UP Aguman makes its grand return in the ACLE

By Kenshin

August 14, 2008 -- The UP Aguman participated again at the UPD University Student Council's Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) and featured Kálam, the first ever Kapampangan TV series.

After not being able to participate for a year from the traditional university event, presenting a broader sense of the Kapampangan spirit to centennial year through the discussion and screening of the Kálam has been the main goal of the organization.

In line with this, Educational Committee Chairperson Ferdinand Mallari, Jr and Socio-Cultural Committee Chairperson Jeremiah Torrico invited Jason Paul Laxamana (head of the Kapampangan youth group "Kalalangan Kamaru" and the writer-director of Kálam), Mau Aquino (General Manager of Infomax 8, the channel where Kálam will be shown), three out of the seven lead actors and other staff of the production team, for a discussion of broadcasting and the role it plays with the cultivation and restoration of our sense of ethnicity not only with thoughts but also in our actions. To the delight of the audience, the full first episode of Kálam was shown for the first time. It was also discussed how the use of our own native language can enhance the effects of regional broadcasting with its target audience.

Kálam, being the first ever Kapampangan-oriented TV series, aims to restore the now fluctuating Kapampangan cultural awareness of our youth due to being exposed to popular culture and teach the Kapampangan younger generation the things that we our unconsciously forgetting.



Left: Jer and Buduy join the two speakers, Ms. Mau Aquino and Jason Laxamana.
Right: Prof. Nilo Ocampo, with other guests, listens attentively to the speakers.

Kálam which literally means "gift", tells the story of a young man named Yubs who possesses a supernatural gift. At first, he didn't actually realize the extent nor the use of his ability except as a way to exact revenge to those who bully him because of his somewhat unusual background, until a group of other "gifted" individuals started to reach out to him and invited him to be a part of their movement. And thus starts his journey to self-searching which leads to other "exciting" people as well as events that may change the course of his life.

The actual TV premiere of the program will be on August 27, on Infomax 8, a community cable channel that broadcasts from City of San Fernando.

Kalalangan Kamaru is the same group behind the release a few months ago of the 1st Kapampangan Rock Album RocKapampangan, which is a compilation CD of 16 Kapampangan songs by 16 Kapampangan bands. The advocates in the group, along with producers from Infomax 8, view Kálam as another groundbreaking event for all Kapampangans in Pampanga and other places.

Aguman's presentation of Kálam was attended by other Capampangans students from UPD, Broadcast Communication students, some language majors, and even a student from nearby Miriam College. One of the more prominent attendees of the ACLE was CAL Professor Nilo Ocampo, who was a Kapampangan himself. After the talk, the Infomax 8 team requested recorded feedbacks from Prof. Nilo Ocampo, the Aguman officers and other attendees. The soundbites were later used for the news feature about the ACLE on the evening newscast of Infomax 8. The good feedbacks even from the non-Kapampangan students after the screening demonstrated its possible welcome of Kálam and other regional TV series in the regional broadcasting world.

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Announcement: ACLE Updates!

AguPips, we are in need of an LCD projector for our ACLE this coming Thursday, AUGUST 14, 2008. Kindly text us for any information on where we can rent an LCD projector.

Here are the final details for our ACLE.
TITLE: "Kálam: 1st Ever Kapampangan TV Series, The Emergence and Challenges of Philippine Regional Broadcast Media".
OUTLINE:
1. The Philippines as a racially and culturally diverse nation state
2. The process of nationalization: Unity in Uniformity VS Unity in Diversity
3. The concept of National TV: is it genuine?; Underrepresentation of non-tagalogs
4. The concept of Regional/Non-Tagalog Media: non-Tagalogs are non-Filipinos; Pinoy Rock vs Bisrock, Pinoy Teleserye VS Visayanovela, OPM VS OKM - MYX
Challenges of Regional Broadcast Media: Can they represent the Filipino community in the global village?; ational TV's lack of support for regional shows (linguistic barrier), colonial mentality, hope, cable tv, or wowing national TV through international acclamation; Demonization of regionalism
5. The State of Kapampangan Mass-Media, Kapampangan TV news, RocKapampangan; Kapampangan Ku, pagmaragul ku; Resolution requiring Pampanga based mass media firms to produce Kapampangan shows; print Kapampangan columns
6. Kálam: the first ever Kapampangan TV Series; advocacy of the project and its production framework - every member is half cultural worker

For Screening
Sample of Kapampangan TV news
Sample of KApampangan radio
Sample of Personalan Talk show
Pampanga's feature on Ka'lam
Music Video: 5 Against The Wall's Alang Sugat
Music Video: Mernut's Oras
Episode 1 of Kálam

Jessica Soho's feature on Kálam
Jessica Soho's feature on RocKapampangan

For Exhibit
RocKapampangan on Philippine Daily INquirer
Kálam on SIP Magazine

Don't forget to invite your friends, classmates, roommates, housemates and even your family (why not?)!

JER 0927 803 3350
BUDUY 0916 381 9550

Announcement: Aguman's ACLE

We're happy to announce na sure ne ing ACLE tamu! Here are the details:

DATE: 1-5pm, August 14, 2008
VENUE: PH 108-110

The tentative title is Kalam: the Gift of Regional Broadcast Media. But we are still accepting suggestions. But please give your suggestions ON OR BEFORE MONDAY.

It's about the emergence of regional broadcast media, focusing on the Kapampangan local media. Maging speakers tala reng Kalalangan Kamaru, dahil ila ing producers ning first ever Kapampanganovela on Philippine TV.



If you have any questions, ask JER or BUDUY.
Write in your comments on the comments section!