Chapter 5

"Janniza Avril!" malakas na sigaw sa akin ni Leizie. Taka kaagad akong tumingin sa kaniya.

Today marks our official first day of school kaya naman maaga akong pumasok para hindi ma-late. Ayaw din kasi ni Mommy na nagkaka-record ako ng mga ganoon.

"Hindi ba ay si Kuya Mikko naman ang crush mo?" pangkukumpirma niya sa akin.

"Ha?" naguguluhang tanong ko.

"May rumor na kumakalat. May nakakita raw sa inyo sa convenience store!" dagdag niya.

"Huh? Kaming dalawa ni Kuya Mikko?" takang tanong ko habang nakaturo pa sa sarili.

"With Kuya Sean!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig iyon. Does it mean that someone saw us that night and misunderstood the situation?

"Bakit kayo magkasama ng love of my life ko?!" nanlulumong tanong niya sa akin.

"Leizie..." suway ni Nova. "Umagang-umaga ang lakas-lakas ng boses mo."

"Love of my life. Corny a****a. Umagang-umaga 'yan ang naririnig ko," nakasimangot na sabi ni Zayd bago muling dumukdok sa mesa.

Mas lalo siyang sumimangot bago sumalampak sa armchair niya at hindi man lang pinansin ang sinabi nila Zayd at Nova sa kaniya. Imbes na sagutin siya ay umupo na lamang ako sa tabi niya dahil pumasok na rin iyong Prof namin.

"Good morning, everyone! Welcome to the start of your second year in the BS Tourism Management program. I'm thrilled to embark on this journey with each and every one of you," Professor Martin told us.

Professor Martin introduced the course syllabus and outlined the objectives and expectations for the upcoming semester.

"Today, we'll discuss the exciting courses you'll be taking this semester, including Tourism Marketing, Sustainable Tourism, and International Tourism Trends. Our goal is to prepare you for the dynamic and evolving tourism industry."

Mabilis kong nilabas ang notes ko para makapag-take down ng mga sasabihin niya. Tahimik akong nakikinig sa kaniya habang sinusulat ang mga important details.

"Remember, your journey in this program is about more than just academics. It's about growing as individuals, understanding different cultures, and making a positive impact on the world through responsible tourism practices," Prof Martin continued.

Dalawang oras ang itinagal ng klase namin bago niya kami tuluyang dinismiss. Dumeretso kaagad kami sa cafeteria dahil kanina pa nagrereklamo sila Brix at Zayd na nagugutom na raw sila.

Kaming tatlo ang naghanap ng pwesto habang sila Brix at Zayd naman ang pumila para bumili ng pagkain namin. Leizie is obviously sulking right now. Panay pa ang buntong-hininga niya kaya hindi ko na rin siya natiis.

"That was happened noong birthday celebration ni Daddy. Bumili lang kami ng ice cream," I said which made her looked at me.

"Ice cream? Nung celebration ng Daddy mo? Hindi ko naman siya nakita ron, ah?"

"Late silang dumating," I answered.

"Kumain ka na nga. Gutom lang 'yan," inis na sabi ni Zayd bago siya inabutan ng rice meal na binili niya para sa kaniya.

Panay pa rin ang pagsimangot ni Leizie at sinisi pa si Zayd dahil ito raw ang nag-ayang umuwi ng maaga noong sabado kaya hindi niya na naabutan si Kuya Sean.

After eating our lunch, pumasok na rin kami kaagad sa next class namin. Ilang beses na binanggit ni Leizie ang tungkol sa rumor na iyon pero hindi ko nalang siya pinapansin para tumahimik na rin.

"Inaasar na si Kuya Sean sa department nila," kwento ni Brix pagkabalik niya. Nagpaalam kasi siya sa amin kaninang manghihingi lang ng pera kay Kuya Mikko.

"I told you!" sambit ni Leizie habang nakatingin sa akin. "Ngayon lang ma-iinvolve si Kuya Sean sa babae tapos sa 'yo pa? How to be you po?"

Hindi ako makapaniwala na tumingin sa kaniya. "Stop it, Lei. Hindi naman totoo 'yon. Kaya nga rumor, 'di ba?"

"Pero inaasar na raw si Kuya Sean!" she insisted before looking at Brix. "Nakita mo bang inaasar siya mismo? Anong reaksyon niya?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Brix. "Ewan. Hindi naman siya umiimik."

The rumors immediately died down. Parang kahapon lang iyon naging usap-usapan tapos ngayon ay iba nanaman ang chismis na meron sila.

"Alright, as for your first activity this semester, let's delve into the specifics of the tourism marketing campaign. Your task is to create a comprehensive marketing plan for a fictional travel destination named EcoScape Island."

Umayos ako ng upo at mabilis na sinulat iyong sinabi niya para hindi ko makalimutan.

"Your marketing plan should cover key aspects such as target audience, unique selling propositions, promotional strategies, and sustainability initiatives. We're aiming for a campaign that not only attracts tourists but also promotes responsible tourism."

I immediately raised my hand to ask him a question. Mabilis niya naman akong pinaunlakan kaya tumayo ako kaagad.

"Regarding the groupings po, are you going to assign us in our group or we'll choose our own group?"

He looked at me. "As for the groupings, since this is your first activity, I'll let you have your own group. There is no limit for the number of members. You can do it alone or you can have your partner. Suit yourselves."

We immediately circled our chairs para makapag-usap na kaagad. We really don't like cramming. After almost thirty minutes of discussion, Prof Martin took our attention.

"Your campaigns will be assessed based on creativity, effectiveness in targeting the chosen audience, alignment with sustainable tourism principles, and feasibility of implementation."

Everyone nodded and began listening to him. He discussed the criteria for our said activity. The deadline will be on Monday next week.

After lunch, dumeretso na kami kaagad sa madalas na tambayan namin, which is in the kiosk, sa mga sementong tables and chairs sa ilalim ng malaking puno. Sobrang presko kasi rito.

"Okay, let's start by defining our target audience for the EcoScape Island campaign. We need to tailor our marketing strategies to appeal to them," panimula ni Nova.

Nagtaas ng kamay si Zayd. "I suggest we target adventure seekers and environmentally conscious travelers. Millennials and young professionals who value sustainable tourism," he suggested.

I nodded. "Pwede naman. Let's create personas and outline their interests, preferences, and motivations to tailor our campaign effectively."

We were engrossed in our research, discovering various sustainable tourism initiatives and successful marketing campaigns. We compiled our findings to incorporate into our project.

"I found this case study on a similar campaign that had a significant impact. We could adapt some of these strategies for EcoScape Island," Leizie told us while showing us her iPad.

We organized our research and thoughts into a coherent marketing plan. We also start drafting our ideas and refining our approach.

When five o'clock hit the clock, pare-pareho na kaming ngalay ang mga likod habang nakatutok pa rin sa kaniya-kaniyang ipad at laptop.

"We've made good progress today, but we still have a lot to cover. Let's regroup tomorrow and finalize our plan before presenting it," Nova stated. " Rest up, and we'll reconvene tomorrow to bring all these ideas together."

Nagsabi si Prof Martin sa amin the next day na gamitin namin ang oras namin sa kaniya to do our activity at hindi na niya kami imemeet kaya naman dumeretso na kaagad ako sa may kiosk.

Maaga akong pumasok ngayon at halos mangilan-ngilan palang ang mga estudyante. Maaga kasi akong nagising dahil nakatulog na ako kaagad pag-uwi ko kahapon sa bahay. I was feeling the cold air when I saw Kuya Sean walking from the hallway, he was walking with the two guys behind him.

Wala sa sarili ko siyang pinanood habang naglalakad. I can see him frowning from here dahil sa nagkukulitang kasama niya. Nawala lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya nang bigla siyang mapatingin sa pwesto ko.

"Good morning," bati niya nang makalapit.

"Good morning din po," bati ko pabalik bago nahihiyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Nahuli niya kaya akong nakatingin sa kaniya kanina?

"Where are your friends?"

"On the way palang po sila," I answered.

"Did you eat your breakfast?" he asked me.

"I only drank milk po," muling sagot ko. Si Tito Boy ba siya?

"Gusto mong sumama? Sa cafeteria rin ang punta namin, kakain ng almusal," he asked me.

"Ha? Kakatapos lang natin---"

Pasimple siyang siniko ni Kuya Sean sa tagiliran bago niya ito inakbayan. Muli siyang tumingin sa akin. "Sama ka?"

"Sige po," nahihiyang sabi ko. To be honest, mas nakakahiyang tumanggi kaysa pumayag.

Kuya Sean helped me carry my things kaya naman iyong bag ko nalang ang bitbit ko. He was the one who ordered food for me also kaya naman ako na ang naghanap ng table para sa aming apat.

"Are you okay with these?" tanong niya sa akin bago inabot iyong pancake na binili niya.

"Thank you, po," I smiled before accepting the food.

"These are my cousins, by the way. This is Kai and this is Axel," baling niya doon sa dalawa na kasalukuyang umiinom ng yakult.

"Nice to meet you two po. I'm Avril," I said, offering my hand. Mabilis naman nila itong tinanggap iyon.

"Familiar ka, dito ka ba nag-senior high?" tanong ni Kuya Kai.

"Since grade 7 po."

Tumango ito. "Ah! Ikaw 'yong face of the University! Sabi na kaya ka pamilyar, lagi kong nakikita mukha mo sa mga tarpaulin, eh," singit naman ni Kuya Axel. "Lagi rin kitang nakikita sa building I'm actually your senior."

"Hala, I'm sorry po. I wasn't aware," nanlalaki ang mga matang paumanhin ko.

"Okay lang, sino ba siya?" biro ni Kuya Kai sa akin. "Ventura, 'di ba? Anak ka ni Tito Jan?" I nodded as an answer. "Ibig sabihin ikaw 'yong---"

"Let her eat in peace," putol ni Sean bago sinubo iyong isang buong nuggets sa pinsan niya. Mahina akong natawa dahil doon bago ko tinuon ang atensyon sa kinakain.

Hindi rin nagtagal sila Kuya Kai at Kuya Axel dahil may klase na raw sila kaya naman naiwan kaming dalawa ni Kuya Sean.

"Sorry po, slow eater po talaga ako," I apologized when I finished eating. Rice meal iyong sa kaniya tapos sa akin ay pancake lang pero mas nauna pa siyang natapos na kumain sa akin.

"No worries," he replied.

Nang i-check ko ang phone ko ay may message na galing sa group chat namin. Tinatanong na nila kung nasaan na ako.

"I think I have to go na po. Nandoon na raw po sila," paalam ko.

Tumango siya. "Samahan na kita?"

"Okay po," tipid na sabi ko.

Siya ulit ang nagdala nung mga libro ko including my iPad kaya naman iyong bag ko nanaman ulit ang tanging hawak ko.

"Luh!" malakas na sabi ni Lei nang makalapit kami at nakita si Kuya Sean. Bumaba ang tingin nito sa mga gamit kong kasalukuyang nilalapag ni Kuya Sean sa mesa.

"Sinama ko muna sa cafeteria para kumain. Wala kasi siyang kasama kanina rito," paliwanag ni Kuya Sean sa kanila.

"No worries, Kuya. Wala pa rin naman po sila Zayd at Brix---"

"Nandito na ako," tamad na sabi ni Zayd bago binaba ang bag at dumukdok sa mesa, mukhang puyat na naman kagabi. Napangiwi tuloy si Lei dahil sa ginawa niya.

"I should get going now," paalam ni Kuya Sean sa akin.

"Thank you po," ulit ko. Tumango lang ito at nagpaalam kila Nova bago tuluyang umalis.

Hindi pa man ako nakakaupo ay malakas nang tumili si Leizie dahilan kung bakit napaupo ng maayos kaagad si Zayd dahil sa gulat.

"Ano ba 'yon?!" gulat na tanong nito.

"Ang aga-aga magkasama na kaagad kayo. Nakakahalata na talaga ako!" she said, ignoring Zayd.

Pabagsak na umupo si Brix sa gitna namin ni Zayd. "Hindi pa ako nakakalapit rinig na rinig ko na 'yong sigaw mo," bungad niya. "Ano nanaman ba 'yon?"

Tinuro ako ni Lei. "Magkasama sila ni Kuya Sean! Sabay silang nag-breakfast tapos si Kuya Sean pa ang nagbitbit ng mga gamit niya!" sunod-sunod na sabi nito.

"Uh, tapos?"

"Tapos?!" hindi makapaniwala na ulit ni Lei sa sagot ng kaibigan. "Anong tapos?!"

"Tapos na!" sigaw ni Nova. "Mag-meeting na tayo. Ang dami niyo nang pinag-usapan," dagdag niya.

"Tsk," asik ni Lei habang masama pa rin ang tingin kay Brix.

I was busy reviewing our presentation when my phone beeped. Tiningnan ko kung ano iyon at nakitang isang text message mula sa isang unknown number.

Unknown number:

Goodluck on your presentation later.

Napakunot ang noo ko at nagtipa ng ire-reply. No one knows my personal phone number aside from my parents, friends, and a few people I know.

Avril:

Thank you po but may I know who's this?

Naghintay ako nang ilang minuto para sa reply niya at ilalapag na sana muli ang cellphone ko nang tumunog iyon.

Unknown number:

It's Sean. I got your number from Brix

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko at napatingin kay Brix. Napansin niya kaagad iyon kaya tinanong niya pero umiling na lamang ako bago sinave iyong number ni Kuya Sean.

"Good morning, everyone. Are you all ready for the presentation?" tanong ni Prof Martin sa amin. "As you are grading your presentation, I won't grade you alone. I invited a student to grade you as well."

May pumasok sa room namin kaya naman nagulat ako nang mahinang tumili si Lei bago malakas na pinaghahamapas si Zayd. Napatingin tuloy ako sa pintuan at nagulat nang makita ko si Kuya Sean.

"Sean will be helping me in giving you a grade. Si Axel sana ang na-assign, one of your seniors from third year but unfortunately, he has class today so I asked Sean to do it instead," paliwanag ni Prof Martin.

Nagtama ang paningin naming dalawa. Kaagad niya akong nginitian bago umupo sa tabi ni Prof Martin. Nag-start nang mag-present iyong ibang group kaya muli kong binalik ang atensyon sa presentation namin.

"Next group," sambit ni Prof Martin kaya naman tumayo na kami. Nang masigurong okay na iyong presentation namin from my laptop ay umayos na kami ng tayo sa harapan.

"Good morning, everyone. Today, we are excited to present our marketing plan for EcoScape Island, an eco-friendly destination that caters to adventure seekers and environmentally conscious travelers," Nova greeted everyone.

"Our campaign highlights EcoScape Island's commitment to sustainable tourism. We've incorporated renewable energy sources, waste reduction initiatives, and community engagement programs into the fabric of our marketing strategy," nakangiting sabi ko.

Zayd took the lead in discussing the target audience and unique selling propositions of the campaign.

"Our target audience, the adventure seekers and eco-conscious travelers, are seeking meaningful experiences. We've tailored our campaign to showcase EcoScape Island as a destination where they can connect with nature, partake in thrilling activities, and contribute to the preservation of our environment," confident na sabi niya.

"In today's digital age, we plan to utilize social media, influencers, and online travel platforms to raise awareness about EcoScape Island. Collaborations with eco-conscious influencers and sustainable travel bloggers will help amplify our message and attract our target audience," Lei elaborated on the promotional strategies, emphasizing the use of digital platforms and partnerships to reach a wider audience.

After presenting our marketing plan for EcoScape Island, the floor is open for questions from the both of them.

"I'm curious about the sustainability initiatives you mentioned. Could you elaborate on specific measures EcoScape Island plans to implement to minimize its environmental impact?" tanong kaagad ni Prof Martin.

"EcoScape Island plans to implement solar power systems to harness renewable energy. We also propose waste reduction measures, such as encouraging recycling and composting, and limiting single-use plastics on the island," sagot ni Brix sa kaniya.

"How do you plan to measure the success of your marketing campaign in terms of attracting your target audience and promoting sustainable tourism?" dagdag niya sa tanong.

Nova was the one who volunteered to answer. "We plan to track website traffic, social media engagement, and booking data to measure the campaign's success. Additionally, we will conduct visitor surveys to gather feedback on their experiences and their perception of EcoScape Island's sustainability efforts."

Bumaling si Professor Martin kay Kuya Sean. "What do you think?"

Sean cleared his throat. "Your promotional strategies include collaborations with influencers. How do you plan to ensure that these influencers align with EcoScape Island's values and objectives?"

I cleared my throat. "We'll carefully select influencers who are passionate about sustainability and align with EcoScape Island's values. Contracts and guidelines will be established to ensure their content showcases the island's commitment to responsible tourism."

Nagpalakpakan ang lahat nang matapos kami kaya naman malaki ang ngiti naming bumalik sa kaniya-kaniyang upuan. Mahina kaming nag-celebrate dahil mukhang maganda naman ang kinalabasan ng presentation namin.

"I really appreciate your effort in our first activity," nakangiting sabi ni Prof Martin pagkatapos ng presentation. "You all did a great job today. As for the scores, do you want me to announce it?"

Pumayag ang mga kaklase ko kaya naman tumango si Prof Martin bago kinuha iyong record book niya. He announced the grade by group.

"As for the group of Garcia, Mendoza, Ramos, Reyes, and Ventura, they got the highest score so far."

Mahina kaming napasigaw nang sabihin niya iyon. Lei was obviously giggling habang nakikinig sa Prof namin.

"Why? Their campaign targeted the right audience - adventure seekers and eco-conscious travelers. It effectively utilized digital platforms and influencers, emphasizing the island's sustainability initiatives and unique offerings," Prof Martin explained.

We exchanged proud smiles, pleased with the positive feedback from Professor Martin.

"Your emphasis on sustainability was evident throughout the plan, from waste reduction strategies to renewable energy solutions. It's crucial to showcase how a destination can attract visitors while minimizing its environmental impact."

We all nodded in agreement while listening to his insightful comments.

"Moreover, your responses during the Q&A were well-prepared and demonstrated a solid understanding of your campaign's key aspects. This is a testament to your dedication and research. In conclusion, their group exhibited creativity, strategic thinking, and a genuine commitment to promoting responsible tourism. Well done!"