Go Ahead, Make Memories

An anonymous person asked me this question in my Formspring account:

Has this semester been loaded with things? 

What kind of things?

I thought about it for a while, and thought that, of course, STRESS would be the first thing on the list. However, I know that there were greater things which made this semester really fully loaded. More than the academic requirements and org stuff which bombarded us this semester, what counts more are the memories made in between those requirements and stress. 

First, there were my group mates in OrCom 183 or Audio-Visual Communication. These people were ever-efficient, reliable and bibo. This group has future directors, script writers, videographers, editors and producer in it. 

Kudos to us, team! Last requirement na! Let's give our BEST SHOT!

In this photo (L-R): Me, Mara, Jessie, Bart, Pat, Abby

Meet (L-R) Marc, Josh, Me, Jama, Luigi, Glazy and again, Bart.

Then, we have our Public Relations class every Saturday. Part of its requirements were planning and executing Public Relations Campaigns, and of course, reporting. Our PR campaign for our degree program, Organizational Communication, in Manila Science High School was the most remarkable of them all. It was a chance for us all not to only brag about OrCom, but convince the junior high school students that communication courses shouldn't be belittled. Communication isn't just art, but also science. Team mates, truly, our persuasive skills are exceptional!

The slate's VPs (hopefully, abstain won't win)!
Ceejae, Pat, Me!

March, these past few weeks especially, marks the peak of this intensified semester. First, there was the OrComSoc elections. The slate had to make collaterals for the campaign, so we had our photo shoot last week. The candidates were interviewed and were asked to submit their General Plan of Action. I can guarantee, without bias, that the candidates deserve to be part of OrComSoc's Executive Committee next school year 2011-2012. *Cross-fingers*

Paulit-ulit man, I love you, (L-R) Ria, Luigi, Rz & Neil!

This semester, UP Adhere gave me and fellow members the chance to handle an online viral PR campaign for Unilab's Quality Choice Challenge. After all the stress, video shootings, meetings and extensive planning, the campaign turned out very well! I am a happy kid! And I am sure that UP Manila enjoyed the photo booth and freebies as well!

More than passing requirements, acing exams and meeting deadlines, Junior Year is all about loving the people you are with: your BATCH MATES. It is all about getting to know the people who were once strangers to you, sharing moments and making memories with them. This Friday, I went home and told myself, "Nako Erica, mami-miss mo ang college." HELL YEAH.

LET'S GO JUNIORS! This is our last hurrah before the SENIOR YEAR! 

Ay, may summer internship pa pala. :)

Crossroads

March 7, 2011

Mark that date. I took this photo while sipping my Black Gulaman from Chowking. I shot the picture because the scenery looked perfect. Never had I thought that it was meant to say something about what’s going to happen to me today: crossroads, decisions.

This day presented to me lots of opportunities and decisions to make. The cards were all laid out; all I got to do was make a quality choice. Damn, it was so hard! 

Unexpectedly, God answered my prayer today. I got a company for my summer internship, and oh! I am so thankful that it was a Public Relations firm! Ever since the day HR Manager X told me that, based on my resume, I am more fit for a public relations work, I had one eye closed for advertising companies. Nevertheless, all these things worked out for His plan. :) 

Even with all our doubts and fears, God never cease to be faithful to us. So if you are having a blurry sight of the future, hold on! God knows where He’s leading you.

-- reblogged from ericaroberta.tumblr.com

You Can Only Make It Better

"I can see through your resume that you are into communications. However, we are currently looking for applicants who are into creatives. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera..."

 Those were the words of the HR manager who interviewed me a few days ago. I was taken aback with what she said, because it seems to her that I am not the right person they are looking for. But before I say anything else, I would like to make it clear that I am not "NOT into the arts", because believe me, I do love designing and doodling and doing other artsy-fartsy stuff. Now, before this journal sounds like a grievance note, I'm going to share with you the things I realized after reflecting on this scenario several times.

Job hunting tip #1: Know what field you want to be in. For courses as dynamic as Orcom, the applicant must be certain of what field he or she likes to pursue. It will help you filter what you are going to put in your resume. 

Job hunting tip #2: Your resume is the key to the organization's gates. Your resume is your first weapon. Make sure it looks appealing (a little color on your 2-3 paged resume will do), has consistency, organization and content. 

Job hunting tip # 3: Blend in and stand out. I learned about appropriateness and competitiveness. Make sure that what you are wearing for an interview is appropriate to the company and position you are applying for. Don't be too formal, but don't be too casual. Appropriateness applies to your resume, too. Make sure that the content says a lot about you and the field you wanted to work in. Be competitive, not only with the way you look, but more so on what you know and can do.

Job hunting tip # 4: Complacency is your greatest enemy. An interview now doesn't guarantee being hired in the company later. Oh yeah, this one's for me. Hard, but true. A school mate once told us, "Just apply, apply, apply!" It's like saying, "Collect then select."

These are the bits of facts I've learned so far. Actually, there are lots more, but my thoughts are not pretty well organized right now. I'll share it with you 'pag may pag-o-OJT-han na ako. HAHAHA!

But the best thing that happened with the interviews (there were only 2, alright?) that I had was that I got to know myself better. The HR manager or interviewer is your partner on this. The questions they ask you and the answers you give will just let you visualize the impression you make on them. So make it good, no, the best. SWAG. 


You can not ruin it. You can only make it better.

Slowly But Surely

I'm in a Dora-the-Explorer-mode today, minus the purple shirt, orange shorts and back pack. Instead, I wore doll shoes, skirt, and soft blouse. Yes, it's DORA in the CITY episode today!

It's all part of growing up, right? Having to do some business and going to a place you've never been to - without your parents nor friends. Oh yeah, I smell Independence lingering somewhere. Why all this talk of growing up suddenly? 

Well, I had my first summer internship interview today! After lots of walk-ins and online resume submissions, something finally worked out! The company's giving its interns a real BIG break, letting them handle a real client account. Oh dear, I love to work on that project this summer!  To make it clear, I'm not yet "in" that company. But yes, God knows best: when, where, how and why. 

Afterwards, I went to Trinoma. It's a little bit of an achievement for me. My team mates and I were supposed to have a meeting there about U, but it was getting late, so I had to go home. Why's this an achievement? First, it's in Quezon City. Second, I've never been there. Third, I went there alone. Lastly, my mom, who usually fetches me when I go home late, didn't. Yep, that's an achievement for me, and for her. 

You know, parents have to learn to let go of their children, right? 

Although I got a little disappointed for not having to participate properly in the meeting, my brother made up for it! This is what I saw upon opening my dresser:

Now, POST-ITs can never get boring.

Oh yeah. Meet the Best brother in the world!

So much for today. Tomorrow's another surprise-filled one!

Zombies & Eye Bags

The horrific moment when your friends tag ugly-version-of-you pictures in Facebook

I'm working like a zombie for a few days now. Yes, if you come across the blogs and Facebook profiles of OrCom Juniors lately, most of us have ranting statuses. Something that goes like, "TOXIC FEBRUARY." Or "It's so stressful I'm gonna dieeeeee!" 

Oh yeah. My pictures tell it so.

Not-so-good pictures are meant to be in thumbnails.
See the dark eye bags? NOOOOO.

We were given a lot of PR (Public Relations) and AV (Audio-Visual) projects lately. Although these two fields are really meant for OCs (Obsessive-Compulsive people), who pay much attention to details, they are still the best examples that tell how productive combining work and play can be. THIS IS FUN, ya'all! 

For now, I got to slice cucumbers and put them on top of my eyes while I lie on my bed. Have a good sleep, friends! 

The Best Way To End January

I woke up this morning having a feeling that this day would be a GV-Day, although I'm expecting the whole week, and next few ones, to be hell-ish. (Which reminds me... Oh, crap.)

I once read an inspirational book that says something like, "Wake up every morning, face the mirror and tell yourself, 'This is going to be a great day!' And surely, your day's going to be." 

As I'm expecting it, our batch's SPCOM 183 (Audio-Visual Communication) Short Film Fest turned out to be the best film showing I've ever been to, given that the actors in the films were my batch mates. Whether the films' genre be drama, horror, romantic comedy, comedy parody or action hero, they all sold like Hollywood Box-Office movies. OrCom 2012 is indeed made up of students with brilliant sense of humor and creative ideas. As I quote Maine Francisco, "Lahat ata ng genre naging comedy." Oh dear, it was my first Major LOL Moment of the Year!

Unexpectedly, the day has more to offer. My birthday's extended! College Best Friends gave me fluffeeeh balloons and a chocolate cake! Oh men, I really didn't expect this. Like I told you guys earlier, "I love you girlsss, with or without cake and balloons."

Thank you, dear God! This is a great starter and week-energizer! 

Meet The Babessss (L-R): Mara, ME, Bea, Zen

19 and Counting

Approximately five minutes before the first day of my 19th year is over, here I am writing an entry for my official blogging site. This is my random, spur-of-the-moment birthday gift to myself. I'll keep this short because tomorrow's Monday, again.


Since school works kept me in front of my computer these past few days, I failed to experience the sunshine and  cool breeze in Tagaytay on this big day. Nevertheless, my mom tried her best to compensate for my unfulfilled birthday wish (but, yeah, it's on me, anyway), so she bought pizza and cooked spaghetti! Yum. 


I'm a FULL, HAPPY kid. With or without a birthday gift, I am very much thankful to God above for the 19 years that I had. Isang taon na lang, dalawang dekada naaaa!