ISKO IN THE NEWS: Jovan Cerda
Try googling "Jovan Cerda" and you would find articles, forums and blog posts discussing his leave of absence as the Tinig ng Plaridel�s (University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication�s student paper) editor-in-chief to pursue his candidacy as the college�s representative to the University Student Council.
But one look at his Facebook account would tell you that like any other UP student, he likes watching TV shows, going to the mall with friends, and �food tripping�. He watches the Simpsons and American Idol, and likes to believe he�s interesting.
�Yes, I am a stereotypical UP student,� the 19 year-old journalism junior said. He described the UP student to be simple, fun-loving, outgoing, outspoken and opinionated.
�I�m not so studious. While I take studying seriously, I make it a point to hang out with friends,� he said. And this is why despite being far from Binangonan, he has found comfort with his boarding house mates, or collectively known to the UP Debate Society as the �Balara boys�.
Cerda said that being friends with different kinds of people has led him to become more tolerant and open-minded. �I am a diplomatic person, kaya ayoko ng taong short-tempered (I am a diplomatic person, and this is why I don�t like short-tempered people),� he said. �One thing I�ve learned about myself is that I am the type of person who knows how to engage in non-aggressive, non-adversarial and with proper reasoning,� he added.
But he admits that he�s far from perfect. There are times he neglects tasks to play Battle Realms on his laptop. There are times he thinks he is �too cliquish� or exclusivist, especially when it comes to the people he chooses to hang out with.
This photo enthusiast has gotten his share of heartbreaks as well. In his blog entry entitled �Ang Huli Kong El Bimbo�, which was inspired by the latest McDonald�s commercial, he wrote about his past. �Madelene was my high school love,� he said. �After I graduated from high school, we broke up and eventually lost all communication, so there was no closure.�
But according to him, lately, they become friends again through text messaging. He took her out, and now, they are good friends. �I finally got the closure I needed,� he said.
Incidentally, the Eraserheads is one of his favorite bands, along with Sugarfree, Itchyworms and Coldplay.
�I think of myself as a realist,� he said when asked whether he is really as idealistic as his friends say he is.
�Corrupt government, inefficient leaders and indifference will always be a given, but what will matter is how you approach these things. It�s really impossible to create a total change, but what we can do is to minimize harm, depending on the strategies we take.�
So what�s in store for Cerda?
�Ever since grade school, I�ve always had a passion for journalism,� he said. Aside from writing for a daily, he also plans to become a documentary filmmaker.
With all his achievements, whether debate or journalism related, one would wonder how different everything would have been had he pushed through with his plan to enter the seminary instead of taking on the challenge to become a full-fledged Isko, quirks and all.
Both photos from Jovan Cerda's Facebook account, special thanks to Jennie Uy
| 
