Learning to CommYOUnicate

You're on your social media feed and scrolling through an onslaught of cute animal videos, badly-angled selfies, a text-filled post full of grammatical errors and misused #hashtags, and this month’s trending meme. It was a usual day on the internet world.

You stopped your thumb over ashared news article link claiming that a famous celebrity just died from a terrible accident. 

You were shocked. Without a second thought, you shared the post and expressed your condolences with a lot of crying emojis.

Minutes later, your friend sent a private message, telling you that the celebrity didn’t die. You didn’t double-check or even read the whole article itself before sharing it.

Oops, you just contributed to the spread of misinformation. 

What you just read is my feeble attempt to apply what I learned about feature writing during Cemex Philippines’CommYOUnicate Workshop on News Writing and Photography in the Era of Fake News.

With fellow public information officers like the staff of PIA-7 and communication students, we had the pleasure to learn from independent journalist and 2014 Persephone Miel Fellow Ana Santos and award-winning photojournalist Raffy Lerma.

Eyes were glued on one of the resource speakers, Raffy Lerma, as he discussed about photography basics.

I've attended quite a number of seminars since college days but this was one of those that kept me awake and made me regret every bathroom break. 

Among the workshop freebies were these fantastic(ker) stickers! I love the puns.

THE MORNING SESSION: Feature Writing and Fake News

Early in the first session, the charming and eloquent Ana Santos let us close our eyes as she read excerpts from different feature articles.

Fromthe mountains of Kalinga with a century-old tattoo artist and to the war-torn Marawi alongside soldiers, it felt like I traveled through the stories. She said that’s how you can tell if it’s a good write-up: the writer should be able to take you there.

The exercise helped usunderstand her points that feature articles should be captivating, poignant, and moving. In writing a great feature article, it has to be deeply rooted and carries weight.

“It should move you. That’s the power your writing should have. You get a lot of these from closely-observed details,” she shared.

She differentiated news and feature articles, gave feature article examples and creative tips and techniques.

Ana Santos give us tip and techniques on creative writing.

There were other fun exercises throughout her session such as writing our individual stories in ten words or less and identifying fake news from real news.

It was also a pleasure to hear her many insights and colorful behind-the-scenes from her experience as a journalist.Her energy was infectious.

 There were good questions from the audience like on writing features on marginalized sectors or sensitive topics, or interviewing people.

“Be respectful in how you frame the narrative. Be a person first," she answered.

On the second part of her session, we identified fake news and its different faces. Since it’s already a challenge to point out what fake news is, giving them names is a start.

I particularly kept in mind her differentiating misinformation and disinformation. You can tell them apart in the intent. When you unintentionally share false information, it’s misinformation. There is still room for you to correct that. However, when you deliberately share fake information, knowing fully well that it is false, it falls under disinformation. The latter is what generators of fake news intent to do.

Why do fake news exists? Fake news happen because people make money from it, said Santos.

It also has grave affects or implications. Santos explained it with one of Mocha Uson’sposts. You can get the gist of ithere. (insert hyperlink https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/186105-pcoo-mocha-uson-misleading-marawi-photo)

If the Marawi refugees, who have been stuck in evacuation centers for the entirety of the siege since May 23, read that post and think it’s true, they will feel excited and want to go home. What if they try and find a way to sneak in past the military? She raised that this is very dangerous since there are still undetonated bombs and remaining rebels hiding in the city. Movements are still limited and some soldiers have accidentally set those bombs off.

I realized from her insight that fake news can deeply and negatively impact on real people and cause potential harm.

Santos imparted the5 Cs of Fact Checking: Context, Credibility, Construction, Corroboration and Compare. (insert link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf8mjbVRqao)You can take these five points in mind to analyze the information if is fake news or not. 

AFTERNOON SESSION: Basic Photography and the Power of Photojournalism

Raffy Lerma shared his adventures as a photojournalist.

Raffy Lerma began with his beginnings on the photojournalism journey and his experiences. He worked at the Philippine Daily Inquirer in Manila for 12 years and recently became an independent photojournalist focusing on documenting the Philippines’s war on drugs.

He showed us the basics of photography and even opened up his cameras to show the internal parts.

Seeing him expose his camera to us was quite a distressing sight for me knowing it could cause damage to it! He assured us that it’s fine (well, he’s a professional after all) but he still warned us that we shouldn’t expose the camera like that especially under direct light.

He showed his shots during the 2015 SEA games to show how we wonderfully worked out the shutter speeds. He also presented photos by other journalists so we can further understand how the aperture, depth of field and ISO worked.

Later on, he discussed on the power of photojournalism like how it build the opposition that lead to US withdrawal during the Vietnam War.

He also showed his photo entitled,  “Lamentation” showing Jennelyn Olaires holding her husband Michael Siaron. The viral photo that looked like Michelangelo's Pietà bannered on Philippine Daily Inquirer last  January 24, 2016.

He told us about the night behind this emotional photo. This lead to his sharing on his first six months coverage on the war on drugs and his perceptions of it. Many still bash this photo for allegedly being fake or staged to Lerma’s frustration.

The Code of Ethics by the Photojournalists Center of the Philippines was also brought up. One of the attendees raised the ethical question regarding showing faces of children or the dead. Lerma answered that photojournalism ethics can sometimes be restrictive and ‘we have to challenge that.’ He explained further that it sometimes not to shock people but to go for the reality and expose those things.

There is a thin line between ethics and good intentions. What I understand from Lerma’s insight is to show truth and human emotion that will spark action and dialogue through photojournalism.

We learned further on photo elements and photo captioning.

The rich and productive session ended with a little photography workshop in groups. We were asked to take

One of the photos our group showed was of me flipping my hair. We got insights on this from the speakers like how the background is very distracting and that we could have found a better angle. Shot by FORWARD Publications Editor-in-Chief Delta DyreckaLetegio 

photos that are overexposed, silhouette, graphic, action, and has a depth of field and put captions. Outside our venue was a pool with a great view so it was a good place to take great photos!

Each group presented it and Santos and Lerma gave constructive criticisms on how to make the photos or captions better.

I really appreciate the workshop and it’s one of the best ones I’ve joined. Cheers to Cemex Philippines for holding the workshop and for the eloquent speakers for the amazing experience!

by: Ayin Visitacion 

Is it a Holiday?

Do you know that this is the most common inquiry, question the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) receives for the entire year?

 

Usually we get this question, weeks and then days prior to the said Holiday. And as it nears, we get more and more calls asking the same question.

                                                                                                                                                                    Probably  because that Holiday is already declared under a Presidential Proclamation (issued the year

before) and detailing the list of Holidays for the entire year.

Say for example, for this year 2017, as early as July of last year, Malacanang, through the Official Gazette, then posted Proclamation number 50, declaring the Regular and Special (Non-Working) holidays the entire year.

It is what we simply call as an umbrella Presidential Proclamation..

It covers the Regular Holidays such as New Year's Day, Bonifacio Day, Labor Day; and then the

Special Non Working Holidays like Black Saturday, Ninoy Day, Chinese New Year..etc.

At the same time, Proclamation 50 made mention religious holidays which does not have specific dates.

So far only the two Muslim holidays are covered under the umbrella Proclamation and these are Eidul  Fittr which usually falls in the month of June and Eidul Adha, somewhere in between August and September.

The exact date is dependent upon the Muslim calendar.  Once identified, the Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA) and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) must inform Malacanang for the issuance of another Presidential Proclamation.

Yep, dear readers.  It needs another law which specifies the exact date of the celebration.

The celebration of Eidul Fittr of this year for example was officially declared   on June 26 under Presidential Proclamation 235.  

Therefore, even if there are already postings and calculations on the exact  date of Eidul Adha, what we can answer you is ...

"As of press time, there is no released Proclamation yet on the said celebration"  

By the way, here are next year's list of Holidays in the Philippines..just click this : HOLIDAYS 2018

Over P1M help from Lions benefit more than 2000 Ormoc earthquake victim-families

More than 2,000 families in Ormoc City were able to benefit from the more than a million pesos worth  of goods donated by Lions Clubs International.

Days after the 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Leyte last month, Lions Clubs from the District immediately pitched in goods as immediate help to the victims.

At the evacuation area 

Leyte belongs to District 301 B2 which also comprise clubs from Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor with 36 clubs.  

And barely a month after, an emergency grant amounting to US$10,000 was released by the international organization to the district as aid to the victims.

District Governor Stephen Yap said another half million was given by  Manila Valenzuela Businessmen Lions Club of District 3001-A3.

District 301B2 Governor Stephen Yap paid a courtesy call with Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.  Also in photo is  Ormoc Host Lions President , former PBA Rey Evangelista  

“The goods were distributed directly to the beneficiaries since we are prohibited to turn this over to the local government unit,” Yap said.

However Yap said, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez had put Lions Club at the forefront of accepting relief goods and its distribution.

Cash donations on the other hand were tasked to the Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry who is also headed by a Lion.

Other than the P1 million goods were initial donations of the different clubs in the district.

The goods include mosquito nets, rice, pail, basin, water dipper, alcohol, bath soap, laundry bar soap, blankets, towel, cotton, feminine napkins, slippers, toothpaste, toothbrush, mosquito nets, bottled water, mosquito coil, bathroom tissue & slippers and tents.

The goods were delivered to Ormoc through Roble Shipping who extended 60 percent discount in shipping fees.

Lions Club is the oldest existing civic organization in the world. This year is its 100 years since it was

founded in 1917 by a Melvin Jones of Chicago.  It was composed of the members of the business community.

Lions Clubs International now has 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs. Here in the Philippines there are over 36,000 members.

The organization goes by its motto, “We Serve”.

The earthquake last July left three dead, a hundred injured.  It had affected 13 barangays in Ormoc and nearby Kananga town. 

Toledo to construct 11 ha reclamation for international port site

The City of Toledo today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for the establishment of the 11 hectare reclamation project.

Witnessed by Vice Mayor Antonio Yapha, City Councilors, department heads , local media and PRA, the MOU was officially signed by Toledo City Mayor John Henry Osmena and PRA General Manager lawyer Janilo Rubiato.

This will start the establishment of the 11 hectare reclamation project in 30 days which according to Osmena, will be the location of an international port at the western side of the province.

“This will decongest the ports of Cebu City and will be a great source of employment to residents not only in Toledo but in the south west of Cebu,” Osmena said.

The project has a budget of P644 million initial from a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines and some local funds.

“And we welcome private investors interested along the way to complete the project and then the port construction,” Osmena said.

There will be oil depots in the planned port area which will solve further accidents of exploding oil tankers from happening.

Very recently, Osmena reported there were two fuel tankers which had an accident, in barangays Magdugo and  Media Once. It resulted to the death of six people.

With the port there will be no more need to transport fuel in long distances.

For his part, PRA Rubiato said they are assuring full assistance to  Toledo City as they go about constructing the project.

“There are environmentally sound ways in constructing a reclamation other than the usual dumping of materials,” Rubiato said.

The project is expected to be done in two years with most of the materials from the areas owned and operated by Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (ACMDC) and Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC

Daanbantayan produced its first emergency youth responders

Just like the real thing.. its a simulation exercise for the youth responders

There is good  news in the Municipality of Daanbantayan (yep that's one word and not Bantayan as it refers to another place), as about 60 members of the youth sectors are now trained, not just as leaders, but as responders.

Seeing the need to involve the youth, Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot organized the first ever Kandaya Emergency Youth Camp Cum Leadership Training recently.

The exercises

The training also coincides with the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month.

Daanbantayan was one of the worst hit during typhoon Yolanda four years ago.

The leadership lessons

The participants were students and out of school youths from the 20 barangays of the town.

Focus

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (MDRRMO) Tilano Dublin led the training on first responders along with the authorities from the Rural Health Unit (RHU).

Patience

FUN!

FOOD

Other than that, they also underwent essence of leadership

traits of a leader and values formation.

At the end of it all, it was worth, the experience, the pride and the investment....Good luck Daanbantayan responders!

Always remember

With great power, comes great responsibility- Spider-Man

The Municipality is famous for its white sand beaches and dive sites particularly in the island of Malapascua.

Police and Lions beautify Compostela Police Station

   

  Despite the heavy downpour early in the morning of St. John the Baptist's Day, members of the Cebu Lumad Lions Club made their way to the northern town of Compostela, Cebu to meet with the local police...not because they are in trouble.

    They are there, to do what they love most, and that is to make a statement, painting, with huge walls, as the canvas--commonly known as murals.

    This time though, has a deeper goal, and that is to transform the façade of its local police station, into child and environment friendly.

    Excitedly waiting for them, is the woman who head the town police force, Police Senior Inspector Junafe Vergara.  She said, she was half excited and half worried, thinking that the group may not push through with the plan because of bad weather.

   Her police station she said, needs the face lift. Its gloomy and scary.

   Other than that, Vergara said, being a woman, her thrust is really in decreasing, if not eliminating all types of violence of children in Compostela.

"Its one of the best way of curbing criminality, by taking care and protecting them," she said

PSI Vergara

   In fact, they conducted symposium after symposium, strengthened intelligence work to make sure they reach out to as many children and parents as well.

"But this is not enough, we need to put some changes, to put more life to what were doing," Vergara said.

    And the Cebu Lumad Lions came, armed with a talented architect / mural artist, paints and brushes.

   Architect Joseph Judilla, mural artists has been initiating several "creative vandalism" since he became a Lions.

The Architect

    It is a project, that has as capital, not much on money, but time and patience.

"You don't have to be a good painter, everything else follows as long as you are passionate to the purpose of the mural.  And its impact is big.  It reaches out to a lot of people," Judilla said.

    Even before he reached Compostela, he already had an idea of what the Police Station needs.  That is to make a mural that will bring a positive feeling for its clients and the passing or visiting children.

"The design is eye catching, but its message is also about taking care of the environment, that it can grow a good balance with progress," Judilla said.

    He started with drawing the entire design using a black brush.  There were traces of buildings and trees, flowers and rainbow and houses.

    Then the mixing of the colors of the paints -- red, yellow, blue, orange, brown, green  and white.

Compostela Vice Mayor Josephine Abing joins the group. #limpyoCompostela

    PO1 Mylene Edejer was all smiles. She said it was like a breath of fresh air from the usual policeman's day.

"I love it, I don't even feel tired painting all the yellows," she said

PO3 Mylene Edejer and POI1 Laarni Abayan

    PO3 Denn Mark Maglinte didn't show any sign of tiredness.  He colored the hard to reach areas, those that were already near the ceiling.

"Makawagtang sa stress, the colors make you feel alive, and so will the police station," Maglinte said 

    But what makes the activity more meaningful, is the participation of some drug surrenderees of the town.  First, they thought they were just our for an exercise and other sweat inducing activities.
    
    Laughing, giggling, they painted like little children.

   

Cebu Lumad Lions President Dr. Ma. Gaille Dejoras hands over childrens books to PO1 Laarni Abayan with Lions Ryan and Timi Solon

Completing the activity was the turn over of children's books for the station's Women and Children's Corner.

    But first, was a story telling by Lumad and the police to neighboring children.

    This just goes to show, that things can be done when there is a forged partnership between civil society, private entities and the government...more so, if its for the children.

With Charter President Dr. Marilyn Campano, Compostela MPS Chief PSI Junafe Vergara, PP Ferliza Contratista and President Ma. Gaille Dejoras

    As to the police, with a building as colorful as that, it will definitely bring them closer to the community.