‘Yun
na siguro yung line na makakapag summarize ng naramdaman ko mula noong tinaggap
ko yung nomination para sa Chief Anchor. I was actually nominated in five
positions and I could have taken the easy way out if I chose to decline the
position, pero hindi ko yun magawa sa inyo.
The
decision took all of me. I gathered all the courage I have, all the strength I
have, all the composure I have… My everything. when I said during the
deliberations that I am standing in front of you as your Chief Anchor.
I felt
that it was a decision that I had to make, so I channeled all my courage and
all the love that I have for the organization that provided me an avenue to
grow and become who I really wanted to be. The organization that tested me, the
organization that molded me to become a better version of myself. It took me
four years of my college life to find you, and I can tell you that it’s
definitely worth the wait.
Kahit
sa alternate universe, hindi ko inakala na bibigyan niyo ako ng pagkakataon na
maging Chief Anchor ninyo. Sabi ko nga sa inyo dati, hindi niyo ako kailangan
bigyan ng kahit anong posisyon para lang mapakinabangan niyo ako. The moment
you took me in and allowed me to be a part of your family two years ago, you
already had me. I never once waived and I never second guessed in choosing
where to go nung feeling NF ako sa DevCom. Hindi ko pa rin alam ang dahilan
hanggang ngayon but two years ago, I knew that I had to be with UP ComBroadSoc,
at hinding hindi ko pinagsisisihan yon.
Honestly,
I don’t know if I have what it takes to be your Chief Anchor. Habang ginagawa
ko yung GPOA ko, ang nasa isip ko, ayokong mapahiya sa inyo. I fear rejection
so much that at one point, it already consumed me. I fear that I cannot meet
your expectations. I fear that I cannot be the Chief Anchor that you want. I
fear that I cannot be the Chief Anchor that you need. But even in all those
fears, I know that I love you. I love the organization so much that’s why I can
never be selfish with all of you. And in the end, my love for my brothers and
sisters made me take on another life changing road, at lubos ang pasasalamat ko
dahil kasama ko kayo sa daan na yon.
I already
gave you my vision for UP ComBroadSoc. Aside from us having bigger and grander
activities, aside from organizing activities closer to the community, ang gusto
ko lang sana, yung lalabas tayo sa kanya kanya nating mga klase, tapos may mga
top sa exam, may mga halos nakakapit na sa buntot ng grade na tres, may mga
aligaga na dahil sa hinahabol na deadlines, may mga nagtatago sa thesis
adviser, pero kahit pa gaano kalaki yung problemang tinatakasan mo, mapapangiti
ka na lang kasi natatanaw mo na yung nagsusumigaw na dilaw na tambayan na sobrang
ingay kasi nandun lahat at nagkukuwentuhan. Yung kahit nagsisiksikan na tayo at
halos wala nang maupuan, okay lang kasi alam mo na kasama mo lahat at walang
iwanan. Yung kahit pa anong mangyari, alam mo na may brods at sisses ka na
laging nandyan para makinig sayo.
Pero
sabi ko nga, yung pamilya natin ay hindi talaga perpekto. At hinding hindi ko
kayo pinipilit na baguhin kung sino man kayo. Kasi ang tunay na pamilya,
tanggap ka kung sino ka, hindi yung kung ano lang ang gusto nila sayo. And I am
not even imposing on you a UP ComBroadSoc that I want. Instead, I am hoping to
give you a UP ComBroadSoc that we need. After all the trials, after all the
pain, after all the misunderstandings, I think it’s about time to focus not
just on our activities and not just on how others see us.
More than that, more
than ever, let’s rebuild from within.
Your Executive Committee can only do so much. As your leaders, we will do our best
to give you an ExeCom that listens, that follows, that understands. An ExeCom
that connects the body, that thinks ahead, that mediates, an ExeCom that is one
with all of you. In return, I am pleading for a body with commitment, with
initiative, a united body that is very much willing to compromise out of love.
I
trust all of you so much that I am so convinced that we can make this work. You
can always count on me for everything, for anything, at alam kong maasahan ko
rin kayo.
This
is not just about you anymore. And this is not just about me. We are all part
of a bigger picture, a family pushing for excellence, genuine camaraderie, and
service. Let us all get involved, let us stay involved, and all together, let
us make a difference.
Let’s
all look forward to a very exciting, fun, and as always, a memorable academic year,
and in all these things, God shall be exalt and glorified.
Ma. Kathleen Cruz Cabal
Chief Anchor AY ’13-‘14
UP Community Broadcasters’ Society
*Induction speech delivered last March 22 at Cafe Angelica during the UP CBS Grand Broadcasters' Night
