Who would have thought that a whole day seminar about writing stuffs, especially articles that you are trying to avoid, would turn out to be fun and interesting? Well, that was my perception at first when I was chosen to be part of the Philippine Press Institute’s first ever seminar here in Baguio. From its title “Writing Beyond the Printed Words”, I imagined myself sleeping while someone is giving lectures to stuffs such as this and that. Well, as my friends would say, “It’s a wrong mistake.”
We were welcomed by Ms. Elnora Cueto, the PPI Trustee for Luzon, who gave me the initial blow. This blow made me realize that even if I am not that good as a writer (because I’m a moody-type of a person when it comes to writing) I know I will regret if I refuse being in such a great seminar. Ms. Cueto said, “Every printed word becomes immortal.” Wow! Imagine an article of yours, every significant one, lasting for more than a lifetime, or more. This will make you known even if you do no longer exist. That idea gave me the creeps.
That was only the opening remarks. The Publisher-Editor of Punla (the community newspaper in Bulacan), Ms. Nene Bundoc-Ocampo taught us about the Media Landscape. She quoted, “Walang maliit o malaking istorya, nasa pagsusulat kung paano ninyo ito aangguluhan.” True as it is, everything in this world is a story. In our photo journalism class, we were asked to take pictures of still-life. And we were asked to show meanings beyond that picture itself. So, even non-living things have its story to tell. How much more we who are living? It’s up to you how to make a story out of it, you just need to look for angles that will make it interesting.
Another topic was conducted before we had our lunch. Ms. Leia Fidelis Castro, a senior writer of Baguio Midland Courier shared to us that writers are born first before they were made. True enough, there were no babies reported who can write as early as one month, a year or two. Yes, that is the literal meaning of it. But trying to digest it, great writers, may it be in the past or in the present, they were born first and were taught how to write and be known in their respected field.
“It doesn’t end with a deadline; the story goes on and on,” these were the words of Mr. Dino Balabo, senior writer of Mabuhay. For a student like me, beating the deadline for such a short span of time is a headache. We get angry with the instructors thinking how on earth we can beat the deadline if the time is so little. Are journalists suppose to be Harry Potter-like and use magic in able to pass such requirements. The answer is no. It just means that being a journalist is a difficult job. But f you have the passion to pursue it, it won’t matter if there are a lot of works to do. Yes, it doesn’t end with a deadline, there will still be more story deadlines, one after another. It’s a never ending cycle that we need to endure as aspiring journalists.
Then, a question was raised by one of our colleagues from Ilocos, “Is there money in journalism?” The facilitator told us, it’s a yes and a no. As priests are known to have the “Bow of Celibacy”, journalists have its own version and it is the “Bow of Poverty.” You might laugh at it but it’s true. Having low wages, no benefits, and unstable salary if you’re a free lancer, truly you should prepare for starvation. But having the technology now could make you earn more money for you to survive. Part and parcel of this is what we called blogging. Mr. Ely Valendez, senior writer of Bandillo ng Palawan and a blogger at the same time, shared to us that by blogging, we can easily cope financially. If use wisely, we can attract potential consumers through the use of net. Lesser cost because we just need an internet connection, but it has wider reach because most of the people uses internet.
Journalism may be hard in terms of ethics. There are a lot of temptations, some conflict of interests. But according to Mr. Ariel Sebellino, in ethics, black is black, white is white. There are no gray areas, no middle, and I agree to that. No matter how many people do the same wrong thing, what is right will always be right. Values won’t change.
In addition to the fun, learning, and new friends, there comes great food served at Golden Pine Hotel and is sponsored by Coca-Cola. So, you can tell exactly how exciting the first day was, having a great seminar being sponsored by a really great and well known product. Now, what else could you wish for?
Now, as I am writing this blog, I am really excited for our second day at the seminar. We will be having our field work and will write an article. Now, who says that seminars are boring??? Who says that writing is not fun? Hmmm… Think again.
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