A Summer to Remember

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.

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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.

The People I Met and Worked With

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.

From the heart, I thank you!

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