Finally!

After four years, one hundred and forty-seven units, a gazillion of productions, scripts and performances, buckets of tears and one thesis, this glorious and beyond awesome moment has arrived!

The path to this day is not easy. Four years in the country’s most esteemed university has taught me that my only competition is myself. It was a track of constant struggle to success and do better from my previous performance. Oftentimes, this has become a source of frustration. But it is also in UP where I found some of my sturdiest support system, aside from my family, to hold on to when the times are rough.

My fellow graduating MCOers

To UP MCO, thank you for countless wonderful times. My experience in the organization has taught me a lot that I would never learn inside the classrooms and I would never have met such awesome people. Now, I fully understand what older alumni were saying during their send-offs, MCO is truly a home I will keep coming back to. To the resident members, aim higher and do better! This is not to pressure you, but because I know you guys are capable to doing it. I love you guys!

Some of my BC batch mates (Photo c/o Camille Ventura)

To my BC batch mates, we did it! There’s no denying that we’ve been through a lot but we’ve emerged victorious. Now we face the uncertain future, but this I say, let’s not be scared to take risks because we are in the point in our lives where we have nothing to lose but everything to gain. It’s our chance to make a mark in history. Good luck to us!

With Professor Data Canlas

To all of my professors, I’ve learned a lot from you — whether these are to-dos or not-to-dos. I’m sure all of these will help me as I go into the “real world.” A special shout out to Professor Data Canlas who is my adviser (in every sense of the word). My utmost thank you.

My girls

Finally, to my girlfriends — Audrey, J-ann, Rix, Arianne, Rachel and Eunice. You’ve put up with me through the craziest times and I couldn’t thank you enough for that. We may not always be together now just like we used to in college, but I know our bond will forever be strong. I love you guys!

With the help of these people, hard work and some luck, I got a little bonus. As if wearing that sablay isn’t enough honor yet, I have to leave the University with a bling.

For being my home for the best four years of my life… Salamat Maskom. Salamat UP.

Now after four years, one hundred forty-seven units, a gazillion of productions, scripts and performances and one thesis, I can finally say that one line from that memorable CMC AVP…

Virjinia Alexis Villafuerte. Student number 2007-03867. Proud graduate ng UP Maskom.

Time flies fast, indeed.

This is how my batchmates and I looked like around June of 2007…

Four years, 144 units and a whole lot of experiences later, this is how we look like now…

A lot has happened in between but I’m just so thankful and happy to have spent four amazing years with these people! Kami na ang nostalgic na we really have to re-create that first batch photo! :)) Anyway, I love these guys!

To the first batch na inabutan ng TOFI (Tuition and Other Fee Increase) sa UP Diliman and the last batch for the Broadcast Department’s old curriculum, good luck to us as we conquer the “real world”! Carpe diem! 🙂

Photos taken by Camille Ventura during our batch lunch last 8 April 2011. Fore more pictures, click here.

Lurlur sa Baler

Okay, the title is lame and this is a super late post.

My summer vacation kicked off with a two-day all-expenses paid stay at Bahia de Baler courtesy of Mr. Angelo Palmones. This trip is the reason why BC 196 (Crisis in Broadcasting) is always in demand among students, aside from the free lunches and the relatively easy uno. Usually, this is done every semester and students can bring plus ones, but this time, my class last semester were combined with this semester’s BC 196 class and plus ones were not allowed. Sayang kasi konti lang din ang nakasama kasi maraming seniors ang ipit sa thesis.

Since my other friends were among those who were stopped by thesis from joining this trip, I bonded with Audrey during this trip. Though our bonding started when we arrived at the resort already because she was asleep most of the 6.5-hour trip.

Kumpleto sya sa props.

Sa sobrang haba ng biyahe namin to Baler, dinaanan na ata namin ang lahat…

kapatagan...

kabundukan...

At anyong tubig.

When we arrived at Baler, nagkaroon ng agawan sa mga kwarto, but it was settled at the end. Say hello to my roomies (minus Audrey, JT and Rachel)!

 

With waves that big, hindi namin pinalampas ang mag-attempt mag-surfing! Some of my classmates and I braved the huge waves of Baler with a surfboard. Some of my classmates were successful na makatayo, samantalang ako… hanggang luhod lang tapos lulunurin na ako nang sunud-sunod na alon.

The "I-did-my-best-but-my-best-wasn't-good-enough" picture.

After the surfing session, sobrang sakit ng katawan ko and I knew it was bound to get worse (and I was right, I was paralyzed for almost two days because of it, but it was all worth it)!

We had an early dinner. We don’t have anything to do at around 8 in the evening. So my roomies scouted for a sari-sari store and bought some booze, and we had a room party. It was fun and when we got bored in our room, we transferred to another room to get buzzed. I will not elaborate on the goings-on, just fade up Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night. Hihihi.

The next day, despite body pains and hangovers, we had another disaster preparedness seminar. This time, it was about rescuing drowning people and survival swimming. Yes, the instructors made us swim across Baler’s strong waves. What is dagdag sakit ng katawan. But I did learn a lot.

After the seminar, we were free until lunch to do whatever we want. We left Bahia de Baler after lunch for a short tour, then we were homebound.

Actually, the “tour” was a 20-minute stop at this park overlooking the coastline of Baler. It was such a breath-taking sight and we couldn’t resist doing a photo shoot. :))

There were also some attempts to do “hipster” photos. You can see some of the pictures at Joxx’s Tumblr. He’s a new-found friend and our “official hipster” photographer.

It was as Rebecca Black would say it — fun, fun, fun, fun! It was a great way to finish college and start summer! 🙂