Lots of things to do

I'm not really complaining though. Why, with all these goodies to read I bought just a few days ago from Fully Booked in Serendra and National Bookstore.



















My main problem is that I still haven't read all the books I previously bought and got from friends and colleagues. Now, if only I could read three books a week, just like one veteran writer I know. Sigh.

I probably should take a break before reading all these books--something which I should have done earlier, such as watching the Eraserheads reunion gig (Sigh again). Should I watch Paul Potts's concert in Manila on Oct. 8? Or should I relive good ol' memories of Pulpcommunity and watch the "Oldies Night: The Reunion" next week?

Oldies Night: The Reunion
presented by Unifying Force Productions

featuring

Whorelocke, Powertools,Pentavia, Orgasm Addicts, Diwa, Akaw First Project, Malik Mata, Vie, Descant Gott and After Math

Sept.14 Sunday @ 9Mile Bar, Kalayaan Ave, QC. 9pm onwards.
Damage:100bucks Event Shirts will be sold @ the gate for 200php

Some thoughts about Super Sentai

While reading online resources about the peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (the blog entries of Manolo Quezon and peace advocate Fr. Jun Mercado are particularly engaging), I am viewing some Youtube clips of old Bioman episodes.

I just realized that after more than 15 years, I still can't get over with the death of Kc, the original Yellow 4.

From Youtube user bampam69:





It's a good thing that Jun, who became the new Yellow 4, was as skilled as Kc.





Some Youtube commenters say that the new Yellow 4 is even better than the old one, especially when matched against Jun's old rival, Farrahcat. Speaking of Farrahcat, do you know that the actress who played Farrahcat, Yukari Oshima, is Cynthia Luster?

Taken from Youtube user cscentrITV:



The episodes also remind me of the group project we did for visual literacy class under Prof. Isabel Kenny, about the gendered realities of news--how stereotypes of women are portrayed in the news. I still adore Bioman that's for sure. But come to think of it, how come many--if not all--Super Sentai shows have male characters as lead? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall any Super Sentai show with female character as a lead. Is it because men are seen as better leaders than women? And that women are still seen as mere secondary leads, sidekicks, or love interests?

And what about the colors? How come female characters in Super Sentai shows typically have
yellow and pink as uniforms while the male ones usually have red, green, blue, or black uniforms?

(Bioman photo from http://www.supersentai.com)

Shame on you, Mr. Senator

I don't know if this report is true but if it is, shame on Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. I wonder: Does he also get angry every time his face appears in the newspapers and television?

Enrile sends college student shaking in fear

The demeanor of Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile during a hearing at the Senate on Friday sent one student who went to watch the proceedings trembling in fear.

Mark Jemel Galez, 19, a broadcast journalism student of La Salle-Dasmariñas, Cavite, drew the ire of Enrile for taking photos of the senator using his handy video camera.

Enrile got peeved and asked the student: “Who are you? Why are you taking my picture? Come here.”

Galez went a bit closer to Enrile to explain but his voice was too soft to be heard by the crowd. Enrile later reportedly told him “to get out of this room.”

Read more here.

Latin gobbledygook

Need help with Latin expressions and words you often read and hear in the press? Click here.

Hello again, Manila

Just arrived yesterday from Thailand, still feeling weary from the weeklong project management training workshop organized by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). The workshop -- facilitated by MDF management trainers and consultants Susanne van Lieshout and Roshanga Wickremesinghe -- proved fruitful, as it provided participants helpful information on project-related issues such as managing projects, securing funding from various institutions, writing proposals, making presentations, among others.

As I said, the workshop ran for about a week, although a project management workshop like that takes about two weeks. As it was shortened to just a week, the workshop's sessions sometimes stretched from 9 am to 6 pm or more. And the sessions were about management-related concepts, processes, and issues. Talk about major nosebleed.

But don't get me wrong. I am very thankful that the office has sent me (together with Lara) to attend the workshop. I learned a lot from the workshop, and very eager to apply the things I learned in our projects. Plus, I get to meet old friends in Southeast Asia as well as meeting new ones. And it was my first time in Pattaya, the venue of the workshop. Overall, it was great.

The participants, which are managers, project coordinators, and budget officers in their organizations, come from SEAPA and its member-organizations, as well as partners the Timor Lorosa’e Journalists’ Association from East Timor and Centre for Independent Journalism from Malaysia. Aside from the two of us in the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the other two Philippine participants were Jaileen Jimeno and Baby Cacdac of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Here are some photos:

Some of the participants.





































Despite the hectic schedule, Lara still manages to look pretty for a photo.



Probably the most difficult task given to the participants was to make a toy car overnight. The cars should be made of recyclable or organic materials only. The participants were divided into two groups. To a group of journalists and press freedom advocates, the task was almost next to impossible.

The other group, Team Ferrari, made this:



















Our group, Team McLaren relied on heavy corporate support to do this. Meet the next "It" car. Haha.
































The two cars were tested in a car race. Because the Team Ferrari car ran faster and looked prettier than ours, it won. Boo. Haha.

When not eating at the Cosy Hotel in Pattaya (where we were billeted) or elsewhere, one fave dinner hangout of the group was this restaurant, which is near our hotel. Great food and service.



















The guy on the left wearing a white shirt, which seemed to me the restaurant's owner, knew which person ordered what food and drinks the previous night. One my first dinner there, I ordered jal jeera for drink, my first time to order it ever. Turned out it was a wrong choice for a drink. The rest of the participants, who sipped the drink, practically agreed with me. I guess it's an acquired taste. I could still feel my stomach churning every time I think of the green-flavored polyjuice potion-looking drink.
























At the end of the workshop on Friday, the participants who were leaving on the weekend were accommodated in a hotel in Bangkok.

I had some free hours on Saturday morning, so I went to the Chatuchak Park and of course, the Chatuchak Weekend Market.





























































A lot of things happened back home, most especially the conviction of former president Joseph Estrada for plunder . Man, lots of catching up to do.

Out-of-the-country mode

I'm off to Pattaya, Thailand tomorrow. I don't know if I can -- or have the time to -- blog in my weeklong stay there, but I'll try.



For more information about Pattaya, click the Wikipedia entry here. Other useful sites are here and here.

Who's this man?

Who's this young man below?



Click on the photo to see his profile. Or visit his website here.

Can you also see him in this class photo?



Photos taken from his alumni class site. He was an award-winning editor in chief in their high school paper The Chronicler. He was also part of the school's student officers that year as PRO.

According to their yearbook, he dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Thank God, he ended up in journalism. Can you imagine the profession without him?

Why I love my job

Actually my original title for this post was "Why I Love Joe Torres." Haha.

Excerpts from his post:

"At last I got my copy of CMFR's latest study, "News Media Coverage of the 2007 National Elections...."

"You would be happy to know that there's a temporary stoppage (at least five minutes) of work every time we in the newsroom receive a copy of CMFR publications, especially the PJR Reports.

"There is always a moment of silence, then ohhhs and ahhhhs, when editors and deskpersons scan the Reports. Your "star and kalabasa" ratings section always gets the desk's attention and, I believe, is the most read part of the publication.

"I hope your latest study will get the same attention from journalists, especially from media top guys.

"I scanned the book and was impressed by the diligence you had in making the study. (The annexes are more reader-friendly compared to the annexes of the 2004 report, which were mostly statistics.) "

Read more here.

Whenever we get reactions like this -- through blog posts, SMS messages, email, or just your regular old-school postal mail -- the difficult media-monitoring work we do at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility becomes a bit easier, even for a moment. We continue to check and discuss media coverage of issues, knowing that some practitioners -- like Sir Joe -- appreciate our efforts in helping further professionalize the press.

The next time we see each other, Sir Joe, I'm gonna kiss you. Haha.

Please help Mark

Mark Baul, a great web designer, photographer, and music lover, needs TYPE B+ blood. From his partner Tonyo: "His platelet count is down to 18 due to dengue and typhoid. He is at Room 337 Bed 4 of the Manila Doctors Hospital in UN Avenue, Manila. Donors should go direct to the hospital bloodbank at the 2nd floor. Please mention that your donation is for Mark Baul. Salamat po."

To get in touch with Mark and Tonyo, here is Tonyo's mobile number: (63 917) 892-8277.

Mark, I'll pray for your fast recovery.

Ordinary Juan: Both as news source and consumer

Just found this while looking at the old issues of the Philippine Journalism Review (PJR):

"Our society has become politicized more and faster, political relationships become increasingly complexed.... Everybody has become potentially both a news source and a news consumer."

- BusinessWorld editorial board chair and former Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility Vergel Santos, observing how political journalism has ceased to be the preserve of presidential and congressional reporters (PJR December 1991)

For a second there I thought he was talking about blogging and citizen journalism.

Jitters critters

Please can anyone hand me Prozac pills ASAP.

It's been raining like hell these past few days. Whether it continues raining tomorrow or not, I hope many people can still join us in our roundtable discussion on news media coverage of the 2007 elections.

From the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility:

CMFR invites you to a roundtable discussion on the CMFR Monitor of News Media Coverage of the 2007 National Elections.

Discussant:
Luis V. Teodoro
Deputy Director
CMFR

August 17, 2007
9:30 AM
Filipinas Heritage Library
Ayala Triangle, Makati Ave.
Makati City

A cocktail lunch will be served.
RSVP Carol or Lara
894-1314 * 894-1326 * 840-0889
staff@cmfr-phil.org

In 2004, CMFR monitored the reporting of that year’s presidential elections to look into how selected news media were covering the exercise. CMFR did a similar project this year for the senatorial and party-list elections, but on a much wider scale.

Oh, what bittersweet night

Junette was the first to post most of these pictures in her Multiply page. Oh well. I'm posting them here, what the heck. Even if they're days late.

As I promised a few days ago in an earlier post, here are some photos taken during Venus's goodbye treat.



First, we ate at Colasa's for dinner. It was the first time for Bimbo and Sheila to eat there. The rest of us -- well, let's just say that we're already more than familiar with the restaurant's small floor area size and shabby restrooms. But Colasa's bulalo (definitely a must-have) and pork barbecue make up for those small things.



And being such sore misers we all are, we proceeded to Aruego's, that small videoke place near Kalye Juan and Heaven and Eggs. Where beer costs only P40 and song P5. Haha. Beat that, Uncle Scrooge.



Of course, one major downside if you're in Aruego's is that street peddlers frequently bug you and even destroy your beautiful moments caught by the cam by joining in your mandatory group posts. Like the one ogling at Venus (Or was it Junette?) wearing the gray Gap shirt.



Of course, Don began the videoke fest with his signature song. Janno Gibbs, watch out.



Of course, would Bimbo allow himself to be defeated by Don's powerful and jaw-dropping singing skills? F4, I think you lost your fifth member here in Manila.



But of course, the "Star of the Night" award went to Venus, who melted our hearts away with her "I-love-you-but-goodbye" songs.



Melai (left), the newest staffwriter, can't resist singing. Even resident diva Junette (right) sang her blues away that night.



A day before Venus's treat, Ma'am Melinda treated the staff with two sinfully delightful cakes. Since most of us have such weird tastes, eating the cake meant we have to buy liters of cola.



I am really not into sweets, but this one is definitely a winner. Just looking at the photo makes me salivate like an askal would.

Musings of a sick (and hungry) person

With a high fever yesterday (because I got rained upon these past few days), I was not able to go to work yesterday. Call me a masochist or whatever, but I really hate missing work. For us, to be absent even for just one day means more tons of paper work when we come back. Darn.

Thank God I already finished writing my article for the August issue of the PJR Reports. Frickin' six pages long, single-spaced. And to think I told Don and Bimbo that I am only doing a one-page article. Talk about major babbling.

I am still feeling under the weather so I think I'm going to take it easy this weekend. I think it would be good to to stay away from the newspapers, TV news programs, and the Internet even for just the next two days. If only my eyes, which have retained its strained and reddened status for quite some time now, could complain and resign from my physical self. Tsk tsk. Plus a mild carpal tunnel syndrome is in the offing, the paranoid me thinks. On the other hand, I have to finish reading THE Book before Sunday, plus I promised my gang back home that we're going to watch the complete series of Deathnote (Thanks Tat!). And can I not really check the papers or even look at the Internet even for just a day ? Massive withdrawal syndrome alert. Haay, what to do, what to do.

And lest I forget again, congratulations to my former ethics teacher and current boss at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Luis Teodoro, who is one of four awardees of this this year’s “Many Faces of the Teacher” search. Here's Prof. Danilo Arao's entry on Sir Louie's win. I am very thankful I was his student, for I can't imagine the profession without Sir Louie. Sir, when are you going to treat us in Chocolate Kiss? Haha. (Picture at left from Chocolate Kiss site)

Before I go back to sleep, here's a journalist's guide to "crowdsourcing" as a follow-up to my earlier post about it.

A Journalist's Guide to Crowdsourcing
Source: Robert Niles, Online Journalism Review

Crowdsourcing, in journalism, is the use of a large group of readers to report a news story. It differs from traditional reporting in that the information collected is gathered not manually, by a reporter or team of reporters, but through some automated agent, such as a website.

Stripped to its core, though, it's still just another way of reporting, one that will stand along the traditional "big three" of interviews, observation and examining documents.

The core concept is not new in journalism. At its heart, modern crowdsourcing is the descendent of hooking an answering machine to a telephone "tip line," where a news organization asks readers to phone suggestions for stories. Or asking readers to send in photos of events in their community.

Such methods require substantial manual labor to sift through submitted material, looking for information that can be used well in a story. Which makes them only marginally more effective than traditional news reporting.

True crowdsourcing involves online applications that enable the collection, analysis and publication of reader-contributed incident reports, in real time.

Read here more.

When journalists sleep with their sources (and see you next time, Venus)

Sorry for my on-and-off posting activity. As I have been ranting in the past few months, work at the office has reached toxic levels -- toxic enough to completely miss some of the gimmicks I scheduled, the movies I planned to watch, the books I was supposed to read -- you get the picture. Well, at least now that the election monitoring project is gone (There's going to be a book launch on it on the 17th. Yipee!) and with only one story hanging for the August issue of the PJR Reports (note to self: Finish it tomorrow, you procrastinator!), I think I am going to be relatively relaxed these next few days. So God, please help me.

Aside from reminding myself to finish one story tomorrow, I also have to remember that Venus, a dear colleague and friend of mine, isn't going to be in the office anymore. Sigh. Venus was with the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) for some time now, and it's always sad when people in CMFR (like Nathan) whom you have become friends with leaves. I watched her grow in the office, that Venus. She started working with CMFR as an election monitoring project volunteer in 2004, and ironically, she's ending her stint in the office after doing a fantastic job in the 2007 election project. She has been a great colleague and friend, always filling the office with her cheerful and upbeat personality.

We had some photos taken last Friday, when the staff went out. Venus treated us to Colasa's and after a hearty dinner (with bowls of to-die-for bulalo and lots of liempo and barbecue servings), we proceeded to Aruego's to cap the night with a round of drinks and incessant videoke singing. Will post some of the pictures this week.

Sigh. I hope that last Friday's night-out with Venus won't be the last.

Moving on, here's an update on the controversial journalist who had a love affair with one of her sources.

Mayor's girlfriend is placed on leave
Telemundo took the action while it investigates whether anchor Mirthala Salinas breached journalistic ethics by having a relationship with Antonio Villaraigosa.
By Duke Helfand and Steve Hymon, Times Staff Writers
Source: Los Angeles Times

Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo placed newscaster Mirthala Salinas on paid leave Thursday while it carries out an investigation into whether she breached journalistic ethics by having a relationship with someone she covered: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Salinas has been missing from her anchor chair on the 6 p.m. newscast for the last three nights, since news of the relationship broke. Telemundo's national newscast on Thursday evening aired a lengthy story about her removal.

"Given the seriousness of the allegations that have been made, we have decided to conduct an internal review of the decisions and events that led us to where we are today," said Manuel Abud, vice president and general manager of KVEA-TV. "In the meantime, Mirthala Salinas has been placed on a leave of absence from her duties pending this review. We will conduct this investigation with the utmost respect to personal privacy and journalistic standards."

Salinas, 35, defended her actions through a spokeswoman, voicing confidence that the internal probe would clear her of any ethical lapses.

Read more here.

Yey!

Yey! Sizzle wins in Move! Now back to work.

I hope Sizzle makes it in Move

Got lots of things to do but I have to stop for now. I'm watching the final episode of Move. Oh boy, I hope Sizzle gets in.

Helping while enjoying

Whew. Just had my longest sleep in years. Okay, maybe that's an overstatement. Make that my longest sleep in more than three months.

If I only have all the time in the world, I would probably do this.



White Water Rafting for Indigenous Peoples' Education

Take a thrilling adventure and make it worth a lifetime for a child!

Cartwheel Foundation invites you to experience the renowned Cagayan de Oro River white water rapids and raft for indigenous peoples' education, together with The Red Rafts and Men's Health Magazine. Starting this June until October 2007, raft with The Red Rafts, Cagayan de Oro's premier outfitter, and part of the proceeds of your trip will benefit the educational programs of Cartwheel.

There are an estimated 12 million indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Philippines and they have little or no access to quality education. Cartwheel is committed to bridging the gap and ensuring that they enjoy their right to education that is best suited to their culture and life experience. You, too, can lend your support and have a blast while you're at it-- you might just discover the ride of your life!

Go with your friends or even take the whole office for an outing (special teambuilding activities are included). Reserve your trip now!

Call/text: (0922)454-0021 or (0919)204-3534
Email: action@cartwheelfoundation.org

Note: Cebu Pacific promo of P99 fare to CDO available from June 21 to 27!

About Cartwheel:

Cartwheel Foundation is committed to bringing education to indigenous peoples (IPs), one of the most vulnerable sectors of the Philippines. IPs have long been neglected, isolated, and overtaken by development and suffer from a severe lack of access to basic services, including education. Cartwheel strives to bridge this gap by providing education that is culturally sensitive, appropriate, and relevant to their realities. Through the Pre-School, Alternative Learning, and College Scholarship Programs, Cartwheel works hand in hand with IP communities in allowing them to thrive in their rich culture and equipping them with tools necessary for community leadership and development.

Are you a good lover? (and some journalism quotes)

At our short refresher lecture on news feature writing by Yvonne Chua in the office today, she asked the staff some of the quotes we remember most from our experience as media reporters. I had a hard time remembering which quote struck me the most--probably because I was hungry at that time plus the fact that in front of us was THE Yvonne Chua, one of only three Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism Hall of Famers and probably one of my few dreaded professors in college. In fact, I even had to tell Ma'am Yvonne a quote I only got from Cheche Lazaro in her Media in Focus program: "But what the public's right to know?" Had she pressed me for more, I would have said: "Are you a good lover?" (This time, from Boy Abunda's ANC program). Haha. Poor me.

Speaking of quotes, here are Public Eye's 10 favorite quotes about The Fourth Estate.

Best. Journalism Quotes. Ever.
Posted by Matthew Felling

Number 10:

The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read.
Oscar Wilde

Number 9:

Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.
Thomas Jefferson

Number 8:

There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil.
Walter Lippmann

Number 7:

The liberty of the press is a blessing when we are inclined to write against others, and a calamity when we find ourselves overborne by the multitude of our assailants.
Samuel Johnson

Number 6:

A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad.
Albert Camus

Click here for Public Eye's Number 5 to 1 and the rest of its entry.

Hmm. Quotes about the Philippine press, anyone?

Bryant, the dancer (and please support Sizzle in Move!)

Sigh. I have been so busy with the activities at the office that I have almost forgotten I am a dancer -- online.

A few months ago, I was addicted to Audition Online, a popular online dance game where you compete with other players in a dance room by dancing some Korean and other Asian songs using the space bar and direction keys. Being the poor dancer that I am in real life, the thought of competing with other "dancers" was quite thrilling, and the fact that I have a number of relatives and friends (especially the younger ones) that play the game encouraged me to try the game (and unleashing the inner kid in me). When I told my friend Mae-mae, who is an Audition addict as well, that I play Audition, I think I was in level 5 or 6. And that was what? Maybe five or six months ago.

Poor me. After several months of almost-zero activity in Audition, I only managed to move up by just one level, level 7. And now, seeing how many players are well beyond level 7, I don't think I have the energy and time to improve my level. Sigh. I don't know.

Here's Bryant, the Audition Dancer.



Well, as far as dancing in real life and online go, I pale in comparison with my sister Hazel. Not only is she an active member of a dance group called Swipez Crew (a hiphop/R 'n B/breakdance group in our local community), she is also currently a level-16 dancer in Audition. Life can sometimes be so unfair. (Haha.)

Here is Hazel's Audition avatar:



Here's Hazel doing a hollow back, a breakdance move.



Speaking of dancing, I hope Sizzle, currently one of the finalists in Billy Crawford's dance reality show in GMA-7 called Move!, win the contest. I don't watch the local shows anymore, except for a number of news and public affairs programs. But since Sizzle is there competing, I try to make it a point to watch the show especially when I'm at home. Just like today.

Like Hazel, Sizzle is a member of the Swipez Crew, which always practice near our favorite hangout in our place. She seems to me a kind and caring kid who always smile at me every time I see her. I've seen some of their practices, and man, her moves are really awesome. You can count on her to give her very best whether they are just practicing or performing. You can really see how passionate she is -- and her group are -- in dancing. Man, if I only have those moves. I think one reason why my playlist carries some trance, hiphop, and R 'n B songs -- often to the surprise of my friends because they know I love rock songs better -- is because I hear a lot of these by watching the group practice, or even when I'm at home when Hazel plays the songs full-blast in our speaker while cleaning the house.

Here's a group pic of Swipez:



Here's a photo of Hazel and Sizzle, with my cousin Joanna (who's also a Swipez member):



I don't usually do this, but I hope you guys support Sizzle. Text votes are a big factor in determining the six winners of this contest (which will become Crawford's back-up dance team in his concerts in and outside the country), so if you could just text MOVE SIZZLE and send to 2344 (for Globe and Sun subscribers) and 367 (to Smart and Talk and Text), that's a big help already. A text message only costs P2.50 each. Come on guys (including you, avid Crawford fans Rocel and Scent), please help one kid's dream come true.

The tales of one journalist and the online addiction of another

I wished I had my audio recorder with me last Friday.

Amid deadline pressures, I and Ate Carol managed to have dinner with Joe Torres of GMANews.TV and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines at Kalye Juan in Timog (my nth visit to the place). Actually, I was initially hesitant to go because of the numerous assignments I have to finish. Good thing we went, for it was like a Joe Torres: Up Close and Personal news special. Here is one of the country's most prominent journalists, talking about his personal life, why he went to journalism, his up-and-down lovelife (don't worry Sir Joe; won't divulge details here... haha!), his career, and the rampant corruption in media. Fit for a Maalala Mo Kaya or Magpakailanman episode. Too bad we didn't have the time to order beer while he was revealing to us major, major details about his life. Let's set another dinner, Sir Joe. And this time, we order beer. Haha.

Until now, I am still disoriented by the things he told me, especially on media corruption. Whew.

For Sir Joe's GMANews.TV blog, click here. His personal blog here.

By the way, I just recently created a Wis.dm account. Wis.dm what? Says Time: "Founded by Martin Clifford, a Web 1.0 multimillionaire who's back for round two, wis.dm aims to bring more depth and intelligence to online social networking. Unlike the most popular networking sites, which are more about narcissism (why else would you post 29 pictures of yourself?) and passive voyeurism (guess who your ex is dating now?!) the best way to enjoy wis.dm is to dive in and start asking and answering questions. And unlike Facebook and its ilk, wis.dm is fun to use even if you don't know anyone else on it." (Read the article Is Wis.dm Your Next Web Obsession?) Think of it as Friendster or Myspace, but an inquisitive one.

If you have a wis.dm accout, feel free to add me. Many of you already know my accounts in Friendster, Myspace, Eskwela, Linked.In, and Multiply, so I don't need to put the links here. Haha. Talk about cyber-addiction.