Far Eastern University (FEU) Communication Week (Comm Week) returns onsite after two years with Alagad Ng Midya Summit which aims to understand current trends, issues, and threats about Philippine media, held at the FEU Mini Auditorium last May 2. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Communication Society (CommSoc) adviser Karen Lee Panela hoped to pique the interest of students in the media landscape of the country with the return of Comm Week and Alagad Ng Midya Summit onsite once again.

“Basically, the Alagad Ng Midya event is an attempt to parang reinvigorate the interest of communication students and now because it has been opened to non-comm people, to find interest in the world of media particularly the legacy media or traditional media (Basically, the Alagad Ng Midya event is like an attempt to reinvigorate the interest of communication students and now because it has been opened to non-comm people, to find interest in the world of media particularly the legacy media or traditional media),” she said. 

Several guest speakers, including alumni and notable media practitioners, were invited to the event to teach about the broadcasting, journalism, entertainment, and film industries. 

GMA Network News Reporter Nico Waje, together with Brigada Balita Nationwide Anchor and Presenter Gab Dalisay, discussed the broadcast stations in today’s society. Dalisay focused on the role of the broadcasting media in the digital age. 

FEU Communication alumni and ABS-CBN Advertising and Promotions Coordinator Jesus Bautista provided insight into the progressive change in the country’s entertainment industry. 

“Si entertainment industry hindi lang siya ‘yung nasa traditional set-up pa din na, na ang market lang ay ‘yung pangmatatanda, makikita niyo ‘yung evolution nung story, eventually sa entertainment…nag-iiba na ‘yung storytelling ng directors, nag-iiba na din ‘yung market, as ‘yun nga habang tumatagal (The entertainment industry is not just stuck in the traditional set-up, with the only market being the elderly, you can see the evolution of the story, eventually in entertainment...the storytelling of the directors are different, the market is also different, as time goes on),” he said. 

Moreover, ABS-CBN News Gathering Mobile Sub-unit Head Andrew Jonathan “Anjo” Bagaoisan, and Waje, shed light on journalism and its growth as a traditional media. 

“They [journalists] do new ways of telling stories, actually ‘di pa nga ‘yung ways ‘yung forms palang ito, mobile phones, public service pa rin ginagawa pa din,” Waje explained.

Meanwhile, Cinemalaya Best Director for 2022 Ma-an Asuncion also gave out tips for aspiring filmmakers who are just starting in the industry. 

“Just don’t lose hope, magkaroon kayo, mag-intern kayo sa mga iniidolo niyo, for example ako nag-intern ako for Erik Matti…at the same time like ito, community niyo na ‘to, so kayo-kayo rin magtutulungan kayo, for example good thing meron kayong ano diba Sinepiyu (Just don't lose hope, have yourself, intern with your idols, for example I interned for Erik Matti...at the same time, you have this community, so you too will help each other, for example good thing you have Sinepiyu),” she explained. 

Alagad Ng Midya Summit was attended by more than 300 participants and was opened for all programs outside Communication. 

The event was presented by FEU  CommSoc and FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences Department of Communication (FEU DepComm). 

FEU Comm Week is an annual celebration gathering of communication students, practitioners, and alumni of the University. 

- Randy Espares Jr.