Even the pouring rain cannot stop the aspiring journalists and communicators of Holy Cross College (HCC) from educating themselves further about their future in the world of media.
HCC being its first stop, the National Youth Commission Cyberspace League 87.9 NYC FM mobile station drove to Sta. Ana, Pampanga for a training session with the young campus journalists, July 21.
Veteran broadcast journalist and head of the NYC Cyberspace League Rommel Ramos led the training of the students. Before this, however, he sat down with HCC President Atty. Dennis Pangan who talked about the changes in the educational system of the school, as well as educational freedom at HCC.
In his interview with Ramos, Atty. Pangan emphasized the importance of freedom of expression, as it is in line with HCC’s core value Libertas (Liberty). Considering that, the President found it fitting to invest in the education of the BS DevComm students by funding projects that will benefit them and give them a sneak peek of the actual world of media.
Such projects include HCC’s very own TV program “Usapang Millennial.” Now on its second season, “Usapang Millennial” is produced by the BS DevComm students themselves, with the guidance of their professors. The show centers on burning issues from the national to the local level affecting the students and the general public. It airs every Sunday on local cable television channel GNN TV 44.
Apart from its TV program, the HCC also set up a radio laboratory at par with professional radio stations. Decked out with state-of-the-art equipment, the radio laboratory is home to HCC’s very own internet radio station, Radio Libertas. Radio Libertas regularly airs its programs, produced by HCC DevComm students themselves.
According to the DevComm students, they are fortunate enough to have early exposure to TV and radio production, experiences they can use when they graduate.
Meanwhile, during the open forum session of the training with Ramos, he acknowledged the efforts of the HCC to train these students to be ready for the world of journalism, media, and production.
The seminar also centered on the role of media workers as watchdogs and nation-builders, the importance of content over the aesthetics of journalism, as well as the problem with disinformation and fake news.
Formalizing NYC-HCC partnership
BS DevComm students also have something to look forward to during their internship course. The NYC, chaired by Undersecretary Ryan Enriquez, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Ramos and Atty. Pangan. Under the MOA, the HCC and the NYC will be partnering to train the BS DevComm students of the educational institution.
The students will be exposed to the actual process of radio broadcasting as they will be immersed not only in the production of Radio Libertas programs but of NYC 87.9 FM, which has a national reach.
Atty. Pangan said this is a big thing for the department. “We have NYC supporting us… Napakalaking organisasyon po n’yan, from the Office of the President at ang tinutulungan niyan ay buong Pilipinas pero kasama tayo. At una tayo dito sa Pampanga na kanilang tinutulungan,” he stated.
The first batch of HCC BS DevComm students will graduate this 2022.