Filed under: Main
While most kids his age watched cartoons, the seven-year old Willard Cheng turned on the television set to watch the evening news. Seeing reporters on the scene delivering news about the 1990 earthquake, made him realize he wanted to be just like them. When his friends dreamed of becoming doctors, lawyers, teachers, and even astronauts, Willard’s boyhood dream was to become a television news reporter.
After his graduation from the Ateneo in 2004, ABS-CBN announced that they were looking for trainees to be part of their cadetship program. It was as if fate was helping Willard to pursue his dream. The cadetship program required applicants to undergo a six-month training period, after which, they would become either a reporter or a segment producer based on their performance.
While waiting for the results of the cadetship program, Willard applied and was accepted in the Ateneo Law School. “If I won’t end up as a reporter, I’d like to become a lawyer,” he said to himself back then. He had already enrolled, paid the tuition fee and bought his textbooks for law school when ABS-CBN called him in June and told him he was accepted. Of the 200 applicants, he was among the 15 which were accepted.
Filed under: Columns
by Justin Gatuslao
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Over the summer, I seized the opportunity to become COMMotion Associate Editor. For my application I wrote:
A disturbance, a disorderly outburst or tumult— these are what make a commotion.
Though its definition borders on the negative, the small, young, albeit resilient, organ of Atenean Communication majors has made its mark.
This outfit has, for the past two years, allowed the mainland a rare glimpse into our world of bubbly eccentricities. More importantly, it finally gave a public measure with which to carefully track the heights we have reached.
In any publication, especially COMMotion, where the talent pool offers endless possibilities, the need to temper the writer’s fiery genius is essential. Another set of eyes is always helpful in correcting copies, fixing punctuation, and making sure that clarity and consistency are upheld.
I contend my training in sophomore year, under great journalistic minds, has given me a solid foundation to assume the role of COMMotion Associate Editor.
Moreover, my experience stringing for a local Negrense magazine where, due to staff limitations, rigorous self-editing was the norm, my copy editing sense has been heightened and my skills finer tuned.
At the end of the day, I wish to contribute to the success of COMMotion: a platform for Communication majors to do what they have always been good at – stirring disturbances, disorderly yet creative outbursts – making a commotion.
With the fewest editorial lapses possible, that is.
After much anticipation, I received the e-mail that confirmed my appointment. I got my first publication job.
***
July usually means the end of summer revelry as school begins in earnest. Indeed, what a perfect time for COMMotion to come out swinging. After the success of our June online version, I assure you July will not leave you wanting.
In this issue, Comm alumni and ABS-CBN broadcaster Willard Cheng takes center stage as he tells us about his childhood dreams fulfilled. Baba, Katsy, and Lauren, Comm majors-cum-Babble cheer dancers share their aspirations and tell guys which pick-up lines are the lamest. Reaching your four-year expiration date? Atenean Comm graduates talk about life after college. Also, take your COMMpass along as we tour the City oasis that is La Mesa. Finally, next time you find yourself alone in the Comm Department we’ll leave you with a couple of ghost stories and other supernatural spooks to think about.
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To be entrusted the Associate Editor post was more than a promotion, it was a compliment. Moreover, the continuing success of COMMotion is a compliment of the readers to the staff’s tireless efforts. Undoubtedly, whatever their subject – our svelte new figure, our rousing speech, or our writing/editing talent – compliments lift us, honor us, validate our choices and efforts.
I grew up learning never to dispute, disparage, or diminish a compliment. To do so is to insult the giver by questioning his or her judgment, standards, taste, or – worst – sincerity. Much better to smile, give thanks, savor the moment, and, in our case, get ready to buzz some more.
Filed under: UpCOMMing
by Justin Gatuslao
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From left: Lauren Yap, Katsy Lee, and Baba Escueta
IT”S THAT time of the year again when students and alumni shout their voices hoarse in the stands to match the basketball action on the court, all for the pride and glory of the Ateneo. And when the Blue Eagles go back to the dugout at halftime, the Blue Babble Battalion makes sure that every Atenean is all revved up for the second half of battle.
Cheerdancers Captain Baba Escueta and freshies Katsy Lee and Lauren Yap know the job very well – it’s about making the crowd cheer whether the team is winning or losing. The three Communication students took a break from their snappy dance routines and jaw-dropping stunts to talk about their training, being single, and winning the Cheerdance Championship.
Filed under: COMMpass
by Anna Bueno
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I WASN’T too excited when I found out I had to go to the La Mesa Watershed Resort and Ecological Park for my writing assignment. I was a nature lover, yes, but I just couldn’t find the enthusiasm I needed to motivate me on that trip. Admittedly, I was too stressed out by all the things I had to do in school that I didn’t even bother to know where the park was located, not at least before the night I went there.
The overcast sky on that Wednesday morning was an apt reflection of how I felt going to my destination. I had to wake up at 6am—inhumanely early for me—because I had to be at the park by 8am. My parents’ car was under coding, so my Mama and I had to commute all the way to Fairview, where the park was located. It didn’t help that the roads were already bustling with activity at such an early time—I inhaled smoke and endured the noise of the jeeps and cars on the way.
Filed under: Say What?!
by Hub Pacheco and Diwa Tiongson
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There are some things to be scared about in the Ateneo. There’s your Math 11 long test, Philo oral exam, or senior thesis. But nothing’s more frightening than being alone in the campus with all the spirits roaming about in the middle of the night. Feel the chills as these Comm majors tell their scariest Ateneo ghost stories.
