Team (this is where I belong! hahaha!)

HAUTE CINQ 11

1. When I Grow Up - Pussycat Dolls (Sums up pretty much what I want in life too…hahaha!)

2. Falling - Emmy Rossum

3. Move, Shake, Drop - DJ Laz ft. Flo Rida

4. Make Me Over - Lifehouse

5. Viva La Vida - Coldplay (How I wish the String Quartet would make a tribute for this song…)

MORE GAWAD GIGS

This year’s Gawad Plaridel is actually quite star-studded. The emcees were Mariz Umali (GMA 7 News and Current Affairs) and Joaqui Valdez (100% Pinoy host), both of whom are from the Kapuso station. Last year’s awardee for television, Che-che Lazaro (famed for her show, Probe) also made an appearance. No less than the superstar herself, Vilma Santos, also graced the occasion though she arrived late. I tried getting my pic taken with them, but the plethora of students mauling them was just unbelievable. Then again, what would you expect from CMC students? Camwhoring is our reason for living…well most of us…hahaha!

The emcees…

The ever inspiring Che-che Lazaro, with someone else looking up at her,literally, while I looked on like the bad spirit that I am…

The glorious Ate Vi sporting a pout…hahaha! Thanks to Barry for this pic…

The camwhoring I did together with my orgmates Barry, Dreo, Alexis, and Kea, back at CMC was also quite fun. Posing in every imaginable angle down by the Film basement entrance while being stared at by other students was fun. It broke the boredom which I experienced earlier during the looooooooong Gawad Plaridel lecture.

L:Raped Kea C: Gawad Plaridel Awardee Kea R: Kea and Evil personified

So, after all that jazz, I spent a little time with Alexis, Ate Rach, and Ate Nel under the skywalk. That is where the Gossip Kids Under the Skywalk started from. For those who have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, lets just say that four people were “spotted” that night:

K - prepare for the app process…its going to be one hell of a ride…

A - I don’t want to get tangled…so lets just leave it at that…

M - I’m not sure you even read my blog, but if you do…you can comment ANYTIME…hahaha!

J - for people naive enough not to know who the hell J is…capsiao!!! hahaha!

UP GAWAD PLARIDEL 2008

A lawyer, a professor, a journalist, and a family man, Atty. Pachico A. Seares is certainly juggling a lot, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the latest University of the Philippines Gawad Plaridel Awardee for Journalism.

The UP Gawad Plaridel, named after Marcelo H. del Pilar, is given yearly by the College of Mass Communication to exemplary media practitioners from the fields of journalism, film, radio, and television in turn since 2004. Seares was given the award to recognize his contributions to community journalism. Previous awardees include Eugenia Duran-Apostol (journalism, 2004), Vilma Santos-Recto (film, 2005), Fidela “Tiya Dely” Magpayo (radio, 2006), and Cecilia “Che-che” Lazaro (television, 2007).

Seares’ contributions to community journalism are widely recognized by his colleagues in the Cebu daily, Sun Star Cebu, as well as by his contemporaries in the Visayas. He is a well-respected journalism professor at the UP Visayas and is even considered as the “father of journalism” in Cebu. He is fondly regarded as a mentor “who will help you grow as a journalist and a person,” by fellow Cebu journalist Nesa Tabada.

Seares describes the state of community journalism as perpetually part of a “vicious cycle”, in which community papers suffer from a lack of resources to produce a quality newspaper, and how the lack of readership as well as advertisers to support the paper’s existence affects it in turn.

According to him, the only way to escape this “vicious cycle” is to improve standards and strengthen weak journalistic values.

“There is no finish line for newspapers, unless it quits the race,” said Seares, adding that with the new technologies available today and the presence of new media, convergence and synergy must be employed by community journalists to better serve their audience.

Serving the community is furthered by Seares through organizations which aim to build better relationships with the community, such as the Cebu Citizens-Press Council, in which he is vice president. “Community journalism is kinship with the community,” said Seares.

The biggest journeys start with the smallest steps, and the steps Atty. Seares made are great leaps for the improvement of community journalism. “Whatever lies ahead for the community press, good journalism will help us endure,” he ended.

HAUT CINQ 10

1. Flipside - Click Five

2. Sex - The Pipettes (Indie group in the UK…curiously, the word ’sex’ was never said in the whole duration of the song…it was merely implied…)

3. If I Never See You Face Again - Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna

4. Great DJ - The Ting Tings

5. Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings (I first heard the band in an episode of Gossip Girl, and I have been hooked to them ever since…)

PAMANTASANG HIRANG

Last Friday I was able to watch the coveted and anticipated UP Centennial Concert: Pamantasang Hirang at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Tickets for the concert were hard to come by, but having friends in high places can do wonders for people like me. Thanks to my orgmate Jerson, who was part of the concert I was able to get a FREE ticket for the concert, not just any ordinary ticket mind you, I was sitting at the very front row of the orchestra section! I was mere inches from the orchestra and had the best view of the stage!

I commuted to CCP from UP together with Ate Rach, another orgmate. It was my first time to commute to the CCP area. It was also my first time to ride the LRT1 and LRT2 lines. I have been living in Metro Manila all my life but not once was I able to ride the LRT lines until that faithful day. Hahaha! In all fairness, the LRT2 Katipunan station was quite nice.

The night was a night of contradictions. There I was standing inside the CCP, one of the most cultured and sophisticated places in the Metro, waiting for the most anticipated concert of the most revered university in the country, wearing a white polo shirt, black beach pants, and white flip-flops. Flip-flops for crying out loud! While everybody else was wearing Filipiñana gowns and semi-formal attires, there I was looking like the UP student that I am. Then again, that is what UP is all about: contradictions. Alumni came in both elite and humble garbs from every corner of the globe. It only shows how far UP students go, wherever they may come from.

Despite my humble attire, I proudly walked to my respective seat. People eyed me as I went closer and closer to the orchestra. I didn’t care. I was sitting in front of everybody else after all. Wear your semi-formal attires for all I care. I still have the better seat! Hahaha!

MEET-UPS: Jerson (orgmate and performed as Rafael Palma), Ate Rach (orgmate), Marnelli Marquez (UP Pep and high school friend), EJ Patacsil (UP DanceSport and former blockmate)

The concert was AMAZING! The history of UP was presented in song, dance, and AVPs. And the best part was I can see what others can’t. I can see every strum the violin players made, I can see how a cello broke in the middle of one number, I can clearly see the artists’ facial expressions with every number they performed, even the silly performance of the trumpeters just before the second act. The best part was I was able to take pictures. Cameras are not allowed in the CCP, but with my handy dandy P990i I was able to catch some pics. Pity the zoom is not that powerful, but still I was able to shoot away while others just watched in dismay.

At the end of the performance I was able to enjoy another benefit of sitting at the very front. All of the whos-who of the night passed by me during the closing procession. Pres. Emerlinda Roman, Bienvenido Lumbero, Malu de Guzman, Ces Quesada, Candy Pangilinan, Eugene Domingo, Agot Isidro, Ryan Cayabyab, Che Che Lazaro, Jeffrey Hidalgo, two of the three beauty queens, and Bituin Escalante. While the other audience members lined up to get their autographs and pictures, the stars lined up to go to me! Hahaha!

Well, maybe not technically, but in essence that was what happened… My only regret was not tripping Roman when she passed me by. I could have easily made it look like an accident. Hahaha!

PARKS, PLANTS, PETROL AND A PANDA

I have just watched Kung Fu Panda and The Happening this week. I have anticipated both movies since summer. I love the surreal feel of animated films and the chills thriller films bring down my spine. Plus Kung Fu Panda stars the biggest names in Hollywood while The Happening is directed by uber great M. Night Shyamalan.

Kung Fu Fighting!!
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that is why it is called present”-Master Ugue

I love pandas. While other kids might have teddy bears to bring to sleep, I on the other hand had a stuffed panda bear (which I fondly named Nicola) to bring to sleep when I was an innocent (yes, there was a time I was) child. Maybe it’s the beautiful contrast of their black and white fur, or their pure subsistence on bamboo, or because they don’t roar like their unsophisticated bear cousins, whatever the reason is, pandas are one of the greatest animals I have ever seen.

Kung Fu movies are fun to watch. The flips, the kicks, the jumps, the splits, how I wish I could do just one! Chinese martial art is so amazing that almost all action movies have to incorporate it in the fight scenes.

Kung Fu Panda is not the first instance I have seen the two things above mixed. Before the movie came, I was already doing kicks and fancy punches using a panda. Yes, Xiaoyu’s pet panda, Panda, in the Playstation game series Tekken is the very first Kung Fu Panda and not Po. There was also Genma Saotome from the anime Ranma 1/2, but he’s not counted since he’s only half a panda…

I really enjoyed watching the movie. After all it is not everyday that you see Jack Black, Lucy Liu, and Angelina Jolie all in one movie (well maybe not ‘see’…more of ‘hear’ actually). The graphics is amazing and the animation is fluid and flawless. Po’s rolling belly is a laugh! Jack Black’s comic delivery of his lines is not bad either. Angelina Jolie’s sultriness as a femme fatale is still very much evident in her role as Master Tigress. However I was quite disturbed by the lotus flowers atop Master Viper’s head. It is so not Lucy Liu. Hahaha! The abundance of fabled characters is not new to animated movies. The pigs, ducks, and bunnies overload might be too much for some, like me, but the presence of rhinoceros guards is just plain wrong! I am quite sure there that there are no rhinoceroses in China.

“There is no charge for awesomeness…or attractiveness” - Po

Kung Fu Panda is a great excuse to lift one’s spirits in this time of perpetually depressing oil hikes. I just wish I could just fly to wherever I want ala Master Crane Style, or avoid the soaring price hikes like Master Viper, or kick some Arroyo administration butt ala Master Monkey, or karate chop some smart ass female senator in the Master Mantis style, or just punch a hole in the pockets of those greedy oil cartels as Master Tigress, or just freaking die in a sea of peach tree petals ala Master Ugue…at least then I will have true peace like Master Shifu.

Flower Power!

The plants are after us! Because of global warming caused by man’s stupidity, nature is fighting back! Literally! At least according to M. Night Shyamalan’s latest movie.

During the start of the movie, I kind of felt that the plot’s conflict is lame. But as the film progressed and the complexity of the ‘attacks’ is becoming clearer, I began to have second thoughts. This movie gives new meaning to a lot of old clichés. By the end of the movie you might have different views on Kingdom Plantae. Especially if you are a vegan!! Hahahaha!

Old Clichéd Sayings Given New Meanings:
More is NOT merrier! - the higher number of population triggers the attacks
Not all your greens are good for you! - the plants are indeed the ones responsible for the attacks
Just KILL yourself - the plant spores literally causes humans to just kill themselves
One is NOT the loneliest number! - being alone might save you, but you have to stay sealed in your house too
Though the concept of vegetation trying to do us in is quite scary, I don’t think the population of the Philippines should worry. For one thing we don’t have parks in which the attacks might start from. But the thought of plants attacking us is not far from the truth. Recent researches suggest that plants indeed have ‘consciousness’ and can respond rapidly to human stimulus in the cellular and chemical level. If plants like the Venus flytrap can trap insects to nourish itself, it might be possible for plants to develop ways of destroying its biggest threat: human beings.

So the next time you break a twig from that unassuming shrub or step on that poor flowering bud, think about The Happening. It might happen to you! Hahaha!

WATCH OUT FOR MCO THIS SEM!

Watch out for the events MCO has in store for you guys this semester! Actually I just want to post this pic since I worked hard on it…hahaha!