Saturday, December 11, 2010

December 6-December 10,2010

      December 16-Monday, I was on the field together with Malou as being permitted by Madame Elena with our reporter Sir Jun Veliganio and cameraman Sir Jun Solon. We left the station around 2:00 PM and went to the regional office of Commission on Higher Education. Supposedly we will be conducting an interview with CHED - 7 Vice Chairman Aytona ( Sorry, I forgot his first name) regarding the status of Mandaue City College owned by Dr. Paulus Mariae Cañete. But according to the security guard, Mr. Aytona is attending a seminar. After, we immediately went to Mandaue City Hall to get the side of the city government with Dr. Cañete's MCC. We arrived there around 3:00 PM. Mr. Roger Serna, Public Information Officer, accommodated us and negotiated with the lawyers of Mayor Jonas Cortes in order to conduct an interview with them. First, we had interviewed Atty. Francisco Amit who is the legal consultant of the mayor. Right after Atty. Amit, the legal officer of Mandaue City government in person of Atty. Eliseo Ceniza was interviewed next. According to Atty. Ceniza, the city government is not part of the closure order handed by CHED to MCC of Dr. Cañete. Aside from that, another issue was brought up regarding the Association of Barangay Council or ABC election that will kick-off tomorrow morning. In Mandaue City, the slot for presidency is uncontested with only Subangdaku Brgy. Capt. Ernie Manatad is running for the position. According to Manatad, he felt so flattered and honored with the support of his fellow barangay captains from 27 barangays of Mandaue City during the interview. For sure, it's gonna be a win-win victory. On our way back to the station around 4:00 PM, we got the chance to conduct an ambush interview with Vice-Chairman Aytona of CHED - 7 across the road of a hotel in Panagdait, Mabolo, Cebu City. It's really God's glory!
     December 8-Wednesday, it's a special day for the Catholics especially to the devotees of Immaculate Concepcion. This day also marked the birthday of my "kaigzu and kabayet" Pearl Jade Bello. Happy Birthday Pearl! Anyways, good thing we don't have a class for our school because our school is also observing the celebration being a Catholic institution. With that,  I got the chance to have a whole day of duty. Truly a privilege! hehehe..... I am really excited. I know I could learn a lot of things in the field. I was with Sir Alan Domingo and cameraman Sir Joel Bajinting.
    Our first pit stop was the Cebu Provincial Capitol where we conducted an interview with the Provincial Health Officer Dr. Christina B. Giango. The interview was about the numerous cases of typhoid fever in Alegria. According to her, 13 out 16 prospects were already positive of typhoid fever both in barangays Sta. Filomena and Poblacion. The declaration of the outbreak will immediately follow. After the interview, we proceeded to the Provincial Court to foresee a hearing session with Tata Negro's case but it was being canceled and moved to December 16. So we immediately went to Alegria, southern part of Cebu. The more I am getting excited because it's gonna be my baptism of fire to be with a reporter in an out-of-town assignment. Most likely, the travel to Alegria from the city would take four hours. I just kept on peeping into the window seeing the beauty of the southern part of Cebu. I truly appreciated the love of mother of nature and God. The green lavish mountains is still highly visible. The road structure in the South is really hassle-free to the public. 
     Around 1:00 PM, we already arrived in Alegria. Our first location is their gymnasium where people were flocking the area in order to seek for assistance. The common denominator is that parents`who brought their children suffering from fever within 1 to 2 weeks. According to the municipal physician Dr. dela Peña if the fever is within 1 or 2 weeks already would be very alarming and subject to typhoid fever positive. Right afer, we went to their water reservoir which is believed that the water content is contaminated with toxic and harmful materials. It is located in a mountainous barangay which the road is very sloping. It would be hard in going up and gravity is pulling in going down. I love the experience! Now I know how difficult it is to seek for truth.....to seek for what the pubic deserves to know.


            





Monday, December 6, 2010

November 29-December 3, 2010

      November 29-Monday, it's a national holiday as being declared and moved by Malacañang Palace in commemoration of Bonifacio Day which really fall in every November 30. So, I really grabbed the opportunity to have a whole day of duty. I was with Sir Nikko Sereno and cameraman Sir Renante Quiñones. We left the station at 8:00 pm and went to Ibabao, Mandaue City to look for the garage of the 21B jeepneys. It was about 30 minutes to travel and we arrived the place at 8:30 pm. Most of the drivers there were having thier breakfast in a carenderia. But we already asked permission with one of the drivers Mr.Godofredo Salonoy to conduct an interview with him. While waiting Mr. Salonoy to finish his breakfast, we interviewed another driver who chose not to work on this day in person of Mr. Ariel Pador. According to Mr. Pador, the city ordinance is really unfair on their part that it could lessen their daily earnings. Mr. Salonoy said that the traffic citation issued to him last Thursday is the new city ordinance 2214 which it has a bigger amount of violation fee---first offense is P1500, second offense is P2000 and third offense is P5000 plus an impound of the jeepney.
     Our second pit stop is Punta Princesa, Cebu City which we witnessed a turnover of power between the outgoing barangay captain Rodolfo Diorico and the comeback of newly elected barangay captain Jose Navarro. Diorico said he is thankful for serving the people of Punta Princesa for three years. Navarro on his side, he is very eager to serve again the people of Punta Princesa since it has been 35 years of public service. He stressed that he has stored a lot of programs that would surely be benefited by the residents. He even proudly cited that Punta Princes won as Most Outstanding Barangay in the Philippines during his term years ago.
     Our third pit stop is the Cebu City Medical Center in order to get an update of diarrhea cases of the city after it has a bigger turn-out since diarrhea came to the limelight. In Danao City, as of now, has already 80 plus diarrhea cases and  reports said it will still be rapidly growing. According to CCMC's attending pediatrician Dr. Lee James Maratas, the cases of the city had already 19 exceptional to the deaths of the two children. I really pity the condition of diarrhea patients especially most affected ones are the children.
    Our last pit stop is to conduct an interview with CITOM chaiman Mr. Jack Jakosalem at Oh Georg! in Ayala Center Cebu. The interview was about the recent issue which is the implementation of the city ordinance 2214 prohibiting the Mandaue PUJs to enter the juridiction of Jones-Colon area.
   December 1-Wednesday, the four of us got the chance to help during the remote and witnessed the live broadcast of Sir Bobby Nalzaro at Fuente Osmeña Rotunda as the opening of "Pasko sa Sugbo". One of the highlights is the lighting of the 40 inch Christmas Tree. We assisted Sir Jesse Campos who was at the teleprompter. I have observed that every second really counts. They cannot afford to get a single mistake because that would mean a disruption of the live-airing. Thanks to high technology, Mam Chelo and Sir Jesse really got good communication from the station to the remote. 
    December 3-Friday, we decided not to go on field because we have a class in Media Planning. We got the same type of job in the library. We encoded the remaining shotlists record since 2009 of Sir Renante.   

November 22-27, 2010

       This week I got the chance to go on the field though it's not my schedule. Last November 22-Monday, I was with Sir Christian Tafalla and cameraman Sir Tata. We covered the "Capacity Development Expo Cy 2010 and Biyaheng Pinoy Program" launching at the training center of Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Office in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City. I saw my classmates Karen Ceniza, July Antoni Carmel and Junalyn Rufin who are connected with The Freeman. This year's theme is "Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad". Biyaheng Pinoy is the year-long celebration in preparation for the 20th anniversary of local autonomy in the Philippines. The program is initiated by DILG which features plethora of activities by local governance stakeholders all aimed at deepening national and local officials' consciousness on the value of local autonomy and heightening the public's awareness and participation in local governance issues.
     November 24-Wednesday, I was with Sir Christian and the cameraman Sir Joel Bajinting to interview a driver of a 21B route. There is city ordinance 6015 being passed which prohibited the public utility jeepneys bearing 21 and 22 Bs to enter the jurisdiction in the Jones and Colon  area of the city. All those PUJs are taking the Mandaue-Jones-Colon routes. This is the aftermath of the road incident last week between 21B and 21 D jeepneys in M. J. Cuenco Street causing number of passengers injured. With this, the CITOM head Mr. Jack Jakosalem triggered to pass the city ordinance. As what I've remembered, this has been a long issue since the time of the former mayor and now Cebu City South District Representaive Hon. Tomas Osmeña.
     November 26-Friday, I was only in the library and encoding the shotlists record since 2009 of the cameraman Mr. Renante Quiñones. In the afternoon, Malou and I observed the live broadcast of Balitang Bisdak.
     November 27-Saturday, I got the chance to have a duty on this day because we have no class in Media Education. I immediatley went to GMA around 1pm. I truly grabbed this rare opportunity. I was with Sir Nikko Sereno and cameraman Sir Godfrey Rellin. Our first assignment is a forum in SM City Cebu Entertainment Plaza entiled "Dymistifying the Childhood Cancer Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The forum is about promoting awareness in early detection and prevention of leukemia. Especially that children are the common victim in this kind of deadly disease. This is indeed a noble cause of Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko.
     At 6pm, we went to Marco Polo Hotel in order to witness the lighting of Christmas Tree of Hope and Christmas Village. My God! It's really my first time in the only five star hotel in Cebu City before it changed its name from Cebu Plaza Hotel. I was amazed and excited. Of course, my first time to mingle with the elites in the society. When we arrived there were already a lot of people around and the guests of the hotel. Marco Polo's General Manager Hans Hauri welcomed the guests with the ever dynamic host from the capital Mr. Johnny Litton also graced the sparkling evening. Lofty foods and desserts would undeniably satisfy your hungry tummy and drinks that truly quenched your thirst. I just don't know how expensive those things then. I can't wait to see actor and politician Senator Tito Sotto  III who was the honored guest of the night with GMA-7 Cebu's Station Manager Ms. Ann Marie Tan. 
      But the important event of the night was the lighting of the Christmas Tree of Hope and Christmas Village which played essential role to the lives of the needy children. The Christmas Village will served as an instrument to help the children who are suffering from cancer through Kythe Foundation, while,  the proceeds of the Christmas Tree of Hope will directly go to the Kapuso Foundation. The donations will be a big help to the less fortunate people who needed most compared to us especially this Christmas season.
     During the event, I saw my classmate Ivan Velasquez, Losyll Villarico and Nelson del Mar who are having their intership in Amazing Cebu which also covered the event as well as Sir Bobby Nalzaro. I even saw my school paper adviser in our school paper "Ang Tanglaw" in Maguikay Elementary School---Mrs. Ruby Marie Basubas. She was with me when I competed in the National Schools Press Conference way back in 2002 in General Santos City, South Cotabato. With her that night is her husband and her cute baby girl. I'm just really happy seeing her again. Of course, she is happy too that I pursued the other side of me. I also met the former Vice-Chairman of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7 Atty. Clarence Paul Oaminal which he proudly told that he is also a Josenian. What's really amazing that night is when we interviewed Sen. Sotto face to face. He truly built eye contact when he speak with you and that only meant he is talking from the heart. I could felt the gripped of her right hand when I was shaking my hand to him after the interview.
    Around 8:30pm, we went to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to cover the vigil mass of His Eminence Ricardo Vidal as his protest of passing Reproductive Health Bill into law. He thanked the attendees for showing support and even calling all Catholics to pray that the RH Bill will not be passed into law. I saw my classmate Ryan Christopher Sorote who is connected with The Freeman, Ador Vincent Mayol from Cebu Daily News and Justin Vestil from Sun.Star Cebu who also covered the vigil mass.



November 15-19, 2010

                                                                                                  November 15-Monday, I am really excited on this day because it's gonna be my first day on the field with a reporter. I am with the neophyte reporter Ms. Ana Desamparado together with the cameraman Sir Godfrey Rellin. At first, I felt so awkward and quiet to be with them because I am a shy-type of person. If I'll borrow the term of Fatrick...it seems I'm just a "wallpaper". I never talked unless they asked something to me. I just don't want to guarrantee being labeled as the expression "FC or feeling close". I know along the way we would meet on the right track.
      Around 2:00 pm, we departed GMA and went to Cebu Provincial Capitol to cover a session in the legislative building. When we arrived , the session already started with Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez as the presiding officer with the presence of the Provincial Board Members. I got the chance to see my classmates Allan Luigi Flores who is connected with DYAB and Alfie Sollano with his senior reporter Ms. Astra Logarta of DYHP. In the middle of the session, we already left because nothing so intriguing according to Ms. Ana that being tackled.
      The second assignment of Ms. Ana is to cover a forum about climate change which is spearheaded by Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated or RAFI at their Convention Hall in Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City. We stayed there for long and finished the forum around 5:00 pm. I saw my classmate Davinci Maru together with Sun.Star's correspondent Rebelander Basilan and Cebu Daily News' reporter Candeze Mongaya who also covered the forum. The climate change forum is very interesting because it sought to widen the knowledge about hte recent changes of phenomena globally for public awareness. The speakers were composed of a lawyer and a dean of Ateneo de Manila University(Sorry, I forgot his name.), an environment advocate from Germany, a student leader from University of San Carlos-Technological Center, and a staff of RAFI. The forum is also being attended by students and teachers of different universities and colleges such as USC-TC, University of Cebu, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Asian College of Technology, and friends from the media. This is really a good initiative of RAFI having come up this kind of forum most especially that the world is timely hit by unexplainable changes in our environment. This is a serious matter.
      I know it has been a long time that RAFI has this kind of advocacy which is to help save the environment. Since then during my internship at THE FREEMAN, I am always assigned to cover RAFI's activities. One program that RAFI has concerning with the environment is their GREENIN' Philippines Program which stands for "Generation, REdemption, and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines". I truly appreciated this program. Having this vision of developing real forests, RAFI continued to upscale the rehabilitation and conservation practices in improving environmental conditions and landscapes. The program seeks to contribute to the attainment of the country's goal of enhancing and/or maintaining environmental integrity by restoring biodiversity without compromising the potential for human settlements to grow and expand. I just want to clarify that I am not being paid by RAFI for this or I am RAFI's Public Relations Officer---how I wish then! Kudos to RAFI!
      November 16-Tuesday, It's a national holiday as being declared by Malacañang Palace in celebration of Eid'l Adha or Feast of Sacrifice of our Muslim brothers and sisters. So there is no class in all levels and no work in both public and private offices. We got the chance to have a whole day of duty. All of us experienced to be on the field with respective reporters- Angela with Sir Jun Veliganio, Malou with Sir Reyn Nikko Sereno, Rechiel with Sir Monching Auxtero, and I was with Sir Allan Domingo. Jasmin is absent on this day.
      Around 8:00 pm, we left the station. Inside the car, Sir Allan informed me about his assignment---that's to cover the celebration of Eid'l Adha of the Muslim in Cebu Green Mosque in Day-as, Cebu City, a rally of KMP or Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas and Anak-Pawis, and a follow-up story of the fire victims in Pagsabungan, Mandaue City. He also inquired about my internship last semester. I felt so comfortable working with him because he is not intimidating. He knows when and where to punch his jokes. Also with us is the cameraman Mr. Joel Bajinting(I hope I did not misspell his last name.) I'm just really shocked when Sir Allan told me that I'll be the one to conduct the interview with the different sources. On that moment, I really wanted to go back to the station. But Sir Allan insisted and motivated me to do so as being seconded by Sir Joel. According to Sir Allan, it's his own way of training the interns---taking towards a reporters job. Later, I found it really good because it's the chance of the intern to showcase his ability and even proved his communication prowess. Thanks to Sir Allan for his initiative.
      I was quite shaking when I interviewed Abdullah Jeff Nacario, a muslim, asking him to elaborate the significance of the their celebration. I'm trying my best to contain the feeling of calmness. What I instilled in my subconscious mind is that "I'm gonna be okay. I know I can handle this well." I prayed to God asking His guidance. Of course, believing the power of optimism. Thank God everything did fine.
       We went immediately to a rally of KMP and Anak-Pawis outside Bureau of Agrarian Reform 7. Their concern is about the farmers welfare in pursuing House Bill 374 or Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill to become a law and seeking justice for the victims of Hacienda Luisita massacre four years ago. The incident slated seven(7) deaths, 200 were wounded and 120 were arrested. It's quite ironical that they conducted a rally fall on a holiday. Who would listen their plea? The guard on duty of BAR 7 was just laughing with their moves. It became nonsense and useless at all.
       After we went to our final destination which is in Pagsabungan, Mandaue City in order to follow-up the situation of fire victims. My God, I pity so much with their condition. I thought I'm so lucky to have a family in our humble home. Fire victims Dora Mabano and Anastacia Sellar, both were housewives, narrated to us their situation and still wanted to ask assistance especially in their basic needs. They were given a plastic bucket with rice, noodles, sardines, etc. yesterday by Kapuso Foundation through GMA 7 Cebu.
      November 17-Wednesday, it's a sunny afernoon and ready to go on field. Without my knowledge, I'll be with one of GMA's pride Ms. Lou-Anne Mae Rondina. She is cute and beautiful in person. Small but truly terrible. She is accommodating and nice. She doesn't want an intern to carry her bag. She just handed me to bring the microphone. Around 3:00 pm, we went immediately to Subangdaku, Mandaue City specifically at Sitio Lower Malibu in order to cover the convention between the dwellers association and city government of Mandaue in ironing out their unparalleled ideas. The issue centered on the disagreement of majority of the residents to come up a housing project. Some parts of the place had already started the project. According to the anti-group, they don't have enough money to pay for the project. It's a slum area in the southern part of Mandaue City. The pro-group said it's about time to have a descent home. I really understood that not all could afford the housing project because the bread and butter of most families there which the head of the family  is a pedicab driver. Just try to imagine, how could they pay the thousands worth of that housing project if they only earn enough for their basic necessities? Lucky are those who could eat three times a day. Another problem in the place is the improper drainage system which could instigate muddy and floody situation during rainy season. I just hope that Mayor Jonas Cortes and the rest of the city officials will address this serious problem.
       November 19-Friday, we don't have a class in Media Planning and Promotions. So I got the chance to to go on-field with Sir Christian Tafalla. We covered a conference between local government units and civil society organizations with representatives of PNoy's Administration. The conference is all about promoting awareness of the Millenium Development Goals or MDGs such as ending poverty line and hunger, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, ensuring universal primary education, gender equality, fighting HIV/AIDS and ensuring environmental sustainability. The conference is spearheaded by Center for Participatory Governance in coordination with the Office of Cebu City Councilor Alvin M. Dizon.