Parting Time

January 31, 2011

As they put it, " Every beginning has an end and every end has a new beginning."

Now that I have to end my internship, I feel sad while at the same time happy. I feel sad because I will miss the company  who accommodated me for three months. I will also miss the people in the company especially my supervisors who have trained and helped me in my internship and whom I had build friendship and camaraderie. But, I am happy because it has been a memorable experience working with great reporters and supervisors.

I am so thankful because I was given the chance to be exposed on the field, enhance my journalistic skills and experience the real world of media. I learned many things that I did not learn from the four walls of the classroom. Indeed, experience is the best teacher. I will never forget all the memories I have experienced from this company. Truly, this has been a worthwhile journey.

Reminiscing the Past

January 19 - 28, 2011

Few days from now, I will end my internship. I could still remember the day when I went to the station to pass my requirements for internship. I was with Edmund then. It was my first time to visit the station and I don't have any clue of what will happen to me when I will submit my requirements to Sir Jerome. Luckily, I was accepted. It was one of my happiest days because I was able to complete the fifth slot. 

Anyway, this week I had the chance to be on-field with Sir Aaron, the video journalist and co-interns Angela, Malou, Jasmin, and Edmund. We don't have a senior reporter with us because some of them were still on-field and some were busy writing their stories. But, it was a good opportunity for us to be independent. We went to PRO-7 and interviewed P/Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez Jr., the Chief of Regional Intelligence Division and P/Sr. Supt. Josephus Angan, the Chief of Staff. We interviewed them about the arrest of the three gunrunners who were involved in gunrunning activities in Poblacion, Cordova, Cebu and the confiscation of eleven assorted high-powered firearms. Three bundles of boodle money were also recovered. This is following the recent implementation of the suspension of permits to carry firearm outside residence in the island of Cebu during the Sinulog festivities. 

This is my first time to go on-field with no senior reporter. But, I am happy because I learned to be independent and to do things on my own without the supervision of my supervisors. I learned to fly on my own wings and took the challenge.

This is it!

January 12 - 16, 2011

This has been a busy week for me. We were asked by our supervisors if we want to be a volunteer for Sinulog. Without hesitation and second thought, we said "Yes!" I'm so happy and excited. Edmund and I were assigned as researchers. We had a meeting with Ms. Ara and Sir Randy for the things that we will going to do this Sunday. I started to do my assignment. I went to Sinulog Foundation together with Edmund and asked for the list of contingents who are participating in this year's Sinulog. I started to research on the background of some contingents and the candidates for the Festival Queen. I also asked for the copy of the criteria and the prizes to be won  for the Sinulog-based category, Free Interpretation, Puppetteers, Higante, On-Site Decors and Float category. Thanks God I have classmates who are having their internship in Sinulog Foundation. They were a very great help to me. 

January 15, a day before the Sinulog, we were very busy encoding the information we have gathered for the past few days. We cut the printed outputs and pasted it on the index card. This serves as cue card to be used by the host. This contains the background of the contingents. January 16, the event we have all been waiting for. I woke up three o'clock in  the morning because our call time was four o'clock inside Cebu City Sports Complex. It was a rainy day but it did not stop me from doing my assigned work as a researcher. Despite the rain, I interviewed choreographers and wrote the information I have gathered on the index card given to us by Ms. Ara. After which, we gave the index card back to her containing all the necessary information we have gathered from the field. 

It was a very tiring day but I'm happy because I was able to do my work very well. I am very proud of myself because I was able to do it on my own. I learned to be serious with my work and to really put my best in it. I realized that interns like me should go above and beyond from what we are asked and expected to do.

Something New

January 5 - 10, 2011

It's great to be back again after a two-week vacation in Bantayan Island!
I'm so happy because at last, I was able to go on-field with Mr. Jun Veliganio. I was also with Sir Renan, the video journalist and Edmund, my co-intern. We went to Capitol and there we interviewed  Capitol legal consultant and spokesperson Mr. Rory Jon Sepulveda about the 93-1 issue. Ordinance 93-1, passed by the PB in 1993, prescribes guidelines on the disposition of occupied province-owned lots. Lots covered by Ordinance 93-1 are located in Barangays Apas, Lahug, Busay, Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Lorega, Mabolo and Tejero, all in Cebu City. It allows Cebu City residents to own the province-owned lots that they are occupying, after paying in full the amortization on the property in two years. After that interview, we went to Cebu City Police Office. While we were heading to the place, Sir Jun gave us a I.D. sling. He said its his Christmas gift to us. I'm so thankful and happy because I had a souvenir item from him. 

January 10, I was on-field with Sir Albert Aballe, video journalist Sir Joel Bajenting and co-interns Jasmin and Edmund. We went to the Cardinal's Palace. First time that I was able to see face-to-face His Eminence Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. I did not miss the chance to have a picture-taking with him together with my classmates Junalyn, Karen, Ryan and many others who had their internship in print. Cebu City Michael Rama was also there. After that, we proceeded to a press conference. This presscon was about the canonical installation of Reverend Jose Palma as the new Archbishop of Cebu on January 13.  The speakers were Monsignor Manuel Mejia, Monsignor Cris Garcia, Sister Amelyne Paglinawan of the Society of St. Paul and Ms. Margarita Matheu, the  executive secretary. They talked about the different activities that will happen during and after the arrival of Bishop Palma and the liturgical proceedings of the installation. We interviewed some of the speakers and after which, we went back to the station. Edmund and I wrote news about it.

Indeed, this has been a fun-filled week for me full of surprises. I am looking forward for a new and exciting events to come.

A Story to Remember

December 6 -10, 2010

This is one of the most unforgettable week that happened in my four weeks of duty at GMA-7. It was December 8 when we went to Sitio Buli, Brgy. Mayana in Naga to cover the landslide that has affected twelve families. I was with Sir Albert Aballe, video journalist Sir Marlon Melgazo and co-intern Jasmin. Barangay Mayana is a mountain barangay that is two kilometers away from the main road of Manipis. Only motorcycles for hire and four-wheel-drive vehicles can be used to go to the place. The road to Sitio Buli was very tough. It was almost impossible to pass because the road was so wet, slidy and rocky. Thanks God we reached the area safe and sound.

The landslide buried 12 houses and affected about 100 residents. Residents said that they felt a tremor around 10 p.m. It had been raining all day. The landslide occurred around 2 p.m. when they noticed that loose soil were falling on their roof. The local government has immediately deployed its resources to help the victims. The victims were temporarily housed in the barangay hall of Mayana. The other victims were seeking temporary shelter in the homes of their relatives.

It was a tragic event for the twelve families who lose their belongings and homes. But, they were still thankful because none of them got hurt during the landslide. I realized that being a journalist or reporter is not that easy. Sometimes its a little bit risky on their part to go to places they are not familiar with and not knowing what lies ahead. But its their prerogative. Afterall, no news is worth dying for.

..Truly an Experience.........

November 29 - December 3, 2010

This week I had the chance again to be on-field with the two of the best reporters in GMA-7. November 29, I was with Sir Monching Auxtero and video journalist Sir Joel Pantino. We went to Central Command and interviewed Maj. Darren E. Comia, the Director for the Office of Cadette Admission. We asked him about the increasing number of applicants for PMA in Central Visayas, their qualifications and the trainings that applicants will underwent. Maj. Comia invited me to  join the Philippine Military Academy but I told him that I will just think it over. Sir Monching and Sir Joel  told me that I should give it a try but I just smiled. I'm  still undecided. Anyways, we went to Fuente Osmena Circle after that. We interviewed the representatives of Bayan Muna, KMU, and Anakpawis. They were having a rally. They brought with them their placards that contain their dissatisfaction to the present administration.The rally ended at Colon Street. There  I saw my classmates Nova and Aldwin who were also having their internship in Superbalita and DYAB respectively.

December 1, I was on-field with Sir Alan Domingo and video journalist Sir Joel Bajenting. We visited Ate Shonie Sumampong who is living beside the road for almost eight years with her seven children. Yes! Almost eight years. They didn't have a house and they were just using blankets that serve as their bed. We surprised her and her children. We brought with us goods, clothes, foods and bed. They were very happy upon receiving the gifts. At least, we helped them in our small and little ways. I realized a lot of things when I entered and have my internship with this station. I was exposed to many things that I did not learn from the academe. I experienced what it is to be a reporter and how tough the job is. Indeed, experience is the best teacher. 

I remember thinking that I am who I am because I have faith in myself and it has always been the possibility of emotionally rewarding the experiences that has encouraged me to gamble on myself. Those experiences have made all that I do worthwhile.

For the First Time

November 22-26, 2010

For the first time, I got the chance to be on-field with another reporter from Bisdak Sir Christian Tafalla with my co-intern Malou. First time that we were permitted by Madam Elena to go on-field with two interns for one reporter. First assignment? We went to RTC Branch 10 to cover the trial of Ruben Ecleo's parricide case. I met Ador Vincent Mayol, the correspondent of Cebu Daily News. He was a simple and polite man. Anyway, Ecleo was not there during the trial because according to his lawyer, he was advised by his doctor to take a rest. Unfortunate though it was, we stayed in the court and listened to Alexander Bacolod, the defense witness. Afterwhich, we went to Consolacion. There was a report that a male Badjao was killed after being hit by a Ceres bus. We went to a police station but what we got was just the Ceres bus whose front side was broken. The arresting officer was not there. We went to another police station and good thing, we were able to interview the driver who hit the victim. We also went to Mandaue City Police Office to interview the operator of the bus but unfortunately, he already left. The blood of the victim was still there when we went to the vicinity to see it.

From that painful incident, I realized that life is indeed a very precious gift from God that we should handle it with so much care. It can easily be taken away from us in ways we don't expect them to happen. As Elisabeth Kubler-Ross puts it, "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."