The Bombo Radyo Baguio was located at Lourdes Subdivision, Baguio City. As a part of our DevCom 11 laboratory, we went there last Friday (October 3, 2008) to observe the operation of the station- how they record dramas, how they air their program and other related activities.

Since my classmates had there exam in DevCom 11 lecture,  I have to wait for them. Jamie and I were exempted because we had a tentative grade of 2.0 and higher. I did not repeat taking the exam.

We arrived at the station at around 2:00 pm. Mr. Jhun Queros assisted us since the station employees who are from BSU were not there.

The first room we entered was the “master control” room where Mr. Queros was on duty. He told us how he controls the airing of the programs. The drama series which are aired were recorded. For every 30-minute drama, maximum of 6 or 7 advertisement will be inserted. The time frame for a day programs were saved in the computers. News are aired live.

Next room we entered was the room for recording dramas. We saw dramatists like Ferdinand Liyo, Ferdinand Ferrea, Isagani Boliser, Teresa Calay and their companions. Mr. Jimmy Gardin is the only person who can work on the recording machine-a computer and a DVD/DVCD player. In cases where the dramatists had errors, Mr. Gardin replays the part and repeat recording on where the mistake is. It is like “cut and paste” process.

The station building was not that big. For me, it is not quite comfortable for the employees because the rooms are “masikip”. I was surprised to see that there are no security guards outside. Well, I forgot to ask them but a source said that it is so because the each worker were provided with pistol.

Mr. Franklin Torres came at the master control room so I talked to him and ask some questions. He explained how they transmit news on call from reporters outside the station. His voice on radio is just like his voice in person. At the next room was Mr. Genio Pagaduan, a man maybe on 35 to 40′s who aired a 3.25-minute news. I thought he’s young. The room before the master control is the room where live programs takes place. At 4:30 pm, Mr. Edong Carta had his afternoon program. Mr. Carta is not that old, he looks young maybe aging less than 30. He spared 5 minutes from his program to let us speak.

The employees of the station seem not to care. Some are just passing by us not daring to ask who we are. Well, that’s not a big deal.

I came to know that most of the Bombo employees were Ilokano‘s. They came from far places like Mr. Torres who is from Cagayan and Mr. Queros is from Pangasinan. See, most of them are not from Baguio. Their manager who is known or called by the name  Mr. Pablo Mercado has the real name Paul Ballesteros.

I would I learned a lot from the visit since I had voiced out my queries which I do very seldom. I asked more questions than my classmates. I like talking to Mr. Torres. He seemed willing to give us information and stories on how they work on the radio.

I should say it was an enjoyable tour if only I did not encounter a bad or I should say a shameful experience. I wish I did not go there. I don’t know what to say. You see, the dramatists got angry because the group was so noisy. I don’t know if I was one of those who have big mouths but they said,”Tat-tay kayo py lang dita ah. Di kayo ketdi nga agdeng-ngeg. nagpigsa ta sao yo nga“. Wahhh!!! Wasn’t that shameful? What if we are going there again?

The Quest

“Sa kabila ng lahat ng mga bagay na ibinigay sa tao at kanyang pinagyaman, patuloy pa rin siya sa paghahanap ng bagay na pupuno sa kanyang pagkatao. Sa kabila ng mga paglalakbay na kanyang ginawa para makahanap ng kasagutan, patuloy sa pag-usbong nag mga katanungang babagabag sa kanyang katauhan. Sa kabila ng kanyang kayamanan, talino at kasikatan, patulooy pa rin siya sa paghahanap para sa kanyang kasiyahan.“

Si Chenzen, sang labing siyam na taong gulang ay nabibilang sa mga maykayang pamilya. Sa mga nakakakita, isa siyang kabataang hinubog sa karangyaan at kagandahang asal. Naging isa siya sa mga kilalang mag-aaral nang siya’y nasa elementarya. Sa bawat bakasyon ay laging nababasa ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng mga tatanggap ng parangal. Oo, si Chenzen ang laging nangunguna sa kanyang klase.

“Ang galing talaga ng batang yan. Mayaman na sila, matalino pa siya,” papuri ng kanilang mga kababaryo.

“At hindi lang yan, masipag at masinop din siya,” dagdag ng ilan.

Bagamat may mga ginagawa ng kalokohan tulad ng pakikipag-aaawwwwway  sa kapwa bata, nananatili pa rin siyang mapagpakumbaba at humihingi ng tawad.

Napupuno ng   papuri ang kanyang tainga sa tuwing aakyat siya sa entablado upang tanggapin  ang kanyang medalya. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay aakbay at may ngiting nakaguhit sa labi. Ang apat niyang kapatid ay papalakpak at hihiyaw sa kanilang kinauupuan.

Ito ay isang masayang pangyayari para sa kanya. Ang bawat medalyang natatanggap niya ay katumbas ng bagong sapatos, pantalon, bag o laruan. Dito siya nasisiyahan. Pakiramdam niya ay wala na  siyang kakailanganin. Sa kanyang murang isip ay uusbong ang kasayahan- ang kasiyahan at hindi paghangad ng ano pa man.

Patuloy siya sa pag-aaral. Pinalaki at ginabayan siya ng kanyang mga magulang  sa kanlungan ng kabutihan, sa malinis at malamig na ihip ng hangin na wari’y nais ilipad ang bata sa rurok ng tagumpay.

Nagtapos siya  ng elementarya bilang valedictorian. Dito niya nakita ang kasayahan sa mukha ng kanyang mga magulang, ang mga inggit sa mata ng kanyang mga kababata at mga papuring tumatak sa kanyang isip.

Sa gayon, ipinagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pag-aaral. Pinalaya niya ang mga kaisipang lihim na ngahihintay sa kanyang kaluluwa. Gayundin, tinanggap niya ang bawat aral at salita na sa araw-araw ay sumasalubong at bumabati. Naging kalasag niya ang mga kabutihang aral na ibinigay ng kanyang mga magulang, guro at mga taong nagmamalasakit sa kanya.

Dahil walang paaralang pang-kolehiyo sa kanilang bayan ay naglakbay siya patungo sa lungsod upang lalong hasain ang kanyang kakayahan at dagdagan ang mga kaalamang  naipon mula sa nakaraan.

Nagkaroon siya ng kaibigan, mga taong nagmula rin sa iba’t ibang lugar at mga taong hindi magkakapareho ng prinsipyo, pangarap at pag-uugali. Dito nagsimula ang pagbabago ng kanyang katangian. Naging mahina siya. Hindi niya kinayang labanan ang mga pannghihikayat ng mga itinuturing niyang kaibigan. Sa kabila ng karangyaang kanyang tinatamasa, ng pagbibigay ng kanyang mga magulang ng pinansiyal na magagamit sa kanyang pag-aaral at ng mga payo at paalala, nahulog pa rin siya bangin ng kasamaan. Naging mapangahas siya sa pagpapasya. Ang mas malala pa dito, naging isa siyang tagabenta ng marijuana at shabu. Aanhin  nga ba niya ang mga perang kanyang kikitain sa ganitong kasamaan kung sobra naman ang iniaabot ng kanyang mga magulang?

It’s september 4. Hah!!! We had our exam in Entom 11 lab. I did not read today. Hah!!! It’s our DevCom week but I don’t want to miss my exam so I did not attend the DevCom programs. I have to read the scientific names which sir had given. You see, I only borrowed a note from a third year DevCom Rona. I approached sir to show me the specimen he showed last tuesday…………….and he said……………..YES!!! So??? I went to school early and asked my teacher to identify the specimen I don’t know. Ahhh!!! The exam is difficult. I can’t memorize scientific names….I did not review well today. I was supposed to go to school early to review but it rained…. I reached school at 12:45 pm and our exam was at 1pm.

Seotember 5. It’s flyday. We did not have class in ExEd. Most of my classmates went to Balatoc for their Soil Science. I walked to earlier to see Mr. Gary Banut if he have extra insect collection so I can Ask for some but he did not came. There were only three of us- Febross, Fernando, and me.

I attended the forum with Mrs. Cecilia C. Afable as a part of DevCom week. Hahahahahah! I enjoyed Mrs. Afable’s stories. She said her father was a Japanese carpenter and her mother was an Ibaloi. Her mother did never spoke to her father since she cannot understand Japanese. It was her father who did learned Ibaloi, Ilocano, English and even Filipino.

Ma’am Fang-asan enjoyed the stories I guess? She laughed too loud. Thje students also laughed. Hahahahahahahah! And I laughed too.

WORD FOR THE DAY: WITCH

QUOTES FOR THE DAY: If you don’t speak your mother tongue, you have no soul.; Start to learn as a kid.

LESSON FOR THE DAY: It is important to have comfort rooms.; Share your blessings.; The Philippine national anthem was not original-it was derived from American, Spaniard and French anthems thats why the French are angry when they hear us sing our Lupang Hinirang.

August 22-24: I did not enjoy the vacation. I attended the Communication Training Course by the SSG. I paid PhP 105.00. I learned a lot from here. I enjoyed the pronunciation drill the most. I like the way Mr. Jhordan Cuilan speaks. I also learned how a parliamentary procedure is and how to take down minutes of meeting. I mingled with other BSU students from different colleges. Grrrrr….It was so cold at 9 pm of August 22 (friday). I walked from the OSA-socail hall to our boarding house.

August 25:Its monday and we have no classes but we’re going to Ampasit for our Entom lab activity. You see, its a subject for third years but I took it in advance. We walked from housing to the Nature park for more than one hour. Hah! My feet aches…My shoes started to surrender to the muddy and rocky road. Only four of us went there-Sir Corcha, Maricel, Joverly and me. I am the only BSDC student in our class and the youngest. It rained yesterday so the grasses and trees were wet. I can’t hear bird sounds at the nature park. The trees there are not that big. I have seen bigger trees than them. I guess the park needs more attention. It needs improvement. I have seen places more beautiful. Nevertheless, I liked the view especially the insectarium but its a butterfly garden according to sir. It was his project when he’s still working there.

Sir also told us that security guards had found two fetus there and they had caught in actual some students having intercourse. Geee. What kind of person are they? Its embarrassing.

August 26: Its Rynelle’s birthday. She’s seven. She is the daughter of ate Anabelle and kuya Ryan. I worked for them last year. Uncle Jr (Literato), the owner of the boarding house where kuya Ryan lives approached me and advised me not to have boyfriend yet….Whoa!!! I like that…and I don’t want to have boyfriend really…hehehe

August 28: We are supposed to have our exam in Entom lab but sir canceled it. My classmates in this subject expect a lot from me. I had been the highest in all quizzes and exams. I don’t know if I should be proud or not. When we have quizzes I am afraid to have low score thats why I always find time to review but times are not that easy to manage. I have to allot time for other subjects. Geee…Its hard to be a student. I don’t have allowance this week. I have to use the money they sent me for my compilation in Entom…I don’t like the subject much but my teacher is very kind…He really wants us to learn… I wish he would sometimes be strict.