Vacation day is A work Day

            I started my internship last November 1. Yes! You got me right, that's November 1. I supposed to visit my grandfather at the cemetery that time but I was not able to do so because of my internship. I wanted to but I can't because my boss told me to start that day. Instead of visiting my relatives I visited the cemetery of the dead famous individuals in Cebu. All i did that time was to observe and make my day as fruitful as possible.

            That was my first time knowing one of the CCTN's cameramen Allan and one of their reporters who also came from the University of San Jose Recoletos Ms. Astra Zina Logarta. I had a great time with them and I had also a great time with the dead people on that cemetery. 

            Inspite the fact that I had a good time with them, I still felt the loneliness. My family was there in Bohol making themselves present at the cemetery for my grandfather while there I was  visiting people who is not even part of me.

            It was then that I found out, being a reporter or being in the media would mean being far from the usual "doings" like christmas or new year celebration with the family or should I say vacation day is a work day.

            Could i take it? 

at the Queen City Cemetery

Fire Alarm!

            My second week was my "writing week". During one of those days there was a big fire that occured at Mandaue. That was indeed huge for someone like me.  My boss told me to get that news. There I was trembling with fear, how could I handle such situation? How could I make such news? I was accompanied by one of our cameramen Mr. Alvin. When we were on our way to Mandaue, I could hear the sounds of the ambulance and the firetruck and it made my bodyhairs stand. 

            When I was already there, I could see the people crying, they were screaming for help, they were trying to get all the things they could save. I was able to see a mother who is crying to death because she thought her children was there in their house and sleeping.I couldn't imagine myself to be on that kind of situation, that would be a disaster for me. 

            I could feel the heat of the sun and the heat of the fire on my body that time, but I realized feeling such is nothing compared to be on the shoes of those fire victims.

            Tick! tack! It was already 3PM and I went back to the station. I made my news article and I submitted it. I accomplished the task yet I feel sad. I feel sorry for the fire victims.

            Working in the media is a way of touching lives. It's a two way process. It could be that you will touch their lives or them touching yours.

The Voice Behind

            I have the voice of a good reporter. I have the writing skills of a good news writer. Therefore, I am good. I knew it myself. Well! I should think this way for me to have that confidence. I should be confident and be optimistic. My first voice over was not that good. I was told by my boss that I have this promising voice in me, that I could present something much better than what I did. I should be happy yet I felt sad because I hate knowing I wasn't able to be that good.

            I didn't stop there, but I tried on my second voice over and it was so satisfying and fulfilling to hear that my boss appreciated it much. I was able to receive text messages that I am doing very good and I am on the right track.

            I received two text messages coming from my senior reporter Mr. Gabriel Bonjoc and he said "now, that's the news! very good". After that, when I was going home, I smiled and said.. "i knew I could make it"

CCTN Christmas Party

            All of us at CCTN joined the Christmas Party dance Competition. We had our practice for 5 days. We had this Filipiniana costume and the fiesta like celebration theme. It was nice and meaningful no wonder that we made it to the first prize. That was a very nice experience to be part of their family where love and laughter reside.

            Congrats News Department for bringing home the bacon!

The Fluvial Parade

That was my first time! I never experienced joining in the fluvial parade not until that time when I was asked to join the CCTN News Team Coverage. It was then that I realized how fulfilling it is to join and be part of the Sinulog Festival. 

Actually it all started with bad things.

Tick! Tack! It was already 4 o'clock in the morning, my tooth was aching  but I chose to get up because I want to be there and witness the parade. My boardinghouse is just a walking distance from Pier 1 so I decided to walk. When I reached Cathedral Church the rain started to pour. I brought no umbrella! I then went back home and brought with me one. When I got there at Pier 1 I saw my senior reporters and cameraman standing and waiting for our boat but sad to say we had no boat. In other words we were waiting for nothing at pier 1. We decided to move out and went to Pier 3 where all mediamen are patiently waiting for their boat as well. Thirty minutes after, someone told us to transfer at Pier 4 because our boat was waiting there. We then walked. When we arrived we saw no boat for us. The media people were alarmed. They will have nothing to report if that would be the case. It was already 7am but we were still there STUCK! The media people did not report about the event but what they aired over the radio were the "painfull waiting" that we had.

Someone from the coastguard arrived and answer the interrogations thrown by the reporters. She helped us find a boat. We had it and  we were able to join the parade.

I forgot the difficulties we had when I got there.

Media: A way of touching lives

Being a part of media is like being part of the fortunate people. Do you want to know why? It is because when you are part of the media, ofcourse most of the things that you will report are those negative. You will meet people who are in jail, who is dying, who is  crying and with those,.. you as a media, will feel that you are lucky because you dont experience those things that they have experienced.

Media therefore is a way of touching lives because you as a media would feel the emptiness of those unfortunate people and its like you want to fill that empty space.

FIRST TIME: AT THE SESSION HALL

I really had no idea about politics. I dont like making news about politics. It is not my favorite beat anyway. I had no choice that time. My boss told me to cover a session at the city hall. I was amazed with the facilities they have. The room was fully airconditioned. Everything there looked nice.

When the session started. I got lots of information. I got lots of news by just sitting there. Wow! unlike my other beat getting news at city hall is very easy.

It was then that I realized that we don't have to stick to those things that we want to do because we dont know there might be something more when we try to explore.

SINULOG TIME!

I was assigned at the  TOC during Sinulog. I was with these guys. I was sitting with them and making some funny moments with them as well. My job during that time is to list all the commercials that have been broadcasted. That work seemed to be boring but then I find it the other way around.

It made me think of the fact that no matter how boring a work is, no matter how simple it is... if you do it with happiness then it will never be boring at all. All we need is a little bit of happiness in our heart.

A START!

That was January 18 when I finished my 225+ hours. I got my certificate. I felt the happiness inside knowing that I finished my 225 hours that early. Anyway, just when I thought it would be the end of my working career...my boss told me to start one. I was asked to join the City Council Reports that would be aired every morning at CCTN. I was also asked to apply as a reporter of DYRC. Isn't it great? 

I am now currently working as a segment writer and reporter of the Cebu City Council Reports! thanks to my boss and to my professor who gave me the way towards my little "success". Like what I've said I'm taking everything one step at a time. :)