 |
| Artcard by Jamila Estanislao |
Last January 23, 2024, UST won 16 merits and three excellence awards in the 10th Philippine Student Quill Awards.
The Philippine Student Quill Awards is spearheaded by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines. Its goal is to award the best strategic communication campaigns, tools, and programs to improve communication standards in different industries such as corporate, government, and in the academe as well as to develop the next generation of communicators. It also instills discipline, resourcefulness, and creativity in students in crafting communication programs and focusing on having positive results.
Indeed, it is with great pride that four of our very own CASAns won during the 10th Philippine Student Quill Awards. Over the past week, we interviewed some of them to get to know their insights and feelings about winning the prestigious award. Here is what they have to say.
Paolo Alejandrino
 |
| Photo by Paolo Alejandrino |
In the recent Quill Awards, Paolo Alejandrino received two awards for his works on Tiger Media Network namely for #ThisIsTigerTV and for #WannaPaskuhan2022But Video Promotion Series.
When asked about what winning this award means to him as a communication student, he shared that this award is a momentous achievement for him as this award recognizes his skills and talent because it was given by the International Association of Business Communicators and being recognized by a prestigious organization, it enhances not just his personal credibility but it also recognizes the work that they do in Tiger Media network. It also recognizes that there really is some sort of excellence in the communication program of the university.
Paolo, now a senior student, shared his tip to balance his heavy workload and organization commitments as a volunteer for Tiger Media Network and being a part of the executive board as a creative marketing head. “It's all about effective time management. There is really some sort of time management to balance your academic responsibility, your extracurricular activities, project works…” Furthermore, he added that it is also about flexibility and adaptability. He tries to be prepared in order to adapt to unexpected changes or challenges that may arise but most importantly, he doesn’t forget to also take care of himself. He stated, “As much as possible, I try to stay flexible in my approach and of course, I don’t neglect my mental, physical, and emotional well-being.”
Talking about the challenges he faced, he explained that the challenges in both projects were very different and so it also required two different approaches. But in general, he sums it up into three—- logistical or technical constraints, limited resources, and adapting to change. He overcame these challenges by using time management techniques, timetables, and having support from mentors and peers, firstly from Tiger Media Network’s adviser, Asst. Professor Faye Martel-Abugan and the teams of Tiger Media Network helped him explore available resources, be open to feedback and new ideas, be willing to collaborate with others, and lastly, the teamwork he had with his team.
On learning experiences, through the ability to adapt and to be resilient through the pandemic and now with the face-to-face conditions, Paolo learned to navigate setbacks that helped him develop a growth mindset and the ability to thrive in diverse environments. For him personally, there is a sense of achievement and fulfillment because winning the Quill Awards is an acknowledgment of the progress that they have made and the impact they have as communication students, that everything that they went through was worth it. The Quill Awards affirmed their passion and commitment to the field of communication and media. “Winning awards can catalyze yung personal growth and improvement namin as communication practitioners and as early career professionals who’s about to go into the industry, they are really important because it motivate us to go further and farther and to explore more opportunities for growth,” Paolo stated.
Paolo would like to dedicate his awards to the passionate and young team of Creative Marketing in Tiger Media Network, under the supervision and mentorship of Ms. Faye Abugan, Mr. Earl Pantoja, and Ms. Dang Calumba, as they played a big role in giving the support and guidance needed to complete the projects. He also mentioned the diverse set of members of both projects because these will only be possible with their collaboration, brainstorming, and the sharing of fresh ideas. He especially mentioned the University of Santo Tomas, expressing how the university's achievements are a testament to its excellent program of communication in business communication. He ended his dedication with a short but impactful line, “We can now reclaim the school of the year award that we have held for several years straight.”
His advice to passionate communication students is to proactively seek opportunities for learning, growth, and skill development. He suggested taking on new projects, joining volunteer organizations or interest groups, such as Tiger Media Network, and engaging in extracurricular activities that align with one’s interests and goals in the future. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of staying connected with one’s “Why?” You must reflect on your passions, your values, and motivations. He stated, “By staying connected with your “why?” the reasons that drive you to pursue your goals and dreams, whatever they may be, sa Technical Operations man yan, sa Advertising, Marketing, Film, etc., they would guide you on your journey onwards.”
Jasmin Beatriz Maat
 |
| Photo by Jasmin Beatriz Maat |
Jasmin Beatriz R. Maat is praised and awarded for her work on JjangDaysWithJjangDak with Draft One Studios in Division 1, Category 7: Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication on the Quill Awards.
She explained that winning the award is a significant milestone in her journey as a communication student. She is proud that this is her 2nd Student Quill Award as a communication student at the University of Santo Tomas. Winning an award during one’s senior year is very significant; for Jasmin, although the award was a bonus, it validates the hard work, creativity, and dedication she has invested in honing her skills. She expressed how the recognition from IABC inspired her to continue challenging boundaries and contributing innovative ideas to the field of marketing and advertising.
During her days as a student, she was able to balance various commitments with careful planning and prioritization. Since the project was done during her senior year, when she had to juggle academics, organization commitments, internships, and part-time jobs, there were a lot of responsibilities on her plate. Her motivation to keep going was her goal to graduate with flying colors, making her prioritize her academics. The project was for their IMC (Integrated Marketing Communication) course, and she didn’t have a hard time managing her time as she set realistic goals and timelines for her team and broke down tasks into manageable steps. It was also important to utilize available resources efficiently and seek support when needed.
When asked about unexpected challenges, she expressed how she feels blessed to have been supported by effective team members. Although she explained how unexpected challenges are inherent in any creative endeavor. “Whether it was shifting project requirements, tight deadlines, or uncooperative groupmates, these challenges pushed me to think on my feet and adapt. They ultimately shaped our final work by fostering resilience, problem-solving skills, and the ability to thrive under pressure. Each obstacle became an opportunity for growth.”
The experiences and lessons we learn as students can also be applied in the real world. Ms. Jasmin’s hands-on approach significantly contributed to her growth as a communication student, and she was able to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, which ultimately guided her in enhancing her practical skills. It helped her during her internship and guided her team to craft a comprehensive IMC plan.
She would like to dedicate this award to her whole team at 4COM3 Batch 2023, also known as the Draft One Studios, as their collaboration and collective effort were instrumental in bringing JjangDaysWithJjangDak to life. The team’s passion and commitment fueled the project's success, and the award reflects their shared dedication. She mentioned, “This is one of the biggest achievements we have as a block.” Teamwork, professionalism, and dedication played a big role in their achievement as a block, proving why they deserved the award.
To give advice to passionate communication students, she wants to remind everyone to step out of their comfort zone to foster personal and professional growth. “Do not let any opportunity pass and actively seek them. Embrace every opportunity for hands-on experience, and embrace a growth mindset. Learn from setbacks, turning rejections into opportunities for learning and resilience. Take on projects that challenge you and show initiative in your current roles. Stay curious, stay informed about industry trends, and always be open to learning.”
Kier Angelo Vecina
 |
| Photo by Kier Angelo Vecina |
Kier Angelo I. Vecina garnered an award in Division 1 Category 7: Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication with his work during Broadquest 2022 as the head of Intaglio Studios.
He expressed how winning the award was a checkpoint for him as a communication student, as marketing is one of his interests. He brushed up a lot on his skills in marketing and advertising, and he looked back at his experiences during the project and realized how far they’d come.
He also shared how he balances various commitments by taking one step at a time, and he doesn’t only focus on his academics but also tries to take breaks in between his schedules. “I really tried talaga ang magfocus, or to take things one step at a time to ensure na ay okay magagawa namin ‘to, magagawa natin nang maayos ‘to and on schedule lahat.” His trust in his team contributed a lot to the success of creating an effective plan.
Winning the award took work, and it came with a lot of challenges; Kier expressed how the online set-up of Broadquest 2022 posed a problem for Intaglio Studios. He personally experienced difficulties during the recording of their presentation because of the sudden power outage; however, the biggest challenge was the differences in their schedules and the inability to meet physically because of the pandemic protocols and the distances. He remembered how the core team would set up meetings until 5 am to ensure everyone was on the same page. “Yung distance talaga, nagpahirap din siya sa paggawa ng plan, kasi we had to be there, pero we can’t physically be there so parang kailangan, one call away lang kami, since head ako noon, para maapprove ko kung okay ba ‘to o hindi, or same ba kami ng vision and all.”
Leading a team to create a broadcasting plan was a new experience for him, but it was fruitful, and it allowed him to learn more about himself since he wanted to improve his skills on the other side of communication, specifically marketing and advertising, as his prior experience were more focused on events and hosting.
When asked to whom he dedicates the award, he first mentioned Intaglio Studios, who contributed to the broadcasting plan. They were a good and organized team, and it was a good experience, primarily because the core team consisted of his close friends, and they were already bonded from the beginning. He said his friends were his support system, and they helped motivate him and get through a very pressing time. He also expressed how his family’s support and understanding were vital since they adjusted their schedules and recognized the weight of their project and all of his other competitions “They give me time, na hindi kami masyado lumalabas ganito ganyan, then na-uunderstand naman nila ‘yan especially since they know na seryoso talaga yung ginagawa natin dito.” Lastly, he wanted to dedicate the award to himself because he had improved since he was in Senior High School, and he’s really glad he took a break from other things to focus on learning more about communication. It eventually became the fruit of all the factors he previously mentioned.
His advice to his fellow communication students who are passionate and want to make a difference is to redirect their goal from making an immediate change to touching people's hearts, which leads to triggering that change within themselves. “Your first or yung primary goal mo dapat is always to include or to inspire. Kasi, when you include people or when you inspire people, parang you get to listen to them, or parang you get to connect with them, you get to touch with them, and, by including them, by inspiring them that in turn makes them want to have a change within themselves, kasi I believe na, you know, communication is a powerful tool talaga pero, it’s not something na we as communicators should use for our own agenda.”
Truly, the whole CASAn community would want to send their warmest congratulations to this year’s Student Quill Awardees. We are immensely proud of you. May their stories inspire CASAns to push for growth, continue to be passionate in what they do, say yes to opportunities, and face challenges with grit.
