My ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. Internship Experience
APRIL - MAY 2012
TV Production Orientation for Interns
“Hi this is Paul Busalpa, ABS-CBN Corporation. HR Recruitment. Please be reminded of your OJT TV Production Entertainment Orientation on March 19 & 20, 2012, 9:00am at ELJ Bldg 13 flr Training room B. Look for Ms. Dhana Dizon. Please do not be late and bring 1 valid ID. Thank you!”
During the two-day orientation, we were taught how to organize a script into four different breakdowns: sequence breakdown, location breakdown, continuity breakdown, and character/profile breakdown. These breakdowns all included props, costume, day or night effect, same day/another day, same night/ another day, title per sequence, characters per sequence, locations, etc. And we were trained to do all these three breakdowns in one seating in only about one hour! Not only that, but we were also required to know how to calculate running time of different shows: taped and live shows.
Two days of the internship orientation was honestly brain-draining and each activity brought us, trainees, so much body-aches, but at the same time, the orientation was as if we were taking up a more advanced TV Production classes good for one semester in only two days! It was an information overload experience but definitely we have absorbed everything slowly but surely. It was a great two-day training with my MC classmates Arnie Gallo, Maria Estipona, Ita Anisco, and Mheii Aguirre and the other trainees from different schools. In that orientation, we were all segregated to different shows. I was introduced to my assigned show, one of my local favourites, GANDANG GABI VICE!
Office Work at ABS-CBN TV Prod Department
Ms. Yasmin Palanca, the HR accounts officer of the TV Prod Department, endorsed me to Ms. Kaye Majabague, the Production Assistant of Gandang Gabi Vice, and Mr. Allan Sunga, the Associate Producer or Gandang Gabi Vice. From then on, I was lead to the conference room of Gandang Gabi Vice staff wherein I learned more about the show and how it works. I also met the researchers and writers, as well as the Executive Producer, Mrs. Lani Gutierrez.
Unlike Araneta Center’s marketing department wherein we usually have our routinary office work, ABSCBN production’s office work was a lot lot different. It was more informal and irregular. What we do in the office are just to prepare tapes, labels for tapes, print out dressing room assignments, reading magazines to research about guests, routing memos, listening to youtube for more options for GGV’s songlists. The real work all comes from the production proper itself (pre-prod meeting, production, and post-prod).
What is Gandang Gabi Vice or GGV?
Gandang Gabi, Vice! is a Philippine comedy musical talk show hosted by stand-up comedian Vice Ganda, that airs every Sunday night on ABS-CBN and focuses on humorous interviews with celebrities, athletes, and famous people and also features live acts from various performers. Gandang Gabi Vice takes pride by having their show trend on twitter locally and globally consistently every week.
First Taping Experience with Vice Ganda
Since this was my first GGV taping ever and my first time to watch an ABS-CBN talk show production live, I couldn’t help but feel awestruck, starstruck, and enthusiastic! Seeing that famous studio with my two bare eyes was just so rewarding, and just imagine my childlike excitement when I escorted Vice Ganda to the studio for her..his..(?) rehearsal for the opening number, Katy Perry’s new song, “Part of Me”.
The taping of the show is always on a Thursday and its airing would be on a Sunday night. During that Thursday night of taping, I helped with the scriptwriting and headed the preparations for the needed props. Apparently, my mom’s favorite red shawl became the most needed props in the productions. My mom never thought her red shawl was going to get famous for a while and I never thought that it was going to be my celebrity crushes who was about to use that shawl! Wanna know who?....next page!
Guests at First Taping: the Younghusbands
The first guests were my celebrity crushes and I couldn’t help but feel weak in the knees when I saw them both with my eyes. I get easily distracted by them (especially during the moments they played football and danced in the studio), but I immediately shake my head off and go back to monitoring the script, the time recording, and the line up of the props. My mom’s red shawl was used for the Titanic gimik, wherein Phil and James will act as Jack and there would be audience participation for the role of Rose. I can’t help but blush hearing Phil speak Tagalog with full effort, despite his thick and lovely British accent!
Of course, after taping the segment, I wouldn’t let this opportunity pass...”Excuse me, Mr. Younghusband, would you let me have a picture with you????!”
Guests at First Taping: Ms. Ruffa Gutierrez
Seeing ‘the Ruffa Gutierrez’ was a treat to the eye, she looked so gorgeous and she looked a lot like my favourite Hollywood personality, Kim Kardashian! She was a very funny woman and she was such a good sport. It is safe to say that she has brought more life and laughter in the studio with her low sosyal speaking voice and her ultra funny singing voice!
Post-Production - Digitizing and Editing at the I-Post Bay
The taping started 6pm and ended at 10pm, at usual companies, one’s time out of work is 6pm, but for us in ABS-CBN there is no such word as ‘uwian’ in our vocabulary. We were all needed to stay for the next 36 hours without sleeping and without going home to digitize the taped show and edit it into the show that will be aired on Sunday. Now, this is where coffee overdoses are much needed!
In this post production process, we all worked in the I-Post section of the ABS-CBN building wherein the place was full of machines, equipments, wires, buttons, tapes, and tech people. It was overwhelming to see those things you think you’d never understand, but then you would get to know more about this process the longer you stay and work with it.
The next thing I know, I was already heading the digitizing process from being supervised to not being supervised anymore and I was doing the shouting “Kuya, pacapture po”, “Patched to Edit room 13, ready to capture”, “Rolling!”, and the dreaded “Kuya, nakain po yung tape ng DVCam2!!! (which is normal)”
After digitizing, the next step is to do the editing. It is the associate producer’s job and the editor’s job and usually interns are needed there to give assistance to emergencies like lyrics, graphic designs, etc. Editing usually takes 24 hours and more, never less. And after editing, the next step is to do the dubout wherein we record the edited video file into the tape for airing..on Sunday!
Pre-Production Meeting for Next Taping
The Researcher’s Task
For the next episode, from being the Production Assistant’s assistant, I am now moved to wark as a researcher’s assistant. In this job, I am tasked to interview our next guests in any way I can, personally, through phone calls, through reading magazines, through interviewing the people close to them, etc. So I was given the guests’ cellphone numbers and to my surprise, I realize I had Daniel Padilla’s number on my phone, same with Enrique Gil, Khalil Ramos, and Ms. Janice de Belen. I was able to interview Enrique and Daniel face-to-face professionally as a writer, leaving my inner fangirl outside the door and coming back to it after the interview. It was just such a weird surprising experience!
I was also able to interview Nikki Gil and Empress through sneaking around in the dressing room during the ASAP show. According to my researcher boss, Lyndon Dizon, interviewing artists are not as easy as making appointments with them, most of the time, you have to sneak around, get real lucky for a chance to interview. Good thing, both girls were nice and I could easily relate to them since Nikki Gil and I came from the same school institution and both of us were of the same faith. It felt nice having to talk with the stars!
Second Taping Experience with GGV
Guests: Janice de Belen, Daniel Padilla, Khalil Ramos, Enrique
Gil, Nikki Gil and Empress
Third Taping Experience with GGV
The Researcher and Writer’s Task: Kiray and Igiboy
After being the PA’s assistant during the first taping and being the researcher’s assistant during the second taping, I was now assigned to the writer’s assistant in this third taping. It was still research work. I was able to talk to Kiray Celis on the phone for two straight hours to interview and I got a lot of funny and juicy information that the show, Gandang Gabi Vice, looked for. And with that, I came up with my very own and first segment script! My writer boss, Dianne, gave me the opportunity to write a segment for Gandang Gabi Vice. I really felt honoured that she trusted my humor and writing talent so much. And fair enough, the Kiray and Igiboy segment top-trended in Twitter and the viewers loved it!
THE GANDANG GABI VICE FAMILY
APRIL - MAY 2012
TV Production Orientation for Interns
“Hi this is Paul Busalpa, ABS-CBN Corporation. HR Recruitment. Please be reminded of your OJT TV Production Entertainment Orientation on March 19 & 20, 2012, 9:00am at ELJ Bldg 13 flr Training room B. Look for Ms. Dhana Dizon. Please do not be late and bring 1 valid ID. Thank you!”
During the two-day orientation, we were taught how to organize a script into four different breakdowns: sequence breakdown, location breakdown, continuity breakdown, and character/profile breakdown. These breakdowns all included props, costume, day or night effect, same day/another day, same night/ another day, title per sequence, characters per sequence, locations, etc. And we were trained to do all these three breakdowns in one seating in only about one hour! Not only that, but we were also required to know how to calculate running time of different shows: taped and live shows.
Two days of the internship orientation was honestly brain-draining and each activity brought us, trainees, so much body-aches, but at the same time, the orientation was as if we were taking up a more advanced TV Production classes good for one semester in only two days! It was an information overload experience but definitely we have absorbed everything slowly but surely. It was a great two-day training with my MC classmates Arnie Gallo, Maria Estipona, Ita Anisco, and Mheii Aguirre and the other trainees from different schools. In that orientation, we were all segregated to different shows. I was introduced to my assigned show, one of my local favourites, GANDANG GABI VICE!
Office Work at ABS-CBN TV Prod Department
Ms. Yasmin Palanca, the HR accounts officer of the TV Prod Department, endorsed me to Ms. Kaye Majabague, the Production Assistant of Gandang Gabi Vice, and Mr. Allan Sunga, the Associate Producer or Gandang Gabi Vice. From then on, I was lead to the conference room of Gandang Gabi Vice staff wherein I learned more about the show and how it works. I also met the researchers and writers, as well as the Executive Producer, Mrs. Lani Gutierrez.
Unlike Araneta Center’s marketing department wherein we usually have our routinary office work, ABSCBN production’s office work was a lot lot different. It was more informal and irregular. What we do in the office are just to prepare tapes, labels for tapes, print out dressing room assignments, reading magazines to research about guests, routing memos, listening to youtube for more options for GGV’s songlists. The real work all comes from the production proper itself (pre-prod meeting, production, and post-prod).
What is Gandang Gabi Vice or GGV?
Gandang Gabi, Vice! is a Philippine comedy musical talk show hosted by stand-up comedian Vice Ganda, that airs every Sunday night on ABS-CBN and focuses on humorous interviews with celebrities, athletes, and famous people and also features live acts from various performers. Gandang Gabi Vice takes pride by having their show trend on twitter locally and globally consistently every week.
First Taping Experience with Vice Ganda
Since this was my first GGV taping ever and my first time to watch an ABS-CBN talk show production live, I couldn’t help but feel awestruck, starstruck, and enthusiastic! Seeing that famous studio with my two bare eyes was just so rewarding, and just imagine my childlike excitement when I escorted Vice Ganda to the studio for her..his..(?) rehearsal for the opening number, Katy Perry’s new song, “Part of Me”.
Guests at First Taping: the Younghusbands
The first guests were my celebrity crushes and I couldn’t help but feel weak in the knees when I saw them both with my eyes. I get easily distracted by them (especially during the moments they played football and danced in the studio), but I immediately shake my head off and go back to monitoring the script, the time recording, and the line up of the props. My mom’s red shawl was used for the Titanic gimik, wherein Phil and James will act as Jack and there would be audience participation for the role of Rose. I can’t help but blush hearing Phil speak Tagalog with full effort, despite his thick and lovely British accent!
Of course, after taping the segment, I wouldn’t let this opportunity pass...”Excuse me, Mr. Younghusband, would you let me have a picture with you????!”
Guests at First Taping: Ms. Ruffa Gutierrez
Seeing ‘the Ruffa Gutierrez’ was a treat to the eye, she looked so gorgeous and she looked a lot like my favourite Hollywood personality, Kim Kardashian! She was a very funny woman and she was such a good sport. It is safe to say that she has brought more life and laughter in the studio with her low sosyal speaking voice and her ultra funny singing voice!
Post-Production - Digitizing and Editing at the I-Post Bay
The taping started 6pm and ended at 10pm, at usual companies, one’s time out of work is 6pm, but for us in ABS-CBN there is no such word as ‘uwian’ in our vocabulary. We were all needed to stay for the next 36 hours without sleeping and without going home to digitize the taped show and edit it into the show that will be aired on Sunday. Now, this is where coffee overdoses are much needed!
In this post production process, we all worked in the I-Post section of the ABS-CBN building wherein the place was full of machines, equipments, wires, buttons, tapes, and tech people. It was overwhelming to see those things you think you’d never understand, but then you would get to know more about this process the longer you stay and work with it.
The next thing I know, I was already heading the digitizing process from being supervised to not being supervised anymore and I was doing the shouting “Kuya, pacapture po”, “Patched to Edit room 13, ready to capture”, “Rolling!”, and the dreaded “Kuya, nakain po yung tape ng DVCam2!!! (which is normal)”
After digitizing, the next step is to do the editing. It is the associate producer’s job and the editor’s job and usually interns are needed there to give assistance to emergencies like lyrics, graphic designs, etc. Editing usually takes 24 hours and more, never less. And after editing, the next step is to do the dubout wherein we record the edited video file into the tape for airing..on Sunday!
Pre-Production Meeting for Next Taping
The Researcher’s Task
For the next episode, from being the Production Assistant’s assistant, I am now moved to wark as a researcher’s assistant. In this job, I am tasked to interview our next guests in any way I can, personally, through phone calls, through reading magazines, through interviewing the people close to them, etc. So I was given the guests’ cellphone numbers and to my surprise, I realize I had Daniel Padilla’s number on my phone, same with Enrique Gil, Khalil Ramos, and Ms. Janice de Belen. I was able to interview Enrique and Daniel face-to-face professionally as a writer, leaving my inner fangirl outside the door and coming back to it after the interview. It was just such a weird surprising experience!
I was also able to interview Nikki Gil and Empress through sneaking around in the dressing room during the ASAP show. According to my researcher boss, Lyndon Dizon, interviewing artists are not as easy as making appointments with them, most of the time, you have to sneak around, get real lucky for a chance to interview. Good thing, both girls were nice and I could easily relate to them since Nikki Gil and I came from the same school institution and both of us were of the same faith. It felt nice having to talk with the stars!
Second Taping Experience with GGV
Guests: Janice de Belen, Daniel Padilla, Khalil Ramos, Enrique
Gil, Nikki Gil and Empress
Third Taping Experience with GGV
The Researcher and Writer’s Task: Kiray and Igiboy
After being the PA’s assistant during the first taping and being the researcher’s assistant during the second taping, I was now assigned to the writer’s assistant in this third taping. It was still research work. I was able to talk to Kiray Celis on the phone for two straight hours to interview and I got a lot of funny and juicy information that the show, Gandang Gabi Vice, looked for. And with that, I came up with my very own and first segment script! My writer boss, Dianne, gave me the opportunity to write a segment for Gandang Gabi Vice. I really felt honoured that she trusted my humor and writing talent so much. And fair enough, the Kiray and Igiboy segment top-trended in Twitter and the viewers loved it!
THE GANDANG GABI VICE FAMILY
Araneta Center Inc. Internship
MARCH - APRIL 2012
WEEK 1
If my first week of my Araneta internship was an event opening, it would be a total blast opening with sparkling colorful fireworks, grand parades, and pretty flowers hanging all over. and I am not exaggerating! haha!
See, I entered the Araneta marketing team just in the middle of the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 season wherein numerous events are taking place, and these events are not just events..they are life changing events!
The first two days were all office works. Ms. Marjorie Go and Ms. Paula taught me how to manage all the press releases, newspapers, and online journals related to Araneta Center, everything from concerts, to Binibining Pilipinas, to basketball games, to mall events, to corporate/business events, to competitors, name it! They have it! I had to compile all press releases and categorize it into different folders. I would do it from morning 'til night, unless some of my "bosses" would ask me to give or get some important documents from another departments.
Actually, I have a big workload on my shoulders considering the fact that I am their only intern for the moment since, the other interns would come probably this next week or the week after next week, but it's alright with me since I am a workaholic girl and I love the fact that I am working in a real professional workplace with real professional people. It also feels good to be the only intern, even my bosses call me their 'unica hija' and I love the feeling of being part of their family even for just a few weeks.
Wednesday afternoon, Ms. Paula, one of the PR officers, approached me and told me to help in the event the following day which would be the opening of the Operation Smile event of the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 that would take place in Sta. Ana Hospital. The Operation Smile is a medical mission that aims to repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable health care systems for children and families. The ultimate goal is create smiles, change lives, heal humanity. Ms. Paula told me that the candidates of Binibining Pilipinas will be there to give their own time and effort to make the program possible and to make a change in the life of the cleft-palated children forever. I got excited with the event that I involuntarily and enthusiastically answered with both twinkling eyes and a beaming smile, "Which equipments will I carry for tomorrow??! What time to I come here? Omygolly, what can I do?!!"
Ms. Paula laughed for a moment and called Mr. Efren to give me some responsibilities for the event the next day. Mr. Efren, the nice and jolly guy, gave me the three banners and told me I was in charge of setting all those up in the venue and I was also given the giant pink check which would be the "money" for the whole operation procedures. Pressures.
So, that afternoon, I was helping the marketing team in their pre-event preparations, specifically in the preparations of the press kits.
The Event Day: Operation Smile Mission Day 1
Together with Ms. Paula (PR Officer), Ms. Ali Amistad (Digital Marketing Manager), and Ms. Tessa (PR Manager), we met the Binibining Pilipinas candidates on the 11th floor at around 7:00 am in the morning. They were all putting make-up. Actually, they look simpler that what I expected in person. They were my height. Their facial features looked like my friends' and mine. and they all acted like normal people, laughing without poise, chatting about their hard life, and complaining about their beauty problems like we normal people complain about too...but after putting on heavy make-up and long fake eyelashes, they look like glorious beauty goddesses of the Philippines!
We went down and rode three big vans...and inside, while I was waiting for the other girls, I took pictures of the outside and also o myself (vain attacks haha)
The next thing I know, I was seated next to.....
...the one and only Ms. Universe of 2011, Ms. Shamcey Supsup!!
When we arrived Sta. Ana hospital and just when I got off the van, I was immediately greeted by some director or some manager of a certain organization (probably Operation Smile or the Sta. Ana Hospital or the Binibining Pilipinas) he approached me, shook my hand, and told me this wonderful words: "Hello! Welcome to Sta. Ana hospital! Thank you to you and your fellow candidates for giving the time and---"
"Uhm..Sir, I am not one of them po. I am part of the marketing department of Araneta, I am an intern!" I shook his hand and gave him the most confident and professional smile I could ever give. Random people behind me were taking pictures of us with their cellphones and stuff.
'Oh no, I am not a binibining Pilipinas candidate, people!' I thought.
He looked at me from head to toe. I was in my favorite vertical striped Bayo blouse, my perfect pair of dark jeans, and standing in a pair of red velvety pump heels which made look fashionable enough to make people think I am one of those girls hahah! (feeler? kainis) and I am also naturally tall and just as tall as the candidates so maybe that's why people mistake me as a binibining candidate. (aba eh flattered naman ako ng sobra sobra...haba ng hair ko)
Though, I'd like to think I looked pretty enough, I still had to come back in my own senses and realize that I should be sweating and running everywhere to set up the press con venue.
I rushed to the van got all the roll ups, banners, and the big pink check and went all the way upstairs to the 8th floor to help set up the venue :)
March 24, 2012 Operation Smile Press Conference:
After all of the people setting up everything needed..the press conference was just about to start! :) People were gathered already, the hospital people, the media, the press, the BP candidates, the Araneta team, and everyone!
WEEK 1
If my first week of my Araneta internship was an event opening, it would be a total blast opening with sparkling colorful fireworks, grand parades, and pretty flowers hanging all over. and I am not exaggerating! haha!
See, I entered the Araneta marketing team just in the middle of the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 season wherein numerous events are taking place, and these events are not just events..they are life changing events!
The first two days were all office works. Ms. Marjorie Go and Ms. Paula taught me how to manage all the press releases, newspapers, and online journals related to Araneta Center, everything from concerts, to Binibining Pilipinas, to basketball games, to mall events, to corporate/business events, to competitors, name it! They have it! I had to compile all press releases and categorize it into different folders. I would do it from morning 'til night, unless some of my "bosses" would ask me to give or get some important documents from another departments.
Actually, I have a big workload on my shoulders considering the fact that I am their only intern for the moment since, the other interns would come probably this next week or the week after next week, but it's alright with me since I am a workaholic girl and I love the fact that I am working in a real professional workplace with real professional people. It also feels good to be the only intern, even my bosses call me their 'unica hija' and I love the feeling of being part of their family even for just a few weeks.
Wednesday afternoon, Ms. Paula, one of the PR officers, approached me and told me to help in the event the following day which would be the opening of the Operation Smile event of the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 that would take place in Sta. Ana Hospital. The Operation Smile is a medical mission that aims to repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable health care systems for children and families. The ultimate goal is create smiles, change lives, heal humanity. Ms. Paula told me that the candidates of Binibining Pilipinas will be there to give their own time and effort to make the program possible and to make a change in the life of the cleft-palated children forever. I got excited with the event that I involuntarily and enthusiastically answered with both twinkling eyes and a beaming smile, "Which equipments will I carry for tomorrow??! What time to I come here? Omygolly, what can I do?!!"
Ms. Paula laughed for a moment and called Mr. Efren to give me some responsibilities for the event the next day. Mr. Efren, the nice and jolly guy, gave me the three banners and told me I was in charge of setting all those up in the venue and I was also given the giant pink check which would be the "money" for the whole operation procedures. Pressures.
So, that afternoon, I was helping the marketing team in their pre-event preparations, specifically in the preparations of the press kits.
The Event Day: Operation Smile Mission Day 1
Together with Ms. Paula (PR Officer), Ms. Ali Amistad (Digital Marketing Manager), and Ms. Tessa (PR Manager), we met the Binibining Pilipinas candidates on the 11th floor at around 7:00 am in the morning. They were all putting make-up. Actually, they look simpler that what I expected in person. They were my height. Their facial features looked like my friends' and mine. and they all acted like normal people, laughing without poise, chatting about their hard life, and complaining about their beauty problems like we normal people complain about too...but after putting on heavy make-up and long fake eyelashes, they look like glorious beauty goddesses of the Philippines!
We went down and rode three big vans...and inside, while I was waiting for the other girls, I took pictures of the outside and also o myself (vain attacks haha)
The next thing I know, I was seated next to.....
...the one and only Ms. Universe of 2011, Ms. Shamcey Supsup!!
When we arrived Sta. Ana hospital and just when I got off the van, I was immediately greeted by some director or some manager of a certain organization (probably Operation Smile or the Sta. Ana Hospital or the Binibining Pilipinas) he approached me, shook my hand, and told me this wonderful words: "Hello! Welcome to Sta. Ana hospital! Thank you to you and your fellow candidates for giving the time and---"
"Uhm..Sir, I am not one of them po. I am part of the marketing department of Araneta, I am an intern!" I shook his hand and gave him the most confident and professional smile I could ever give. Random people behind me were taking pictures of us with their cellphones and stuff.
'Oh no, I am not a binibining Pilipinas candidate, people!' I thought.
He looked at me from head to toe. I was in my favorite vertical striped Bayo blouse, my perfect pair of dark jeans, and standing in a pair of red velvety pump heels which made look fashionable enough to make people think I am one of those girls hahah! (feeler? kainis) and I am also naturally tall and just as tall as the candidates so maybe that's why people mistake me as a binibining candidate. (aba eh flattered naman ako ng sobra sobra...haba ng hair ko)
Though, I'd like to think I looked pretty enough, I still had to come back in my own senses and realize that I should be sweating and running everywhere to set up the press con venue.
I rushed to the van got all the roll ups, banners, and the big pink check and went all the way upstairs to the 8th floor to help set up the venue :)
March 24, 2012 Operation Smile Press Conference:
After all of the people setting up everything needed..the press conference was just about to start! :) People were gathered already, the hospital people, the media, the press, the BP candidates, the Araneta team, and everyone!
Manila Bulletin: 'Operation Smile' Brings Cheer, Hope
By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
March 24, 2012, 12:02am
"MANILA, Philippines — Reigning beauty queens and this year’s candidates of the Bb. Pilipinas 2012 brought smiles of hope in the lives of at least 50 children through a special medical mission of Operation Smile Philippines recently held at the Sta. Ana Hospital.
Led by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) Chairperson Stella Marquez-Araneta and Smile Ambassador and Ms. Universe 2011 3rd runner up Shamcey Supsup, the ladies assisted in the medical mission as part of an advocacy recently embraced by BPCI. Operation Smile is a private, non-profit organization that conducts medical missions in partner-countries.
During the Ms. Universe 2011 pageant, Shamcey Supsup was one of the selected candidates that participated in the Operation Smile mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bb. Pilipinas International 2011 Dianne Necio and Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2011 Isabella Manjon, a registered nurse, were also on hand to assist in the mission.
The ladies were warmly welcomed by Operation Smile Philippines trustees Robbie Antonio of Century Properties and Ann Gonzales of Havaianas and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Mario Lato. John Joseph Javier, PAGCOR’s, Assistant Manager, Community Relations and Services Department and Manila Bulletin’s Badette Cunanan and Barbie Atienza also graced the occasion.
One of the highlights of the activity was the R600,000 pledge of BPCI intended to fund a future medical mission to benefit at least 40 children. Mrs. Araneta says that “the Binibining Pilipinas is not only concerned about the external beauty of face and figure. Beyond this kind of beauty, we espouse compassion for those who are underprivileged, those who have less in life. The effort becomes more meaningful because through this partnership with Operation Smile, we can actually help bring radiant smiles of hope in the lives of these children.”
Stella Marquez Araneta, BPCI Executive Board Member Conchitina Bernardo, together with three reigning beauty queens Shamcey Supsup, Dianne Necio and Isabella Manjon assisted in the operation of eight-month-old Armhea Lucas, whose cleft problem was so bad it pushed to her nose. After less than an hour, Armhea was brought out of the operating room to her tearful mom, with a brand new countenance. Mrs. Lucas, Armhea’s mom said, “Hindi ko po akalain na may ganitong mangyayari para sa anak ko. Mabuti na lang ang nagpursige ang asawa ko na hanapin ang Operation Smile. Ngayon, walang kasing tamis ang magiging ngiti at buhay ng anak ko. Salamat sa Operation Smile, Binibining Pilipinas at Pagcor.”
Roberto Manzano of Operation Smile welcomed the Bb. Pilipinas queens and candidates into the mission. “We see this as an important highlight in our 30th anniversary celebration of Operation Smile in the Philippines. In Operation Smile, we believe that when you create smiles, you change lives and you heal humanity. It is a touching scene when you see a beautiful girl lifting up the spirit of a child whose cleft deformities and face will be changed forever. It gives an altogether tangible dimension to beauties promoting hope and world peace.”
The Operation Smile mission is just one of many activities of the Bb. Pilipinas 2012. On March 25, there will be a grand Parade of Beauties around the Araneta Center starting at 4 p.m. On April 8, a pre-pageant Primer will be aired on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best. Coronation night will be on April 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and will be aired on ABS-CBN."
After the press conference, everyone was brought into the room wherein kids with cleft lip and palate were playing, crying, and sleeping. Beauty candidates and managers/directors interacted with them while the press were taking pictures.
And I took some moments to take some "souvenirs" YEAH!
March 26, 2012 Last Day of Operation Smile:
Ms. Ali and I met at Mcdonald's and headed to Farmer's to meet all the Binibining Pilipinas candidates. This was the last day of the Operation Smile and it was time to check out the status of the Sta. Ana patients, specifically the kids with cleft lip and palate.
When we arrived Sta. Ana, we headed all to the Operating Room. I was assigned as the photographer for Araneta therefore I was given a chance and opportunity to take pictures inside the room, but unfortunately I only have the Araneta DSLR camera in my hand and my personal camera is in my bag which I left in the meeting area.
Together with the candidates, we changed into the required operating room outfit... it was fabulous! haha!
We witnessed a life-changing experience inside the operating room. The kids who were undergoing a surgery were all asleep while the doctors, the nurses, the assistants were all working hard to give them quality operation and a new hope and a new life, while the parents outside were all worriedly praying and nervous about everything. Being Araneta's official photographer, I aimed to capture the best photos I can. Kneeling down to get the best angle. Tiptoeing above the chair to get a great view and a dramatic angle. and just everything to satisfy and impress the Araneta marketing team and to show them that I am serious about my job.
But sadly, I don't own those DSLR pictures so I should only upload my own copies from my own camera.
So after all the surgey and after seeing all the kids with normal lips and palate, I felt as if I was so happy about being a part of the event in my own little ways. It was also shocking at the same time seeing the whole procedure of the operation, all the blood and sweat, just....nuff said
Lunch break and interaction with the post surgery - recovering patients (as well as the pre-surgery patients):
This is where I began to make friends with the Binibining Pilipinas candidates and discovered a lot of things about them too :) while they also discovered things about me through asking me questions about my course, my internship, my college life, and more...
So that would be all for the week and I shall now sign off for I will be preparing myself for another event tomorrow (Sunday, March 25, 2012) It would be the Parade of Beauties! It will start at 4pm at the Araneta Center. Come?
WEEK 2
March 25, 2012 Sunday
Araneta Center's Annual Parade showcase Bb. Pilipinas Beauties
It was a big sunday for the Binibining Pilipinas candidates and for me as well. It was one of the events I was looking forward to as an intern in the company. I loved how I was given a balance of exposure whether in office work or in field work.I love both kinds of work but field work and events management seem to be more adventurous. No routine. Just risks.
Our calltime was at 2pm at the Balay (in front of Farmer's market). Inside the conference hall, 24 beautiful girls were all preparing for the grand parade that will take place at the streets surrounding Araneta Center Inc. A few were retouching their eye makeup, with their faces all close to their own mirrors, busily and focused in putting on lashes and eyeliners, while some were already made up and just listening to their iPods as they rest their eyes. Whatever they do, they were all seated in a cool place and trying to be at their most comfortable state before their big moment....
While I was outside under the heat of the noon scorching sun, making sure that everyone was present and in their places. The fiesta dancers? check! Cars? all present? Check! Now, it's time to put the numberings and the three balloons each car (taco bell balloon, dairy queen balloon, and pizza hut balloon) and by the time my job's done. I shall capture these pretty colorful scenes in my camera...and of course, in Araneta's DSLR camera since I was made the official photographer of the event with Mr. Efren Deblois:
"The event coincides with the Araneta Coliseum’s 50th anniversary – the pageant’s venue for the highly anticipated Coronation Night on March 6, 2010. Clad in chic gold-hued swimwear, the candidates toured the Center onboard sporty Mazda Miata cars. Reigning beauty queens Pamela Bianca Manalo (Miss Universe-Philippines 2009), Melody Gersbach (Bb. Pilipinas International 2009), and Marie Ann Umali (Bb. Pilipinas World 2009) looked regal atop a Greek-inspired float. The Philippine Navy and Marine Drum and Bugle bands provided the lively accompaniment, while drumbeaters, poi dancers, mimes, fire eaters, and other street performers wowed spectators lined up along the streets of Araneta Center. Motorcycle riders of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Dairy Queen added to the festive mood.
The annual parade is the penultimate activity for the candidates before they go through the final stage of the competition to clinch the three major pageant titles. The annual Binibining Pilipinas pageant is the major fundraising project of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), which for the last 46 years continues to bring the message of hope and love across the nation. BPCI is the official franchise holder of the Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World beauty pageants. True to BPCI’s mission, the young ladies involved with Binibining Pilipinas show that real beauty lies within, as they pursue projects that help improve the lives of the underprivileged members of society." - official BBP site
After the parade, everyone was lead into the stage wherein all candidates and the three queens will be presented. It took place in front Gateway Pavilion, wherein I was backstage tasked to give cues to the technician for sounds and to the host for the voiceover script. I was given a certain amount of time wherein the whole program had to be done. I was in the guidance of the Gateway Marketing Officer, Ms. Kristel. My training with my Events Management class, Theater class, TV prod class, and my extracurricular Teatro Kolehiyo ng Miriam (wherein I once took the role of Stage Manager) made me go beyond what is expected of me. I made an impression that I knew what I was doing. Pats on the back and congratulating smiles from my bosses met me as I was done with the event, and it felt beyond fulfilling, even I was surprised with what I did.
After the event program, the next task was to gather everyone (candidates, queens, media, event organizers, drivers, etc.) involved in setting up the event for dinner at the Gateway Oasis. I brought all the press kits into the registration area where I was assigned to get the contact details of the media for future events wherein they will be needed for press release and publicity.
Problem Encountered: the Gateway Oasis is a floating open air restaurant and it was already starting to rain. The food is already placed in the buffet table and half of the guests were already at the registration booth and dinner starts in 15 minutes.
I remember back in my Events Management class that we were taught the importance of knowing the venue and the importance of having Plan Bs especially in events that take place in an open air area. I joined the discussions of the marketing team on deciding what to do next and it was a good thing we all are familiar with Gateway that is why we decided to move dinner to Gateway Suites conference hall just two floors above. And everything now fell into place, I transferred all press kits and met up with each and every media myself to inform them and usher them to the next location. One group from the media approached and thanked me for accommodating them and also this group even remembered me helping them ever since the Operational Smile Event! Hearing that made me feel special and important!
Monday was dedicated for office work. I was working and focused in what I’d like to call ‘my own desk’. I had the privilege to have my own desk since I was their only intern. For that day, I was reading the newspapers to note on how frequent the event yesterday, the Parade of Beauties, appeared on the print media. Several newspapers, such as Manila Tribune, Manila Bulletin, and Taliba, had the Parade of Beauties media coverage at the front page, while the Parade of Beauties news story appeared on the entertainment sections of widely known newspapers such as Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was a good thing that almost all newspapers had a news story for the event yesterday. Araneta was in every newspaper that day and the coverage was all free.
This monitoring task always reminds me of my Public Relations class, it was very essential for the company to always have regular contact with the media and build good relationships with them to keep the company’s publicity going. I remember during the after-parade dinner, our Public Relations Manager, Ms. Tessa Mangahas, was seated with the writers dining with them, laughing with them, and strengthening relationships with them. I encoded all the new media contacts from the registration booth wherein I was assigned to take charge of during the dinner last night. I had the list with me in which I asked the every single media person to sign in with their names during their dinner last night at Gateway Suites. I roamed around every table making sure they get media tokens (Binibining Pilipinas paperbag with Bb. Pilipinas T Shirt inside) and thank them for coming to the parade. At that moment, in my little way, I was Araneta Center Inc.’s spokesperson or representative to communicate to the media.
Technically, the Parade of Beauties event was over and next in line was the Araneta Grand Summer Sale on March 30 to April 4. It was an upcoming event that was heavy for the advertising group in the marketing department so I had to assist them in whatever tasks they are doing. I was given the responsibility to do digital marketing for a while (posting advertisements of the upcoming sale, posting pictures of promo items and thinking of captions that will surely make the readers want to shop). In this task, I was given the opportunity to use my copywriting skills and I have been able to apply my copywriting knowledge of the importance of not only being clever but also being conversational and understood by the market.
As I was in the middle of posting the Araneta Summer Sale photos, I was asked by Mr. Joey, the Advertising Head of Araneta Center, if I was good at DSLR cameras and photography and asked if I could take photos of Gateway shops and promo items. I quickly admitted that I am not that trained and experienced in photography (unlike my some of my blockmates who took photography as their electives) but I remember I told him that I am more than willing to learn photography if he would want teach me how. Right away, Mr. Joey took a DSLR camera and taught how to use the on and off button and what to click when I want to capture a photo and then that’s it. He then told “I think that’s all you need to know. Just go and just take pictures! Just follow your instincts”, while I was starting to panic inside knowing I never knew the “photography” angles, lighting, etc. No matter how afraid I was, I put on a brave smile and answered “I will do my best, Sir!”
Not only was I going to take pictures, Ms. Alicia Amistad also told me to interview shop managers regarding their promo items and biggest sale percentage during the Grand Araneta Summer Sale. This was a sudden field work. I can say that it was also one of my biggest responsibilities in Araneta since I was alone in doing the research and photography and I was not with someone of a higher authority when I conduct interviews and take photos. I was my own guide and supervisor at that moment.
Armed with the Marketing Department’s DSLR camera, my notebook and pen, and my Araneta ID, I went store to store in Gateway Mall introducing myself as Araneta Marketing Department Representative (as what I was told to say) and then interviewed them. The funny thing is that whenever I professionally and gracefully introduce myself as a representative of the Araneta Marketing Team, they would immediately stand straight and give me their warmest smile and their best foot forward. I felt respected as a professional every time they do that wondering how they would react if I admit I was just an intern, but my boss forbids me to do so because they might lose interest in the interview.
So coming back to the office with loads of pictures piled up in the DSLR camera, I took a deep breath and showed Ms. Alicia and Mr. Joey my photos (my first-time photos). Oh well, I couldn’t just believe it. They approved my pictures and told me they were going to use it for future publicity (maybe for the website or for the press release!! Who knew?)
Tuesday was the same as Monday. Office works. But it was it was my orientation day wherein I knew Araneta Center much better (its origins, its properties, etc.)! I also got to acquire and apply the company’s mission and vision into my passion for work. I remember Sir Bagaman, my PR professor, saying that employees are more motivated to work in their company when they apply and put into heart its vision and mission. This is called Internal PR/Communication. Sufficient knowledge about the company is one of the components that foster effective employee involvement. In our OJT Orientation, one of the Internal Communication Tools was implemented: Audio Visual Presentations and Powerpoints.
Wednesday night (overtime), I helped the marketing team set up the Binibining Pilipinas exhibit at the Gateway Mall. It was more fun than I imagined. This kind of activities really strengthens our teamwork and our professional relationships with each other! :)
Friday marked the Araneta ONE HOT SALE! This day everyone inside the marketing department were all busy making calls, sending faxes, photocopying, carrying posters around, distributing flyers to each property, and I? I assisted in every task I know I can help with. I was in charge of producing the raffle tickets and preparing the raffle prizes for the grand draw!
WEEK 3
This week is marked as the official Holy week wherein Thursday, Friday and Saturday were officially holidays, so I assumed work for Monday to Wednesday would be as light as ever, but I was wrong! Aside from the required office work and all the Public Relations monitoring, the whole marketing team was preparing for the Easter Event on Sunday. So I had to get out of my way to help them with the packing of kiddie prizes such as candies and sponsor freebies.
At that night, the marketing team and I had to set up another Bb. Pilipinas photo exhibit again. So it was another opportunity to take overtime and to build great team work with the officers!
Packing of candies was way more fun than I imagined. The conference room wherein the packing has to be done was filled with mountains of different colorful candies! It was as if I was in Candyland! the look of the room and the sweet smell of the room brought me into cloud nine so I didn't have any problem packing 500 bags of candy. After all, even the bosses of the marketing team were also packing with me!
After the packing, my next task was to finalize the judges kit for the biggest night of Binibining Pilipinas, the Coronation Night. So for the whole two days I was working on the judges' kit and also I was encoding the candidates' writeup which I really enjoyed doing since I got to know more about the candidates' life!
I wasn't really expected to come at the Easter Egg Race event. It was a Sunday and it was Easter which should be a holiday, but it was the perfect time for the company to reach out to their market. My marketing boss gave me the choice to come or not to come because she told me that if I would make it, she would put me as co-host of the event, marshal of the games, and finally judge for all the artwork competition. Since I was a girl who loved new experiences....I SAID YES!
I really love doing kiddie events. It really feels so nice to have the power to put smiles on the kids' faces and also on their parents' faces. I loved how they looked up on me and call me "Ate Zel". During the event, I could say that I got a lot of exposure, even the media (ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5,etc.) who were there for the coverage knew me as "Ate Zel".
It was all such a great experience helping with the games, the prizes, the freebies, the easter egg painting, the easter egg race, the judging of artworks, and many many more! That day I knew I was great at managing kiddie events and I had to this again and again!
135 hours down...15 more to go!
WEEK 4
The Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night was getting closer and closer. The marketing team was also getting busier and busier. I even lost count of my hours! At first, my focus was to reach 150 hours, but at that moment my focus was to make sure that the Coronation Night would be successful.
So I was tasked to do the judges' kit, the press kit, and also the invitations for the victory party after. I was introduced to the new interns of the marketing department. I thought at least I get to experience having co-interns and not being alone.
After all that, I went back to my timecard to check on the number of hours more to work on, and to my surprise, I've finished 162 hours already!
I immediately told the marketing team about it, especially to my immediate supervisor, Marjorie Go. I thanked them for all the exposure, experiences, and opportunities they have given me without any second thought and they also thanked me for working with them and they even told me that I was one of the most competent and efficient interns they had. I also got more heart warming messages from them such as "You will always be welcome in Araneta Center, especially in the marketing department", "We will miss you in the office", and last but not the least "If it's alright with you, would you extend until the Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night? It would be really nice to have you work with us there, but that is if it is okay with you?"
And again, I gave my biggest smile and happily said "Of course!"
GRAND FINALE
(Extra OJT work)
I knew even if I was just extending, I still needed to become as competent and efficient as I was before since I agreed to work with them. I was assigned to manage the Media registration booth, and I never thought I was going to meet big media people like Ginger Cornejero, Mario Dumaual, Ricky Lo, etc.!
The interns were all given Media IDs so they could roam around the audience area, stage area, and backstage area. Thus, I was able to watch the most beautiful show of the year!
FORMAL CLOSURE / EXIT INTERVIEW
Everytime an intern finishes his/her internship with Araneta, the intern should always be interviewed by the HR Department regarding her experience, her bosses, her co-interns, and everything regarding the OJT.
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And I can say the whole OJT was a great experience. I was given a lot of exposure and I was surprised by the events that took place which I never knew I could become a part of. I remember as a kid, I watch Binibining Pilipinas on television and who would know that one day I'd become a part of it (of course, not as one of the candidates) but at least a part of it. I have even tried almost every work, from office work to field work. I have even made professional relationships with the media through Binibining Pilipinas and also with Araneta's youngest market through the Easter event. And what I like most about being an intern of Araneta is knowing that I have already experienced my future work. After all, I was already in the Araneta HR Department 's Talent Bank.
By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
March 24, 2012, 12:02am
"MANILA, Philippines — Reigning beauty queens and this year’s candidates of the Bb. Pilipinas 2012 brought smiles of hope in the lives of at least 50 children through a special medical mission of Operation Smile Philippines recently held at the Sta. Ana Hospital.
Led by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) Chairperson Stella Marquez-Araneta and Smile Ambassador and Ms. Universe 2011 3rd runner up Shamcey Supsup, the ladies assisted in the medical mission as part of an advocacy recently embraced by BPCI. Operation Smile is a private, non-profit organization that conducts medical missions in partner-countries.
During the Ms. Universe 2011 pageant, Shamcey Supsup was one of the selected candidates that participated in the Operation Smile mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bb. Pilipinas International 2011 Dianne Necio and Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2011 Isabella Manjon, a registered nurse, were also on hand to assist in the mission.
The ladies were warmly welcomed by Operation Smile Philippines trustees Robbie Antonio of Century Properties and Ann Gonzales of Havaianas and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Mario Lato. John Joseph Javier, PAGCOR’s, Assistant Manager, Community Relations and Services Department and Manila Bulletin’s Badette Cunanan and Barbie Atienza also graced the occasion.
One of the highlights of the activity was the R600,000 pledge of BPCI intended to fund a future medical mission to benefit at least 40 children. Mrs. Araneta says that “the Binibining Pilipinas is not only concerned about the external beauty of face and figure. Beyond this kind of beauty, we espouse compassion for those who are underprivileged, those who have less in life. The effort becomes more meaningful because through this partnership with Operation Smile, we can actually help bring radiant smiles of hope in the lives of these children.”
Stella Marquez Araneta, BPCI Executive Board Member Conchitina Bernardo, together with three reigning beauty queens Shamcey Supsup, Dianne Necio and Isabella Manjon assisted in the operation of eight-month-old Armhea Lucas, whose cleft problem was so bad it pushed to her nose. After less than an hour, Armhea was brought out of the operating room to her tearful mom, with a brand new countenance. Mrs. Lucas, Armhea’s mom said, “Hindi ko po akalain na may ganitong mangyayari para sa anak ko. Mabuti na lang ang nagpursige ang asawa ko na hanapin ang Operation Smile. Ngayon, walang kasing tamis ang magiging ngiti at buhay ng anak ko. Salamat sa Operation Smile, Binibining Pilipinas at Pagcor.”
Roberto Manzano of Operation Smile welcomed the Bb. Pilipinas queens and candidates into the mission. “We see this as an important highlight in our 30th anniversary celebration of Operation Smile in the Philippines. In Operation Smile, we believe that when you create smiles, you change lives and you heal humanity. It is a touching scene when you see a beautiful girl lifting up the spirit of a child whose cleft deformities and face will be changed forever. It gives an altogether tangible dimension to beauties promoting hope and world peace.”
The Operation Smile mission is just one of many activities of the Bb. Pilipinas 2012. On March 25, there will be a grand Parade of Beauties around the Araneta Center starting at 4 p.m. On April 8, a pre-pageant Primer will be aired on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best. Coronation night will be on April 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and will be aired on ABS-CBN."
After the press conference, everyone was brought into the room wherein kids with cleft lip and palate were playing, crying, and sleeping. Beauty candidates and managers/directors interacted with them while the press were taking pictures.
And I took some moments to take some "souvenirs" YEAH!
March 26, 2012 Last Day of Operation Smile:
Ms. Ali and I met at Mcdonald's and headed to Farmer's to meet all the Binibining Pilipinas candidates. This was the last day of the Operation Smile and it was time to check out the status of the Sta. Ana patients, specifically the kids with cleft lip and palate.
When we arrived Sta. Ana, we headed all to the Operating Room. I was assigned as the photographer for Araneta therefore I was given a chance and opportunity to take pictures inside the room, but unfortunately I only have the Araneta DSLR camera in my hand and my personal camera is in my bag which I left in the meeting area.
Together with the candidates, we changed into the required operating room outfit... it was fabulous! haha!
We witnessed a life-changing experience inside the operating room. The kids who were undergoing a surgery were all asleep while the doctors, the nurses, the assistants were all working hard to give them quality operation and a new hope and a new life, while the parents outside were all worriedly praying and nervous about everything. Being Araneta's official photographer, I aimed to capture the best photos I can. Kneeling down to get the best angle. Tiptoeing above the chair to get a great view and a dramatic angle. and just everything to satisfy and impress the Araneta marketing team and to show them that I am serious about my job.
But sadly, I don't own those DSLR pictures so I should only upload my own copies from my own camera.
So after all the surgey and after seeing all the kids with normal lips and palate, I felt as if I was so happy about being a part of the event in my own little ways. It was also shocking at the same time seeing the whole procedure of the operation, all the blood and sweat, just....nuff said
Lunch break and interaction with the post surgery - recovering patients (as well as the pre-surgery patients):
This is where I began to make friends with the Binibining Pilipinas candidates and discovered a lot of things about them too :) while they also discovered things about me through asking me questions about my course, my internship, my college life, and more...
So that would be all for the week and I shall now sign off for I will be preparing myself for another event tomorrow (Sunday, March 25, 2012) It would be the Parade of Beauties! It will start at 4pm at the Araneta Center. Come?
WEEK 2
March 25, 2012 Sunday
Araneta Center's Annual Parade showcase Bb. Pilipinas Beauties
It was a big sunday for the Binibining Pilipinas candidates and for me as well. It was one of the events I was looking forward to as an intern in the company. I loved how I was given a balance of exposure whether in office work or in field work.I love both kinds of work but field work and events management seem to be more adventurous. No routine. Just risks.
Our calltime was at 2pm at the Balay (in front of Farmer's market). Inside the conference hall, 24 beautiful girls were all preparing for the grand parade that will take place at the streets surrounding Araneta Center Inc. A few were retouching their eye makeup, with their faces all close to their own mirrors, busily and focused in putting on lashes and eyeliners, while some were already made up and just listening to their iPods as they rest their eyes. Whatever they do, they were all seated in a cool place and trying to be at their most comfortable state before their big moment....
While I was outside under the heat of the noon scorching sun, making sure that everyone was present and in their places. The fiesta dancers? check! Cars? all present? Check! Now, it's time to put the numberings and the three balloons each car (taco bell balloon, dairy queen balloon, and pizza hut balloon) and by the time my job's done. I shall capture these pretty colorful scenes in my camera...and of course, in Araneta's DSLR camera since I was made the official photographer of the event with Mr. Efren Deblois:
Araneta Center's Annual Parade showcase Bb. Pilipinas Beauties
It was a big sunday for the Binibining Pilipinas candidates and for me as well. It was one of the events I was looking forward to as an intern in the company. I loved how I was given a balance of exposure whether in office work or in field work.I love both kinds of work but field work and events management seem to be more adventurous. No routine. Just risks.
Our calltime was at 2pm at the Balay (in front of Farmer's market). Inside the conference hall, 24 beautiful girls were all preparing for the grand parade that will take place at the streets surrounding Araneta Center Inc. A few were retouching their eye makeup, with their faces all close to their own mirrors, busily and focused in putting on lashes and eyeliners, while some were already made up and just listening to their iPods as they rest their eyes. Whatever they do, they were all seated in a cool place and trying to be at their most comfortable state before their big moment....
While I was outside under the heat of the noon scorching sun, making sure that everyone was present and in their places. The fiesta dancers? check! Cars? all present? Check! Now, it's time to put the numberings and the three balloons each car (taco bell balloon, dairy queen balloon, and pizza hut balloon) and by the time my job's done. I shall capture these pretty colorful scenes in my camera...and of course, in Araneta's DSLR camera since I was made the official photographer of the event with Mr. Efren Deblois:
"The event coincides with the Araneta Coliseum’s 50th anniversary – the pageant’s venue for the highly anticipated Coronation Night on March 6, 2010. Clad in chic gold-hued swimwear, the candidates toured the Center onboard sporty Mazda Miata cars. Reigning beauty queens Pamela Bianca Manalo (Miss Universe-Philippines 2009), Melody Gersbach (Bb. Pilipinas International 2009), and Marie Ann Umali (Bb. Pilipinas World 2009) looked regal atop a Greek-inspired float. The Philippine Navy and Marine Drum and Bugle bands provided the lively accompaniment, while drumbeaters, poi dancers, mimes, fire eaters, and other street performers wowed spectators lined up along the streets of Araneta Center. Motorcycle riders of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Dairy Queen added to the festive mood.
The annual parade is the penultimate activity for the candidates before they go through the final stage of the competition to clinch the three major pageant titles. The annual Binibining Pilipinas pageant is the major fundraising project of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), which for the last 46 years continues to bring the message of hope and love across the nation. BPCI is the official franchise holder of the Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World beauty pageants. True to BPCI’s mission, the young ladies involved with Binibining Pilipinas show that real beauty lies within, as they pursue projects that help improve the lives of the underprivileged members of society." - official BBP site
After the parade, everyone was lead into the stage wherein all candidates and the three queens will be presented. It took place in front Gateway Pavilion, wherein I was backstage tasked to give cues to the technician for sounds and to the host for the voiceover script. I was given a certain amount of time wherein the whole program had to be done. I was in the guidance of the Gateway Marketing Officer, Ms. Kristel. My training with my Events Management class, Theater class, TV prod class, and my extracurricular Teatro Kolehiyo ng Miriam (wherein I once took the role of Stage Manager) made me go beyond what is expected of me. I made an impression that I knew what I was doing. Pats on the back and congratulating smiles from my bosses met me as I was done with the event, and it felt beyond fulfilling, even I was surprised with what I did.
After the event program, the next task was to gather everyone (candidates, queens, media, event organizers, drivers, etc.) involved in setting up the event for dinner at the Gateway Oasis. I brought all the press kits into the registration area where I was assigned to get the contact details of the media for future events wherein they will be needed for press release and publicity.
Problem Encountered: the Gateway Oasis is a floating open air restaurant and it was already starting to rain. The food is already placed in the buffet table and half of the guests were already at the registration booth and dinner starts in 15 minutes.
I remember back in my Events Management class that we were taught the importance of knowing the venue and the importance of having Plan Bs especially in events that take place in an open air area. I joined the discussions of the marketing team on deciding what to do next and it was a good thing we all are familiar with Gateway that is why we decided to move dinner to Gateway Suites conference hall just two floors above. And everything now fell into place, I transferred all press kits and met up with each and every media myself to inform them and usher them to the next location. One group from the media approached and thanked me for accommodating them and also this group even remembered me helping them ever since the Operational Smile Event! Hearing that made me feel special and important!
Wednesday night (overtime), I helped the marketing team set up the Binibining Pilipinas exhibit at the Gateway Mall. It was more fun than I imagined. This kind of activities really strengthens our teamwork and our professional relationships with each other! :)
Friday marked the Araneta ONE HOT SALE! This day everyone inside the marketing department were all busy making calls, sending faxes, photocopying, carrying posters around, distributing flyers to each property, and I? I assisted in every task I know I can help with. I was in charge of producing the raffle tickets and preparing the raffle prizes for the grand draw!
Monday was dedicated for office work. I was working and focused in what I’d like to call ‘my own desk’. I had the privilege to have my own desk since I was their only intern. For that day, I was reading the newspapers to note on how frequent the event yesterday, the Parade of Beauties, appeared on the print media. Several newspapers, such as Manila Tribune, Manila Bulletin, and Taliba, had the Parade of Beauties media coverage at the front page, while the Parade of Beauties news story appeared on the entertainment sections of widely known newspapers such as Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was a good thing that almost all newspapers had a news story for the event yesterday. Araneta was in every newspaper that day and the coverage was all free.
This monitoring task always reminds me of my Public Relations class, it was very essential for the company to always have regular contact with the media and build good relationships with them to keep the company’s publicity going. I remember during the after-parade dinner, our Public Relations Manager, Ms. Tessa Mangahas, was seated with the writers dining with them, laughing with them, and strengthening relationships with them. I encoded all the new media contacts from the registration booth wherein I was assigned to take charge of during the dinner last night. I had the list with me in which I asked the every single media person to sign in with their names during their dinner last night at Gateway Suites. I roamed around every table making sure they get media tokens (Binibining Pilipinas paperbag with Bb. Pilipinas T Shirt inside) and thank them for coming to the parade. At that moment, in my little way, I was Araneta Center Inc.’s spokesperson or representative to communicate to the media.
Technically, the Parade of Beauties event was over and next in line was the Araneta Grand Summer Sale on March 30 to April 4. It was an upcoming event that was heavy for the advertising group in the marketing department so I had to assist them in whatever tasks they are doing. I was given the responsibility to do digital marketing for a while (posting advertisements of the upcoming sale, posting pictures of promo items and thinking of captions that will surely make the readers want to shop). In this task, I was given the opportunity to use my copywriting skills and I have been able to apply my copywriting knowledge of the importance of not only being clever but also being conversational and understood by the market.
As I was in the middle of posting the Araneta Summer Sale photos, I was asked by Mr. Joey, the Advertising Head of Araneta Center, if I was good at DSLR cameras and photography and asked if I could take photos of Gateway shops and promo items. I quickly admitted that I am not that trained and experienced in photography (unlike my some of my blockmates who took photography as their electives) but I remember I told him that I am more than willing to learn photography if he would want teach me how. Right away, Mr. Joey took a DSLR camera and taught how to use the on and off button and what to click when I want to capture a photo and then that’s it. He then told “I think that’s all you need to know. Just go and just take pictures! Just follow your instincts”, while I was starting to panic inside knowing I never knew the “photography” angles, lighting, etc. No matter how afraid I was, I put on a brave smile and answered “I will do my best, Sir!”
Not only was I going to take pictures, Ms. Alicia Amistad also told me to interview shop managers regarding their promo items and biggest sale percentage during the Grand Araneta Summer Sale. This was a sudden field work. I can say that it was also one of my biggest responsibilities in Araneta since I was alone in doing the research and photography and I was not with someone of a higher authority when I conduct interviews and take photos. I was my own guide and supervisor at that moment.
Armed with the Marketing Department’s DSLR camera, my notebook and pen, and my Araneta ID, I went store to store in Gateway Mall introducing myself as Araneta Marketing Department Representative (as what I was told to say) and then interviewed them. The funny thing is that whenever I professionally and gracefully introduce myself as a representative of the Araneta Marketing Team, they would immediately stand straight and give me their warmest smile and their best foot forward. I felt respected as a professional every time they do that wondering how they would react if I admit I was just an intern, but my boss forbids me to do so because they might lose interest in the interview.
So coming back to the office with loads of pictures piled up in the DSLR camera, I took a deep breath and showed Ms. Alicia and Mr. Joey my photos (my first-time photos). Oh well, I couldn’t just believe it. They approved my pictures and told me they were going to use it for future publicity (maybe for the website or for the press release!! Who knew?)
Tuesday was the same as Monday. Office works. But it was it was my orientation day wherein I knew Araneta Center much better (its origins, its properties, etc.)! I also got to acquire and apply the company’s mission and vision into my passion for work. I remember Sir Bagaman, my PR professor, saying that employees are more motivated to work in their company when they apply and put into heart its vision and mission. This is called Internal PR/Communication. Sufficient knowledge about the company is one of the components that foster effective employee involvement. In our OJT Orientation, one of the Internal Communication Tools was implemented: Audio Visual Presentations and Powerpoints.
Wednesday night (overtime), I helped the marketing team set up the Binibining Pilipinas exhibit at the Gateway Mall. It was more fun than I imagined. This kind of activities really strengthens our teamwork and our professional relationships with each other! :)
Friday marked the Araneta ONE HOT SALE! This day everyone inside the marketing department were all busy making calls, sending faxes, photocopying, carrying posters around, distributing flyers to each property, and I? I assisted in every task I know I can help with. I was in charge of producing the raffle tickets and preparing the raffle prizes for the grand draw!
WEEK 3
At that night, the marketing team and I had to set up another Bb. Pilipinas photo exhibit again. So it was another opportunity to take overtime and to build great team work with the officers!
This week is marked as the official Holy week wherein Thursday, Friday and Saturday were officially holidays, so I assumed work for Monday to Wednesday would be as light as ever, but I was wrong! Aside from the required office work and all the Public Relations monitoring, the whole marketing team was preparing for the Easter Event on Sunday. So I had to get out of my way to help them with the packing of kiddie prizes such as candies and sponsor freebies.
At that night, the marketing team and I had to set up another Bb. Pilipinas photo exhibit again. So it was another opportunity to take overtime and to build great team work with the officers!
Packing of candies was way more fun than I imagined. The conference room wherein the packing has to be done was filled with mountains of different colorful candies! It was as if I was in Candyland! the look of the room and the sweet smell of the room brought me into cloud nine so I didn't have any problem packing 500 bags of candy. After all, even the bosses of the marketing team were also packing with me!
After the packing, my next task was to finalize the judges kit for the biggest night of Binibining Pilipinas, the Coronation Night. So for the whole two days I was working on the judges' kit and also I was encoding the candidates' writeup which I really enjoyed doing since I got to know more about the candidates' life!
I wasn't really expected to come at the Easter Egg Race event. It was a Sunday and it was Easter which should be a holiday, but it was the perfect time for the company to reach out to their market. My marketing boss gave me the choice to come or not to come because she told me that if I would make it, she would put me as co-host of the event, marshal of the games, and finally judge for all the artwork competition. Since I was a girl who loved new experiences....I SAID YES!
I really love doing kiddie events. It really feels so nice to have the power to put smiles on the kids' faces and also on their parents' faces. I loved how they looked up on me and call me "Ate Zel". During the event, I could say that I got a lot of exposure, even the media (ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5,etc.) who were there for the coverage knew me as "Ate Zel".
It was all such a great experience helping with the games, the prizes, the freebies, the easter egg painting, the easter egg race, the judging of artworks, and many many more! That day I knew I was great at managing kiddie events and I had to this again and again!
135 hours down...15 more to go!
The Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night was getting closer and closer. The marketing team was also getting busier and busier. I even lost count of my hours! At first, my focus was to reach 150 hours, but at that moment my focus was to make sure that the Coronation Night would be successful.
So I was tasked to do the judges' kit, the press kit, and also the invitations for the victory party after. I was introduced to the new interns of the marketing department. I thought at least I get to experience having co-interns and not being alone.
After all that, I went back to my timecard to check on the number of hours more to work on, and to my surprise, I've finished 162 hours already!
I immediately told the marketing team about it, especially to my immediate supervisor, Marjorie Go. I thanked them for all the exposure, experiences, and opportunities they have given me without any second thought and they also thanked me for working with them and they even told me that I was one of the most competent and efficient interns they had. I also got more heart warming messages from them such as "You will always be welcome in Araneta Center, especially in the marketing department", "We will miss you in the office", and last but not the least "If it's alright with you, would you extend until the Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night? It would be really nice to have you work with us there, but that is if it is okay with you?"
And again, I gave my biggest smile and happily said "Of course!"
The interns were all given Media IDs so they could roam around the audience area, stage area, and backstage area. Thus, I was able to watch the most beautiful show of the year!
FORMAL CLOSURE / EXIT INTERVIEW
Everytime an intern finishes his/her internship with Araneta, the intern should always be interviewed by the HR Department regarding her experience, her bosses, her co-interns, and everything regarding the OJT.
And I can say the whole OJT was a great experience. I was given a lot of exposure and I was surprised by the events that took place which I never knew I could become a part of. I remember as a kid, I watch Binibining Pilipinas on television and who would know that one day I'd become a part of it (of course, not as one of the candidates) but at least a part of it. I have even tried almost every work, from office work to field work. I have even made professional relationships with the media through Binibining Pilipinas and also with Araneta's youngest market through the Easter event. And what I like most about being an intern of Araneta is knowing that I have already experienced my future work. After all, I was already in the Araneta HR Department 's Talent Bank.
I wasn't really expected to come at the Easter Egg Race event. It was a Sunday and it was Easter which should be a holiday, but it was the perfect time for the company to reach out to their market. My marketing boss gave me the choice to come or not to come because she told me that if I would make it, she would put me as co-host of the event, marshal of the games, and finally judge for all the artwork competition. Since I was a girl who loved new experiences....I SAID YES!
I really love doing kiddie events. It really feels so nice to have the power to put smiles on the kids' faces and also on their parents' faces. I loved how they looked up on me and call me "Ate Zel". During the event, I could say that I got a lot of exposure, even the media (ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5,etc.) who were there for the coverage knew me as "Ate Zel".
It was all such a great experience helping with the games, the prizes, the freebies, the easter egg painting, the easter egg race, the judging of artworks, and many many more! That day I knew I was great at managing kiddie events and I had to this again and again!
135 hours down...15 more to go!
WEEK 4
The Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night was getting closer and closer. The marketing team was also getting busier and busier. I even lost count of my hours! At first, my focus was to reach 150 hours, but at that moment my focus was to make sure that the Coronation Night would be successful.
So I was tasked to do the judges' kit, the press kit, and also the invitations for the victory party after. I was introduced to the new interns of the marketing department. I thought at least I get to experience having co-interns and not being alone.
After all that, I went back to my timecard to check on the number of hours more to work on, and to my surprise, I've finished 162 hours already!
I immediately told the marketing team about it, especially to my immediate supervisor, Marjorie Go. I thanked them for all the exposure, experiences, and opportunities they have given me without any second thought and they also thanked me for working with them and they even told me that I was one of the most competent and efficient interns they had. I also got more heart warming messages from them such as "You will always be welcome in Araneta Center, especially in the marketing department", "We will miss you in the office", and last but not the least "If it's alright with you, would you extend until the Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night? It would be really nice to have you work with us there, but that is if it is okay with you?"
And again, I gave my biggest smile and happily said "Of course!"
GRAND FINALE
(Extra OJT work)
I knew even if I was just extending, I still needed to become as competent and efficient as I was before since I agreed to work with them. I was assigned to manage the Media registration booth, and I never thought I was going to meet big media people like Ginger Cornejero, Mario Dumaual, Ricky Lo, etc.!
FORMAL CLOSURE / EXIT INTERVIEW
Everytime an intern finishes his/her internship with Araneta, the intern should always be interviewed by the HR Department regarding her experience, her bosses, her co-interns, and everything regarding the OJT.
And I can say the whole OJT was a great experience. I was given a lot of exposure and I was surprised by the events that took place which I never knew I could become a part of. I remember as a kid, I watch Binibining Pilipinas on television and who would know that one day I'd become a part of it (of course, not as one of the candidates) but at least a part of it. I have even tried almost every work, from office work to field work. I have even made professional relationships with the media through Binibining Pilipinas and also with Araneta's youngest market through the Easter event. And what I like most about being an intern of Araneta is knowing that I have already experienced my future work. After all, I was already in the Araneta HR Department 's Talent Bank.
World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific
Internship for Public Relations class
A Report by Hazel Franchesca V. Paras
To Sr. Bernard Bagaman
I. PRE - INTERNSHIP
Why World Youth Alliance?
When we were offered the opportunity to take our internship as a substitute to our Finals, my initial reaction was ‘I’ll take it!’ I was so thankful for being in that PR class which had the option of taking an internship program, which I believe would be a learning experience on how it was like to live in the professional world. We were given two options, one was for ACASIA and one was for WYA. The first time, I heard about ACASIA and how the organization revolved around theater and arts, I was so ecstatic that I did not even want to hear the next one. So when it was time for the WYA speaker to come up on stage and give a talk about their organization, it seemed that hearing the word ‘international’ attracted me so much that I wanted to hear more. The way the WYA speaker made us feel as if there is so much more to the organization than what we think of. She began to passionately talk about how world Youth Alliance works with a cause and its cause is promoting human dignity. But, how are we supposed to do PR work for dignity and sell something that is not tangible? It seemed as a challenge thinking that who would even want to care about human dignity and make an international organization for it?
What are the main things that Ms. Renelyn Tan and Ms. Christine Violago said that made me decide to take my internship in World Youth Alliance, instead of ACASIA? First, they were very much clear in saying the organization’s vision, which is to make the world aware of each and every individual’s intrinsic dignity and to ensure that in every decision of every country, it would always support the human dignity. It was very clearly stated that being a part of World Youth Alliance required that one has to agree with the charter and the charter says that a human person already has intrinsic dignity and right to life from conception and that World Youth Alliance is against abortion. Secondly, it states that World Youth Alliance acknowledges the importance of family in the development of the human person, morally, physically, spiritually, financially, and emotionally. It believes that the family is the first and the fundamental unit of human society where man and women learn to live in genuine freedom and solidarity. In ACASIA, I did not know what their vision was and what they really work for, thus I didn’t know what they were working for. So, I chose WYA because of the knowledge on what their vision is and knowing clearly what they work for. I realized that it is good to always include the brand’s vision and mission in promoting it because it captivates not only the memory or the rationality/intellectuality of the audience, but also the emotions and the heart of the audience which is important in any public relations work.
What’s in it for me? (common question of the market)
The difference in how the speaker of ACASIA and the speaker of WYA explained the work that they needed from the students. World Youth Alliance seemed to be consistent in saying that whatever work and responsibility that would be given to us will be for a long-term. They would make us members of World Youth Alliance and train us to impact policy and culture through a deeper understanding of human dignity. This has made me realize that working for World Youth Alliance would prove beneficial not only to the company but also to me as a person and as a professional. ACASIA was more of a short-term effect and that the work that would be given to their interns would be just on generating customers and getting more audiences for their play through social media, but what is in it for their interns? The benefits seemed to be unclear and that the internship would be only beneficial to the company. I trust that my internship with WYA would be beneficial for me and for the company.
Externship vs. Internship
I chose to be an extern for reasons that I did not want schedules to clash with my classes or rather take up too much time for my homework time or my review time. Being an extern, as they explained, need not to be in the office regularly. It was, according to them, just working online and abiding by the deadlines. But, what I imagined was wrong, since we weren’t still accredited members; we had to go the office for three times in one week for training and discussions. I thought the training would only be for a week or two but I actually took two months to finish and the training is not easy and was so challenging, but I would elaborate more on than on the latter part of this paper.
Just days after passing all the requirements and showing my portfolio to Ms. Emily Dy, the Marketing Communications Director of World Youth Alliance, I received an email and what made it special was that it was the first ever job acceptance letter I had in my life.
The Acceptance Letter:
From Christine Violago:
Dear WYAAP Interns and Externs,
Happy New Year! We are really excited to work with you. I just have a few reminders for next week. Please find them below:
- The formal start of the Internship/Externship Program is on January 9 (Monday). We will brief you on your projects on that day.
- Your Certified Training Discussions will start on January 9 at 1:00PM at the WYAAP office. We will be discussing Chapter 1 of the CTP Manual (The blue book we gave out to you). Please make sure you have read the articles under this chapter. Below is the training discussion schedule we agreed upon during your orientation last December:
1. Mondays- 1:00 -2:30 PM
2. Wednesdays- 1:00 -2:30 PM
3. Fridays - Chapter answers are due.
Just after worrying about getting accepted, I had a new concern in my mind, ‘Would I be able to do the responsibilities and tasks that will be assigned to me? Can I go beyond what is expected of me? But what if I fail them, what will happen to me? This was my first steps in the professional world and I couldn’t imagine how life would be for me in that world. How would it be possible to do PR work and promote dignity at the same time.
II. INTERNSHIP PROPER
The First Meeting: Instructions, Rules, Getting to Know Each Other, & the Big Blue Book
During our first day, January 9, I met my fellow interns/externs like Reggie from La Salle, Monica from U.P., Rejjie from highschool, Lord from CSB, and last but not the least, Jolin from China! We were about 9 (who regularly attend meetings), more came from Miriam College and were my classmates in PR like, Melanie, Ninya, Joyce, and Kring. I knew there were more MC students but I’m not really familiar with the others since I rarely see them in the office, at least, as much as we do. We were actually needed to come to the office Mondays and Wednesdays for trainings which aren’t simple as anyone can imagine.
The Big Blue Book
World Youth Alliance Track-A-Training, that’s the name of the big blue book. It contained 400 pages full of words and just like an encyclopaedia. The content was all philosophical articles, constitutional laws, and declarations. Chapters were entitled Foundational History, Human Dignity, Freedom, Solidarity, Culture, History of Ideas, and International Law and Human Rights.
We never missed or skipped a single word in the book flooding with ideas, philosophies, laws, and declarations. We were even required to answer questions and submit every Friday. This training was more of a highlight, at the first three weeks, than the PR work. It was so challenging and it was so mentally difficult, as it is not just intellectual but also philosophical. The fact that signing up for World Youth Alliance added up the pile of things to do made it more challenging for me. It was like we signed up for a Philosophy/Constitution/PR subject combined; a big challenge indeed.
Passion for World Youth Alliance
However, despite the hardships in dealing with the book, its contents proved to be life changing for me. The first chapter was about WYA’s foundational history which helped me develop a sense of ‘WYA-ness’ or rather the feeling that I am about to do something to change the organization and the world in my own little ways through my abilities, in my case, PR abilities.
Then, I realized, how would I ever promote World Youth Alliance to the people if I don’t even know what it stands for, what its beliefs are, and the reason behind the organization? In doing Public Relations, it is essential that you base your activities on the image of the organization, thus, PR practitioners should know the fundaments of its client before it can conceptualize and implement PR activities, such as events.
First Major Project for World Youth Alliance: The Storyboard for WYA Orchestra
Ms. Emily Dy, the Marketing Director of WYA Asia Pacific, stated the problem with the videos of the World Youth Alliance Orchestra. World Youth Alliance Orchestra is composed of musically talented young people from all over the world, but based more in New York. Whenever they perform, their performance would always be phenomenal and beautiful and these performances are always recorded on camera and would never fail to be uploaded in the World Wide Web, specifically in Youtube, but the problem is that, when people watch it, they never are compelled to know more about World Youth Alliance, or even watch more WYA orchestra videos at least.
Troubleshooting – as an aspiring PR practitioner, I put myself in the people’s shoes and watched a few WYA videos. I quickly realized what the problem was, the video did not build World Youth Alliance’s brand image much for it was uploaded they way it was recorded. The videos uploaded were raw videos. I thought that it would make an impact to the audience if the videos had an opening billboard (OBB) and a closing billboard (CBB) which will leave a mark to people who would watch the WYA Orchestra videos, since it would be the OBB and CBB which would be able to build up an image.
STORYBOARD # 1: Proposed Promotional Video
STORYBOARD #2: Closing Billboard (with Call to Action)
RESULTS OF PROPOSAL:
Ms. Emily Dy approved the storyboards and expressed how she liked the idea and how the idea is connected to WYA’s charter in a way that would still appeal to the young people of today, considering that my proposed promotional video would incorporate the pop music culture of today’s youth and how it would connect to the classical music played by the WYA Orchestra. It was also good, according to her, that I have shown them my ability to talk the WYA language through the story script, ‘unity in diversity’. Thanks to the Track-A-Training book!
Not only did Ms. Emily approve of my storyboard, she even sent it to the New York Headquarters and even the WYA officers of New York liked my proposal and they expressed excitement in seeing this proposal turn into reality. Knowing that my work (as a total beginner) was already approved by international people made me feel like I have so much to offer to the world.
Second Major Project: Updating the Official World Youth Alliance Blog
From Ms. Emily Dy –
Hi Hazel, congratulations for the storyboards, here’s another individual assignment. Instructions: The point of the WYA Tumblr account is for it to be a compilation of news from all the WYA Regions. Each region already has its own Twitter/Blogger/Facebook accounts, and HQ has the main WYA website to post news. The Tumblr account should be updated weekly with all the news found on all the other sites.
It was a pressure to me knowing that I was trusted with the password and the power to control the World Youth Alliance official site and that I was the only one to update it and nobody else and have I already mentioned that that official site is not only of the regional World Youth Alliance but the site trusted to me was the official site of the whole World Youth Alliance (from Africa, from Latin America, Europe, Phile, etc.!) It was really overwhelming to think that even people outside the country would see my posts or updates. From the very beginning I knew I needed supervision and I believe I should not feel ashamed to ask for help if I needed it.
Looking at the current WYA blog, my honest opinions were that the blog seemed to be sort of dull since the posts looked all the same. The blog was full of videos which were all black squares with the white ‘play’ button in each square. I told myself I had to do something to change the way it looked. I figured the look of the blog would not really compel young people to engage more in reading of the blog, so I decided to change the format of the posts and add some words in it, words that are conversational. I would want the blog to have a more personal touch so that it could reach out to its market.
In the first blog updates I posted, I rewrote some news about World Youth Alliance in a conversational manner and added personal pictures in it so that it would look more grounded, but still, I thought I needed Ms. Emily Dy to manage what I am posting to check if it’s okay and if it’s going to be effective.
From Ms. Emily: Hi Hazel,
Thanks for updating me when you've worked on the Tumblr account. Keep sending me email updates whenever you've posted so I can check on it. Yes it's correct and it looks good. But moving forward, post a lot of small items like videos, photos, quotes to balance out the long ones that you have already posted. I suggest that if you or any of your batchmates have favorite / inspiring quotes from the training materials.
Thanks for telling me what sort of guidance you need; I really appreciate it because it helps us figure out the best way to work together. A skill that will help you when you jump into the working world soon!Have a good weekend ahead, see you on Monday :)
Taking Ms. Emily’s suggestions, my next posts were shorter but I made sure it was clever. I posted quotes, pictures, and event posters with captions that invited them to come along, but I thought that it might not be enough; I wanted more participation from blog readers, so I came up with a ‘movement’ with the consent of Ms. Emily and I posted “How far will you go to promote dignity?” I posted pictures I saw in WYA facebook accounts that shown how people promote dignity and invited them to post pictures of themselves promoting dignity and post in on FB and that they would be featured in the WYA Official blog.
As to what I learned in PR classes, it is important that the market knows its importance and its role, that is why audience participation will always be a good means to build the image, generate awareness and loyalty, and to do PR work. Incorporating these lessons in my work has made it beneficial to World Youth Alliance.
From Ms. Renelyn Tan: Dear Hazel, Thanks so much for the extra effort you're putting in to help WYA's visibility. I'll be asking Christine to print some materials that we can post. Great work!
From Ms. Emily Dy: Just checked it, good job! The posts are now more even and varied. Thanks for all your work on this. I love that you took the extra step of making helpful notes and if we need permission to post.
Third Major Project: Heart in Art: Dignity through Freedom of Artistic Expression
The WYA regional directors Ms. Renelyn Tan and Ms. Christine Violago wanted us, their externs, to put up an event as part of our externship experience. They explained that any kind of event will do as long as it would be related to World Youth Alliance, of course. And because we knew the essence of World Youth Alliance already, my team and I came up with an event that will truly build WYA’s brand image and that will focus on its target market. I was the appointed leader by our marketing supervisor, Ms. Emily Dy. My responsibility was to create the project implementation plan and project proposal.
The event we have conceptualized was a film presentation of Fine Dining, a winning film by Lance Katigbak which won in the Manhattan Film Festival and an art exhibition that presented traditional art, photography, graphic design (digital) made by the youth, specifically 13 to 30 years old. The date of the art exhibit happened on the night of March 9, 2012 (Friday, 7-10pm) and took place on Xanland 303 (WYA office). This art exhibit showcased the youth’s artistic talents. Our target audience and participants were mostly outsiders, it was good to have outsiders because our goal was to increase awareness of World Youth Alliance and generate more WYAAP Facebook-likers, and WYA members! This event was also made worth-attending because it offered free dinner (pizza, pasta, and desserts) and also free flowing drinks, which we believe is another motivation for the Filipino youth to attend since Filipinos are fond of food. There were a lot of college students, not only from across Katipunan but also from across the Manila area too, who participated in the event. Their artistic submissions were incredibly great and it brought life to our event vision which is to show how one has human dignity and can join in unity despite diversity.
The event was not only attended by students, but also attended by friends and families of WYA members. There were also people who were older and younger than our target age bracket. It was also a ground for our PR work. We have mingled with possibly, each and every one of them and talked about our work in WYA in a conversational way while referring to the art exhibit. Also, our program has set more attendees to go a step further through liking the WYAAP Facebook Page and to sign the WYA charter and be a member.
Event Objectives:
General objective: To build WYA’s brand image and their market awareness as a youth organization that welcomes diversity and promotes unity within diversity through showcasing different artistic contributions unified in one art exhibition in one theme, ‘dignity’.
Specific objectives:
1) To invite outsiders and WYA members to showcase their artistic talents, specifically in visual arts
2) To explain and present intrinsic dignity and freedom to the youth through the art exhibition and through the event’s opening remarks.
3) To get WYA to know more about the culture of the present generation wherein digital graphic design is a trend and photography is a growing passion since many students nowadays are equipped with DSLR professional cameras.
4) To get the audience and participants appreciate their culture, their community, and their individuality through the exhibit.
5) To generate more WYAAP Facebook page likers so that it will be easier to promote future WYA events.
6) To invite and encourage the audience to ‘sign the charter’ (after giving them flyers or brochures that explain WYA’s philosophy)
Program Flow:
6:00pm – Registration: Sign up sheets, laptop to “like” WYAAP Facebook page
6:30pm – Opening of event, Introduction (Unity in Diversity art exhibit and Lance Katigbak film festival) to be hosted by Hazel, Melanie, and Joyce
7:15pm - Introduction to WYA (to be hosted by Ms. Renelyn Tan)
7:25pm - Introduction to WYA Film Festival (Ms. Renelyn Tan and to be introduced by Lance Katigbak)
7:35pm - Screening of the Fine Dining and other films from the festival
7:45pm – Break
8:00pm - Director on the Spotlight (Lance Katigbak)
8:10pm - Speakers/Artists (to be moderated by Melanie and Hazel)
8:30pm - WYA Member’s Reaction
8:40pm - Open Forum (to be moderated by Joyce)
8:45pm - Closing Remarks (Ms. Christine and Ms. Emily)
9:00pm - End of Program
Outcome of the event:
Since the registration required its guests to like the World Youth Alliance page before they enter, the event organizers had generated more ‘likers’ of the WYA Asia Pacific facebook page which will make it easier for future event invitations. Most of our attendees has also signed the WYA charter and became a member of World Youth Alliance. Because of the opportunity to meet new people, WYA has widened its contacts and has also increased more awareness of the market to the organization and this awareness is also relative to what WYA stands for, dignity (through freedom of artistic expression). What is also good about the event is the fact that not a single peso was shelled out by World Youth Alliance in putting up the event. The art/pictures were printed by the artists themselves, the decorations were made out of recyclable materials and some were donated by WYA members, the food (free dinner) was made possible because of the potluck system for only us, event organizers. We have applied another PR lesson which is the importance of resourcefulness in marketing organizations/clients.
The increase of WYA members during the night of the event was an outcome of how we executed the objective of the event and reinforced the importance of promoting dignity and how it can change the world. We have appealed to both the emotional and rational aspect of our market.
Reflections
All in all, the World Youth Alliance office served as a training ground for me, professionally. I learned the basics of employee-to-boss relationships, employee-to-employee relationships, and employee-to-work relationships as well. I believe that my internship with World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific served as a eye-opener on what the world really needed. I learned here in WYA, through the work I do and through the discussions we had in our training, I learned that one’s job should not stop at being just a job, but rather one’s work should have the essence of human dignity, knowing that your job has something good to contribute to the world and knowing that you as an individual have all the capabilities to make the world a better place. I can say that my internship in World Youth Alliance equipped me with purpose, motivation, and meaning for the next professional experiences to come my way. As I work in different office settings, I will always take with me the philosophy of World Youth Alliance and that is everyone has intrinsic dignity and that my work should always promote dignity in every aspect.
Recommendations for World Youth Alliance
The opportunities and the experiences that WYA has offered to us are beyond sufficient. Unlike other internships in which the interns are just asked to photocopy this, make coffee, cut news clippings, etc., World Youth Alliance gave us the opportunity and the trust of working for higher tasks such as events management, social media monitoring and writing, marketing and PR activities, and such. It is recommended that they maintain the amount of tasks given to their future externs/interns. However, a lot of us had a problem with the big Track-A-Training book, it actually consumed more time than some PR work which should not really be the highlight of the internship. We signed up for PR work and not for philosophy. It would be better if the Track-A-Training readings were more summarized for interns who have classes and school during their internship. It was really hard doing academics with work together and I recommend WYA to be more aware of that.
