Laguna University (LU) keeps its tradition as it participated in the Bantay Halalan Laguna for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BH BSKE) last October 30, 2023. It has been a practice since the 2016 presidential elections that LU, through the Department of Communication, continues to be one of the partner-schools of the College of Development Communication of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Students and faculty members, specifically Dr. Rosalie D. Buban and Dr. Olga J. Domingo, engaged in covering news about the current voting situation in their respective precinct areas.
There were 20 volunteers from LU and the majority were first-time participants of the Bantay Halalan election.
First-year BA Comm student-volunteer, Aurora Mejos, was thrilled to take the opportunity as a first-time field reporter for BH BSKE 2023. She was grateful that she did not encounter any problems with her coverage.
“…I’m so glad na wala masyadong naging aberya at walang naapektuhan sa mga botante dahil sa init ng panahon. Sobrang nag-enjoy talaga ako because I really wanted to experience this as a volunteer,” she added.
Faith Bañares, a 2nd-year BA Comm student-volunteer, also participated as a first-time field reporter. Despite being new to this undertaking, she mentioned that she was able to optimize the knowledge that she had acquired from textbooks to actual practice.
“…As best experience, ito yung first time kong nasaksihan yung iba’t-ibang kaganapan sa mga ganitong pagkakataon ng halalan,” she added when asked about her experience in the BH BSKE 2023.
Meanwhile, some of the student-volunteers already had experience covering similar events. Claire Tolentino, also a 2nd-year BA Comm student-volunteer, shared how the BH BSKE 2023 ignited her passion to become a media practitioner in the future.
“Indeed, experience is the best teacher. It was such a great avenue to practice in my chosen field. Even though it wasn’t my first time doing live coverage, it felt like I was starting again. It was an opportunity full of learning that will really help aspiring media practitioners like myself to be well-equipped in the field,” she said.
The Bantay Halalan BSKE 2023 stood as an outlet for real-life applications of theories and concepts in major courses of the BA Communication as a program that enabled students to immerse themselves in this field of work and serve their communities through the spirit of volunteerism. The Bantay Halalan is an initiative headed by the UPLB College of Development Communication in cooperation with The Los Baños Times and Radyo DZLB that covers national and local elections.
IN PHOTO: 2nd-year BA Comm student field reporters, Jana Andrea Parafina and Francine Flores, interview a registered voter in Brgy. Nanhaya, Victoria, Laguna. © Bantay Halalan Laguna Facebook page
IN PHOTO: Field reports of 2nd-year BA Comm student-volunteers, Faith M. Bañares, Shereena Marie Dimero, and Joselito Robles, published on the Bantay Halalan Laguna Facebook Page. © Bantay Halalan Laguna Facebook page
IN PHOTO: Field report by Dr. Olga J. Domingo (Program Chair – BA Communication). © Bantay Halalan Laguna Facebook page
IN PHOTO: Field report by Dr. Rosalie D. Buban (Dean – College of Arts and Sciences) during the 3:00 P.M. update Bantay Halalan BSKE 2023 live broadcast. © Bantay Halalan Laguna Facebook page
By: Jan Carlo N. Halayahay, BA Comm 2A
