MY LAST DAY

December 31, 2010

     
     According to a cliché, if there’s a beginning, there’s always an end. And coincidence as it is, it’s the last day of my internship at SunStar Superbalita at the last day of year 2010. True enough, as what they always say, if you’re about to bid farewell to someone or something the memories you had will just flashback in an instant. Funny because I just quickly reminisced my first day at Superbalita, I was quiet and shy then but was eager to learn, to experience and to explore. And I had no regrets even a little on why did I chose Super B to be the venue where I can practice and hone my journalistic skills. If I may say, I was blessed to be part of the publication for two months. It was an honor to serve the people through responsible journalism. As a proof, even at my last day, I still went on duty and made my story for the last time with time bound as it has an early deadline. But it didn’t hinder me to write 2 or 3 stories.

      It’s sad that I have to end once again my internship but rest assured that as I leave the four walls of SunStar Superbalita, I would carry with me the lessons and experiences I have acquired. I am now more equipped and ready to face the battlefield of the outside world.

IN THE NAME OF SERVICE

December 5, 2010

      The start of December wasn’t favorable for me because my mom was hospitalized. It was Sunday then and I was supposed to be in the hospital to take care of my mother but the call of duty made me decide to go to the nearest police station and look for news. Of course, I can’t afford not to publish anything on the following day for that means people wouldn’t be informed of the news on that day. Mama was confined at Visayan Community Medical Center and the nearest police station was Fuente Police Station. So, I just walked from VCMC to the said police station. Luckily, I got good news, a robbery alarm, shooting alarm and the meatiest was the threat alarm from a radio commentator (which could probably be a big story). I’ve also made two stories for the entertainment section. Indeed, I know mama was proud of me who was then waiting for me. I surely was excited to share to her the things I have experienced on that day and the things I have done in the name of service.

    

WALK FOR BONIFACIO

November 29, 2010

      It was not the actual celebration of Andres Bonifacio’s birthday but P.Noy made it as an official day as what her predecessor, the former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, always do – to change the dates of national holidays. And here comes P.Noy who promised to be different in leading the country “tungo sa daang matuwid” in his slogan during the recent election but is still following GMA’s deeds. Where is the change he once said? But so much for that, I still have so much time to express my sentiments to the new administration. For the meantime, I’ll spare this page to the people who could only express their sentiments against the government during special holidays like the Bonifacio Day. For them, it’s the only avenue they know for the government to hear them and YES through a RALLY! It was my first time then to cover a rally and I must admit I was nervous but excited to experience such thing with people marching on the street with only one vision, one goal and that is to voice out their sentiments to the government. The said rally was participated by labor groups from various sectors. There were group of drivers, laborers and Bayan Muna representatives, which I have interviewed. The rally was from Fuente Osmeña to Colon Street in front of Metro Gaisano Colon. I followed the rally then except that I was riding on a jeepney while they marched the street. After witnessing the event, I immediately went to the Superbalita office to write the story. Few minutes after, Miss Sheila arrived and asked what news will I write and I answered that I got the “rally” story. Unknowingly she also covered the event. But that’s not a problem, we could always merge the story. So, Miss Sheila told me to finished the story and save it. Afterwards, she made some changes and additions and the story was done with of course her name and mine in the byline.

TWO TIMES IN A ROW

November 22, 2010

       Blessings really do come in times you least expect it. And having the banner story two times in a row was really too much blessing for an “intern” writer like me. Before, I just really wished to have one banner story for me to tell myself that I am indeed a news writer but to experience it twice now was really a blessing. I’m really thankful to the news editor for choosing my story and for appreciating my efforts. I just can’t explain the feeling. It was amazing. I even received a very big CONGRATULATION from my friends and co-interns as well as a very big I’M PROUD OF YOU from mama.

MY FIRST BANNER STORY

November 20, 2010

I was really shocked when I saw the banner headline of SunStar Superbalita on that day with the title “GIPUSIL SA 8 ANYOS” – in all caps, bold and in a bigger font, sure enough, it was the “biggest” news of the day. I mean i know the story even without reading it, obviously, because I’m the writer with Decemay of course. It was all about an 8-year old boy who accidentally shot a 14-year old girl who was his neighbor. On the first note, it was a human-interest story, something out of the ordinary and indeed worth to be on the banner. With this achievement, I can now proudly say that I am now a writer for I have published a banner story. Whew, it just made my day.

CONNECTIONS

November 17, 2010

   Josenians will always be Josenians - Tatak Recoleto as what they usually call it. I guess there’s this invisible string attached in each one of us. Strings that are used to help one another in times of need. And I guess I'm just one of those lucky Josenians who have that string connected with other personalities in my chosen field of profession.

Mr. Alan Domingo of GMA-7

   The Josenians I'm talking about are Mr. Alan Domingo of GMA-7's Balitang Bisdak and Mr. Ador Vincent Mayol of Cebu Daily News. Two of the best media practitioners in Metro Cebu that I have worked with.

Mr. Ador Vincent Mayol of CDN

    I guess I was just so lucky that day while I was walking along the corridor of the Palace of Justice when I saw Sir Alan together with his cameraman roaming around the courts. He was shocked upon seeing me. And I know you're shocked too because he knows me. Well, point of information, I have worked with him last semester because as I was saying I became an intern of Buena Mano Balita where he was a mainstay host. With humility, I asked Sir Alan if I could go with him in finding news and he gladly said yes. Ofcourse together with Sir Ador Mayol of CDN, which I guess was his best buddy and luckily is another true-blooded Josenian.

    After roaming around the Palace of Justice, our next stop was the “Kapihan sa PIA” – a press conference organized by the Philippine Information Agency held at DOH-7. The presscon was all about "drugs" with Director Adrian Alvariño of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the speaker. It was a timely topic since it was on the midst of the issue of the captured one kilo of shabu in Cebu just recently. The said presscon also tackled about the “Iwas Paputok Program” of DOH in lieu of the Christmas and New Year celebration with Dr. Ped Medalla as the resource speaker. Afterwards, we attended still another major press conference held at a certain cafe by former mayor Lakambini Reluya over her complaint on the on-going "San Fernando election protest". That presscon opened the door for me to meet other big names in the media industry such as Mr. Elly Bacqueros of Sun.Star Cebu, Mr. Gregg Rubio of The Freeman, the CCTN news team and of course Mr. Ike Durano of DYRF (which was one of our panelists in our thesis).
   I really got big news on that day and it wouldn't be possible if not for Sir Alan and Sir Ador's help. I'm just so glad to have kuya’s and ate's in the industry who is willing to help us - which I must say an advantage of a Josenian intern. Connections as what you call it.

DELICIOSO

November 12, 2010

I know what you’re thinking – you would probably be thinking of food right?The answer is both a YES and a NO. Why? It’s because I will not be only talkling of food that would satisfy our tummies but also food for our mind - experience is what I'm referring to. And I had a "delicious" experience when I went on duty for the first time with a senior reporter – with no other than Ms. Sheila Gravinez.

Ms. Sheila Gravinez and me

I already knew Ms. Sheila then because she was a former DYSS reporter of GMA-7 where I used to have my tv broadcasting internship over Buena Mano Balita. Because of that, I was happy when Sir Roger texted me that I’ll be going with Ms. Sheila that day.

We went to the Department of Health first to get an update of dengue  cases in the region as well as went to the Regional Health Office Environmental Health Program and talked to Engr. Evangeline Canoneo about the inspection in the disposal of coal ash at a coal power plant in Naga City. Lastly, we went to the Bureau of Food and Drugs to get an update about their advisory on imported products entering the country especially in Region 7. Afterwards we went back to the office. On our way there, to my surprise Ms. Sheila humbly asked me if what story would I like to write. Amazed with her kindness, I immediately replied that it’s up to her if what story would she like me to write. Thus, she decided to give me the dengue update and the BFAD advisory. Indeed, it was a great challenge in my part for I’ll be dealing with medical terminologies or jargons but I don't have any worries for I know that Ms. Sheila was just there to back me up.

When we arrived at the office, Miss Jennette told us that all Sun.Star Superbalita staff as well as interns will be going to have a lunch at Tsim Sha Tsui restaurant located at Ayala Terraces. I really thought it would be a working lunch and they will have a meeting. But I was amazed because we just purely ate our lunch there for about an hour and a half. It was an eat-all-you-can treat in lieu of the anniversary of the publication. I just appreciated their effort for inviting us in that very delicious lunch. The food were not just "delicious" but the memories we had as well.