Back in Manila

Just came back from Davao City last week for two activities made by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). The outrageous Internet cost at Waterfront Hotel there (at least P100 per 15 minutes) and the busy schedule we had hindered me from posting anything in this blog for two weeks. Sigh.

But now that I'm back here in Manila, I'll try to resume my post-whoring activities again. Hahahaha.

The PJR Reports in the upcoming October 2006 issue will feature the two
activities, but just to start it up, here are brief reports on the event from CMFR's site:

CMFR holds training the trainors workshop on safety and alerts reporting

Around 30 journalists and citizen press council representatives from various parts of the country have been trained on work safety and reporting on press freedom attacks and threats by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility‘s (CMFR) last Sept. 28 to 30 in Davao City.

The workshop, “Training of Trainors: Safety and Alerts Reporting,” was organized to train a network of alerts writers in the country to complement CMFR’s efforts in its press freedom protection work. CMFR sends out alerts, or reports on attacks against and threats to press freedom in the country, not only to local media organizations but also international press freedom organizations such as the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, the Reporters Sans Frontieres, Article 19, and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

CMFR also presented its latest study on the journalist killings under the Arroyo administration in the workshop.

Roundtable Discussion on Citizen Press Councils

Representatives from regional citizen press councils in the country convened in the Roundtable Discussion on Citizen Press Councils (CPCs) organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) last September 27 in Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

Participants from the established CPCs in Cebu, Palawan, and Baguio shared the developments and issues in their respective CPCs since the workshop last year. They also discussed the problem of awareness of CPCs as reflected by the few complaints filed to them. CMFR helped in the establishment of these three CPCs in 2002.

The establishment of a fourth CPC in the country, the Dumaguete Press Council, was also presented in the meeting.

More details about the roundtable discussion on citizen press councils in the October 2006 issue of the PJR Reports.

If you want to know more about the CPCs, go to CMFR's Citizen Press Councils page.

The Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) has just launched its website. Know more about CCPC 's functions and activities by visiting their site.

Will post something on the issues that came out of the two activities sometime soon. Promise.

But one thing I got to tell you: Davao is really such a lovely place! Photo at left taken in the hotel. That's me with colleague Don.