Be The Reason For A Smile

The topic we got was Extreme poverty and hunger with the styles’ SM, GE & IN. I was thinking of ways how we can show the topic assigned without putting our own lives in danger, I suggested a place here in Laguna since no one was giving ideas of where we can shoot. We all agreed on going to Laguna after all the discussions on our group chat, we concluded that it’s safer to shoot in the area I suggested, and even though the area is dangerous I asked for adult supervision from my parents and a family friend that is a resident there. The 5 of us, Angela, Ela, Kristen, Jewel and I went on a bus that had the sign of Balibago Complex, Sta. Rosa exit. It was exciting because it was their first time to go to Laguna. We went down on the first stop, we rode a tricycle going directly to my village. It’s so funny because they were taking snapchats and pictures “tourista hits”. We got to the house at around 12pm, I reckon. My mom prepared us food and we enjoyed the meal. After eating, Kristen and I wrote down what we needed to shoot, questions we were going to ask the interviewees and arranging the goods we’ll give to them. After all this, it was time to go to the area called “Inchikan”. The area is within the roads of Westgrove, which is a rich village. Actually before you reach the villa to be exact. A quick fact, Sharon Cuneta has a house there at Westgrove. Going to Inchikan, you’ll be surprised that there is an area that experiences hunger and poverty because it is near rich villages. The outside of Inchikan does not really exemplify a poverty area that was until we went down to the first interviewee, it was hard going down because it was so rocky and it was just land. Bridges were made out of bamboos and a lengthwise piece of concrete. Residents kept on looking and were intrigued by the fact of us being there with our cameras and all our gizmos. Kids were following us as if we were famous. Going inside the first interviewee’s home it was organized but it was small and the floor was wobbly because it was near the river which scared me so I had to be careful. Right then and there I told myself “You are so lucky to have a stable home Bea”. Actually out of all the interviewees I was touched most by the last interviewee, she asked why their life is just like that it was so hard. I wanted to help her in any way I can, when asked of what dream they have a common answer was to eat a complete meal, not get sick and get a job. It makes you think of what you do with your life, I realized how lucky I am to be in a good school, we have a stable home, I eat 3 times or even more a day and I have everything I could ever have and yet I still complain. When we were making this I told myself I would change about how I see life, and let the world see these kinds of problems in the world. After this experience, I’m thinking of taking Development Communications. I am just thankful that I had this opportunity to see and somehow experience their heartaches. I am thankful for this experience because it reminded me of why I chose Mass Communications as my course. I want to be the reason why a person is smiling today. Let us spread love and happiness all around the world.

By: Beanca Navarro

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoSbLrZdo3o

THE PRAY PROJECT

I'm currently writing, or typing per se, nearly 5AM, already Sunday the 15th. I am honestly at a loss for words right now trying to describe the things I feel about what's happening to our world and other bits and bobs. When I knew that we got the topic of poverty and hunger, I actually immediately thought "seriously? again?" This topic has been given to me from countless subjects for the past semester...and maybe it was for a reason. As a seventeen year old college girl with many, many distractions such as social media and piles of projects and homework for school, you never have or take the time to actually stop and stare around you to think of our country's current situation. In a snap, I pictured what I wanted for the video. I wanted it to have an impact on people; I wanted it to be real. We planned to go to an area and interview people who have gone through or who's going through poverty. And in a nick of time, the filming commenced. We interviewed 3 lovely ladies, Jovy, Rosanna and Normia. I really felt for them and I was inspired by their stories, especially Rosanna. To pay respects to them, we gave them goods just to try and help and give back, cause that's what it's all about. When we were filming the video, to be honest, I wasn't exactly the happiest with the shots we've gotten. I wanted it to be more dramatic, and I realised that it didn't matter. This was real. This is happening. And that's what's important. The hardest process for me was actually the editing. I had to do it alone, it wasn't the usual videos I'd edit; it's just, everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. I nearly had an anxiety attack, nearly thought I was going through an existential crisis, that’s how crazy I am, but I pushed through. I'm going to be honest and say that I'm not as proud as I could be with how I edited it. I know I could have done more, but like I said, thats's just it. It was still worth it. To sum this up, this experience was life changing. It opened my eyes to the struggles of the people living in our country. I know there's a lot more people going through worse and what I learned is just to be thankful. Thankful of what you have; your home, the roof above you, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the school you go to. Everything. Recently I read something from the bible, it was about a community that had no poor people in it. And the reason for that is because the rich gave what they had to the poor, shared everything they could to the poor. Thus making none of them poor. Imagine what we could do if we only learned to give and not be selfish and take everything for ourselves. Just learn to give. No one has ever become poor from giving. Like what it says in our video, according to Obama, "If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope." Just learn to give. The more you give, the more you gain. And never forget to pray. That’s what this world desperately needs right now.

By Kristen Huang

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoSbLrZdo3o