rants of a bittersweet

We started by having high regards and respect towards the Communication Research Department, proved that attitude by doing good great in that highlight subject called THE 165 (more specific case in point: THE Ped-Xing Presentation), and was ardently reciprocated by showering us with heart-warming and ego-boosting praises that actually reached the ears of important people around Mass Comm and some reputable institutions around UP (SWS, Dept. of Anthro, NCTS, MMDA, and God knows who else). Simply put, there is no denying the fact that the Comm.Res department love us, K3 block of batch 2003… and they show it. They REALLY DO

This monday, while at the grad.pic exhibit (as usual, narcissistic me! ;p), Ma’am Umali — the Chairperson lang naman of the oh-so-fabuluous, competitive, and highly reputable Communication Research Department of UP College of Mass Comm, approached Jam and me and asked us to see her in her office.  Confident that we never did anything wrong, we simply followed her — though somehow sensing something good will happen ‘coz by experience, the people that she asks to see in her office often go out with some career opportunities in their pockets.

And we were right…!

As we left the department some 15 minutes after, Jam and I have this something big on our hands it can’t fit on our pockets (literally and figuratively). It could easily be mistaken as just an ordinary lousy brown envelope, but the smiles grin on our faces definitely says something else.

Yes, we are being offered an opportunity to do great. Us again, the K3 block!

On the envelope resides the invitation to the 2006 Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) Grand Prix Competition, a contest that "brings together the best students representing different universities and colleges that aim to raise the bar of excellence in PR planning. According to the competition rules, each school can enter a maximum of two teams and basically, we are THE team for UP DILIMAN (oh yeah!). Each team, no matter how many brilliant minds are working, can only have a maximum of seven presenters on stage.

So as you can imagine, concerns were immediately brought up as it all sinked in on us some 30 euphoric minutes after THAT meeting. For one, I was thinking, "so Jam, who are the other five??", while Jam was asking me, "Oh my, what are we gonna wear?? do you think we should wear blue this time instead of pink as with the PedXing presentation? Kasi the invitation paper is blue. I think i’m gonna call my mom later (who’s in Vienna by the way) and tell her i need a (fabulous) dress…" Trust us, the Pam-Jam tandem to see things twistedly. Immediately, we forgot that we have thesis to do, which is already on its bloody RRL and methodology part, as we get psyched up by this fabulous DEAL whose proposal is due on August 25. As for me, i not only have thesis but also field work and individual proposal for 195. plus org work. and oh, other subjects by the way.

But i guess this is too good to be passed up on… so bring it on!

P.S.: Quotes from Ma’am Umali that bloated our self-esteem all the way:

1. On our way out of the department after the second meeting:

"Kaya niyo yan! Mataas na ang pangarap ko sa inyo… nakikita ko na kayo sa stage"

2.  On our 199 class, two days after the second meeting, she shared to us this statement that she told to Sir Ernan — her colleague in the department and our would-be competition adviser:

"You should experience the pleasure of working with them"

And i guess this is just about it. Isn’t the comment just divine…? Looks like we already won the prize, even before the making of the proposal that is!

** Below is the actual letter that Ma’am Umali sent to us. Basically, I am floored down with the sincerity of it. Read and weep

_______________________________

Dear students,

Am creating this email list upon the request of Dr. Paragas (whose email address is included here), your PRSP (Public Relations Society of the Philippines) competition adviser. He would like to give you work to do na

It is understood that my name will be removed from this email list

need i say more?? weeeehh!!!

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