Journal ko poh…

July 11, 2006

April 12, 2006

We went to the Department of Agriculture regional office in Guisad, Baguio City for our first day of internship. We made a courtesy call at the office of the Regional Executive Director. It turned out great because they have nicely accommodated us. Regional Executive Director Ceasar Rodriguez even kidded with us. We were assigned to the two of the Divisions in DA—Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluating Division (PMED) and Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division (RAFID). I and Cathreen were assigned to RAFID and Ave and Daisy to PMED. This very day we also met Mr. Robert Domoguen, the RAFID Director.

  April 13, 2006

It’s our first day of work. We were oriented on what we’re supposed to do and what we’re expected to finish. We acquainted ourselves with the RAFID staff and the office.

 

I found out that RAFID lacks manpower. It has only five staff: Sir Robert, Sir Edward, Ma’am Alice, Kuya Serge, and Kuya Roel.

 

Kuya Roel was assigned to be my mentor during my stay there while Kuya Serge will take charge on helping Cathreen.

 

I was asked by Sir Robert to do the layout of the 1^st Quarter issue of the DA Newsletter.

 

So far so good.

 

April 17, 2006

We went to Dairy Farm in Marcos Highway. Kuya Roel was absent so I tagged along with Kuya Serge and Cath. We took footages for the FMD MTV.

 

While Cath and Kuya Roel are editing the video, I scanned the old newsletters of DA so to have a background on the layout.

  April 18, 2006

I conceptualize the layout of the 1^st quarter issue of the DA Newsletter. Sir Robert changed the newsletter’s name from DA Newsletter to Agro-Cordillera.

  April 19, 2006

I have a hands-on experience on layouting using the Corel program. It was kinda hard because I’m used to layouting using Pagemaker but I think Corel is much better.

  April 20, 2006

Nothing new today. I continued with the layout while Cath is busy with her editing the videos.

  April 21, 2006

We are scheduled to report to school. There complaints were given and was hoped to be given attention. We also submitted our progress report.

  April 24, 2006

Same old thing. Sir Robert and Sir Edward are on travel. I observed that when the bosses are away, the other staff always comes to work late as in super super late. What’s so irritating is that we can not proceed to our supposed works for the day because we need their permission. I continued with the layout though.

  April 25, 2006

Sir Robert just arrived. He let me encode some press releases. After which I continued with the layout.

  April 26, 2006

I continued with the layout. Breaktime, Sir Robert called us to the cafeteria downstairs. He treated us to meryenda. He discussed something about our internship. He said that 66 hours is not enough for an internship. It should be extended and that there should be clear explanations on the DevCom Internship programs in “black and white” so that they, the receining party should know what to do during the internship proper. He added that beforehand, waivers for travel should be given so that they can bring the interns to out of towns.

  April 27, 2006

Kuya Roel is not around and the computer I’m using for the layout is being used. I just helped Cath do the FMD-MTV.

  April 28, 2006

We went to school. As usual, we did the reporting. I took the time to chat with my close friends. I was actually envious with Diana’s story. Shocks, she said they are always out of town. Anyway, I just thought there will also come a time that I will be the one to travel. Hehehe!

 

Gay and I went to the Provincial Capitol to gather news. We did get one from the Provincial Agriculturist Office.

  May 2, 2006

I continued with the layout. Sir Robert bought Midland Newspaper. Found my first article. Yes!

  May 3, 2006

I encoded Ma’am Alice’s press release and continued with the layout. I edited some pictures to be put in the newsletter.

  May 4, 2006

I encoded some articles for the AMAD, the office downstairs. Continued with the layout.

Read a Sunstar Newspaper. Our article is also here. Sir Robert asked us to report to ATI-BSU on Saturday. Don’t know why.

May 5, 2006

I went to school and then went to Baguio City Hall to gather some news. Unfortunately, there is none.

  May 6, 2006

We assisted in the 1^st Shalom Club Philippines Regional Conference where Sir Robert is a member. The club is an organization of people who have received scholarship, pilgrimage, and travel grant from the Israeli Embassy. I found out that Sir Cadatal and Ma’’am Grace Bengwayan are also members. It was a worthwhile experience. Really. I’ve got the chance to meet different professionals Luzonwide and I have also shaken hands with the Israeli Consul,  Nissim Palomo. The Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E Yehoshua Sagi, also gave his timely greeting and inspirational message through phone patch.

 

It ended late and it was so tiring but it’s all worth it.

  May 8, 2006

We conceptualize the layout of the Shalom newsletter.

  May 9, 2006

I helped Kuya Serge and Cath do the Shalom MTV because Kuya Roel is absent.

  May 10, 2006

I wrote a press release about the Shalom Conference and faxed it to Midland.

  May 11, 2006

I went to DA Main building to do my blog. Ave was there.

  May 12, 2006

I went to school. Afterwards, I with Cathreen went to Dairy Far to do an interview with an expert for our magazine program. We dropped by the RAFID Office, they bade us goodbye and wished us goodluck to our trip to Buguias.

  May 15, 2006

First day in Buguias. We made a courtesy call with the mayor then went to Radyo Natin. We also bought things that we’re gonna need.

 

We’re housed at BSU-Loo Campus. It’s kinda far from Abatan.

  May 16, 2006

I strolled Loo. Cathreen  and Cerelo came. We went to PILCD but its closed. Then we went to Engineer Noel Cubalit’s home to interview him about organic farming.

 

  May 17, 2006

We did our magazine program scripts. Ma’am Mafe went home but Ma’am jag is here.

  May 18, 2006

Had a meeting for our trip to Deccan, Bacolungan Sur in Buguias, the boundary of Tinoc, Ifugao and Buguias. It’s for our video documentary. Deccan is one of the sitios in Buguias which until now doesn’t have electricity.

  May 19, 2006

We started early. We hiked 3 long hours in a mountainous trail to Deccan. I almost gave up but I can’t.

 

Lunchtime, we were welcomed by the barangay kagawad in Brgy. Bad-ayan, still far from Deccan. They fed us. Then he accompanied us in waiting an elf going up to Deccan. Fortunately there is one but it’s loaded with chicken dung and it stinks. I know I can’t apply my “kaartehan” that time and besides, it’s better to ride in a stinky elf than walk another 2 hours going up that mountain.

 

We reach Deccan without anybody we know. It’s good that he community has been kind enough to house and feed us considering that we are strangers. There was no trace of hesitation in them. That I’m very very thankul.

 

We strolled in the place. Saw that their main source of living is farming. Their common produce is carrots and cabbage. Along the way, they gave us carrots to eat while walking, and we did. It was a fun experience. We also started to take footage and we did interviews.

 

Night came, at exactly 7 P.M., the lights were off. The generator they were using was shut down. We were warned to go to the house of Auntie Vicky before 7 but we got lost tracking the time, We decided to continue our interview even if its dark. Anyway, they made a bonfire in the gathering area so we sat there with them. It’s been fun. They really made us feel that we’re welcome.

 

After the interview, went to Auntie Vicky’s house. They we’re waiting for us. The house was lit with petromax connected to a gas tank. We decided toe at and then settle so to wake up early the next day.

 

I called Papa. I got very excited that I can’t wait to tell the story.

  May 20, 2006

We went down to Bad-ayan. Before departing, Auntie Vicky gave us some of the pastries they we’re doing. I decided to join the boys in hiking to Abbao because the girls were really tired and they decided to stay. It was another new experience for me.

 

Like the people of Deccan did, they also fed us there. Though it’s obvious that they’ve got nothing during that time, they bought canned goods so that they have something for us. I really appreciated it and I will never forget them. I said to myself, in one way or the other, I’m gonna do something for them also. I’ gonna do my best.

 

When we we’re supposed to go down the mountain, it rained. We’re still lucky because there was an elf set to deliver carrots to trading post. They offered us to hitch.  They made me stay in front while the boys stayed at the back.

 

As we reached Bad-Ayan, we dropped by the house where our companions stayed. They decided to come along. It was hard for them because they have to stay at the back. They got soaked in the rain.

 

I have to get the key to Abatan because I am the only one who is not wet.

 

Late at night, we did our radio plugs for our broadcast in Bontoc tomorrow.

  May 21, 2006

We went to Bontoc for our live broadcast. I was very nervous. I did it though. I joined my classmates at NIA. They cooked for us.

 

That same day, we went back to Buguias.

  May 22, 2006

We brainstormed for our radio drama then we started with the script.

  May 23, 2006

Ma’am Jag went home. We were stayed to finish our script.

  May 24, 2006

Half of the group went home to Baguio. We dropped by the Municipal Secretary’s Office to gather news for the last time. It was great.

  May 25, 2006

We started recording our radio drama.

  May 26, 2006

We continued with the recording.

  May 29, 2006

We assisted in the PRC Workshop.

  May 30, 2006

We continued the recording and we finished it. We started with the editing.

  May 31, 2006

We attended the Cultural Awareness Seminar at the Strawberry Hall.

 

This ends my internship journal. It was really a great experience for me. Though I got bored at some times, all in all, the experience was all worth it. It made me a better DevCom person and I realized that there are so many things that are needed to be attended to in this world.

  Bethsay