Writing Portfolio Chrizelle Anne Diaz So I. Internship DLSU students organize Haribon’s First Membership Orientation By Chrizelle Anne So Published in The Manila Times on March 30, 2017. Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/dlsu-students-organize-haribons-1st-membership-orientation/319954/ ​ ​ Environmental membership organization Haribon Foundation recently held its first gathering of members this year in its headquarters in Quezon City. The said event was co-organized by a group of volunteers from the De La Salle University (DLSU) under their Department of Communication. The event aimed to introduce Haribon and its conservation work to new and potential members, and to discuss the various ways on how they can get involved in achieving its goals. “As a Haribon member, you are our biodiversity champions. Your support in different capacities will help amplify our advocacies in caring for the environment and its biodiversity,” said Arlie Endonila, Haribon’s resource and development manager during the orientation. To contribute to the organization’s goals, members of Haribon choose a specific committee where they think their skills and passion fit best. Committees include membership (i.e. recruitment of potential supporters and organizing of member events), resource development (i.e. fundraising), communications (i.e. awareness-raising, photography, videography, layouting) training and education (i.e. facilitating or documenting of training activities), advocacy (i.e. positioning of Haribon’s causes in various campaigns), site action (i.e. support in site-based interventions) and conservation science (i.e. collecting data on sites, habitats and species). At the end of the orientation, a number of non-member attendees proceeded to apply for membership whereas existing members reported that they learned more about the organization and gained a new perspective regarding their roles as members. Member Kevin Laranang told Haribon, “I am glad to know that there is an organization like Haribon that advocates for biodiversity conservation in the country. I hope they carry on the good work.” The membership orientation was organized by graduating students taking up Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication. When asked about their volunteer experience, student organizer Kriselle Valenzuela remarked, “It feels great knowing that I get to help a cause that I passionately believe in.” Apart from organizing the activity, the volunteers also helped produce the materials including membership primers and also helped facilitate the marketing and promotions for the event. “Volunteering for an environmental conservation group was definitely a great experience especially that we get to contribute in achieving Haribon’s goals,” shared Zaira Tan from DLSU. “We are grateful to our volunteers from the De La Salle University who worked hard since day one to help put up this successful orientation. Thank you for choosing Haribon,” Endonila addressed the volunteer organizers. Haribon Foundation is a membership environmental organization committed to nature conservation through community empowerment and scientific excellence. For 44 years, its work, made possible by its supporters, has sought to transform mindsets and practices contributing to the long-term viability of the country’s biodiversity. Haribon is set to roll out its environmental activities in the summer including tree treks, outdoor playschool, Haribon Meets U and Haribon Travel. To know more, visit their website at www.haribon.org.ph. ​ Chrizelle Anne So is a Communications intern at Haribon Foundation and among the volunteer organizers of the recently held Haribon Membership Orientation. Act. Make an Impact. Protect, Conserve and Save Biodiversity. Be a Haribon member today. Register: bit.ly/joinHF and e-mail to [email protected]. SIGN UP NOW! II. Viva Records Corporation Regine Velasquez-Alcasid: Walking out on Ogie’s New Song OCTOBER 30, 2017 • NO COMMENTS •NEWS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ On one of the more poignant moments on the 2nd night of Regine Velasquez-Alcasid’s “R3.0” ​ ​ concert, Asia’s one and only Songbird sang a heart-rending song which captured the hearts of the audience. Many shed tears with RVA when she sang “First Man In My Life”, a song written specifically about her father by her husband Ogie Alcasid. Prior to delivering her piece, the songbird shared how she was overwhelmed with emotion the first time she heard the song, which caused her to walk out on Ogie and out of the room. She simply could not take the pain elicited by the lyrics that went: “Oh Papa keep watching me from heaven. Oh Papa keep holding me and loving me. Oh Papa please hear me sing from heaven. You’re clapping so loud and always so proud My first man in my life.” Over the course of the song, RVA almost had to stop as tears made it difficult to sing. At the same time, the whole of the arena who was watching was moved by the words and the emotion in Ms. Regine’s voice as she sang about her enduring love for her father. Regine’s father, Mang Gerry was, at the onset, the one who molded his daughter’s raw talent and trained her to become one of the greatest female singers in OPM. In her formative years, RVA’s father taught the singer everything she knew about music and accompanied her to every single show and competition when she was only starting out. Regine’s “R3.0” show is the first major concert by RVA without her father watching and cheering for her amongst the audience — making the event all the more emotional for the singer as she sang the newly recorded song in front of a large audience for the first time. Regine Velasquez – Alcasid: “I’m Thinking Maybe I Lost It” JANUARY 11, 2018 • NO COMMENTS •NEWS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thirty years. Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez – Alcasid has graced the music industry with her impeccable and unmatched talent for thirty years. She is considered as an OPM icon, and her loyal fans and supporters are all part of a renowned history. Despite her age, Ms. Regine still wows us all with her voice. But she admits to feeling a tinge of insecurity. Renowned Asia’s Songbird came to a point in her career where she experienced changes in her voice. It was hard for her to sing like she did before. Since then, she wasn’t as confident as she was in her younger years. She thought, “Maybe I lost it”. In the celebration of her 30th year, in the R3.0 concert, she shared: ​ ​ “It’s been a struggle for me because inside, I’m thinking maybe I lost it. I have been so scared of this concert because I don’t know from where I would grab my confidence. But I realized, maybe that’s the whole point of everything. I’m trying to find my self-confidence but maybe I’m not supposed to. I’m not supposed to find my confidence because all I have to do is have faith.” And that she did. Faith was all it took for her to come back and show us why she was dubbed as Asia’s Songbird. In R3.0 The Concert, Ms. Regine Velasquez – Alcasid gave us her all. She showcased her voice — a voice recognized throughout the continent. And even Ms. Regine herself was shocked. She didn’t think she still had it. After a series of delivering strong vocals, she said: “I have no idea where my voice is coming from.” And after a slight pause, continued with “Actually, I do know. I am not the one singing. He is. I want to thank my savior Jesus Christ because he gave me this voice.” The R3.0 concert was a time to remember and celebrate the Songbird’s iconic career. And even after 30 years, she continued to surprise everyone with her amazing talent. “Hanggat may makikinig, kakanta ako.” Those were Ms. Regine Velasquez – Alcasid’s closing words. She will never stop singing unless people stop listening. It’s evident that even in another 10, 20, or 30 years, people will never stop listening to the Songbird. Listen to Ms. Regine Velasquez- Alcasid’s 3-disc commemorative album here: Apple Music: http://apple.co/2zQyFGT ​ Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2yJjF0a ​ Regine Velasquez- Alcasid Sings a Duet with Her Father in R3.0 JANUARY 11, 2018 • NO COMMENTS •NEWS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Ms. Regine Velasquez- Alcasid’s father, or as we have come to know as Mang Gerry, made an appearance in the Songbird’s concert celebrating 30 years of her career! As many know, Mang Gerry molded and trained her to become one of the most iconic OPM singers. He was always present in her competitions and concerts, supporting his daughter throughout her career. We can understand Ms. Regine Velasquez- Alcasid’s devastation when her father passed in 2014. R3.0 was to be her first major concert without the presence of her father. But Asia’s Songbird did not let that happen. On the first night of the R3.0 concert, Ms. Regine Velasquez- Alcasid sang “You’ll Never Know” with Mang Gerry, a song they often sing together on live shows. She began singing the first few lines, surprising the concert attendees when Mang Gerry’s voice was heard in the second verse. A video of her and her father singing the same song from a few years back played on the stage’s LCD screen. Asia’s Songbird shed tears as the song went on, but she wasn’t the only one who got emotional. Everyone in the arena was touched by the heart-rending moment. Some, like Ms. Regine, were brought to tears. The same moment occurred on the second night. But this time, she was joined by her mother, who also sang key lines in the song.