Commuting: Easier Said Than Done

Does sitting, or standing, in place for at least an hour, closely surrounded by people you don't know, with the air-conditioning either non-existent or turned all the way up sound appealing to you? If yes, you're either lying or a masochist. That is what I, and I'm sure countless other Thomasians, encounter every day as we make our way to our homes to the University and back. This numbing experience is augmented by a number of factors that are beyond your control: traffic, rain, or worst of all, a really slow driver.

You might be asking; "It's not so bad, right? At least you're getting some rest."

Here's the deal: Commuting, especially if your trip lasts for about an hour, is exhausting. It doesn't matter if you're on a jeep, FX or bus; it will tire you out, guaranteed. Sitting in the same, cramped and cold (or hot) place for a long period of time just takes a lot out from you.

Much more if you're standing up on the congested aisle of a bus, at night. Oh and you can't sleep properly. Those seats aren't designed for optimal comfort. Even if you do manage to sneak in a couple of Zzz's, expect a stiff neck to come with it. Also, the radio is probably turned up to its maximum level, and it's tuned in to one of those irritating stations that play nothing but novelty songs.

So what exactly is the point of this blog post? Well, I guess I'd just like to say how much I hate commuting. While I enjoyed my stay in UST, I really dislike how much I travel to and from the University. Next time you set out for UST, make sure that you're ready;  Ready for a long, unpleasant and bumpy ride.

-Jed Mutuc

A-Game

"If patience does not seem to work, you aren't using enough of it."

I am a huge fan of motivational quotes and whenever I feel tired or disappointed, I always get my favorite buddy, my journal and flip over a few pages to find myself a nice quote to get me going. We've been having too many long weekends but because of the cancellation of classes, school works are also being doubled. As a senior Communication Arts student, time really is gold and we need to learn how to prioritize and balance things. Whatever happens, deadlines are still deadlines. We have to meet them no matter how much pressure we encounter or no matter what circumstance we'll be facing. And so we need to assess our game play--we can finish our tasks on time so that we can avoid being a sleepless grumpy person or we can bum around and feel the world crumbling down towards the end of the day. 

So aside from IMC and ITM training us to be creative, a critical thinker, I think one of the most important thing it teaches us is PATIENCE. Just what we need to get our works done--competently, and simply just what we need to get by. Loosen up! As they say, a man of patience is a master of everything else Enjoy the long weekend!

-Kat Magsino

Maven Powers Through : The first obstacle conquered

Last Wednesday, my fellow co-Maven have decided to have our first meeting to welcome our two new members and discuss them about what Ideas that Matter is all about, since they told us that they were not very aware of what will happen and who will be our client. As we go on to our agenda and plan for the upcoming mini-competition, which is the like-fest of conceptual photos, we have found it will be difficult for us to meet as a whole Maven Team because our break schedules were not matched with each other. 

We were all excited with our plans and working together with our two new members especially on our upcoming conceptual, wacky, and formal photo shoot since it will be our first task to work together as a whole. But at the end of the day, they told us that they have to back-out. Their professor was concerned about them that they will have a hard time if they would continue to join the competition since Ideas that Matters might took their time that they might focus more on the competition than their academics. We tried to look for a certain day in a week where we can meet as whole team, but due to the different schedules, we found no day for us to meet as a whole.

 

I have nothing against these two but I believe that if there’s a wheel, there’s a way. For me if they really want to join this competition they would do everything that they can for them to be a part of Ideas that Matter like most of us did. As a matter of fact Ideas that Matter is actually a great opportunity for them, Advertising Juniors to experience how it feels like to work like a real agency. This competition can be a stepping stone for all of us both competing team and organizing team to be noticed and possible to be absorbed by advertising agencies as they see our potential for industry. Sadly they have let go of this experience and it was too short for us to get to know them, yet we fully understand that they need to focus more on their studies since it is our main priority of us students.

The show must go on! On the following day, we already who will be our other two new members and we will meet them this coming Tuesday and we are really excited to meet them. I hope that Maven team will work as one in creating ideas to collide as a one big idea that ignites.

-MAVEN

Challenged Creativity

Everyone’s busy: examinations, meetings, home works, projects and a ton more. With all the required things needed to be done, one might even question the possibility to be creative. Yes, creativity may be there, but it’s usually pressured, forced and not-so-personal anymore. This was what I felt during our first official meeting with DEM. We are put in a situation where we had to meet in a small amount of time and in a very public place.  However, what I did realize is that, creativity, though pressured and constraint is more challenging when faced with limitations. Others would probably say: “Challenged creativity? Is there such a thing?” Well, I consider it the optimism behind the clouds of work load from school. Challenging the time, the circumstance and each other’s points of views to keep that creative juice flowing despite the struggles is what will probably keep us going on. It is a good thing actually; cause how to be positively competitive if you can’t challenge your team mates, your circumstance and yourself for the better? I can say, that this “challenged creativity” is the factor that could lead to more unthinkable ideas. The situation may be full of borders, but I’m pretty sure our outputs would be limitless.

Meeting DEM: Tan Yan Kee AVR

Group shot of DEM J

-DEM

A Peek Behind The Headgear

We are Headgear Advertising, and we’re here to sell out and stuff! 

Lol, just kidding. I remember having my first encounter with ITM a few months ago when my friend asked my to like the facebook page and their TVC – I watched it and it was real neat stuff. I always had this notion that Advertising Arts students and Communication Arts students had so much potential to bring out the best out of each other. It’s like Izanagi and Izanami, they had a profound effect on each other and gave birth to wonders. Diverse expertise and personalities will surely have their twists, and the sum of the whole will be a whole lot bigger.

 During our first meeting in Beato, with our mind-boggling professor, Sir Velez, I was like *refer to rage face* because it was only my second time to enter the building.

At first, being part of a competing team was a bit shady because of the extra workload and the fear of not living up to ITM’s standards as it is for the best advertising students. But then, we realize that it’s not about getting ahead of everyone; it’s about getting ahead of yourself – being what you never were before, basically, it’s trying something new. And as for the extra workload, I guess we’ve faced things that are tightly as tough before, and what doesn’t kill you make you stronger, right? Right. It’s challenges like these that make us grow.

When I first said hi to my teammates, I was like *refer to rage face* they looked like a happy bunch, and I was right!

On our first official meeting, everyone was like *look down* we were sharing all sorts of things – lessons from class, ideas, favorite tv shows, embarrassing stories, etc etc. What I like about this team is that it wasn’t hard to form rhythm. Everyone has this comedic and positive persona which is not only seen, but felt. Together, we’re one colorful bunch.

The feeling is electrifying; it feels as if we could take on any challenge that comes.  We’re all ready to go all out for this. Francis is all in. Jia is all in. Kathy is all in. Mara is all in. Genica is all in. Paul is all in. Jann is all in. Morrys is all in. Headgear is all in! Beng beng! Cheers!

 -Morrys Sarmiento

HEADGEAR

 

No Room For Cliché

Light bulb for ideas, circle for eternity, eagle for freedom, well I can say those were all clichés. We try to make our lives easier by sticking to what comes to our mind first, but the truth is the first idea is not always the best. We must let our mind reach the unreachable, to understand the unfathomable, to innovate the unsophisticated in order to survive this world full of competitions. There is no room for concepts which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect.

            I just can’t forget the first ITM meeting we had when Sir Velez asked us to make three different themes and concept for this upcoming event. We had a hard time in choosing the brand but it was much harder for us to think of what will be the theme of ITM this year. After five hours of thinking Sir Velez came to check on our ideas and concept. While I was reading the list he suddenly interrupted me and said “That’s so easy! That is for high school students. I want something new, something fresh for everyone”. The five hours of extracting our minds went in vain so easily.

            But then I realized if we insisted of what we first thought, we will not be able to come up with better ideas like what we have now. ITM with the guidance of Sir Velez trained us not to show “something ordinary” but instead be the promoters of “something extraordinary.” So there is no room for clichés because our ideas do matter.

The Preface

Another day, another “hooray, no classes” moment yet again for us students. So far, the long weekend’s not so seemingly a picnic, as it is eaten up totally by unattended homework and very delayed preliminary exams to be studied for. As for us, the ITM participants, the run of the mill to-dos don’t stop at our class’ basic requirements, as we have an extra load on our hands. It’s no laughing matter, and I bet our “agency” isn’t the only one racking its creative juices for great photoshoot concepts.

As of now, the additional members are still a no-show, and due to the bipolar tropical depressions and such presiding over our area of responsibility, many a suspension has been made, so our agency meeting is constantly being cancelled and/or rescheduled. Coming from different colleges, the time and communication barrier is one of the greatest obstacles we have to face, or rather, learn to work around, in order to communicate our individual ideas well – but that’s quite alright, since we all realize that this is part of the training for the real thing; I mean, really, not all my future co-workers will just conveniently live in the same district as me. That’s part of the learning process: meeting people, being flexible, and above all, COMPROMISE. Social networking is not enough, because nothing beats actuality – that’s why our long overdue meeting will push through tomorrow on the 22^nd, with or without the additional members. This is just to get the members acquainted and to pass on the mental wavelengths so we could get a same train of thought and create more cohesive ideas.

Hoping for a positive first meeting! And I hope our conflicting schedules make way for ITM and its various tasks. May we alleviate procrastination during this hectic time, and shove idleness into the corner. Espiritu ng kasipagan, sapian Niyo po kami. 

-Marjorie Calasin

DEM

Cracking Has Never Been This Fun

Whether you split it, you pop it or you break it, it’s all the same. Cracking, for some of us shows a start or a beginning which leads to fun. The word crack is sometimes synonymous to fun. Fun only starts when you crack your ideas. When we crack it, we start it.

This year, the annual Ideas That Matter IMC competition takes it to another level. As we introduce this year’s IMC Advocacy competition entitled “CRACKED, Cracking the Big Idea.”. So get ready, crack it up and have some fun as we only have 5 more weeks before the said event.

So are you ready for this year’s Ideas That Matter IMC Advocacy Competition? Are you ready to crack it? Well, you must be. Because if you’re not down with that, we’ve just got two words for you, CRACK IT!

-Ryan Garcia

Unusual Tie

Two different spheres converged into a single group. What would you expect?

Well, we all know the fact that there are a lot of hopes and anticipations in this organization. May it be for ‘one of a kind’ experiences, or an exposure to the ‘crazy’ world of advertising, or simply just to have fun while learning and meeting new friends? We all have our own reasons, our share of individual aims. But whatever they maybe, at the top of it, you’ll surely just don’t want to miss this chance of being a part of Ideas That Matter.

Having CFAD juniors and CA seniors unite into one cluster is really an unusual thing. Both have their own ways of expressing, interpreting, and creating their thoughts and ideas. Our challenge is to know how to handle this ‘unusual tie’ and make it our best asset. Of course, cooperation, initiative, teamwork, effort, and responsibility, will play the role towards achieving our group success, however, love and understanding of our work will be our topmost priority in making things happen.

For us, creativity is dynamic in most of us, whether you’re on CFAD or in CA. It only needs a nudge, and it transforms itself into art.

But wait, before all these, we should be acquainted first with each other! J

We all know that this semester will be a roller coaster ride for most of us. Just take the advantage of learning innovative things and acquiring fresh experiences, as well as meeting new set of friends for us to enjoy the ride! J

-Terica Buenaobra

MAVEN

First Steps

The steps we'll be taking will, no doubt be the one of the most memorable we'll have in our college years. Despite the challenging puzzles and long days we will be having, we all know that the ITM experience will not only be a great opportunity to learn from the event itself and train our own skills but also a chance to give ourselves a peek of what it's like in the real world working with new people.

Individual skill is needed for the job but teamwork is one of the keys. So, before the mixture of spins and storms of the planning and the building we'll go through, we thought it necessary to get to know each other and acquaint ourselves with each other's strengths and weaknesses as well. After all, we will be spending a lot of time together in the weeks to come.

Conversation with a little food is usually the way to do it. A blend of serious talk and light chat always does the trick!

We are thrilled to report that we all seemed to hit it off and we are ready for whatever's there to come!

-Jia Mangaluz

HeadGear Advertising

Before The Rooster Shakes

Imagine this situation: 10:00 am...weak and bored, you are lying in your bed not having breakfast yet. You're awake but unconscious of what's going on outside your room. You suddenly feel drowsy and your eyes are already closing slowly as if they're already tired facing the ceiling while you're there having nothing to do. Then you turned your body to a more comfortable position so that you can sleep well again but suddenly you.........blugggg!!!! 

Your subconscious shows you a giant rooster yelling at you, counting, "1, 2, 3!! (bell rings) get up, you lazy bones!!"

Laziness or procrastination- a behavior which is characterized by deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. this is one of the biggest problems every filipino must overcome. If we don't take great actions against this all the time then we better not expect that we can ever lessen the myriad number of those who suffer from pain, poverty and hunger all over the country. Of the ten Filipinos who don't have jobs, it is possible that more than 5 of them are those who always just stand by those blinding spots and alleys, where they gamble, drink and waste time for other pleasures without even noticing the fact that once they already get home with their families, there, probably, wouldn't be a single meal waiting for them to refill their cheating stomachs. as a result they tend to commit such immoral acts and crimes like stealing and so many others without even thinking that those cruel actions aren't the proper ways on how to earn money and that instead they must work hard and be patient to find proper and good jobs that might fit to their educational attainments and status. Don't they realize that it's all because of their own faults and their laziness why they are suffering and starving all the time?? They must do something with it. if there's a will, there's a way. 

Even at home, we shouldn't practice habits that portray laziness. Everyone are obliged to help our mothers and other housemates in doing household chores, or if you are bored and you think that you really have nothing to do, damn hell you're wrong. Why not review your lessons for tomorrow's quiz in math? Why not do your homeworks right now and start throwing away your "mamaya na" habit? why not read articles from periodicals that will help you understand and learn so many things? or why not draw great pictures or write beautiful songs and poems and give them to your loved ones and friends? why not turn on the tv and watch friendly programs and news updates about the current events in our society? See, there are many things that we can spend our time in. we're just always beaten by our stressed minds and anxious body parts who are afraid to be moved and stretched out once we get up from bed and do something, but once we already started doing these things later by later we'll find ourselves enjoying the business. End up just lying in your bed all the time, otherwise you might suffer from different skeletal or even psychological disorders! 

Don't let that big letter P beat you. Remember that huge things always start from small beginnings. Time is gold and it's not too late for a change. Stand as a good model for those who seem to lose their own paths, life is beautiful yet too short so we must enjoy what God has given us. 

What are you waiting for? Don't end up being a loser, man. Don't let your own life fall because of you. Go, get up now! And do something before it's too late! (cock crows).

-Majesty Ramos

The Power of An Exchange

We often go with the wrong notion that when we come up with ideas that aren’t good enough, we just, shun them away. But as the ITM Cracked team progressed from cluelessness to organization, I now realize the power of the usually suppressed ideas. 

The first ever ITM Cracked team meeting, I was quite overwhelmed with the tasks I was about to be responsible with in the very near future of mine. I would like to believe though, that this is how it’s going to be out in the professional field. 
I’ve realized I felt taken aback because I felt like my ideas may not be good enough for contribution. But let me tell you about 2 things I’ve learned for the past meetings I’ve had with ITM. First, it’s that it could be curiously dangerous if your idea is the only thing you have and the only thing you know about. Trust me. 

Another awesome thing about it is that when you exchange an idea with the person next to you, you don’t lose it and neither does he/she lose her own too. Its collaboration could only improve each other. It’s just amazing how even (let’s say) my lamest idea could ignite the best idea of someone else! 
Thus the joint team of CFAD and AB in this project thrilled me. I’ve been very looking forward to the biggest idea we could come up with as we share our knowledge, time and effort for the success of the 2012’s Cracking The Big idea.

I guess in the end we could say, a powerful idea is never born at once. It takes several exchanges and probably a good reminder to oneself, that your ideas matter.

-Valerie Angeles

Make Your Ideas Matter

Get ready for a unique experience! With the combined efforts of CFAD and AB students of the University of Santo Tomas, we bring you Ideas That Matter. As the event draws nearer, we work harder to bring you a unique experience for you to remember. Five weeks left before the awaited 3-day event and we are preparing fun activities for everyone to enjoy. I won’t reveal the activities yet of course, it’s a surprise!

I joined ITM thinking it will give a learning opportunity to the organizing committee. I was wrong. It does not just give the coordinating teams the opportunity to learn – the opportunity is for everyone! Ideas That Matter is a fun way to learn. With the workshops, seminars and IMC competition, we help make your ideas matter! See you September 27, 28 and 29!  

- MM Adea

The Team Behind ITM

Find out why CFAD and AB students chose to participate in this year’s Ideas That Matter, how they cope with deadlines, and why they think the risks are totally worth it.

What was your first impression on the CFAD-CA collaboration? How was the first meeting for you?

My first impression on CFAD-CA collaboration was that this project is going to be one creative outlet for all of us, with CA’s expertise lying on research while CFAD takes the lead with the execution. Also, during the initial meeting, I noticed how everyone was able to get along well easily. Every member was gracious in offering a seat to a newcomer and was responsive to questions. I am very fortunate to be working with our mind-blowing professor, Sir Gil Velez, and the whole Organizing Team - being in their presence certainly made me feel that if I listen to them, it would help me become smarter."

What are your personal expectations from Ideas That Matter?

I actually have a lot of expectations from this year’s Ideas That Matter since it is a well-established IMC (Integrated Marketing Communication) campaign and also because it bears the name of my major. I think it would only be normal to expect it to be a personal favorite. My basis on this is that personally for me, I describe IMC as an "eclectic mix" that is also something practical. It is practical in the sense that it is diverse enough to cater to a lot of interests while allowing practitioners to integrate skills in serving different fields.

How does the Organizing Team deal with pressures and deadlines?

Since we are fully aware of the pressures and deadlines that come with this competition, we already prepared ourselves ahead in order to excel in our chosen fields. I think it all boils down to knowing our responsibilities and being one another’s support system. Trusting in our capabilities, striving our hardest – these are ways for us to not settle for mediocrity.

For we are set on discovering, learning what we are truly capable of, and exploring everything IDEAS THAT MATTER has to offer.

-Glenda Dela Pena 

My First JanSport Backpack

I’ve been a backpack person, save for a few years in grade school, for as long as I can remember. Backpacks are compact and, unlike, let’s say a duffle bag, they don’t make you look like you brought along the contents of your entire house. As to why the backpack became my bag of choice, it all started with my first JanSport Backpack. I still remember that I got it from my aunt during one Christmas in the early 2000’s; it was a classic black bag with a brown leather base. So simple, yet elegant; it never looked too flashy or too rugged for any occasion. It instantly became a favorite of mine; I used to bring it with me 5 to 6 times a week. I wore it so much that it came to a point when my friends can tell if it’s me from a distance just by seeing the backpack.

 I basically grew up with it. It also seemingly never ran out of space. I used to just stuff all my school supplies in there, together with a jacket, and it always had a little space left. It’s also incredibly durable; I abused and washed it through the years, but its form stayed the same and the color hardly faded. In fact, when I finally gave it away in a relief operation before I became a freshman in UST, it was still in very good shape.

So thank you, JanSport, for giving me a reliable buddy that never left my side (or shall I say, shoulders) throughout my early teen years until the end of my adolescence. Ideas That Matter is proud to have been sponsored by a brand that is synonymous with great value for money, style and durability.

- Jed Mutuc

Who will crack the big idea?

Will it be Headgear, DEM or Maven? Which of the three groups with the brightest 3rd year College of Fine Arts Students and 4th year Communication Arts Student will crack the big idea? Find out as we invite you to come and discover who will reign supreme this September 27-29, 2012 at Beato Angelico AVR, UST.

See you there J

-Nicole Alejandro

The Basics of Fun

The sun is out! And so is our team to bring you the best of our 3-day event! Save the date: September 27, 28 and 29 because you’re in for a treat! Literally!

We all know Ideas That Matter as an event with creative exhibit, workshops, seminars and an IMC competition. For those of you who are following our blog and Facebook page wondering what “IMC” is, particularly those who have never encountered it, here are the things you should know about IMC!

IMC stands for Integrated Marketing Communication. It involves coordination of various promotional elements and other marketing activities that communicate with a firm’s customers. It is a concept that directs the planning, executing and monitoring the brand message that create brand-customer relationships. It includes media advertisements, price, package design, direct marketing efforts, publicity, sales promotion and even the type of store where the product or service is sold.

During our IMC class, we do not only absorb these terms, we also apply them in real life. We have developed some key values in time, like creativity, critical thinking and communication. It’s always a fun time because while we learn, we still crave for more! This perfectly justifies the cliché “learning is fun”, no kidding! It really is!

I want to wrap up this post with my personal favourite quote that I often associate to school or work: “If it’s not fun, you’re not doing it right.” (Bob Basso)

So if you want to join in the fun, stay tuned for more updates about ITM’s event! J

- Kat Magsino

Details That Matter

Before moving on to some more details about Ideas That Matter- Cracking The Big Idea, let us start with a simple introduction about it.

Well, here are the basics: Ideas That Matter is an event organized by 3^rd year Advertising students from the College of Fine Arts and Design; these creative people are helped by selected 4^th year CA students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters. This collaborative effort made by two of the most prolific group of students from UST gives creative thinking and thinking outside the box their best definitions.

Btw, If you want more details about Ideas That Matter 2012, check our Twitter and Facebook accounts!

What happens during this event? It’s a 3-day event; it includes an IMC campaign competition, creative exhibit and creative workshops and seminars. This event takes place in the Audio-Visual Room of Beato Angelico Building, UST. Our competition includes three (3) agencies from participating CA and CFAD classes. Every sem, the ITM committee has different accounts; last semester’s account was Jansport, today, it’s Chuckie, Chocolate Drink! Details about this semester’s account will be further explained in the following blog entries. 

Moreover, to add further excitement to participants, we are planning to have a game someplace else (like the Quadricentennial Park or Tan Yan Kee Students Center Lobby); these games are of course related to the main objectives of the event, made to crack each student’s idea. (good news is, the game is open  to everyone!)

And When is this event? Hmm. Mark your calendars friends! September 27, 28 and 29, 2012. Goodluck to the three competing agencies!  (DEM, Maven and Headgear).

Watch out for our next post! J

- Danae Singson

Not your typical nut

I became a part of the ITM team and knew that I am in for a wild ride. I will be able to meet new people and get to know how to prepare an event. One thing that has been a part of my life as a college student is the sleepover. I don’t know if I will be able to experience this with ITM but if ever it happens, I am ready for it.

One cool thing that happened during an overnight just recently was that I was having dinner with the family who hosted our sleepover and of course, we got into telling stories, and the one we were talking about was ITM because their daughter was also a part of the event but as a member of a competing team. 

Then, Tobi’s House of Nuts was brought up as topic and the family members said that their nuts were really good and their daughter even agreed. So I wondered, were they really that good? This family is one of those families who are a bit particular with the food they eat because their mom is a really good cook. So if they say that Tobi’s House of Nuts is delicious, then I have to try them for myself.

I have to find where they are and I shall conquer—er, eat them, yes, eat them until my tummy can’t take anymore. Thanks to the people of ITM for opening my eyes to such good food.

- James De Castro