Ten takeaways from Jessica Soho’s speech before UP Masscom Class of 2023

GMA Integrated News pillar Jessica Soho on Thursday addressed the graduating class of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.

Here's our Top 10 takeaways from the inspiring and thought-provoking speech of the award-winning Kapuso journalist.

1. There is one thing we, the GenXers and Baby boomers have obviously failed in, as in singko ang aming grado, or to be more fair, “incomplete” o kuwatro. It seems we have become too used to the reality we are still mired in, for far too long.

2. Iyan ang challenge ko sa mga magtatapos ngayon— at sa iba pang mga GenZ pati na sa mga millennial. Kinulang man kaming mga nauna, andyan kayo para baguhin, punuan ang mga kailangan pa— at tulungan ang nangangailangan nating mga kababayan.

3. Think of all that energy you put in posting, surfing through your accounts and checking what your friends are doing. The power in your fingertips to make things go trending and viral. And make the world stop, watch, and listen.

The wit and the spunk that go to creating all those memes — ang tataba ng mga utak niyo! Imagine if all that — ibuhos niyo rin in doing good and in changing lives and things for the better.

4. Do we know our viewers enough, or the majority of our population? To begin with, I really find this question disturbing and bewildering — and it begs the bigger and more important question: They're the greater majority and yet...do we know them? What does this say about our sense of community and country?

5. Maybe it's true what they've been saying all along. We are still tribal. We stick to our kind or crowd and we don't reach out far enough to those who are not. We don't step out of our comfort zones and remain in our safe little silos, and engage only with those in our own echo chambers or at least with those we can stand or like.

How do we even begin to propose to change society? Paano mababago ang lipunan at matutulungan ang higit na nakararami...kung ni hindi sila kinakausap o pinapakinggan? Ano ba ang kanilang mga hinaing, mga pangarap sa buhay? Do you or we even care to know?

6. To our young graduates who will soon join our workforce, know your audience, know our people. Two words to remember by in life at work or at play: Get real.

7. Caveat nga lang dun sa inyong nagbabalak sumali rin sa amin sa media, sa trabahong walang respeto sa personal time at constant ang puyatan o sleep deprivation bukod sa paghahabol sa oras at deadlines. Work-life balance? The struggle is real.

8. . I still believe and feel that it is a privilege to be a journalist or a storyteller— and be part of the profession of truth telling... Sabi [ng kaibigan ko], Jessica, imagine the power that you have. To report the news which helps people form their opinions about what’s going on.

9. To our dear graduates, please do good and be good. Never stop caring. Try not to lose your idealism. Your UP education has to account for something—be an advocate or an instrument for change!

10. In all that you do, be honest. Your integrity is non-negotiable. Life is hard but it is still beautiful. You survived the pandemic, you can survive anything! Never ever give up on yourself, on your dreams and on our people! —LA/JCB/NB, GMA Integrated News