The students of the Public Speaking and Speech Summer Camp

The SERVITO’s KSS Learning Center held a Public Speaking and Speech Summer Camp for students and adults last May 25-28, 2010.

The said program which was the first of its kind in the town of Calasiao was attended by six eager students; where they learned English phonetics, how to improve their pronunciation, diction, accent,and intonation. They were also taught how to gain and build self-confidence, and overcome fear specially when speaking in public. Proper speech delivery which included appropriate hand and body gestures, facial expressions, and rapport building, was likewise discussed.

The four-day camp was highlighted by an exciting practicum where the enrollees delivered speeches in front of an audience which included their lecturers Maria Dolour Servito-Navarra and Journa Liz Servito-Ramirez who are both graduates of Communications & Journalism at the Brigham Young University-Hawaii.

Maria Dolour Servito-Navarra, as she discusses intonation

The next Speech Improvement and Public Speaking Program is scheduled on July 10- Aug. 21, Saturday classes only.

The students of the Public Speaking and Speech Summer Camp as they receive their certificates of successful completion together with their lecturers. (From L-R: Maria Dolour Servito Navarra, Jerald Maningding, Reywelle Bravo, Janine Quinto, Darwin dela Cruz) not in photo: Lance Stephan Parayno and Sarah Camille Cuyan

PHOTO GALLERY:

with Lance Stephan Parayno

with Janine Quinto

with Reywelle Bravo

with Darwin dela Cruz

with Jerald Maningding

Related posts:

1. KSS SUMMER CAMP 2010
2. KSS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
3. KSS SELA Manager Speaks on Editorial Writing

Servito’s KSS Learning Center now offers Summer HULA Dancing Lessons for kids and adults! Experience the Hawaiian Aloha spirit through learning the enchanting hula dancing!
SCHEDULE: June 7-11, 2010 (2-4pm)

PLEASE CONTACT:

JOURNA LIZ D. SERVITO-RAMIREZ
SERVITO’S KSS LEARNING CENTER
2nd FLR. STS BLDG., MC ARTHUR HIGHWAY,
CALASIAO, PANGASINAN, 2418
Tel No. 522-3073, or 522-5427
Cell No. 0939-898-7322
Email: journaliz@servitokss.com OR journalds@yahoo.com
Web site: www.servitokss.com

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1. KSS SUMMER CAMP 2010
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Three weeks of fun and multiple learning experiences!

We are pleased to announce the SERVITO’s KSS Summer Camp

Sked:

WRITING CAMP MAY 18-21, 2010
(Campus Journalism & Creative Writing)

SPEECH CAMP MAY 25-28, 2010
(Speech Improvement & Public Speaking)

READING CAMP JUNE 1-4, 2010
(Oral Reading & Reading Comprehension)

The WRITING CAMP is designed to discover the writing potentials and enhance journalistic writing skills and literary/creative writing skills, too. It is also aimed at developing communication skills in English and Filipino, increasing one’s vocabulary, inculcating love of reading and writing and enhancing confidence in written communication.

The SPEECH CAMP will provide opportunities and learning experiences that will enhance speaking abilities before small or large audiences. Participants will be drilled on correct sounds of English thereby improving their pronunciation, enunciation and diction. Their confidence in speech delivery will then be prevalent.

The READING CAMP will showcase a variety of book nooks to make reading fun and comfortable for kids. Participants will be engaged in reading books according to their level and interest to boost their reading and language skills, leading to improved learner performance and increased self-esteem in and out of the classroom.

PLEASE CONTACT:

JOURNALIZ D. SERVITO-RAMIREZ
SERVITO’S KSS LEARNING CENTER
2nd FLR. STS BLDG., MC ARTHUR HIGHWAY,
CALASIAO, PANGASINAN, 2418
Tel No. 522-3073, or 522-5427
Cell No. 0939-898-7322
Email: journaliz@servitokss.com OR journalds@yahoo.com
Web site: www.servitokss.com

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1. KSS Center holds Public Speaking and Speech Improvement Summer Camp
2. KSS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
3. HULA Dancing Lessons

Where KSS means Knowledge and Skills for Success, this study center which is a dream-

come-true for a family of education lovers, has moved to the next level.

From its original nook at the groundfloor of the STS Bldg., Mc Arthur Highway,

Calasiao, Pangasinan, it has moved up to its second floor, for a more spacious and more

conducive area for learning.

To accommodate an increasing number of tutees, students and professionals who

avail of KSS offerings – tutorage for all levels, speech training, campus journalism

workshops, reading program, memorology, and the International English Language

program, KSS Center now occupies the entire second floor area, five times larger than its

former location.

KSS will then offer additional crash courses starting this summer. KSS Manager

Journa Liz D. Servito-Ramirez announces the KSS Summer Camp schedule:

WRITING CAMP May 11-14, 2010
(Campus Journalism & Creative Writing)

SPEECH CAMP May 18-21, 2010
(Speech Improvement & Public Speaking)

READING CAMP May 25-28, 2010
(Oral Reading & Reading Comprehension)

These short sessions are offered to elementary, secondary school students from

private and public schools, and to beginning school paper advisers, English and Filipino

teachers, as well.

Furthermore, KSS is also organizing a kiddie book club and a professional book

book club in order to promote the habit of reading among the youth and adults.

This is in answer to the prevailing problem of deteriorating interest in reading books

among students and professionals as well, in today’s computer-based technology world.

For reservations and for further details, please contact, Journa Liz at the Servito’s

KSS Learning Center or call Tel. Nos. 522-3073, or 522-5427, or cell no. 0939-898-7322.
You can send your emails to journalds@yahoo.com and/or visit this web site:

www.servitokss.com

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1. KSS SUMMER CAMP 2010
2. KSS Center holds Public Speaking and Speech Improvement Summer Camp
3. HULA Dancing Lessons

Just awhile ago, I dropped by the Mercury Drugstore to buy my baby a can of powdered milk. I was surprised as I took a peek on the receipt and my mind was immediately drawn to the three capital letters printed four times on the lower part of my receipt — VAT. My eyes widened as it landed on the text which says “VAT 12% P38.01.” Fortunately, the P354.75 presented on the tag fits our budget but as an entrepreneur, who calculates even to the last cent, this amount already matters specially considering the point that I need to purchase six to seven cans of milk in a month. I would’ve gotten a monthly saving of P266.07 at the eradication of the VAT. For the average and the below average, nursing Juan dela Cruz, this instantly added to and expanded their burdens.

Tax in its plain self is already heavy at times for most Filipino consumers, then here came Value Added Tax, indeed an added weight. But it doesn’t end there, following VAT was the Expanded Value Adde d Tax. It’s like terrible taxes times two! I can not wholly comprehend why and how these taxes where legalised. Why pass the heavier and additional load to the struggling consumers when successful companies have the larger pockets and stronger shoulders? To my perception, it just makes the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Again I queried, who passed the bill anyway? When a campaign advertisement flashed on our screen saying pacifying things about helping the poor, brushing off corruption, and the like, my sister convicted “Hmp! I will not vote for him! He was the one responsible for the VAT and EVAT!” She then added that he was bluffing his way again to the senate. Believing those strong words from my sister’s sensible mouth, made me erase that politician’s name off my ballot.

As May 10 is less than a month away, it is high time for me to strain my voting list. Scrutinizing political candidates’ profile, dissecting their track records, and critically examining their platforms would certainly avoid a morbid mistake of voting for someone like the one behind the VAT and EVAT.  Lawmakers who sincerely aim for the relief of fatigued Filipinos deserve to sit within the corridors of power. So, as they say, vote wisely!

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Captions and catchlines definitely help in telling the story. It is true, according to a Chinese proverb that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” yet some pictures are not independent by themselves or are self-explanatory. Pictures that particularly lack background may not be capable of sending the message to the readers as they are. They need some words to put across the message intended for the readers. That’s why we need captions and catchlines.

What is a catchline? A catchline appears to be a subtitle for a caption which is usually printed in different size or point, type or style. Some catchlines form part of the captions sentence as they are necessary to complete its thought.

What is a caption? A caption is also called a cutline, constitutes the line or lines or text that basically describe, explain, or tell something about the picture. Captions should not be so long that they become as thick as or even thicker than the picture. The standard is at least four lines for a good caption.

Guidelines in writing captions:

1. As in newswriting, the basic 5w’s and 1h are used in presenting the facts.
2. The present tense is preferred to the past tense.
3. The news elements such as prominence, proximity, timeliness, human interest, and the like are also considered.
4. A caption must be written while the picture is being viewed. It is impossible to caption a picture appropriately without looking at it.
5. Captions are basically informative yet they can be written also in such a way that they tickle readers’ emotions and minds by making them a bit intriguing.
6. Describing the obvious in the picture should be avoided.
7. Expressions like “photo shows”, “not in picture are…” do not really help to arrest readers’ attention but may insult them instead.
8. Credit lines which indicate the name of the photographer or photojournalist may be placed right under or just at the side of the photograph.

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By far, this is the most sensible commercial I have seen. Actually, I didn’t have any clue that this is an advertisement even though before clicking it, I read “extraordinary commercial.”

Indeed, yet if there is such word beyond “extraordinary”, it would best describe this video clip.

The drama at the beginning really dragged my senses. The angelic face of the little Thai girl mezmirized by the smooth sway of the fiddle’s bow was certainly catchy. Also, the portrayal of her  inability to hear and speak was artistically done. The shot was really drawing sympathy as she walked on the street, head-down while a car, tailing her, frantically blew its horn.

The lines too were profoundly penned: “A duck tries to fly?”

“You’re wasting everyone’s time” is a stab straight to the heart enough to kill one’s determination. But this video inspiringly showed how the girl’s hopes of playing the violin died and resurrected through the old man’s wisdom.

The girl’s  bitter question “Why am I different from others,” was simply answered  by the violinist with a soul stirring “Why do you have to be like others.” Truly, each of us is unique.

Music lovers too, would surely fall in love with it as the old man said, “Music is a visible thing. Close your eyes. You will see.” What a beautiful statement. I’m  a music enthusiast but I never thought of it that way before.

The girl is deaf and mute, but definitely not blind to “see” music.

The climax was likewise striking as the antagonist young pianist untiringly and ragingly practiced for the classical music competition. The piano presentation ended with an exclamation point. Such scene was brilliantly intertwined with that of the commotion happening with the girl and the old man, how they were bullied and got her violin crushed.

I got goose bumps everytime I get to the part where the girl is on stage, the moment she started to play the violin.

The moment I found out it was a mere shampoo commercial was at the very end when it flashed “Pantene. You can shine.” My amazement while watching the clip was immediately diluted in awe with a pinch of chuckle. I needed to check on my senses and pause for a while. I was  stunned.

I then realized the reason behind the strong emphasis on the raging sways of the violinist’s long, shiny, black hair.

My amazement goes to the smart minds behind this brilliant advertisement which, on the surface, is not obviously selling something. I hope they also do something like this here in the Philippines.

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1. An XX or an XY?

Editorials can be categorized according to their functions. Basically, all editorials comment on a certain issue, topic, subject matter ornews event, so editorials of comment are most common. The different types of editorials may interlap, as a single editorial may serve various purposes. Yet for the purpose of identifying some common types, we can have the following:

1. News editorial. This editorial is based on a news item; sometimes it is an interpretative news with subtle opinions.

2. Informative editorial. It presents more factual background on an issue which needs proper and probably immediate dissemination to the public while it interprets and explains the significance of such to readers.

3. Editorial of commemoration or tribute. This represents the views of the campus paper and the school, as they pay tribute to leaders, organizers, heroes or heroines, achievers and other persons or institutions particularly on certain anniversaries, celebrations, and dates to remember.

4. Editorial of argumentation. This presents both sides of an issue or may cling to one side then proves its stand.

5. Editorial of appreciation or commendation.  This editorial praises or commends a worthy deed, an achievement, victory, or success.

6. Editorial or interpretation. This interprets and explains a particular situation or event and helps in some decisions to be made.

7. Editorial of criticism. This can be positive or negative yet costructive, for it comments on a wrongdoing, an evil act, or a futile action, yet it does not particularly attack the person/s involved.

8. Editorial of crusade. This seeks to obtain people’s support for a particular program or project.

9. Editorial of reputation. This is written in response to editorials of other papers contradicting their expressed opinions.

10. Editorial shorts. These are also called editorial liners, ten-second editorials, or one-punch editorials. These are short, meaty articles, usually of one to two sentences that appear below an editorial.

11. Picture editorial. This consists of a picture or group of pictures that exposes a wrongdoing and how it can be made right or be corrected.

12. Pooled editorial. This refers to a common editorial published by different papers which comes from a single source.

13. Editorial column.  This is a personalized editorial since it is by-lined by the columnist.

14. Editorial cartoon. This is a caricature, sketch, or drawing that portrays a message, usually commenting on, reacting to, or even predicting some incidents of wide interest.

15. Editorial of analogy. This analyzes a situation and compares it with something else.

(Note: Some editorials defy classification.)

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Oct. 4, 2009

I admit, my feet, legs, and thighs went bigger than my husband’s. It swelled so badly that I can punch dimples on my feet that lasted seconds. Very amusing. But the thing which was not amusing in anyway was, all but one of my footwear seemingly rejected my plump feet.

It’s official, I walked like a waddling penguin — a very keen observation from my friend Apple who also had gone through some funny “waddlings” herself. I already expected this ugly duckling walk, anyway.

It’s affirmative, I gained 40 pounds! It’s just a good thing I didn’t go gaga over that fact; gratitude went to my not being weight-conscious.

With my extra pounds, it became more and more difficult for me to move around. I even needed my husband’s gentle push or pull when I got up from lying down or sitting. I wrapped my hands around his neck just to lift my upper body.

Sleeping, most of the time, did not serve as a resting time for me. It became more like a hard task. Sleeping on my left side, (for smooth blood and air circulation), then switching my heavy self to the right a few minutes later, then back to my left again, and so on. What made things worse was my aching pelvic bone. A slight twist triggered pain. I could just lose count on how many switching and twisting I did during bedtime.

Until I came to a point where I realized I should get used to the discomforts as they are all part of my pregnancy. There’s no smooth way out the nine months. Hence, I befriended the various pains. In this way I managed to at least lessen my physical distress by dealing with it emotionally.

The worst though was the constant visit to the bathroom. My practitioner advised me to drink at least two liters of water a day to compensate for the possible inadequacy of amniotic fluid as my growing baby used up more space inside. Two to four groggy midnight visits to the bathroom really spelled nightmare. Yet, it was not only me who accumulated huge, black, eye bags. I felt guilty at times that I needed to wake my husband up just to give me a good lift.

Sleeping surely became arduous as sweet dreams left me for a while.

One of the good and exciting things during my 3rd trimester of pregnancy though, was the stronger and more frequent fetal activity. My tummy began to wobble; sometimes quick waves, sometimes smooth ones. August 9 was when my husband and I had an early morning entertainment. It was his first time to see my tummy do some fancy waves. We were just so happy to conclude that our little one is a strong baby.

Indeed I felt her strength. Her tickling and poking (during the 2nd trimester) turned into full-strength kicks which actually hurt! When my baby’s feet found a resting place between my ribs, it really gave me some “ouches.” Most of the time they were unexpected that they made me jerk from my seat. A few kicks at the middle of my tutorial classes really gave me an abrupt pause with some “oohs” that left my students puzzled.

This one thing was also amusing. I did not know about this until I’ve read it from a pregnancy book and proved it to be true the moment I noticed a constant pulsation at my lower abdomen where my baby’s head was situated. It was hiccups! It was a cute happening which lasted for 10-20 minutes, almost everyday during the last two months.

My days seemed longer and longer after each sunset. I came to a point where I became impatient; I can’t wait for another day. I was really counting the hours. I pathetically became bored of my pregnancy. Nine months came like years. But my friend Marisol told me that she missed the kicks of her first born, and so I should enjoy my baby’s twists and turns while she’s still inside my womb.

My appetite on my last three months, on the other hand, became hearty (during the 2nd trimester) to voraciousness. I sort of pointed finger to my  baby every time I was accused of such. I felt hungry every hour. And I just didn’t eat – I feasted! I just couldn’t get enough.

My sisters, and friends were surprised to see me gobble like I was deprived of food for years. They laughed because they unusually see me eat like a hungry and greedy street dog.

At first, my husband liked the fact that I “eat a lot.” Before my pregnancy, he oftentimes coaxed me to finish my food or have a few more spoonfuls, for he knew I ate like a chicken since I was a child. But nearing my 7th month, he began to show a little anxiety as I started to take some bites off his cookie, take his extra rice, frequently ask him to buy me more, and eat five to six times a day!

Initially, he was worried our baby might gain too much, that I would end up with a ceasarian operation, which costs more than we could save up for. I defended that my practitioner regularly measured my abdomen, and in each time, she assured me that the size was within normal. To calm my husband’s distress, I asked her if my appetite might be too much for the baby. She told me that the extra fats might be absorbed by my body. And she added it was alright since I was so skinny, surely I needed some filling.

Undoubtedly, the last trimester was the most stressful (physically and emotionally) phase of my pregnancy. Ironically, it’s the most exciting as it hinted the near coming of my baby. With all the discomforts oddly mixed with excitements I knew at some point that these were just the tip of an ice berg.

I am yet to experience more.

almost 9 months

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1. Answer as many W’s as possible in the headline without making the headline appear kilometric.

2. The headline should not state something that is not included in the story.

3. Positive heads are preferable than negative ones.

Examples:

a. P’sinan team unable to win over NCR rookies (Negative)

b. NCR wins over P’sinan team (Positive)

4. Use a verb, expressed or implied, in main heads and subheads.

5. The active verb is preferred to passive verb, except in the instance that the event is more important than the doer.

Examples:

a. GMA opens Palaro 2010 (active verb)

b. Agro-industrial fair opened (passive verb)

6. Delete article like a, an, the, and all forms of verbs of being.

7. Use the present tense even for past stories, and the infinite form for future events.

Examples:

a. Region I hosts Palaro 2010

b. South Cotabato to host Palaro 2010

8. Write numbers in figures or spell them out depending upon the alloted space for headlines.

9. Use the comma (,), the punctuation mark, instead of the conjunction and in headlines.

10. Write the position of a general word to identify a person, place, or thing that is not popular or common.

Examples:

a. Mario dela Cruz digs gold in backyard. (person is an ordinary farmer)

b. Farmer digs gold in backyard (rewritten)

WHAT TO AVOID IN WRITING HEADLINES:

1. Fat head — letters or words that are fat are so crowded that there are no more spaced between them.

2. Thin head — has wide spaces between letters or words

Example:

N  S  P  C    v  i  c  t  o  r  s    f  e  t  e  d

3. Label head — not considered a headline but merely a title or label.

Example:

Campus journalism

4. Wooden head — does not follow the S-V-O pattern (Subject-Verb-Object); considered a weak headline because of the absence of a subject or a verb.

Example:

To conduct meeting

5. Screaming head — headline of big and bold letters but story is very short and even unimportant. Headlines or some sensational papers are screaming.

6. Mandatory head — a headline that seems to command readers for it starts with a verb.

Example:

Conduct seminar on headline writing

7. Hanging preposition — in a headline, the preposition and its object should not be separated.

Example:

MNHS holds seminar on headline writing

Improved:

MNHS holds seminar on headline writing

8. Coined words — uncommon acronyms and abbreviations

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