The angels of the ASEAN Summit

If the news media who covered the 30th ASEAN Summit were to create our own joint statement to conclude our coverage, many of us would first thank the hardworking student volunteers and support staff who made our stay at the International Media Center a comfortable and memorable one.

The student volunteers, support staff and hotel staff at the four-day ASEAN Summit were of great help to the local and international journalists covering the event. Photos: JP Soriano

For four days, hundreds of local and foreign journalists from Southeast Asia, China and Japan covered the historic regional summit which officially ended this Saturday, April 29.

The news teams spent hours documenting important ministerial, bilateral and leaders' meetings during the four-day event.

And at the center of it all was the International Media Center (IMC) at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, where journalists spent long hours monitoring events being shown on large screens and covering press briefings.

Local and international media at the ASEAN Summit's IMC

Digesting the contents of high-level senior official meetings and reporting it to our own newscast from morning until late night was no joke. It was mentally and at times physically draining, but fulfilling.

But the student volunteers, the ASEAN support staff and even the hotel staff were heaven-sent.

International Studies and Engineering students from UE and FEU who volunteered at the summit

♦

At the information booth that gave out press releases, schedules and transportation details for pool coverage, I met Andrea Pua, a college student from National University—who suddenly found herself at the receiving end of countless queries from reporters, producers and executives from local and international media at the IMC.

Andrea, who had responded to a notice posted on Facebook by the summit's oganizing committee, said she felt “lucky” to be chosen as an official student volunteer.

Andrea Pua (in the black blazer) jumped at the opportunity to help out at the ASEAN summit.

It was not a school requirement, but she grabbed the opportunity to be part of history. "I'm privileged [and] honored to be part of this event," she said. "Siyempre po, hindi naman po lahat ng students nagkakaroon ng opportunity para makapag-volunteer...Super saya ko na to the point na binalita ko agad sa papa ko and proud siya."

Other student volunteers who were such a big help during the summit were Romart Mirasol and John Raniel Ramirez, graduating electronic engineering students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. They assisted me and the other journalists in converting hundreds of photos from the ASEAN pool coverage.

Like Andrea, both Romart and John said it was an honor to be part of the event. They added, "Mababait naman po ang mga journalist na inassist namin." (Not sure if they were referring to me, but I hope so!)

Romart Mirasol and John Raniel Ramirez assisted journalists at an IMC kiosk.

♦

On my first full day coverage, I accidentally left my laptop charger in my work area. The following day I came looking for it, and a Hotel and Restaurant Management student volunteer from Far Eastern University named Gab willingly assisted me and helped me locate my charger.

Then there were the support staff, who ushered everyone at the media center into the right rooms at any given time.

They were polite, elegant and hospitable while leading us to the press briefings and then to the dining areas for meals or coffee breaks.

Support staff members Christine De Chavez, Ken Rodriguez and Angel Nabayra

One of them, Ken Rodriguez, said he felt proud and lucky to be part of the ASEAN Summit—that it was an opportunity for him to become enlightened about the important and relevant issues of our region. "The talks about sa problem ng Asia, mahalaga siya, ang pinag-uusapan kung ano ang mga solutions sa mga problem na kinakaharap," he said.

Christine De Chavez, a Filipina who grew up in Brunei, said that seeing Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in the country brought back memories from her childhood.

Support staff members Abegail Kindipan and Richard Arma

Richard Arma and Abegail Kindipan were both star-struck as they assisted government and media personalities they only see on TV.

"'Yung mga personalities na nakikita mo which is nakikita mo lang sa TV, ngayon nakakasama mo sila, nakakangitian mo sila, 'yun 'yung mga unforgettable," said Richard. Abegail added that she was privileged to be part of the summit, "because it’s an international event."

The staff of Conrad Hotel, where the IMC was located, were alert and accommodating 24/7. They never got tired and even went the extra mile for us, granting my request for a decaffeinated coffee.

Two of them, Liezel Iagco and Chevy, both said that is was not just a job, but "an honor to be part of ASEAN."

Conrad Hotel employee Liezel Iagco was proud to help out during the summit.

Covering the historic 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit was definitely not a walk in the park, but the genuine helpfulness, enthusiasm and hospitality showed us by the student volunteers, the ASEAN support staff and the Conrad Hotel staff made it a lovely stroll and left us feeling another emotion: gratitude. — BM, GMA News