Between the Ink and the Paper: GMA News Learniversity: A Day of Career Talk and Learning Exhibits

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(blog entry posted on my previous blog last October 6, 2012)

Last Friday,September 28, I've attended a career talk organize by GMA News Tv, entitled "Learniversity: A day of Career talk and Learning Exhibits". Held at theBulwagang Balagtas, PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manila. The Career Talk aims to share stories behind the success of different well-known personalities in their respective fields. And also to educate us students about the "Real World" we're about to enter after years from School. Some points and tips to enlighten us on how we should present, act and behave on job interviews that may be the start of our career as professionals.

The career talk was led by the ever energetic and funny hosts Kuya Tonipet Gaba, Ramon Bautista, Betong Sumaya and Maey Bautista. It was segmented into Six Parts ( IT/New Media, HRM, Broadcasting, Business, Job Interview Do's and Dont's, Proper Dress up for a Job Interview). Each part has a guest speaker who shares their knowledge and experiences about the certain topic related to their field. There is also a given time for students to aks questions to the speaker.

First speaker was Mr. Michael Sy of GMA New Media, Inc. He shares that he was once an employee for a bank and he's just working in the IT/ New Media industry for a couple of years now. He discussed about the growth and innovation of the latest technology in our century. How they are developing new ways on how to take commercials and promotions into a new level. He also shares about his own experiences and how he'd end up as a Vice President for Sales in a New Media Company from being a former bank employee. Mr. Sy ended his talk by leaving a quote from the movie, "In Persuit of Happiness": "You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you, you can't do it. If you want something', go get it. Period."

Next in line as a speaker is Chef Jackie Ang Po, a TV Host, award winning pastry chef, Head Chef and owner of Fleur de Lys Cafe. Chef Jackie talks about HRM or Hotel and Restaurant Management, intended for CTHRM students of the University. She shares about her daily routine as a chef. Her life once her make-up and jewelries were removed. As a head chef she also works in the kitchen together with her staff, Chef Jackie used to wake up early in the morning before just to pick her ingredients to the market, but now that she knows where to get her things, she now saves time from going to the market and even make sure that she has the best quality of products for her pastries and dishes. Chef added that it is also because of passion that brings someone to success. It is not about on what course or masters someone did finished, but it is her love and passion to something that makes her do great things out of it. She also said that a future chef, HRM students should know that there are no breaks for them during peak seasons like December or even Valentine’s Day. Its either you celebrate it way too early or late. They should also be prepared for some unexpected situations while in their station in the kitchen. As per Chef Jackie says: "Just Relax and be Cool. Chillax ka lang."

The third speaker in the Learniversity is the personality who I really admire the most, she's an award-winning documentarist and also a News Anchor for GMA News. She is no other than Ms. Kara David. Ms. Kara David was a graduate of University of the Philippines and started out as a Production Assistant in 1995. She's not even ashamed of telling it, because she said that by starting that very low she knows how each and every one of her staff is very important. Her writers and researchers cannot fool her, because she'd also experienced their works before. As per Broadcasting, Kara says that let's just be true, and don't be a hypocrite. One of the reasons why we want to be in the media is because of glamour, the fame you get when you're infront of the camera. But she added that it was not all about glamour, it is just 10% and the 90% goes to hardwork. "There's nothing wrong with wanting a glamorous life in TV. Nagiging mali pag yun LANG ang gusto mo." Ms. Kara David says. "Yung pinaghihirapan, 'yun ang nagbubunga ng malaki." she added.

Ms. Kara David during her talk for Learniversity

She also shares some of the virtues that she believes in.

* Passion and Compassion

* Patience and Humility

* Truth and Service

"Passion should come from your own heart."

Next speaker is the Vice President for Generika Drugstore who talks about Business. Mr. Jay Ferrer.

Mr. Ferrer was a former employee for Bench and Human. Maybe, you're wondering how come he had merged himself into a pharmaceutical business from a Clothing line Company. Actually it was his father who started the advocacy of Generika at 2003. The young Ferrer doesn't know anything about drugs and medicines. He even told us that he can't read steno. It was just their passion to share their advocacy to people who doesn't have any access to effective yet cheaper medicine. Mr. Ferrer shared some points on how to start a business or how to be an entrepreneur.

First is Passion, there is what we call passion for something, which he defines as serving people, or protecting the environment. And also a passion in something, a skill or talent, something you love to do.

Next is Patience and Perseverance, don't be afraid to fail. Obstacles are part of business.

Third is Learning Continuously, know the trends and be updated. Lifelong learning.

Next is Willingness to Listen, entrepreneurs should learn how to listen with the employees' need and to the customers for adaptation.

Fifth, Dedication and Sacrifice should be fully dedicated.

Next, Care for People.

And last is Build your Network.

"No rest is worth anything except the best that is earned."

After all the talks about different fields and courses, Ms. A, a life coach of GMA News Tv's Fashbook and Personalan, enters the stage to give some tips on Job Interviews. For us students, one of the things we really think about big time is those Job Interviews. Once we've graduated we tend to apply and look for a job, and of course part of looking a job is the interview. Why? because this is the part in which your target employer will rate you, this is the time when you need to present yourself for your desired position. You should look relax and act naturally. Ms. A, gave important pointers about the do's and don'ts during job interview. This part is the most hilarious yet informative segment of the event, because while Ms. A is running down on the tips, Maey and Betong are the ones who did some enactment of scenes in each tips. And that was really funny. The crowd really went wild because of too much laughter. A note from Ms. A: "being confident is easy to learn, too much confidence is arrogance, and little confidence is alright."

And of course, the first way to get notice in a job interview is by the way we look. That's why Ms. LA Ferriols, a Fashion Associate of Mega Magazine do share some tips about Power Dressing that we could use during an interview. Power dressing aims to make an impact, have a good posture and compose yourself. Clothes we wear really has something to do on how other people sees us even though they don't know us. Ms. Ferriols also gives some basic dress style that are appropriate for job interviews.

Some keys from Ms. LA Ferriols:

*stylish but professional

*layering is key

*Go with confidence

*pay attention to details

*personal branding

Overall, the whole day of talk and seminar organized by GMANewsTv was a success. And as a participant on the said event, I really learned a lot from the resource speakers even on the other fields that may be apart from the course I am taking. Indeed, seminars like this truly encourage students to pursue their dreams and aim better for life. but we should also remember that words without actions will remain as pieces of letters that will soon vanished and forgotten.

here are some of the pictures to look at: