Sometimes, I wonder what things might have been if left Bulatlat and continued my stint on CMFR. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t help but smile and be very thankful that I decided to stay and pursued Bulatlat.
To say that the learning, experiences, and opportunities that Bulatlat have given me are great is an understatement. It is greater than greatest. They made me realize that pursuing writing as a career, and writing for the people were the best decisions I have ever made in my life.
They have convinced me that, indeed, writing is my destiny.
I was not a born writer; I was not even part of my school paper back in high school. I never really trusted my writing skills not even after I became the News editor of my school paper in College.
Up to this very day, I still, at times, doubt my writing capabilities, and this stint in Bulatlat has given me quite an assurance that maybe I can really write, maybe not that well but at least I can, decently.
Having been given a chance to go Visayas and Mindanao, I realized how big the Philippines is. I realized how much of the provinces and their news events the mainstream media are missing.
In every corner of provinces, there where the stories lie. And if there’s one great realization I have this summer, it is the realization of the responsibility given to every journalist to report not only Manila-based happenings but more especially province-based because it is where the marginalized, unrepresented and unheard are.
Believe it or not, I am now considering working as a community journalist after college.
With all of these things running now in my mind, this summer must be one to remember.
This summer, I went to different places and met many faces.
FIRST ROW (from left to right) Negros Press Club President Julius Mariveles, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Vice Chairman Nonoy Espina, Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Representative Liza Maza, Pinoy Weekly Editor-In-Chief Ilang Ilang Quijano,
SECOND ROW (from left to right) PIOM Team Marawi: Carol Crabtree (Canada), Roger Scott Powers (Presbyterian Church Pastor, USA), Sister Francis Burgos (Philippines), Joyce Ann Mercer (Theology Professor/Author, USA), Gill Boehringer (Lawyer/Author, Australia),Christine Williams (Canada), Taro Aihara (Japan), Jacques Morial (Louisiana Justice Institute, USA), Omega Bula (Executive Minister/Ecumenical Officer Justice Global and Ecumenical Relations, Canada), and Kyle Hamilton (Ontario Human Rights Commission, Canada), Lanao del Sur’s Healing Democracy Spokesperson Adelaida Ditucalan, Raymund Villanueva of Kodao Productions, Suara Bangsamoro President Amirah Ali Lidasan, Moro and Christian People’s Alliance Secretary General Dayling Java
These are some of the faces I had the chance to meet and work with.
People whose credentials, experiences, and stories never fail to amaze me.
I am just glad to have been part of their summer at least.
I first heard of Bulatlat through a friend and former colleague, Gem Muzones. She was the former Features editor of The Scholastican. She had her internship in Bulatlat two years ago; she told me about her internship experience in Bulatlat; on how they would assign her to cover mobs one after the other, and how they had helped her open her eyes and mind to the real world. Gem encouraged me to consider Bulatlat when I apply for internship.
And that was months before I became active in College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). When I was elected as CEGP-NCR Chair, I had the privileged to attend forums, workshops, and gatherings that introduced me to the world they call “tibak world”; there I met Carlos Conde, and Len Olea, two of Bulatlat’s editor. Sir Caloy is one of those journalists I looked up to; he is a New York Times correspondent, a known progressive journalist that once put in the OB list of AFP. Ms. Len, on the other hand, was the former CEGP National President and is the first woman to be elected as one.
Having been part of CEGP for a while, Bulatlat is no longer a stranger to me. I know the quality of articles and researches they produce. Working for Bulatlat or for anything similar to their nature was a no surprise to me and to my friends.
Bulatlat may sound ‘tabloidish’, but it is not. It is the total opposite of tabloid, and most of the time even of mainstream dominant broadsheets and news sites; it offers alternative journalism. Alternative, meaning it writes what the dominant does not. It looks at the other side and at the behind of every story.
As what Sir Benjie Oliveros and other Bulatlat editors would remind us (interns), “Always remember that you are writing for the people; people who are unrepresented and marginalized. Write issues not just because they exist but because they affect lives of people.”
My initial internship plan was to have a hundred working hours each for BULATLAT and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). It was on the second week of March when I applied in both media outfits; sent them CVs and letters via email.
CMFR was the first to reply; Sir Hector Bryant Macale emailed me and said he’s going to schedule the examination and interview. I kind of expecting a good response from them since I was already part of the election monitoring team which has started early February, and Sir Bryant also assured me of an internship slot and all I needto do was send them my CV and OJT letter.
If my memory serves me right, it was on the last week of March when I was asked to go to CMFR’s office in Makati for examination and interview. The exam and interview went okay; I was asked to write an article on journalists killings (which is my favorite topic, by the way) and edit a Senate PR. The interview part was more on orientation on what tasks I’ll be doing and who I’ll be doing it with.
Sir Bryant asked for my OJT schedule. I informed him that I am still waiting for my application in Bulatlat, but he told me that if I change my mind, I can always extend my internship in their office. I am scheduled to start my OJT stint on April 5.
A day after my CMFR interview, I received a confirmation letter from Bulatlat. They asked me to report to the office and have an OJT orientation on April 5.
Bulatlat or CMFR?
I really had a hard time deciding onto which media outfit I will go to on April 5.
CMFR is a great a media outfit; I have heard and read of them hundreds of times. I am a fan of PJR Reports and I have always wanted to write for it. I am also a fan of Dean Luis Teodoro, CMFR’s Director; I have always looked up to him as a great media icon; that every time I would see him in forums or seminars I attend outside the school, I still get starstrucked. Also, I must say, CMFR is one of the top media outfits that Journalism students applied to, and getting a slot is quite difficult.
Bulatlat, on the other hand, is my place to be. The kind of articles they write, and the events they cover are totally my kind of thing. They are into politics, activism, and pro-people journalism. I am also a fan of Carlos Conde, one of Bulatlat’s managing editors.
I am torn.
The Verdict
To help me come up with a rational decision, I checked my summer schedule (all the activities I have to attend to outside OJT). I figured out that I’ll need to take a 10-day leave for CEGP’s National Student Press Convention (NSPC) at Negros Occidental, and there’s no way I’ll miss that because I am the NCR Chair. With that, I’ll need an OJT site for the month of April that offers a more flexible work and working hours, and allows me to do out-of-town assignments.
So I decided to choose Bulatlat as my first OJT site. I am going to spend my whole April with them. I called up Sir Bryant and told him that I’ve decided to spend my first 100 hours with Bulatlat and explained to him why. He approved of my decision, and in return, I assured him that I am going to push through with my initial commitment (which is for the volunteer work for election monitoring). He said that I should call him once I am done with my stint and Bulatlat so he could free a slot in CMFR. But he also told me that he’s afraid that once I assume a post in May, there might not be enough tasks to work and spend my 100 hours on. (This sounded as though I am going to extend my OJT till June)
Change of Plan
But things have changed along the way. When I returned from NSPC, there’s still lot of things left to work on for Bulatlat, I have only accomplished four articles in my 10-day leave, and I only have barely two weeks to finish my 100 hours. There, I felt the need to extend.Another reason was I am starting to love the kind of articles I write, and the people I interview. The issues I write about are really close to my heart. I love my work, and it no longer feels work.
Instead of cutting my stint short, I decided to extend it and complete all my 200 hours of summer in Bulatlat.
I spent another month in Bulatlat and continued working and writing articles.
In the next 30 days of my stay, I was able cover, for the first time, the most looked forward protest rally every year, Mayo Uno Rally. I was also able to cover the elections in Lanao del Sur, and interview MILF Peace Panel Chairperson Mohammed Iqbal.
With my stay in Bulatlat, many doors of opportunities, great experiences and learning have opened for me. And there's no way I can thank them enough for all of these.
First times amaze us; it is like a spell that captures us and leaves us longing for more.
It makes us realize how big the world is and how great it is to live.
It reminds you that there are still things left for you to discover, explore and experience
And life isn’t as boring as you thought
First times are special; they are hard to forget, and difficult to beat.
Summer 2010 gave me lots of first times; and these made my internship experience more memorable and special.
First Plane Trip (April 18, off to Bacolod City) It was my first time to travel alone and take a plane trip; well the farthest I’ve been to was Mindoro and that was via ship. I had apprehension of traveling alone; especially it was the first time I’ll go out of the island. But it was fun, and I had a great time observing the passengers as well as the crew. Too bad, I didn’t get to secure a window seat; I would have loved to see the clouds and the aerial view of Luzon and Visayas.
First Visayas Experience (April 18-27, 2010)
(left to right) smiling kids of Bacolod City, protest rally in Bacolod City, the 5th of seven falls of Mambukal Resort, Calea’s White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce, green fields of Negros, Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Napollones, more green fields
Not only Bacolod is the City of Smiles, it is also the City of Sweets and Chickens. We may have stayed longer in other parts of Negros, but the trip to city proper is indeed the most memorable and enjoyable. I had a great time tasting almost all Bacolod delicacies for the first time. Manokan Country has the best Inasal and chicken oil; Calea’s cakes are far better than Goldilocks and Red Ribbon; it literally melts in the mouth. Napollones is LOVE; it is my most favorite of all. Fish Tocino (c/o) MJ is also delicious and healthy.
Aside from food, it was also in Bacolod where I first had my out-of-town rally, a protest rally against the dropping of charges vs Ampatuan massacre suspects. The rally held in Bacolod Plaza was featured in news both in Manila and in Bacolod. We even have an article published on the front page of a local newspaper.
In Murcia, Negros Occidental, I had my first 2-hour mountain climbing and falls sight-seeing. It was tiring but at the same breathtaking. The view was amazing; you would forget that there are deforestation and kaingin happening in the country. It was a great escape from the dirt of Philippine reality.
First Elections Coverage (May 10, 2010)
It was my first elections coverage, and the more exciting part is that it is Mindanao, and it is in the controversial “Cheating Capital of the Philippines”, Lanao del Sur. Originally, I was assigned in Maguindanao, Mindanao. But two days before our schedule flight, I was informed that it was changed to Lanao del Sur.
When my editors in Bulatlat asked me if I wanted to take the slot on the coverage, I wasn’t really taking the offer seriously. I mean, I was thinking, ‘there’s no way that they are going to send an intern to Mindanao to cover the elections. But it turned out that they were really serious about giving me the slot. The night before I claim my ticket from PIOM secretariat, I was thinking of backing out. But then I realized, ‘it is a once in lifetime opportunity, I might as well take it; and besides everything’s free and it’ll take lots of hours of my OJT duty.
There is no perfect word to describe how the election was in Lanao del Sur. Having witnessed two failures of elections, two manual elections, no PCOS machines working in four different municipalities, couples of poll violations, and hundreds of army troops and tanks all over the province, I could say that this elections coverage topped my FIRST TIMES.
The experience might sound negative and bad, but it is actually not. For me, the Lanao experience was an eye-opener. It showed me how dirty and ugly Philippine politics can get. It made me realize how unfortunate Filipinos to have corrupt leaders seating in the government. In activist terms, ‘nakaka-agit’. The situation in Lanao del Sur motivated and inspired me to continue fight for real freedom and democracy. It reminded me of the responsibility I have in my hands, to write for the people and let their voices be heard and their situations be known thru my writing.
There were lots of first times here; first time to see army tanks (not one but many), first time to see poll violations (vote-buying, coaching, etc), first time to see the PCOS machines first hand, and first time to pass through Lanao’s known ambush sites.
(l-r: arrival at Silay Airport, Silay Airport, smiles from Bacolod kids, CEGP officers at Love Swing, Outside University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos)
April 18 – I left Manila for Bacolod. It was my first time to ride on an airplane, and my first time to travel alone. It was scary exciting and challenging; Initially, I was supposed to go with the other officers last April 15 but since I still have articles to work on for my OJT, I had to stay for three more days. I arrived at Silay Airport at around 10 am. From the airport I was instructed to take a van going to UNO-R; when I got out of the terminal, I saw couple of vans and lots of people talking and haggling; the ‘maarte’ in me decided to sit a while and patiently wait until the area becomes more peaceful (I really don’t want to get myself into those haggling and talking, besides I don’t understand what they are talking about). So I sit and ordered a coffee in the nearest mini coffee shop. When I’m about to finish my coffee, I noticed the area became really peaceful, strangely peaceful. All the vans, buses, and jeepneys had left already. I approached a manong and asked him where I can get a ride going to UNO-R; he stared at me strangely, and told me, “Ay Neng, dayo ka no? Umalis na lahat ng sasakyan, huli na yung kanina. Mamaya pa ulit silang mga 3 pag dating ng susunod na flight.” I looked at my watch and it says, 10:55. I am to wait until the next van arrives, and it means I’ll have to wait for four hours. “Malay ko ba?!” I told myself. Like as though anyone told me that’s how those vans work.
It’s 11:30. I am dead hungry but I don’t like eating alone in public places. I decided not to eat until manong whom I asked and talked to while ago approached me, “Iha, kumain ka muna, magugutom ka, wag ka mag-alala ihahanap kita ng pwedeng magsabay sayo papuntang UNO-R”, and then he smiled. “Manong, you are heaven sent,” I thought.
So I ate a sandwich and drink one more cup of coffee. I put out my R (reporter’s) notebook and scribbled random thoughts.
For a moment, I felt relaxed and unoccupied. I wasn’t worrying whether or not the van will arrive earlier than 3pm. I am no longer afraid of traveling alone, of commuting alone, of going to some places new to me. I no longer feel awkward eating a sandwich alone. I watch people walked passed by me, people who wait for their loved ones to arrive patiently.
Minutes later, a van stopped in front of me. It was the van that will take me UNO-R. I need not to wait for three more hours. Yehey! I couldn’t thank manong enough for helping me out; I was about to get money from my pocket when he told me, “Naku, wag na iha, Mag-ingat ka na lang! Enjoy ka dito!” again, he smiled. I nodded and gave him a sweet smile.
Now I understand why this place is called the Land of Smiles.
It amazes me how someone could be so willing to help a stranger without asking anything in return. What amazed me more is how God turns a misfortune to a great venue of realization and discovery of greatness.
When I arrived in UNO-R, people are getting ready to join in a protest rally in City Plaza. I put off my bag, get my pen and paper, wore my press id and camera bag and left with them.
It was my first out-of-town coverage. In the protest rally, I saw familiar faces, NUJP officers Nonoy Espina, Rowena Paraan, and Inday Espina. Negros Press Club President Julius Mariveles was also there.
It was a difficult coverage, I must say. All the speakers, except Vijae Alqusola of CEGP, and Rowena Paraan, spoke in the dialect, Hiligaynon. I really had a hard time taking down notes and transcribing interviews. I needed to ask someone from local to interpret all the interviews.
All over the news, local and national
The next day, we were flooded with messages from friends in Manila saying that the protest rally landed on TV Patrol Linggo, and on major broadsheets. So we checked youtube and Inquirer.net and this is what we found:
70th National Student Press Convention - Mambukal Resort, Murcia, Negros Occidental Hundred plus of guilders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao participated in this year NSPC. Great lineup of speakers also graced the convention; Dean Rolando Tolentino, Sir Jun Reyes Cruz, CENPEG’s Bobby Tuazon, Sir Mykel Andrada, Pinoy Weekly’s Ilang-Ilang Quijano, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, Kabataan Rep. Raymund Palatino, Senator Loren Legarda, ABS-CBN’s Atom Araullo to name a few.
It was my second NSPC but my first secretariat experience, and I must say. It was heaven and hell to be part of secretariat. Heaven, because I get to meet and talk to the speakers and be friends with (some of) them. Oops. Did I mention that I get to text Atom Araullo for his plane ticket details? BUT (yes, a big but) being part of secretariat means sleeping late and waking up early (though I’m an epic failure on this), running around the resort and troubleshooting troubles. It was fulfilling though, I must say.
After four days at Murcia, we return to Bacolod for evaluation and assessment. We stayed at Biboy’s for two more days. In those two remaining days, we toured around the city; we had dinner with NPC President Julius Mariveles and his family at their restaurant. On our last day in the city, we had the best food trip (of my life, so far); we went to Calea to eat the best cake in the city and to BongBongs to buy Piaya and other pasalubong. We also bought Napollones (the best!) and went to Manokan Country to have a taste of the authentic “Bacolod Inasal”.
April 27 - We went back to Manila.
I must say, Negros Accidental is indeed the one of the best places here in the country. If given a chance, I won't think twice of going back.
