Journal: My First Day of Immersion at the Provincial Information Office

Date: May 15, 2023

Today was my first day of immersion at the Provincial Information Office, and it was quite an
eventful experience. Although we encountered a minor setback due to our van being late,
we finally arrived at the Provincial Capitol at 11:45 AM. We hurriedly made our way and
waited outside for further instructions.
Shortly after, we were directed to the conference hall on the second floor for an orientation
session. It was important to familiarize ourselves with the work environment and
understand the responsibilities associated with the office. The orientation provided us with
valuable insights into the operations and the roles of its staff.
Once the orientation concluded, our group, consisting of Edgar, Michaella, and myself, along
with Ma’am Caty, proceeded to our designated office for endorsement. We were among the
last to be endorsed. As we entered the office, we introduced ourselves to the workers who
warmly welcomed us. One of the employees kindly took the time to introduce her
colleagues and explain their respective roles. It was fascinating to learn about the diverse
tasks and responsibilities within the office.
After the introductions, the office staff took us on a tour of their workspace, giving us a
glimpse of their daily routines and the various departments within the Provincial
Information Office. It was an insightful tour that helped us understand the overall function
of the office.
Upon completing the tour, we took a seat in our designated chairs. To enhance our
understanding of the office’s work, one of the employees presented us with a book they had
produced. It contained detailed information about their job, along with interesting trivia and
facts.
At around 12:25 PM, we left the office to have lunch. We returned promptly at 12:55 PM to
resume our activities. One of the workers assigned us a task, which involved sorting
different types of paper. We had to separate bond papers into categories such as long,
short, and A4, and also identify and separate papers that were printed back to back.
Additionally, we were asked to arrange the pass slips in chronological order, from the oldest
to the most recent. It was a hands-on task that allowed us to contribute to the office’s daily
operations.
As the clock struck 5:00 PM, it was time to wrap up for the day and await our van. We said
our goodbyes to the office staff and expressed our gratitude for their hospitality and
guidance throughout the day. Reflecting on my first day of immersion, I feel fortunate to
have been given this opportunity to learn and contribute within the Provincial Information
Office. I am excited about the days ahead and look forward to further immersing myself in
the work of the office.
Journal – Day 2 of Work Immersion at Provincial Information Office
Date: May 16, 2023
We arrived at the provincial capitol at 7:54 AM and wasted no time heading to the
Provincial Information Office. I was accompanied by my colleagues Edgar and Michaella. As
we settled down in our designated area, a friendly staff member approached us. She
introduced herself as Ma’am Mita, a member of the creative team. Ma’am Mita asked us a
few questions about ourselves and then informed us about an exciting video project they
were working on for the Provincial Government of South Cotabato’s Facebook page titled
“South Cotabatoños on the Street (SCOTS).”Ma’am Mita invited us to be a part of the video
shoot, which would take place in various locations across South Cotabato. We eagerly
agreed to join. We proceeded to the ground floor, where a van was waiting for us. Ma’am
Mita handed me a piece of paper, explaining that it would be used as a consent of the
people we would be interviewing during the shoot.
Our first destination was the municipality of Tupi, where the introductory segment of the
video would be filmed. To efficiently manage the shoot, we divided into two groups. Ma’am
Mita the role of the host, while Sir Philip operated the camera, and Sir Naïve assisted him.
Edgar, Michaella, and I together with Sir Oliver were responsible for finding interviewees,
while our driver, Sir Michael, remained in the van. Excitedly, we set out to find suitable
individuals for the interviews. Whenever we encountered someone willing to participate, I
obtained their consent and asked them to fill out the consent form. After successfully
finding five interviewees, we regrouped with Ma’am Mita to proceed with the shoot. Once
the filming was completed, we promptly interviewed the five individuals we had found.After
concluding the interviews, we decided to have lunch at a local restaurant in Tupi. Following
our meal, we headed to Polomolok to film the outro for the video and find potential
interviewees in the area. However, our plans were interrupted as we faced a problem. The
government of Polomolok doesn't like us to conduct interviews in their municipality.
Consequently, we had to cut short our time there and swiftly filmed the outro before
leaving.
On our way back to Koronadal, we made a stop at Sir Philip’s house in Tupi to drop off his
belongings. Additionally, Ma’am Mita purchased buko pie and cassava cake from Midway,
which we enjoyed together in the van during our journey back to Koronadal.
We arrived at the office at 4:27 PM, and Ma’am Marie invited us to have some ice cream.
We savored the treat while waiting until 5:00 PM for timeout. Finally, it was time to wrap up
our day’s work and return home to Banga.
Overall, my second day of work immersion at the Provincial Information Office was filled
with exciting opportunities and unexpected challenges. I learned the intricacies of video
production and interviewing, experienced the need for adaptability when faced with
unforeseen circumstances, and enjoyed the camaraderie of my colleagues throughout the
day. I look forward to what the remaining days of my work immersion will bring.
Journal: Day 3 of Work Immersion at Provincial Information Office
Date: May 17, 2023
Today was my third day of work immersion at the Provincial Information Office, and it was
filled with various tasks and experiences. I arrived at the Provincial Capitol at 7:48 AM along
with my fellow work immersion students. We greeted everyone in the Provincial
Information Office and settled down at our respective seats. Sir Philip kindly offered us
coffee, which we gladly accepted. We made our way to the pantry to brew the coffee and
took the opportunity to engage in conversations and share stories with my companions.
Shortly after, Sir Dik called me and Edgar to join him in the Sanguniang Panlalawigan session
hall. There was a meeting scheduled for the T’nalak festival, and our responsibility was to
manage the attendance of all the participants. We had to ensure that everyone signed in,
and we approached each person individually as they arrived. It was a task that required our
attention and organization.
At 9:30 AM, Sir Dik called us back to the office to distribute snacks to the attendees of the
meeting. After completing the distribution, we also enjoyed some snacks ourselves.
Meanwhile, Michaella remained in the office, where Sir Olivier taught her how to receive
and forward calls to other offices.
Around eleven o’clock, it was time to distribute lunch to the meeting participants. We also
kept some for ourselves and informed Sir Dik that we would eat in the office so Michaella
could join us.
After finishing our meal, Sir Dik returned to the office and instructed us to clean up the trash
in the session hall since the meeting had concluded. Without delay, we went to the session
hall and were delighted to find it already clean. To commemorate the moment, we took a
picture before heading back to the office.
For the remainder of the day, we eagerly waited until 5:00 PM to conclude our work and
return home. It was another eventful day at the Provincial Information Office, filled with
diverse tasks and opportunities for learning.
Overall, my third day of work immersion provided me with valuable experiences, ranging
from managing attendance to engaging in office duties. I look forward to the remaining days
of my immersion and the knowledge and skills I will continue to acquire during my time at
the Provincial Information Office.
Journal: Day 4 of Work Immersion at the Provincial Information Office
Date: May 18, 2023
Today was my fourth day of work immersion at the Provincial Information Office, and it was
a relatively relaxed day compared to the previous ones. We arrived promptly at 7:45 AM
and made our way to the office. Upon entering, we greeted everyone present. Sir Philip, one
of the office staff, approached us and kindly offered us coffee. We went to the pantry and
brewed our coffee, taking a moment to chat and enjoy the beverage.
While we were in the pantry, we had the opportunity to meet Ma’am Hydee. She took an
interest in getting to know us better and asked about our backgrounds and our plans after
graduation. Ma’am Hydee shared some valuable advice and words of wisdom with us, which
we appreciated.After finishing our coffee and conversation with Ma’am Hydee, we returned
to our designated work area and patiently awaited our assigned tasks. However, until noon,
we didn’t receive any specific tasks. As a result, we decided to have our lunch outside the
Capitol together with other immersion students.At 12:55 PM, we returned to the office from
our lunch break. Once again, we resumed our positions in our designated area, hoping for
tasks to work on. Unfortunately, there were no immediate assignments for us. We
continued to wait patiently until 5:00 PM, which was our designated time to log out and
conclude our work for the day.

Overall, today was a rather quiet day at the Provincial Information Office. While we didn’t
have many tasks to complete, we made the most of the time by engaging in conversations
and getting to know the office staff and other immersion students. We look forward to the
upcoming days, hoping for more opportunities to contribute and learn during our work
immersion experience.
Journal –Day 5 of Work Immersion at the Provincial Information Office
Date: May 19, 2023
Today marked the fifth day of my work immersion at the Provincial Information Office. We
started the day with a rush as we arrived at the Provincial Capitol at 7:48 in the morning. We
quickly exited the van and hurried into the office, as we had an appointment to keep. Upon
entering the office, we greeted everyone with a cheerful “good morning.” Sir Jether, one of
the supervisors, instructed us to get ready for the day’s tasks. Sir Philip handed me the
camera, as I would be responsible for capturing the events. Edgar took the monopod and
tarpoline, while Michaella carried the GoPro.
Once we gathered the necessary equipment, we headed downstairs and boarded the van.
We so we departed promptly headed to Brgy. Puti Norala, where the Provincial
Government South Cotabato was organizing an outreach program. As members of the
Provincial Information Office, it was our duty to document the events.
Upon arriving in Puti, Norala, we were greeted by a bustling crowd. The Provincial
Government had arranged various services, including free check-ups, circumcision, haircuts,
massages, manicures, distribution of rice and canned goods, animal medicine and vaccines,
free plants, fertilizers, and more. It was heartwarming to witness the dedication of the
government in providing assistance to the community.
Our first task was to conduct a survey among the residents. However, it proved challenging
to engage everyone, as some were unable to read or write, while others required extra
attention due to their age. Nevertheless, we persevered and managed to collect valuable
responses. After completing the survey, we returned to the van to hand over the
questionnaires to Sir Jether. He kindly offered us bread and soft drinks, which we enjoyed
while chatting inside the van.
Eager to capture the essence of the event, Edgar, Michaella, and I ventured out of the van to
take photographs. We strolled around, documenting the vibrant atmosphere and the
interactions between the residents and the program volunteers. At 11:38, Sir Naïve called us
back to the van for lunch. After a satisfying meal, we gathered our belongings, as it was time
to head to our next destination: Lake Sebu.
During the journey, we engaged in conversation inside the van and tried to catch some rest.
However, the winding road made it difficult to sleep peacefully. Upon reaching the Lake
Sebu gymnasium, we were scheduled to interview the Kabugwason scholars. Stepping out
of the van, we hurriedly find the CR before returning to wait for the officers from
Kabugason. We patiently waited for their arrival, which took approximately an hour.
Once the officers joined us, we began searching for a suitable spot to conduct the
interviews. The process was meticulous, and it took around two hours to interview all three
individuals. After the interviews, we captured some photos before returning to the van to
proceed to Surallah. In Surallah, Sir Philip needed to photos a road construction site. After
completing his assignment, we promptly left and made our way to a farm in Surallah to film
a video showcasing their products. We remained in the van during this time, feeling weary
and drowsy.
At around 4 in the afternoon, we departed from the farm to head back home to Koronadal
City. Sir Jether inquired if we intended to stop by Banga, but Michaella needed to make a
purchase at KCC, so we decided to go straight to Koronadal. The journey took us until 5
o’clock in the afternoon when we finally arrived at the Provincial Capitol. We brought our
equipment back to the office and time-out in the logbook. With heartfelt goodbyes to the
office staff, we descended the stairs to find the van awaiting us.
While the rest of us were ready to leave, Irene was still waiting for her sister to hand over a
sandal for a morning pictorial. Other work immersion students, already frustrated by the
delay, expressed their displeasure since it was already night time. Eventually, we departed
at 6 o’clock in the evening, heading towards our respective homes.
The fifth day of work immersion had been tiring but fulfilling. We had gained valuable
experience in documenting events, conducting interviews, and capturing moments through
photography and videography. Each day brought us closer to understanding the role of the
Provincial Information Office and its contribution to the community. We looked forward to
the remaining days of our work immersion, eager to continue learning and growing in this
field.