The Grad School Diaries: Episode 13 - Rappler.Com at UPLB

Pardon the lazy blogger in me. I’ve been so busy this week and I am trying to squeeze in this little post before I head of to my next appointment. Oh yes, this week will be the start of the many busy weeks of my life this year.

Anyway, last Wednesday, Rappler came to UPLB. As the secretary of DevCom Graduate Students Association, I am required to attend, participate and involve myself in planning. Good thing, our President, Derek, is a full-time student, he was the one who really organized almost the whole thing, together with UPLB’s Office of Public Relations (OPR).

Anyone who is obsessed into social media (ehem!) knows what Rappler is. For those who don’t:, here's an excerpt from Rappler's Bio from the official website:

Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves). It's a new world of limitless collaboration enabled by new technology and connected by social media.
We at Rappler promise uncompromised journalism that - hopefully - inspires smart conversations and ignites a thirst for change.
We are veteran journalists trained in broadcast, print and web disciplines working with young, idealistic digital natives eager to report and find solutions to problems. We are web artists, designers, publishers and professionals combining the best of broadcasting and IT processes.
We won’t be complete without YOU.
Technology now allows us to work in ways never before possible to create connected communities and to tap “the wisdom of crowds,” the process of harnessing a group's collective answer which, under the right conditions, have proven to be better than any single expert opinion.
To help set up these conditions, we began nationwide workshops with our Move.PH chat series. In the age when everyone is a reporter, it’s good to discuss standards, responsibilities and ethics. Our journalists are running workshops and engaging the public in ways we have rarely done before.

So here we are at 10 in the morning preparing for the event at 1pm: 

I am assigned to the the registration area:

Preppin' up:

The view from the guest speaker. Where I am sitting at is the future (by future I mean within a few hours) seat of Ms. Maria Ressa, the CEO of Rappler.

Our Emcee's practicing

I cannot take credit for the upcoming shots anymore, I just asked friends to take photos of what's happening inside since I am glued to my seat at the registration area:

Our audience:

Jampacked!

Blockbuster!

 We're actually lucky to have a photo op with Rappler's CEO, Maria Ressa, while she's on her way to the John. Follor her on twitter: @maria_ressa

 Of course, Frankie J got a solo shot with Ma'am Maria.

Yes. We are still at the registration area.

Surprised that I can still smile at 430pm, after a whole say of sneezing.

Thank you Mary Pearl for taking the photos during the Open Forum while I'm at the registration area:

From Left to Right: Dr. Serlie Barroga-Jamias, OPR Director, Josh Villanueva, Ms. Maria Ressa, Ms. Chay F. Holifeña and Ms. Patricia Evangelista, all from Rappler

By past 5pm, some people already left but a lot stayed for the open forum:

They spoke about how they live and exist on social networks and how to push development through social media. I was able to hear a few things from the open forum. I wish I could've closed the registration area so I can listen to them ( I need it for my thesis because I'm doing mine on social media) but people kept coming even at 430 pm! I guess somebody's got to take one for the team.

Thank you Derek for arranging almost everything! ( Hoy, Please give me a copy of the DVD!)

Thank you to my guest photographers: Mary Pearl Urtola and Frankie Jamias.

Thank you Rappler for taking the time to go UPLB. After this event, I've heard really good things about what our audiences have learned from you.