Pinoy Blog Machine (Beta)

So my beloved obsession came to a temporary halt when I lost my pedometer one morning. In the aftermath, I was too sad to keep up my 10,000 steps per day routine seeing that I didn't know exactly how many steps I was making! The sadness led to laziness. Shame!

Three weeks later, Kisha gave me an extra one of her mom's that was lying around their house. So sweet of her. It didn't measure accurately though so it only got around for a day and a half.

My last resort was to ask a friend on vacation to see if my lost pedometer model, the Sportline 360, was available on sale anywhere. It was. Price of the first one that got lost = $ 45. (P 2,250.); price of the one my friend got for me = $ 17! Same brand and model but for some reason, its belt clip is tighter. Yay.

I'm now on Day Two of re-discovering my near-lost obsession.

And nixed my previous start day for the Million Step Challenge to yesterday's date.

We're goin' walkin', people. We're goin' walkin'.

These days, when we talk, it feels like it did at the beginning. At the beginning, everything was a certain amount of contrived. Everything was several layers of excitement. He was altogether too smooth and spoke of poetry; I was what I imagined w...

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So, just after three hours since I turned off my office computer in Makati, I'm back in front of the computer again -- this time here in our house, while I am wondering where to start in my work -- whether to monitor the news programs I am assigned to cover for the June and July issue of the PJR Reports, or watch first the May 14 elections coverage of selected programs. Since I am leaving for Dagupan Friday afternoon to attend the (very early) Saturday wedding of my thesis partner in college, I have no choice but to stay awake until then. Never mind If I look like a zombie on the wedding day. Aaargh.

But I just want to say that without the help of our interns this summer -- about 20 in all -- many of the activities of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) would not have been finished. Or if they were, they won't be finished in record time, which the interns have done. So, thank you guys. I know how you guys have worked hard and I know how the staff, particularly yours truly, have made your lives these summer feel like hell. But as I've said repeatedly, that internship at CMFR is not going to be a bed of roses. Now, with all your monitors and stories in, all those election-related reports, all the profiles/primers about the journalist killings, all the research work we've asked you to do -- and yes, even the photos, directories, and encoding you've done -- don't you feel proud that you did something in your internship to further professionalize and improve the country's press?

In a previous post anticipating this year's interns, I wrote: "(Here's) hoping to see a batch that is equally great, if not greater, than the previous one. No pressure, guys, but last year's batch of interns was a tough act to follow."

Indeed, to succeed a previous batch of great interns was a tough act to follow. But I think this year's batch far succeeded in whatever expectations we in CMFR had about them. As a group, their immense volume of work was simply incomparable. I don't even know where to begin. The elections coverage of the tabloids? Public affairs programs? radio stations? The study on political advertisements? The study about the preparedness of the press in this year's elections? The database on journalist killings, more comprehensive now than ever? The digitization/reorganization of PJR Reports and Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism articles as well as the CMFR photos? Simply astounding.

So to our interns, take your much-deserved break. And to the handful of interns who are still in CMFR doing last-minute work, see you in the office and may you finish soon to enjoy whatever remaining days you have this summer (I know some of you are taking your short summer breaks outside the country). And to those who plan to do volunteer work for CMFR, see you soon. But to all of you, thanks and see you in our nightout (just like what we promised) soon.

Meanwhile, below are some photos of the best journalism students around. You can see five of the six CMFR staffwriters in the photo above as well as most of the interns this summer. (Photo above courtesy of the proud alerts intern Tat; the rest from Don)

During our trivia contest last May 18 in the "interns room", just before the final program for the interns:







Showing they are the best: Two of the "little Bryants," Angela and Rocel, after winning in the group category of the contest (with their proud and smiling "Big Bryant" together with Bimbo and Junette who managed to smile for posterity's sake). Hahahaha!



Rachel won the contest's individual category. Here with her proud "father" Don (flashing his pearly white teeth) who looked like he was the one who's going home with the goodies from CMFR:



CMFR's five "Outstanding Interns": Rachel, Stephen, Rocel (who was named the "Most Outstanding Intern") Tat, and Ivy:



The interns who attended the May 18 program. Unfortunately, some were not able to attend the event. The interns come from the University of the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas, St. Scholastica's College, and Far Eastern University (Go, Criz!).



The interns with their hot-headed supervisor:



And with Bimbo, allegedly the "hottest" staffwriter around, who according to latest reports, already has a fans' club of his own. Just kidding, Bimbs. :P



With the staff



The interns with their bosses

Starting with the oh-so-serious, no-nonsense Team Bryant. I just looked like I was awarded with a "Jeers/Squash" label by the PJR Reports monitor. While my two interns rightfully deserved "Cheers/Star Apple."



The youthful-looking Venus together with her mature-looking interns.



Don, the "hottest" staffwriter according to the interns last year, together with his interns



The rambunctious Alerts desk together with their inimitable boss, Bimbo



And the Team Junette, who looked like a bunch of cheerleaders (hot!)

Recently I've been falling asleep suddenly. Lights on, not turning off the chargers, no ym-status-changes, no nothing. Am I just tired? Or is there something else?

In case I forget to set the time right, the time is now 2:15AM. Yep. I fell asleep again and woke up at this time. Well gotta go back to sleep again...

T’was Shamay’s, Karen’s and Teetan’s Birthday Celebration all in one. Being drunk is really fun. Tequila and my Fave - Ice Cold Red Horse. Bein’ Camwhores as well! @ Brew’s (Mango Ave.) and Paseo More Photos here (Night Out : Shamay’s, Karen’s, Teetan’s, and Clancy’s Birthday Celebration)   On the Same evening I was with the Apples, Sheila [...]

Look left, look right, look behind or look in front - why does everyone wear that shirt? I mean pink is in but I have to understand what is the need to throw those words right on everyone else's faces? (guys, I sincerely apologize if you happen to wear that shirt... i just want to know) Anyway, I remember way back 5 years ago when wearing pink for guys is totally taboo.. But now, we just can't

Show us the game you're addicted to at the moment. Submitted by Lena Katrin. Rising Force Online Philippines Need to say more? I stopped blogging about RF for a time but it's still the game that I'm addicted with. I also play Warcraft III (...

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Show us the game you're addicted to at the moment.
Submitted by Lena Katrin.  

I thought I’m going to have a difficult time upgrading, since I’ve manually uploaded all the files into my server and not used scripts for upgrading. I even have to ask people, like Sir Sonnie if it’s worth all the hassle. So far, no problems with WP 2.2. I have to check some more and see if I’m missing anything.

Postscript:  What I seem to have a problem with now is that I can’t log in my Twitter account.   Help!

I've been doing a series on radio over on my Wordpress blog. It's sort of a memoir meets tips for those interested in radio. I debated with myself on whether it would be relevant. This being the age of "anything you want to listen to is on the int...

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I got review classes from 7:30AM-9AM, 10:30AM-12NN, and 6PM-9PM. That’s Hydrology, Environmental Science, and Environmental Laboratory review classes respectively.

*dies*

So, Mike Arroyo thought that his "generosity" would make the press love him. That's what he thought.

Here's the joint statement of the journalists who have filed a class suit against the Mr. Arroyo:

In view of Jose Miguel Arroyo’s announcement that he intends to withdraw all the libel suits he has brought against journalists (46 in all), the question is raised whether we might respond by withdrawing our own class suit against him.

As it happens, this is not a case of such humanitarian challenge as the question seems to suggest. Mr. Arroyo, no doubt, deserves every sympathy after his heart surgery but, however serious his condition may be, it does not excuse him from misrepresenting his place in the way he has done: his is not to dispense generosity (his own word) to the journalists, but to ask them for it.

Apparently, Mr. Arroyo has had a dubious epiphany. Instead of realizing, as might have been the case in a true chastening, that he has filed whimsical, malicious, wholesale suits, and apologizing, he presents himself as in fact the one wronged and offers yet to forgive.

That is adding insult to injury, and it serves only to strengthen our intention to proceed with our suit for damages in behalf of our profession.

In the history of Philippine media, it is Mr. Arroyo who has filed the most number of libel cases versus journalists.

Let us remember that he is out to erode the watchdog function of the press. That is anathema in a democracy.

We’re trying to build the press as an institution that will function vigorously as part of the checks and balances in our system. As it is, we already operate in difficult conditions, where vested interests dominate some media organizations and the culture of impunity casts its dark shadow on us.

Today, we face a new battleground—in the courts.

Finally, after more than a three-week hiatus, I am posting an entry in this blog again. As some of you know, I have been busier since the news media elections coverage monitoring project of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) started in February. Well, when did I stop whining about how busy we have been at CMFR?

But man, this year so far has been a killer. And to think that we are not even finished with the final report of the news media elections coverage monitoring project. Then in June, it’s the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism. Don’t forget that we do publish the PJR Reports every month. Maybe Glenn and the other interns are right. I sure looked like mess over the past few months, haggard from all the activities in the office. Maybe that is why most interns preferred Bimbo as the hottest staffwriter, not me. Haha. I guess, these days, I’m the hot-headed staffwriter.

Don’t get the idea, however, that I am complaining. One thing I loved working at CMFR is that you get to learn a lot of things about the media and their role in the society, what journalists should be doing, and the ethical and professional issues involving the press. It’s like taking up an informal master’s course in journalism. Plus, you get to work with some of the best journalists I know. If you’re a journalist and media-monitoring work does not appeal to you, then the idea of working for the likes of Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Luis V. Teodoro, Vergel O. Santos, Chit Estella, Booma Cruz, and Rachel Khan might. And then you also get to work with the best young journalists (Venus, Don, Bimbo, Junette, and Melai, who came onboard last May 16) I know. And no, I’m not just sucking up to these guys. They are really, really great.

Well, since we devoted a lot of time and energy – and a lot of meriendas courtesy of Ate Carol – I think my first post after more than three weeks is about the news media elections coverage monitoring project.

As I’ve said earlier, the only thing we’re not finished yet with this project is the final report, which will cover the news media coverage of the whole campaign period including the last two weeks or so of the campaign. What is good with this project is that it is only the second time CMFR released periodic reports about the media coverage of the elections and included a review of the television coverage. The first time CMFR released reports about the media coverage while the campaign was going on was in the 2004 presidential elections, the only organization in the Philippines to do so.

In the landmark 2004 project, CMFR accomplished the project with the help of citizen and academic groups – the first time a media NGO involved such groups in a broader watch of media coverage. As in 2004, Prof. Danilo Arao and selected journalism students from the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication also helped in this year’s news media elections coverage monitoring project.

Aside from better media-monitoring instruments we used, what is exciting about this year’s project is that aside from monitoring selected broadsheets and news programs, CMFR – with the help of interns whom CMFR had trained for the project – also reviewed the elections coverage of selected tabloids, public affairs shows, and radio programs. In our March 5 roundtable discussion on monitoring elections coverage, some of the journalists present raised the idea that CMFR should not only monitor the elections coverage of broadsheets and news programs but also tabloids, public affairs shows, and radio programs as well. A gargantuan task, we thought back then. But lo and behold, monitoring these other platforms was done, even though it proved to be really difficult.

To further complement these in-depth reports about the news media elections coverage, CMFR also did an analytical study of the political advertisements in newspapers and TV (which is available online as well as the monitoring reports), as well as how the press prepared itself for the coverage, basically an update of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism study in 2004.

To read the reports, here are the following links:

CMFR Monitor of News Media Coverage of the 2007 National Elections

First Report (February 13 - March 2)
TV, broadsheets covered TU most in first three weeks of campaign

Second Report (March 3 - March 16)
Arrest of Ocampo triggers surge in party list elections coverage

Third Report (March 17 - March 30)
Scandals put party-list ahead in media coverage
But Team Unity retains coverage edge over Genuine Opposition

Consolidated report (February 13 – March 30)
Media coverage of elections declines in sixth and seventh weeks of campaign

Fourth Report (March 31 – April 20, 2007)
Senate and Party-list News takes a Backseat
Team Unity, Genuine Opposition still the most-covered subjects

Supplemental Reports

Tabloid and AM Radio Coverage of the
Senate and Party-List Elections (16-27 April 2007)

Public Affairs Programs' Coverage of the
Senate and Party-list Elections and Political Advertising in Print and Broadcasting

For more information about the project and reports, you might want to read the CMFR Roundtable Discussion on Monitoring Elections Coverage. Clips of the roundtable discussion are available here as well.

*yawns*

(more…)

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2007 seems to be the year when all movies have prepared to show its sequel. Marvel Comics has done a great job in the comics and Hollwood of course, is also doing a great job in turning this comic pages into live special effects. One sequel being awaited for is Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Way back in 2005, I didn't have an idea of Fantastic 4 - it's just that I wasn't a fan of the

It's sunny, it's hot and it's the last day of the Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Women's Open at Siloso Beach in Sentosa.

A few days ago I was logging into Yahoo Mail and guess what? This announcement surprised me... It seems that the battle between Yahoo Mail ang GMail is being taken to the next level. Unlimited email storage? No way Yahoo is got to be kidding... but no they're not... I just couldn't believe that they are going to boost up their storage space to accommodate millions of Yahoo Mail subscribers'

I think these are the things that Karla wants to know about me

This is a fun game. Just read through the questions and answers and you’ll find the rules of the game at the bottom.

To begin…

1. Did you wait for the credits to end in the Pirates of the Carribean 3?

— My baby and I watched it yesterday. We were too busy talking to have noticed that the credits had already gone by. What’s up with the credits? Did I miss anything?

2. If there is one dessert that you want to be named after you, what will it be?

— I think everybody wants to have a chocolate cake named after them. Prudence’s Desire would be a good name for a chocolate cake.

3. If you are given a chance to travel through time and in that moment you are choosing which course to choose, what course are you going to take up?

— I believe the course mentioned here meant a college course? I want to take up Creative Writing, Web Designing, and Medicine. They are interrelated

4. What are your thoughts on the recently concluded elections?

— For the mayoralty elections, it’s one of the most frustrating. Most people know that Candidate X really won but Candidate Y was the one proclaimed to have won. Local politics are just getting dirtier by the minute.

As for the national elections, most of the candidates I want to win are in the top 10. I just hope that they’d turn out to be good choices so that the Filipino will not think that the country’s condition is getting hopeless.

5. If you are going to be a novelist, what genre will you focus on?

— I would initially say I want to concentrate on writing historical novels. However, I’m not that knowledgeable in history. I do have imagination that works 24/7 plus a background in science so I think I’d do good writing fantasy or sci-fi novels. Or I could try my hand at doing graphic novels. I’ll be needing a good illustrator, though, because I don’t have the knack for drawing what I write

The Interview rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I’ve started with a dream blog before but wasn’t able to maintain it. Would it last this time? I hope so.

So, what made me resurrect this dream blog?

A series of dreams. Wonderful dreams but a bit disturbing.

Click on the screenshot to get to my dream blog (or just click the link) or just look for it at the navigation panel on the left side.

Tags: dream blog, prudence,dreaming

I want all of ‘em journals!

LEAVE YOUR LINKS AND COMMENTS!

Tags: saturday photo hunt, colorful

I've been doing a series on radio over on my Wordpress blog. It's sort of a memoir meets tips for those interested in radio. I debated with myself on whether it would be relevant. This being the age of "anything you want to listen to is on the internet" and the fact that my point of reference is Philippine radio.

But I figured that before all the details get fuzzy as I have just embarked on my fourth year into radio retirement, I might as well get it out of me and onto someplace else. In this case, it's a blog.

I've been thinking about podcasting but... I don't know. Part of me feels that when I left radio, that was meant to include all things similar. I'm still incubating the thoughts. And mulling the details it would entail - equipment plus time. It would be fun though. To do it all over again but without waking at 4:45AM. A "morning show" without the pain of morning. Zach is even open to the idea.

We'll see.

What I have done, is transfer from cassette (how ancient!) some of our old Zach and Joey in the Morning airchecks onto mp3 format. Listening to them brings back good memories.

Maybe that's where I should keep them.