I Am Blogie

I was fortunate to have been invited to speak at a media workshop last Saturday, 10 March 2012, on environment reporting. Thanks to Mindanao Times editor-in-chief, Amy Cabusao, for the opportunity to engage Mindanao’s media practitioners in the advocacy to protect our marine environment!

The workshop, organized by the Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MindaNews), was participated in by TV, print and radio journalists from different parts of Mindanao.

Here are the slides I used for that workshop, “Mindanao Journalists Training on Environment Reporting” :

The workshop was sponsored in part by the U.S. Embassy in Manila, and I had the chance to meet the American mission’s new press attaché, Tina Malone. Ms. Malone and I had a good chat about furthering the objectives of this workshop. I’m looking forward to working with the U.S. Embassy’s press office once again!

Intro dive

The following day, Sunday, I brought a handful of journalists from Davao, Dipolog, Surigao and other parts of Mindanao to Davao Gulf for them to see first-hand what I had talked about. They were not divers, but were given the chance to see the world under the sea, courtesy of Carabao Dive Center.

I sincerely hope that the workshop has sparked the spirit of advocacy among the participants. We do need our friends in the media to help us bring the message of environment conservation to their readers, viewers and listeners. Hopefully, more news organizations will develop a strong environment beat and thus sustain public awareness of the problems facing Philippine seas.

Sakay Na! Jeepney Photo Challenge

[Media Release]

The U.S. Embassy in Manila invites everyone to take part in a photo contest, dubbed “Sakay Na! Jeepney Photo Challenge“. We invite the public to submit their best original photos featuring Philippine Jeepneys to compete for a chance to win prizes.

“We see the Jeepney as a symbol of U.S.-Philippine friendship,” said U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Robin Diallo. “The earliest Jeepneys were constructed from jeeps brought to the Philippines by the United States during World War II, but since that time, they have evolved in beautiful and creative ways.”

Jeepneys express the unique culture of the various regions of the Philippines, as they differ in style and design from place to place. Given the historical connection of the Jeepney to the United States, the U.S. Embassy is launching the Sakay Na! photo contest to celebrate this unique and colorful cultural icon.

Winning submissions will receive a Kodak Pocket Camcorder and an invitation from the U.S. Embassy to a special event. In addition, the winning photographs will be part of a special exhibit at the U.S. Embassy.

To enter the contest, visit the U.S. Embassy Manila Facebook page, click on the “Sakay Na! Jeepney Photo Challenge” link, and follow the instructions. The contest is open to anyone residing in the Philippines who is at least 13 years of age. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 19. We will be inviting the public to vote via Facebook for the top three entries during the voting period from February 20 to February 25. Join us in celebrating the Jeepney, and send us your photos from around the Philippines! ###

From 20 January to 20 February 2010, I traveled coast to coast across the continental United States. I was able to see 8 states: Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and California; plus, the District of Columbia. The main purpose of my being in the States was to participate in a special edition of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which was put together for ten cyber-activists and online journalists from various parts of the world. On the first week of my stay, I was in a group composed of ‘new media’ practitioners from China, Hong Kong, Colombia, Iran, Lebanon, Moldova and Turkey.

The IVLP fellowship was conducted in Washington, D.C. for all ten of us (and then in San Francisco just for me, courtesy of the Institute of International Education). After the official business and the conference where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a policy speech on Internet freedom of expression, we were given a tour of the imposing city, the capital of the most powerful nation. And you could feel it, too! The history-rich buildings, the wondrous monuments, the provocative landmarks, the White House (although we only saw a fraction of the interior)… they all served to impress upon the visitor a sense of awe and admiration.

Experiencing Washington was a wonderful surprise. On the flight to D.C., I thought it was going to be a drab city, populated by boring government types and such. Far from it! Even though we were in deep winter, I could see how vibrant life was in Washington. Most people dressed in dull colors, yes, and yet I couldn’t help but see a colorful city, alive with activity and vigor. And being the capital, my ears pricked at the abundance of foreign languages spoken everywhere I went.

Contrary to expectation, there were so many young people around. Dupont Circle and Georgetown were a special treat for me — in and around the beautiful shops along the picturesque streets, college students and yuppies were everywhere to be seen. And it was easy to get to know them and talk about stuff. It was quite exhilarating!

Also part of the IVLP was a chance for us to spend time with American families. I had dinner with a wonderful family in Potomac, Maryland. The purpose of “home hospitality” was to give IVLP participants a feel of the typical American home. But I didn’t feel it was “typical” at all, because the family I was fortunate enough to meet is, in fact, quite an internationalized bunch. The man of the house was a former JAG officer who was stationed in the Philippines for a time, and his wife is a Japanese national — I was very delighted to have had the chance to practice my Nihongo with her! Their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter had recently come back from Hong Kong and Singapore, and happily joined us for dinner. Talking with them was eye-opening for me, and gave me a glimpse of American family life that’s wholly different from what you might see in movies.

On my first weekend, a couple of Manileño friends brought me to the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. This facility houses an enormous collection of aviation and space artifacts owned by the Smithsonian Institution. (It’s where they filmed the sequel to The Transformers — remember the SR-71 that turned into an old but friendly Decepticon?) As a Star Trek fan, it was incredible seeing the Enterprise space shuttle up close; I think I spent more time in that section of the Center than anywhere else.

My friends also brought me shopping (Outlet, where else?), and to an honest-to-goodness diner in McLean, VA called Silver Diner where they serve hearty American fare. All in all, it was a great way to kick off the vacation part of my stay in the U.S.

While I was in the East Coast, owing to good friends who went out of their way to host me, I was able to see New York City, Boston (as well as other places in New England), Nashua, and other cities. From Washington I took the bus to NYC, via a relatively new service called the “Bolt Bus“. Get this: comfy seats, quiet ride, free wifi, and power outlets everywhere! What’s more, the rates are incredibly affordable — I was lucky when I booked my trips online, because I got the D.C. to NYC trip (4 hours) for only $10, and the NYC to Boston ticket for only $15.

Even before I got there, I knew I’d love New York — and I did! A cousin who lives in Manhattan brought me around the night life there, and a dear friend from Davao showed me the quieter side of the Big Apple’s attractions. I also had a chance to see a high school classmate, and we had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Times Square. And in between, I gave myself time to really walk around this bustling city. I didn’t pass up strolling along the frozen lanes of Central Park either. But of all the places I’ve been to in New York, I think it’s Brooklyn that I like. It’s more relaxed, so to speak, compared to the hectic nature of Manhattan.

When I thought of visiting New York, I was apprehensive about taking the subway. But once my friend explained it to me, it was a snap. I got myself a 7-day metro pass and tried to lose myself in the city… but it just wasn’t possible. With all the signs and maps, it’s simply impossible to get lost. Of course, thanks to Google Maps, it was easy to locate the subway stations. One thing that I truly appreciated is that New Yorkers walk and commute to where they need to go, and that public transportation is reliable and efficient (which is the opposite in Los Angeles).

One of the places in the U.S. that I made a point to visit was Boston, to see an old friend from my college days; actually, he and his family live in Waltham, Massachusetts, but they gave me the grand tour of the East Coast’s oldest city. It had been more than a decade since I last saw my friend, so the time I spent in New England was a chance for us to catch up. We reminisced the good old days on frozen lakes, at an English pub called John Harvard’s (guess where that is), around Boston’s historic suburbs, and at Union Oyster Hall, reputedly America’s oldest restaurant.

It was too bad I could only spend three days with my old buddy, but I had to go back to Washington for my flight to the West Coast. I took the Amtrak for an 8-hour trip back to the capital, and then a 7-hour flight to the city I fell in love with the moment I got there: San Francisco. (It was a connecting flight via Atlanta, GA, so I might say I’ve been to 10 states… but then I didn’t really get to see anything except the airport.)

The San Francisco leg was actually part of my official business in the States. Still, I had lots of time on my own, and I put it to good use. Walking around downtown SFO was an exhilarating experience, what with the variety of places to see, interesting people to chat with, and the sights, sounds and scents to take in!

I had a hilarious experience when I was at Pier 39. I was ambling around Fisherman’s Wharf, holding a humongous hotdog I had just bought from a sidewalk vendor. Suddenly, a huge pelican swoops down and snaps resoundingly at my hotdog-holding hand!! I can still remember the awful sound that big bill made — he could very well have severed my fingers! I was still in shock when I heard a group of people laughing behind me. I turned around and proudly showed them my mustard-covered snack, cut in half by that sea bird, but still all mine. I walked away with the group clapping in glee.

If I were given the choice of city to live in the U.S. it would be San Francisco (in spite of the pesky pelicans). There’s something about its character that appeals to me, and it would be great if I could discover it more meaningfully someday.

And finally, I traveled to Los Angeles on 5 February for the remainder of my journey. I flew Virgin America, which is a cool airline, if you ask me — the ground personnel as well as the in-flight people were casual and friendly, and yet very professional in their service.

Even though I went to only one state in the West Coast, I did go to quite a number of cities in California: San Francisco, Berkeley, L.A., Burbank, Glendale, Castaic, Venice Beach, etc., not to mention Silicon Valley.

The city of Castaic is not very well known (even among Americans, I found out). It’s in Santa Clarita Valley, the northernmost part of L.A. County, and it’s where my aunt and her husband live. My mom’s sister and I hadn’t seen in each other in many years, so she moved heaven and earth to get me to Los Angeles for the last couple of weeks of my stay in the States. I got to like it in Castaic… although it was rather too bucolic for my city-boy tastes. So off I went traipsing around L.A. with more friends, although I did do my best to spend time with my aunt and her lovable dogs.

My Filipino friends brought me all over the place: Universal Studios, West Hollywood, downtown L.A., Griffith Observatory, etc. Three new friends, one of whom is a regular reader of my blogs, gave me an awesome tour of the studios of The Family Guy and The Simpsons. And I got a Simpsons action figure to boot, signed by the two Filipinos, who’re über-talented artists!

This was my first time in the States, and for this opportunity I’m very grateful to the State Department (especially to Sarah L., Christopher S., Ryan M.), the U.S. Embassy in Manila (particularly to Rebecca T., Richard N., Yoly dG.), and the Institute of International Education (especially to Perrine L. and her colleagues). I certainly hope a similar opportunity will come my way again in the not-too-distant future.

My love and gratitude to my friends, Kuya Dong & Mary Ann, Ram & Martin, Bob & Lani, Lem & Rai, Ian, Grace (who put me up in NYC), Jhoanna, Ricky & Riza, Manny, Corky (who gave me an impromptu tour of SFO); to my cousins, Ate Elaine and Jenny (who welcomed me in Michigan), Paolo, Karl; and to my dear Tita Baby & Tito Alex. Thanks to all of you, I had an extraordinary and memorable month-long stay in America!

Hana, Markku, Blogie, Janette @ Outback Makati

I’m flying to Washington, D.C. in a couple of hours, to attend a conference where U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will deliver a talk on global freedom of speech vis-à-vis the Internet, and where I’m to participate in a panel discussion on the same topic. It’s a great honor, and I’m looking forward to the learning experiences ahead of me.

There is also a San Francisco leg of this Voluntary Visitor’s Program that I’ve been invited to by the State Department. I will hopefully be able to visit the offices of online media enablers such as Facebook and Twitter.

I shall document my official business in America via BlogPress.ph, with the direction of my friend and colleague, Janette Toral.

And since I’m going to be in the States already, I might as well stay and take a short vacation, yes? Yes! So, my personal itinerary will include New York City, Los Angeles, and possibly a few more destinations. I can’t wait!! This is my first time to go to America, by the way. And it won’t be my last (I got a 10-year valid, multiple-entry visa!!) this year, if plans to go back in July or August push through.

My flight’s boarding in an hour. Wish me luck!

The 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit, held in Cagayan de Oro City last 24 October 2009, despite a rather poor showing in the number of participants, was another feather in the cap of the MB Community. The CDO Bloggers group displayed their cohesiveness and enthusiasm and unfailing energy to pull off the event quite admirably.

The highlight of this year’s Summit was the involvement of the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Leslie Bassett, who delivered an eye-opening and inspiring presentation about the contributions her government has made to the progress of Mindanao. Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who is a blogger herself, graciously sent in a video greeting as well.

There were only about 80 Summiteers who attended MBS3 (not counting the members of the core group, organizers and speakers); however, it was good to see first-timers and bloggers from never-before-represented cities such as Ozamis and Dipolog. It is one of the objectives of Mindanao Bloggers to see more and more places in Mindanao become part of the Community.

Friends from Metro Manila graced the 3rd Summit, as resource speakers and as guests. We are ever grateful to Aileen Apolo and Janette Toral for the high-value content that they have been contributing to the Summit ever since its inception.

In behalf of the Community, we would like to express our grateful appreciation of the warm welcome extended to the bloggers of Mindanao by Mayor Tinnex Jaraula. The good mayor delivered a rousing speech about what bloggers could accomplish towards addressing issues affecting the Philippine South.

There were quite a few politicians who joined the bloggers at MBS3 — this was expected, owing to the upcoming elections early next year. It was good for the bloggers to hear directly from the candidates about their political platforms and advocacies. However, it should be reiterated that the Mindanao Bloggers Community is a non-partisan entity and does not endorse any candidate or political party.

PBA’09 – Mindanao

What made MBS3 unique was the hosting of the Philippine Blog Awards 2009 – Mindanao Region on the same day. This was the first time that the PBA has held a regional awards effort, and we would like to give honor to the Awardees:

• Uniquely Mindanao Blog: Hola Zamboanga!
• Mindanao Destination Blog: GenSan Online News Mag
• Mindanao Advocacy Blog: SOCSARGEN Peace Initiatives
• Mindanao Bloggers’ Choice Award: DavaoBase

Present during the Awards Night were PBA President Juned Sonido, and Coy Caballes, who directed all three Awards Nights (the main event in Quezon City, and the ones in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro). Also attending MBS3 and PBA’09-Mindanao was Jay De Jesus of TitikPilipino.com.

The next Summit

In order to apprise the assembled participants of the latest developments in established blogging communities across the island, four speakers presented the highlights of the past year’s activities in their localities. Dr. Jaime Haw Jr. did the presentation for Davao City; Avel Manansala for General Santos City; Ryann Elumba for the Zamboanga Peninsula; and Edu Ragpala for the host city.

At the conclusion of MBS 2009, the next host city for the 4th Mindanao Bloggers Summit was announced to a cheering audience. Zamboanga City will be the destination of the bloggers of Mindanao (and friends) in October 2010.

Kudos to the bloggers of Cagayan de Oro! And see you all in Zamboanga next year!

DCM Leslie Bassett

Unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a dignitary of a foreign mission will be taking part in the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit this month. The United States Embassy, whose ambassador has been known to frequent Mindanao on many official trips, will be represented by the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Leslie A. Bassett, who will deliver the keynote address on 24 October 2009.

Originally, U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney had enthusiastically agreed to grace the MBS3. Unfortunately, Ms. Kenney–who had earlier met with the Mindanao Bloggers in Davao–had to beg off due to urgent matters this month. But, we’re very happy to welcome Ms. Bassett to MBS3 and Cagayan de Oro City. According to her office, this will be her first trip second visit to Mindanao.

The newly-appointed DCM arrived in Manila on 26 June 2009, after previously serving as DCM in Mexico. She has been assigned by the U.S. State Department to Botswana, Colombia, Israel, South Africa, El Salvador and Nicaragua. In the State Department, Ms. Bassett worked for the Under Secretary for Political Affairs and at the National Security Council. She is a distinguished graduate of the National War College, holds a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and received her undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of California at Davis.

We look forward to a meaningful meeting with DCM Leslie Bassett, and a wonderful experience with all participating bloggers at MBS3 in Cagayan de Oro this month!