18/05/2018
[Update on the Yearbook Situation]
The Agham 2015 team would like to, first, apologize to you, our batchmates, for the delay in the release of the yearbook and updates regarding it. Although we eagerly wanted to immediately deliver the yearbook to you, the team had experienced major obstacles in bringing this yearbook to fruition. Here are some FAQs we would like to give light to, along with a plan on how the team currently hopes to proceed.
1. What happened?
Last 2015, Colorpoint handled the graduation photoshoots and pictures of the College of Science Batch of 2015. After the respective photoshoots of each institute of the college, while waiting for Colorpoint's release of the pictures, Agham had been at work finishing the contents and layouts of the yearbook. Collection of essays and layout designs had been going smoothly until Colorpoint released the pictures, and we realized that there were a lot of problems and complaints with their final products. Our team, then, decided to focus on addressing these issues first, accepting all complaints and requests for re-shoots and re-edits, communicating with Colorpoint, and releasing and re-releasing new edits and pictures. We thought that edits and shoots could be easier addressed before the students graduate and leave for their respective provinces, while the yearbook was, logisitically, still workable after graduation, with only the Agham members needed to finalize it.
We were optimistic about finishing the yearbook layout by the end of July 2015. However, before our graduation, we received news from Colorpoint that their hard drive, where they kept all their data for their pictures, had been infected with a virus and wiped clean. They said they sent it to their supplier in Taiwan for repair. We followed up for months after, only to be given the same reason: they're still having it repaired.
Eventually, we realized that no pictures would be recovered and that we had to find another way to complete the yearbook. This was when we launched the re-collection of soft copy of pictures.
During midyear 2016, our team went back to Colorpoint. At this point, they admitted that they were not able to recover their hard drive and, along with it, our pictures. Still, we double checked hoping to recover some of the pictures, and indeed, we found the sablay shots of IC and NIP graduates on a separate drive. Before leaving, we discussed the situation with Colorpoint, and they agreed to do re-shoots and edits, free of charge, so we may complete the pictures we need for the yearbook.
2. What is the Agham team doing now?
Right now, the team is continuing its efforts to collect the pictures of our batchmates, starting with those who ordered CD's. We are also reaching out to our batchmates, through our institute representatives, regarding scheduling of re-shoots. If you have concerns regarding the collection and shoots, please feel free to contact your institute representatives.
As for the yearbook itself, contents and designs are ready. We just need the pictures so we can lay out the pages before printing. Our publisher, Cleofe, is just on standby awaiting the final yearbook for printing.
3. Where is our money?
All your money deposited for the yearbook are safely with us. We assure that you have nothing to worry regarding this matter.
4. What is going to happen now?
There remains a clear consensus within the Agham team to pursue the publication of the yearbook. After all, this yearbook is the sole remembrance of our batch's graduation.
However, we also understand that this may not be what most of you want. We understand that the delay in release, along with the numerous issues you experienced before with the Colorpoint pictures, may have discouraged others to push through with the yearbook. Some may even just want to be refunded of their money. And since the Agham team exists primarily to serve our college's graduates, we would like to hear your thoughts on this.
From May 21-31, our institute representatives will be holding polls through your respective institute groups to determine whether to refund the money or push through with the yearbook. Whichever choice has the most votes by May 31, the team is ready to honor and deliver.
We hope you can cooperate with us in this endeavor. We understand if you feel frustrated over the late release of the yearbook. We understand if you are angry for the lack of information on its status; we admit it was a mistake to have contained the problem only within the group without showing visible progress. For those, we humbly apologize. We know these feelings too well; imagine our frustration upon realizing that the simple lay-outing delay would turn into a logistical disaster, plaguing the team even 3 years after. In truth, there is nothing more we would like to see than to be able to hand you the most perfect yearbook you deserve, if that is what you desire, of course.
We hope that, by coming up with a batch concensus, our team can more effectively handle the remaining roadblocks in the publication of the yearbook. Know that we, the Agham 2015 team, remain steadfast in our mission to follow through whatever our batch decides on until we reach that solid conclusion.
