XU DevCom Alum in Focus: ICRC Communication Officer Haiko Magtrayo

In this series of blog postings, we feature our alumni as they talk about their experience being in the program as well as their unforgettable moments as former XU DevCom students. Why did you choose DevCom? My criteria when I was looking for a course to take for college were: 1. Less sitting and lectures,…

xudevcom

January 7, 2019

2–3 minutes

In this series of blog postings, we feature our alumni as they talk about their experience being in the program as well as their unforgettable moments as former XU DevCom students.

XU DevCom Alum in Focus — Haiko Magtrayo | International Committee of the Red Cross Communication Officer | BS Development Communication major in Educational Communication

Why did you choose DevCom?

My criteria when I was looking for a course to take for college were:

1. Less sitting and lectures, and more doing and making your hands dirty – which means, going to different communities and learn through immersion, dialogue, and observation.

2. I want a career after college that I would love to for the rest of my life, and at the same time providing positive impact to different communities in need.

I swiped right – Devcom for me is a perfect match!

Tell us about your experience with the program.

What I love the most during my undergraduate years was the immersion experience with different communities not just in Mindanao, but in different regions in the Philippines. Those experiences broadened my perspective about the different societal issues that affect different groups of people. I realized through those experiences that communication with its various approaches can provide a positively to the development of every community that we have visited.

What is your current Job?

I currently work as a Communication Officer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We provide humanitarian assistance and protection to people affected by conflict and other situation of violence around the world.

Are you using what you learned in college?

Yes, Devcom curriculum served as a foundation in terms of knowledge and practice when I started doing humanitarian work

Would you recommend studying DevCom?

Yes, I would highly recommend DevCom specially at this time that we are currently living – devcom practioners are needed more than ever. We are living in a world where the gap between the rich and the poor are much wider; where environmental catastrophe, conflict, and violence are happening around us that affects millions of people; where global temperature is rising, and animals and their habitat are becoming extinct; where world leaders are twisting truth and becoming more populist and people are polarized.

If you are passionate about something that is bigger than you, and you would like to put your energy and skills for the greater good, Devcom is definitely a perfect course for you.