My ‘thesis’ connection

Click here to read Part I

( Second of two parts )

In my Thursday column, I talked about how students would come to me to ask for help with their school projects — especially with their thesis. Some students were bright and diligent. But some, unfortunately, didn’t even have the courtesy to return books, pictures and files they borrowed from me. Below is the continuation of my tales about students of the present generation.

From 1996 to 1997, students who asked me to be a resource person for their school projects had no way of reaching me. By then, very few knew my phone number in the house and ABS-CBN was very strict about letting in visitors inside the compound.

By 1998, I had left for the US and had become a student myself. But I swear, I didn’t bother other people for my school work — except to borrow laptops from friends, so I could go on out of town trips and still do my assignments.

In mid-1999, I was back on local soil and on television. By the second semester of that school year, the students had staged a spectacular comeback in my life —hounding me for their theses once more.

Some of the students who approached me to help them with their theses were very nice and polite, I have to admit. There was even this group from St. Scholastica’s College that brought me a tiny box of really moist chocolate cake from Becky’s (a bakeshop in the Leon Guinto area that sells fantastic pastries, but manned by the most masungit tinderas in the history of retailing).

Although the cake was quite small (good for four servings), I still appreciated their thoughtfulness and was really touched by this gesture. Considering that they were just living off their regular allowance from their parents, having spent for that cake must have hurt their pocketbooks.

I also had a great time helping a group of coeds from La Salle with their thesis because they had done extensive research on their topic prior to our meeting. Although I devoted practically the whole afternoon with them, every minute was worth it because I also learned a lot from their research.

Unfortunately, there were also students from various schools who came to me ill-prepared. There was one group, for instance, who wanted to work on the topics, "Sex in Philippine Cinema." They even brought with them a videocam (yes, today’s students are high-tech) and chose a good backdrop for me. Then, finally, they asked me the question, "What can you say about sex in Philippine cinema?"

To their surprise, I threw back the question to them and asked, "Sex in Philippine cinema WHEN? During the time of Rosanna Roces? During the ST generation of Gretchen Barretto? During the penetration era of Joy Sumilang? During the wet look phase of Gloria Diaz and Elizabeth Oropesa? During the bomba period of Merle Fernandez? During the ’60s, burles fad set by Divina Valencia and Stella Suarez? Or during the seksing-seksi days of Aura Aurea?"

If they were dumbfounded by my annoyed response, I also felt frustrated by their utter lack of preparation. That they hadn’t even realize how broad their topic was only meant that they weren’t even prepared their outline.

And then, there was this time when another group of students came to me to ask help with their thesis. Their topic: "Women Directors in Philippine Cinema." With their usual videocam, they asked me to talk about our different women directors. And so they went rattling off names — without saying a sentence or two about each woman director.

Marilou Diaz Abaya — In the early ’80s, she was the enfant terrible of Philippine cinema. Her Jose Rizal was a masterpiece.

Laurice Guillen — She’s not only a great director, but an excellent actress as well.

Olive Lamasan — A personal favorite of mine. I’ve seen all her works. She’s an outstanding scriptwriter as well.

Olive la Torre — A truly fine director of tearjerkers — with one problem though: HE is a man so he can’t fit into your topic of "Women Directors in Philippine Cinema!"

I thought they would all faint when they found out that Olive la Torre was a man. Actually, I wanted to faint myself because here — again — was another group of students who came unprepared. Obviously, they didn’t do enough research on their topic — otherwise they would have easily found out the gender of Olive la Torre, who by the way was the FATHER of Sylvia la Torre.

Usually, I’m very patient with students. (I would have loved to teach, except that I don’t have the discipline to wake up early enough for morning classes.) I don’t mind sharing with them my time for as long as they come to me prepared.

And the research - if I my stress this — doesn’t start with the resource person, but by poring over books and periodicals. Sadly, most students today want a quick fix. And they get away with it!

When they enter the professional field, therefore, more often than not, they turn in sloppy work. From time to time, I get calls from the production assistants or even segment producers of popular talk shows asking me who they should guest for a particular episode. The hell I know! I’m often tempted to scream at them on the phone. But this much I tell them: First of all, I was not present in YOUR production meeting. Secondly, I’m not even part of your show so why should I wrack my brains over that?

In the beginning, I really tried to help students out — especially those who were new in the field. But when they made it a habit of calling me to do their guest line-up for the week, I already put my foot down.

I actually see that "bad habit" of relying on other people stemming from bad preparation in college. Students therefore should really be taught hard work and discipline in school because once they step into the professional world, they’re basically on their own.