CATv launches student-made TV programs

(Students participate in the activities prepared by the Communication Arts (CA) students for the CATv Launch. Photo by Bea Laforga)

Communication Arts (CA) students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) started promoting their diverse TV programs to the Thomasians at the CATv Launch that would air live starting on October. In an interview with the Dapitan Post, the Educational Technology Center (EDTECH) Digital broadcasting unit (Edbu) head Faye Martel-Abugan said the four sections of third year CA students of UST, divided into two groups under five production houses, were tasked to produce three programs each.

“Nai-launch nila [CA students] para malaman ng mga Thomasians na they have shows. Kasi yung mga show nila na ‘yun eh mag-air din ‘yun sa TigerTv. [P]ara malaman ng mga tao na there’s such a thing as CATv [and] TigerTv [as well]…doon din nila mapapanood ‘yung productions… sa mga TVs nila,” she said.

The TV programs include an interview show, a drama or a magazine show and a demonstration of either drama or performance, with various topics for the entire Thomasian community and for the outsiders as well, according to Abugan.

“The assignment [was for] them to come up with programs…targeted for the thomasian community. Tapos dahil i-upload din nila ‘yan online, target pa din ‘yung alumni o ‘yung mga outside the community kasi this can be accessed online din,” she added.

The five production houses are “Lumos” and “Binhi” for 3CA1, “Masdan” for 3CA2, “Vox Imperium” for 3CA3 and “Spectra” for 3CA4, Abugan said.

Abugan also said the college has been doing the project for 6 years and it is the most awaited course of the CA students.

“[It’s] very exciting to look forward to. [The event is] very colorful, very exciting [and] adventurous,” Georgie Cerbolles from Spectra production told the Dapitan Post.

All sections put up booths filled with interactive activities such as games and raffles to promote their shows to students passing by on the ground floor lobby of UST St. Raymund Peñafort building.

“Today we offer games that are interactive para i-promote ‘yung shows namin…[our] shows… aim to give value to thomasian identity and thomasian pride. [And also] para ma-[discuss] ang timely and relevant issues sa society natin ngayon. Gusto namin i-promote ‘yan through our production houses and… to entertain thomasians [as well],” said Jessamine Eizaguirre of Lumos and Binhi productions in an interview with the Dapitan Post.

TV shows will be aired live according to their respective schedules on UST Edtech’s five televisions around the campus for 8 weeks.

Edtech’s televisions are located in the St. Raymund Peñafort building, the Albertus Magnus building, the Beato Angelico building, the Fr. Roque Ruaño O.P. building and the Main Building.

“You actually learn by doing kaya siya [CATv] maganda,” Abugan said.

All CA students were tasked to create three programs each group as a major requirement for their TV Productions course.