Journalism Online Training (JOT)

Top 20 Things to do When an Earthquake Strikes

2012-02-06T11:42:00.003-08:00

Top 20 Things to do When an Earthquake Strikes

Earthquakes are possibly one of the most common and, sometimes, one of the most devastating of all natural disasters. They mostly strike without warning. There have been many high magnitude earthquakes lately, the most destructive ones being those that hit Haiti, Baja California and Chile. They left hundreds of people dead, thousands injured, and many more homeless. The property damage was estimated to be millions of dollars. Are there ways by which this devastation could be minimized?

Top 20 things to do when an earthquake strikes
You may not be able to control when or where an earthquake strikes, but you can be ready for it, especially if you live in a region that is prone to frequent tremors. There are some things that you should take care of to try and minimize damage during an earthquake.

General tips to follow when an earthquake strikes

Be calm and do not panic. This could be the most important thing to keep in mind as panicking might make you irrational and cause you to hurt yourself or those around you in confusion.
Have an evacuation plan in mind for you and your family as this will help you act quickly and avoid harm.
Important documents should be stored in a fire-proof safe to avoid any damage to them during a disaster.
Make a list of things that you would need while evacuating, like non-perishable food, torchlights, water, etc.
Make sure that there are no leaky pipes carrying water or gas, or faulty electrical wires around the house that could cause or add to the damage.
If you are indoors:

Anchor all heavy objects in the house to the wall or store them on lower shelves.
Stay away from all glass objects as well as objects that may break or fall.
Crouch under a sturdy table or bed and cover your head and face with a pillow or with your hands. You could also take shelter in a doorway if it is strong enough.
Do not try to change your position or move out of the building unless you are absolutely sure that the tremors have stopped completely and there is no falling debris.
Do not use the elevators as that may be risky, even after the earthquake.
If you are outdoors:

Stay out if you are already outdoors. Once you find a safe open space, stay there till the tremors stop completely.
Try to get to a open place, like a playground or a park.
Stay away from buildings and other structures as they might fall and cause injury. Keep distance from wires and pipes. If they snap, they might cause serious injuries or even fatality.
If you are in a vehicle:

Stop at the side of the road if you suspect a tremor. Do not stop immediately if you are on a freeway but gradually come to a stop at the side of the road, especially if there are other vehicles still moving.
Do not halt near shops, buildings or other structures with windows that might break or fall and injure you.
Do not start driving till you are sure that the tremors have stopped and it is safe to drive.
Avoid bridges and other elevated structures after a quake as they might have been damaged and may pose a risk.
If you get stuck under debris (despite taking all these measures)

Do not panic and stay calm.
Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth. It is advisable to stay still and not talk or shout as this might tire you out and cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
Help rescuers find you by tapping on pipes or other metal objects.
If you can keep these simple pointers in mind, you will be ready in the face of a natural disaster. Even though you may not be able to control these calamities, you might be able to save yourself and your loved ones from injury or fatality. That would be a big step towards minimizing damage caused due to these natural calamities and feeling safe.

Ateneo de Iloilo students face e’quake as planned

2012-02-06T11:42:00.001-08:00

Ateneo de Iloilo students
face e’quake as planned

SIX HUNDRED high school students and teachers of Ateneo de Iloilo cope with the noontime (February 6) earthquake with ease and presence of mind as they charge through the nearby open space in less than five minutes. All classes were called off thereafter.

To note, a 6.8 earthquake hit the central Philippines, killing at least one person and causing panic in cities where buildings shook, authorities said. The quake hit 70 kilometers (44 miles) north of the city of Dumaguete on Negros Island at 11:49 am (0349 GMT) at a depth of 46 kilometers, the US Geological Survey said. Iloilo City has a 5.2 scale reading.

Following the school’s earthquake protocol, the Ateneans stayed in the secured front lawn and rotunda of the school premises for about 25 minutes until they were told to call their parents and guardians to be fetched up.

Teachers and staff of the school then managed to get all the bags of the students in the building and distributed it to their owners thereafter. No students were allowed anymore to enter the school structures (main building and the school gymnasium) that are presently being checked by the school engineer as a matter of protocol.

In the initial checkup of the school physical plant supervisor, no major cracks or fissures were seen in the building that is structurally designed to apparently withstand even a 7.5 quake.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) measured the quake as 6.9 at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers, centered off the heavily populated central island province of Negros and Cebu.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a belt around the Pacific Ocean where friction between shifting tectonic plates causes frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. (Dr. Herman Lagon)

FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 7 YEARS Another Atenista is Rotary’s Girl City Mayor

2011-09-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 7 YEARS

Another Atenista is Rotary’s Girl City Mayor

By Engr. Herman M. Lagon, Ph.D.

FOR SEVEN days beginning Monday, September 26, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will be working side by side with senior Atenean Kristiana Claire Yray who was chosen by the Rotary Club of Iloilo City as this year’s Boys and Girls Week Celebration City Mayor.

Yray, together with 49 other outstanding students from about 45 high schools in the metropolis, will be filling in the shoes of their public-servant counterparts as part of the yearly project of the Rotary Club which aims to instill social awareness to the young leaders of the city under the lens of local governance.

Aside from Yray, another Atenean, Enna Faye Tolentino, will also be joining the fold as city councilor. This year’s girl vice mayor is Alera maristel Lapascua of Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus while the first city councilor is Marie Ailee Siaotong of Central Philippine University.

Also city councilors are Thea Angela Silayro (Philippine Science High School-WV), Inaj Mae Abalajon (UP High School in Iloilo), Ma. Selina Lopez (Iloilo City National High School), Renz Ayongao (Westbridge), Ascrina Baladjay (Iloilo National High School-Special Science Class), Junnifer Lhynne Sunaz (Western Visayas College of Science and Technology), Michael Andre Treyes (West Visayas State University), Anna Monica Uygongco (Assumption-Iloilo), Gloria Mar Sayson (UP), Julianne Ngirngir (Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus), Marc Adrian Philippe Justiniane (Children’s Integrated School), and Jea Belle Jinon (WVSU).

The 50 boy and girl officials for this year were chosen from two sets of qualifying rounds. First, two representatives per school or about 90 students went through a two-topic essay and a pocket of multiple-choice test late last month. The top performers then were invited to face off in a panel interview that was held Saturday, September 17, at Sarabia Manor Hotel. Judges primarily come from the press, the academe, the business, and the political worlds.

It is worthy to note that, this is the fourth time in seven years that Ateneo de Iloilo has produced another City Mayor. Before Yray, it had Jose Ryan Pelongco (2005), Thomas Michael Measures (2006), and Tyronne Anthony Bretana (2009). From 2004 up to the present, AdI-SMCS has already produced 29 city officials, which includes four city mayors, one city vice mayor, three first city councilors, 19 other city councilors, and two city department officials—a feat considered by many to be the most consistent and the best performance record by a high school so far.#

Ateneo de Iloilo High bags Golden Pen crown anew

2011-09-17T22:35:00.001-07:00

7 OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 9 YRS

Ateneo de Iloilo High bags
Golden Pen crown anew

By Engr. Herman M. Lagon, Ph.D.

CONSISTENCY.

This has been the strong message of the budding writers of Ateneo de Iloilo High School Department after clinching for the seventh time in nine years the Overall Championship in the annual Golden Pen Awards and Regional Cluster Seminar-Workshop held July 31-August 1 at the Sun Yat Sen High School in Mapa Street, Iloilo City.

The blue-and-white team bested 23 other private high schools with more than 1300 students from the city and province of Iloilo. They earned accumulated points of 265 while the next two schools Assumption Iloilo, and Iloilo Central Commercial High School, got 177 and 145, respectively.

Two seniors from AdI-SMCS were declared Golden Pen Awardee, Alyssa Marie Naranjo and Kristiana Claire Yray. On the other hand, three Ateneans were named Most Promising Campus Paper Journalists of Western Visyas, namely Psyche Mae Lagon, Nizza Ann Regalado, and Anya Isabela Cordero. They were chosen based on the number of awards they have received in the six different journalism categories (writing news, editorial, sports, feature; copy-reading and headline writing; and cartooning) under two levels (first-second year and third-fourth year levels) and two languages (English and Filipino).

Champions were Cordero and Regalado (news-English), Hannah Elgaran (news-Filipino); Danielle Molina, Regalado, and Patrice Gabito (sports-English); Danielle Molina (sports-Filipino); Berl Dutosme and Lagon (feature-Filipino); Naranjo and Yray (editorial-English).

17 students also made second and third place finishes in the different categories. This is on top of the 129 runner-up awards that were also raked by the Atenean squad in the two-day event.

To note, since 2002, Ateneo de Iloilo High School has already collected seven championship trophies in the annual Golden Pen Awards. It has produced about 50 Golden Pen and Most Promising Campus Journalist awardees, 210 top three finishers, and more than 1,300 runner-up recipients.

Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo de Iloilo Grade School grabbed the second runner up trophy in the elementary category. Their seminar-workshop was held at the Iloilo Central Elementary School in Luna Street, Iloilo City in the same weekend. (Written by Engr. Herman M. Lagon, Ph.D.)

Column Name: Impulses Column Title: Walk the Talk By Engr. Herman Lagon

2011-07-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Column Name: Impulses

Column Title: Walk the Talk
By Engr. Herman Lagon

MOST politicians often promise us that they will help eradicate poverty, promote development, and build sustainable peace, etcetera. However, the Filipino youth and students (even parents, teachers and school administrators included) can’t help but wonder where all these promises will lead to.
Lest we forget, these are the same politicians, pretending to be public servants who at the zenith of uprisings and elections, recited a litany of promises and guaranteed to defend and advance the genuine interest of the people, especially of the youth. And yet, these promises, much more the pledge of assurance from some of our often-dishonorable politicians, are still waiting to be fulfilled.
Note that I did not say all politicians, but most, if not nearly all of them. Years under them, the Filipino youth and students are uneducated, indebted and hungry.
Proof of this is the dismal state of our educational system and the other sad but vital facts about the country and the youth, the undisputed future of the land.
According to Ibon Facts and Figures, PulseAsia and the National Statistics Office, as of now:
 1 in 10 Filipinos has never gone to school (6.8 million),
 1 in 6 Filipinos is not functionally literate (9.6 million),
 4.1 million are illiterate,
 11.6 million youth are out-of-school,
 More than half (51 percent) of Filipinos had at most elementary education,
 Out of 1000 Grade 1 pupils, only 688 will finish their elementary education and only 7 will acquire the required competency skills,
 Of 100 students that enroll in Grade 1, only 9 will finish college; and only three of them will land a job, decent or otherwise,
 The Philippines has one of the most crowded classrooms in Asia with a class size of 60 students per class,
 Room shortage is more than 44,000 despite government’s recent pronouncement that there are no classroom shortages,
 Textbook shortage is pegged at 25 million and counting,
 Public school teacher shortage is close to 60,000,
 15 percent of schoolchildren are malnourished,
 The country is 41st and 42nd out of 45 countries in performance in Math and Science, respectively,
 Only 1 out of 4 public school teachers are confident and competent enough to teach English,
 Many of the 1.8 M illiterate children with ages at least 10 years old are street children, child laborers and victims of armed conflict,
 In a study conducted in 2004, there are 2.75 M young smokers and 5.7 M drinkers,
 Children 13-18 years old are found to be the most susceptible victims of sexual abuse,
 It was reported that there are 4.7 M working children.
Let’s have some facts of general feel:
 The country has the most corrupt government according to hundreds of PERC-interviewed foreign and well-placed domestic businesspersons.
 More than half of the Filipinos believe that they are poor and they have experienced hunger,
 One person (usually politically critical to Malacañang) in every three days die due to extrajudicial killings,
 The country is the second worst place for journalists in the world,
 Top 10% of Pinoys take 37% of the total income in the country, while the lowest 20% receive only 5%,
 Land remains monopolized by a rich few, and underemployment is over 20%,
 More than a third of the population live below the poverty line (despite the distorted Palace’s definition of what poverty is), with nearly half of the 88 million population living less than P100 a day.
No society is perfect in the abovementioned concerns, but the one that we call the Pearl of the Orient is usually and sadly at the bottom end of the scale.
This is the real situation of the Filipino youth, a rough glimpse of the future. This is what traditional politicians are not talking about in their blissful offices and election sorties.
This is the problem yearly being drowned in empty promises, hollow rhetoric and orchestrated standing ovations. This is the crisis our government, including some of those in the local government, religious and education arena, is refusing to admit and address.
Without a doubt, this year’s election campaign will be like all previous elections: rich in theatrics and promises. Nothing more, nothing less.
But we are not like them, right? We don’t want to be like them and we will never be like them.
Hence, I urge you (the Filipino youth and those sectors concerned with your welfare, the parents, teachers, administrators), I urge you to reaffirm your commitment to safeguard and press forward our genuine right to quality, relevant and accessible education. On top of all these, let us forge our commitment to social justice and moral recovery!
Beginning today, let us give others a taste of what they can expect from the vigilant youth and its allies come election time. In a time when turncoatism and hopelessness seem to define this particular juncture of our history, we will remain watchful, aggressive and unwavering in our responsibility to help build a better future.
For yes, we must accept disappointments, but never should we lose hope.
Lesson is, we must neither just give up our future to just anybody nor give up our future to just any statistics presented to us. If we want change, immediate, organized and well-thought-of action must come from us.
Let this column be the test of our commitment. A testament for our thirst for more creative and solid alternatives.
No silly promises anymore.
It’s time to walk our talk.
***
“One big fight” greetings to the delegates of the Jesuit Basic Education Commission (JBEC) who hold their bi-annual conference in Ateneo de Iloilo High School building in Pison Avenue, San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. These basic education administrators are from sister schools Ateneo de Manila, Xavier School-San Juan, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Cebu, Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Zamboanga, Loyola College of Culion, and host Ateneo de Iloilo,
***
We pray for the repose of the soul of Mark Orth, who just passed away over the weekend. To his family, classmates, and friends, I express my deep sympathies.
***
Engr. Herman Lagon teaches physics in a private catholic school in Iloilo City. He is also a candidate for the PhD in Science Education Major in Mathematics degree in a state university. He may be reached through h_lagon@yahoo.com.

FEATURE ARTICLE FOR EDSA CELEBRATION
‘Not Yet Over’

By Engr. Herman M. Lagon

THE CHAPEL bell rang almost in unison with the siren howling all over the place, intermittently squeaking as it passes by the narrow street of Lapuz Norte, La Paz, Iloilo City. Radio transistors were in full volume while people flock to the plaza that is just a stone’s throw away from our house. Men and women alike wore happy faces and shared a festive ambiance, embracing each other with almost tears in their eyes.
I was a 10-year-old grade six student then.
“Looters and vandals have entered Malacanang,” the radio broadcaster said in vernacular, adding, “Marcos is out! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”
Only then that I realized that the strongman they call “Makoy” was just kicked out from The Palace and a new revolutionary government was about to be formed with Tita Cory, the bespectacled widow who looked more of a resident housewife than a statesperson, leading the pack.
For the lack of the right word let me say that the feeing then was feisty but surreal—people in different genres, classes, and orientations came together neatly and forcefully in February 1986 to cause the fall of the Imelda, rather Marcos, dictatorship.
Who won’t be awed with the turning of events? Ferdie’s bootlickers turning against himself, the civil disobedience launched by his opposite alter egos Cory and Cardinal Sin, and on top of it all, the multitudes of people from all walks of life marching in Edsa with only their rosaries and flowers as shields against the M16-boosted, tank-reinforced, camouflaged loyalists.
When my Mom Diana asked me few days after the revolt to accompany her to the University of Iloilo where she teaches, I gave her my nod with thrill on my mind, wondering what might be happening there amid Edsa revelries.
I was not surprised. Classes were suspended, of course, and just like everywhere else, the school was also covered with streamers while retro-fashioned students and sharp-tongued teachers alike wore sunflower-colored ribbons and what not.
People crowding all over the hallways, parking spaces and corridors were showered by confetti, speeches and pamphlets at the quadrangle, all blabbing against the former dictatorial regime and asking for support to the new government. The crowd can’t say more but agree. “Tama na! Sobra na! Napalitan na! Panalo na!,” they cried.
When everybody was in jubilation, I heard a group of students at the corner of the stage shout “but the war is not yet over!” Noticeably, they wanted to say something but they were politely denied and the closed-fisted organizers of the program just proceeded with the singing of the famous revolutionary song “Ang Bayan Ko” to end the hours-long prayer rally.
That was it.
And the great waves turned into gushes, it calmed, and died unnoticed.
Twenty years later and true to Edsa’s ideals, Filipinos are now somehow free to speak their mind, to air their grievances. Not too much reckless arrests. Not too much physical tortures. But that is about all Edsa can offer right now. That is all Edsa can clearly boast for.
We may have a voice now courtesy of the so-called People Power. But what is it for? Few, if not none, is listening anyway. Many have turned apathetic, lethargic, self-centered, and pessimistic . Yes, we do periodic, freer elections that are alien during the Marcos regime. But is it the votes or the politician’s money and clout that count?
We are almost back exactly to where we started. Juan de la Cruz has reclaimed his middle names: Poverty and Corruption, lots of it! Traditional vested interests are back. Political order is out of order. Nationalist ideals are adrift. Education, labor, and justice are turned into a shaggy dog story. National unity is in tatters. The poor are still poor (in fact, poorer), and the rich are still in charge. Imperialist capitalism emerges stronger and unrestricted than ever. The Edsa spirit is near death.
Two and a half decades later and there’s hardly anything left to be said about Edsa. There are no sirens, nor festive mass actions anymore. No media hypes. No school rallies. No yellow pamphlets. No L-shaped finger signs that means down to tyranny and bad governance. People consider the day ordinary, except that it means a working holiday. In fact, in a recent survey by Pulse Asia, it was found out that 7 out of 10 of the Filipino youth are not even aware of what Edsa is all about!
I am now a workhorse physics teacher in a Jesuit institution and a PhD Math DOST scholar in the metropolis. Yet every time Edsa is marked, I always remember those UI guys in jeans and red Che Guevarra shirts who, though in an anticlimax fashion, bravely reminded us that “the war is not yet over.”
***
“One big fight” greetings to the delegates of the Jesuit Basic Education Commission (JBEC) who hold their bi-annual conference in Ateneo de Iloilo High School building in Pison Avenue, San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. These basic education administrators are from sister schools Ateneo de Manila, Xavier School-San Juan, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Cebu, Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Zamboanga, Loyola College of Culion, and host Ateneo de Iloilo,
***
We pray for the repose of the soul of Mark Orth, who just passed away over the weekend. To his family, classmates, and friends, I express my deep sympathies.
***
Engr. Herman Lagon may be reached through h_lagon@yahoo.com.

CRASH COURSE IN JOURNALISM

2011-07-06T17:16:00.001-07:00

CRASH COURSE IN JOURNALISM

GOLDEN PEN AWARDS 2011
July 1-2, 2012; Iloilo National High School and Robinsons’ Place Iloilo, Iloilo City
CRASH COURSE IN JOURNALISM

WHAT’S INSIDE?
۞ NEWSWRITING ۞ FEATURE WRITING ۞EDITORIAL WRITING
۞ SPORTS WRITING ۞ COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
۞ EDITORIAL CARTOONING ۞
NEWSWRITING
“Any event, idea, or opinion that is timely, that interests and affects a large number of persons in the community, and that is capable of being understood by them.”
“News is an oral or written report of an event that happened, is happening, will happen in the North, East, West, or South that is of interest to the reader and which should be reported.”
But what is interesting to one is not always interesting to another.
Elements of the News
Conflict, Immediacy or Timeliness, Proximity or Nearness, Prominence, Significance, Names, Drama, Oddity and Unusualness, Romance and Adventure, Sex, Progress, Animals, Number, Emotion

Basic Rule (ABC) in Writing News: ACCURACY, BREVITY, CLARITY.
Different forms of writing an incident
Situation: A fire broke out and four persons made their separate essays on what happened.
For a 10-year-old grade school pupil,
“I saw a fire. It was a big red fire. It burned a house. There were many people around. Some men put water on the fire.”
For a romantic high school student,
“Fearful scarlet tongues arose to the star-studded heaven and licked greedily at the doomed edifice while the stout-hearted firefighters risked their all to quench the terrible conflagration.”
For a lady bystander,
“You know, Mare, there was a fire in our community. I think it cost the owner a great deal of money. The date was August 8. August is the eighth month. So I bet in the lottery, 8-16-24-32-40-48.”
For a news writer,
“A fire of undetermined origin razed to the ground a two-storey apartment owned by lawyer Herman Lagon of 80 Lopez Jaena St., Jaro Iloilo City, last night. Four trucks from the Jaro Fire Station subdued the fire within an hour. The damage estimated by the police at PhP 500,000.00 was covered by insurance.”
(Here, note the 5W’s and 1H in the lead)
The combination of simple, vivid and dignified articles produces a copy simple enough for Mr. Average Reader to understand. We call it news article.
Structure of news:
Inverted Pyramid (from climax to less important)
Sample News
Headline (ulo ng balita)
Dog dies saving blind master
Lead (pamatnubay)– Most important facts
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD dog saved the life of his blind master, Thursday night, but the canine’s loyalty cost the trusty animal his life.
Bridge—Elaboration of lead
In serious condition today in Doctor’s Hospital is Erland Escobanez, 71, a street sweeper. Escobanez of SSS Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City was found early this morning unconscious on a sidewalk near the Aglipayan Church in the Iloilo Terminal Market.
Less important facts
Police theorized that Escobanez was knocked unconscious when he fell, his head hitting a stone. Potpot, his dog, apparently tried to shield its master from the cold and the rain by draping itself over the fallen man.
When discovered this morning by the Police Patrol, Escobanez was still out cold. The dog lay near, dead.
Relatives of Escobanez who is still a bachelor, told authorities that he always took nightly strolls at about 11 p.m. with his dog.
Minor facts
According to doctors, only the warmth from the dog’s body saved Escobanez from certain death.
Escobanez told police that he remembers nothing of the incident. A wallet containing PhP 500.00 was still in his pocket leading the authorities to rule out robbery.
How to write a lead?
Lead
It is a single word, a phrase, a clause, a brief sentence, an entire paragraph or a series of paragraphs. The main function of the lead, aside from introducing the news story, are to tell the story in capsule form and to answer right away the questions the reader would naturally ask.
A good lead answers all the important questions of the reader, indicates thefacts if they are all important, and arouses the readers’ interest to continue reading the story. In Filipino news, a good lead starts with a verb like “Nilamon ng…”
Conventional or summary lead

This kind of lead used in straight news, answers right away all or any of the 5 W’s (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and/or the H (How). It may be one of the following:
1. WHO lead
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo addressed, April 20, the PMA graduates in Baguio City.
2. WHAT lead
AN ENTRANCE examination will be given Nov. 24 to all graduating high school students desiring to enroll in the four-year college course.
3. WHERE lead
TRAPICHE, Oton, Iloilo will be the site of the next International Film Festival.
4. WHEN lead
TODAY, almost to the hour, the Revolutionary Government was proclaimed by former President Corazon Aquino.
5. WHY lead
BECAUSE of poverty, around a hundred students dropped from school last year. This was learned from Ateneo de Iloilo principal Aurora dela Cruz.
6. HOW lead
BY APPEALING to the school board, the University of Iloilo was able to construct a 30-storey, concrete building.
Do’s and Don’ts in writing a news story

1. Write the story immediately.
2. Play up the dominant points.
3. Be accurate and truthful.
4. Avoid opinions called editorializing.
5. Use adjectives sparingly.
6. Avoid libelous, seditious and rebellious matters, prejudice and bad taste.
7. Give source (attribution) of the news. Use quotes!
8. Write names in full when these are mentioned for the first time.
9. Identify the names mentioned.
10. Avoid redundancy.
11. Watch out for errors in fact, grammar, structure, and style.
12. Observe the guidelines for clear effective writing (unity, coherence, emphasis, brevity, clarity, etc.)
13. Adopt a paper stylesheet or stylebook for consistency and professionalism (in Ripples, we officially adopt the Daily Inquirer Stylebook)

Guidelines in writing a news story
1. Give your lead sentence a “punch” to catch the interest of the readers.
2. Starts with the most important event or idea.
3. Use the rule or proximity and explain how the news affects the people in the locality or the students in school.
4. If your story has something unusual or novel to tell, bank on that for the lead. It’s hot copy.
5. Make your sentences concise and clear so that they could be easily understood. Long tedious sentences will likely “kill” the readers’ interest. Besides, they usually “lose” the readers along the way. News stories are not “luxury” or ”pleasure” reading. They have the basic function to inform.
6. Use simple words. Using highfalutin words does not prove anything but pedantry and literary pretentions. Even literary writers try as much as possible to use simple words.
7. Never be afraid of breaking the rules if it will prove helpful in making a good copy.
FEATURE WRITING
What is a feature article (lathalain)?
It is hard to define a feature article because it can take so many forms and can cover so many subjects. However, a reader may easily distinguish feature stories from news stories through its different characteristics.
A feature article is an essay based on fact. It’s a virtual drop bag. It is never fictitious. This makes it different from ordinary essay you study in your literature class.
Like an editorial, a feature article is hung on a newspeg.
Feature stories, like news stories, are written to inform but they enlarge news in a leisurely and entertaining way. They are written to add life to the paper and therefore their style lends more to the creativity of a writer.
The main objective of news is to inform while that of a feature article is toentertain. But feature articles may also instruct, advise, influence, inform, and entertain at the same time.
The matrix below compares and contrasts news, feature and editorial articles.
COMPARISON
NEWS
EDITORIAL
FEATURE
1. Definition
Report an event
Interpretation of an event/issue
An essay based on facts
2. Main Purpose
To inform
To interpret
To entertain using present human interest stories
3. Timeliness
Timely
Timely
Timely
4. Length
Short
Around 300 words (2000 computer characters)
Depends upon the needs
5. Use of words
Simple precise, concrete
Simple, forceful, direct
May be descriptive, flowery, colorful
6. Use of sentences
Short, simple, 15-25 words average
May be longer
May be longer
7. Paragraph
No topic sentence, one idea, one paragraph
With topic sentence, longer
With topic sentence, longer
8. Use of literary devices
Journalistic, direct to the point, no idioms, figures of speech
Journalistic, direct to the point, may use idioms, figures of speech if properly handled
Literary, can be journalistic; idioms, figures of speech used freely
9. Use of adjectives/opinion
Uses adjectives sparingly; opinion, never
Adjectives used freely; primarily opinion
As much as desired
10. Parts
Lead, (Bridge), Body
Introduction (newspeg, reaction), body, conclusion (clincher)
Introduction, body, ending
11. Style
Follows style-sheet newspaper style
Follows style-sheet, newspaper style
Composition style or newspaper style
12. Structure
Inverted pyramid
Hypothesis, arguments/stand on issue, conclusion
Suspended interest or pyramid structure
13. Title/Headline
Short (subject-verb; telegraphic sentence form)
Shorter (at most three words)
Any length as long as it is appealing to the reader/topic
14. Kinds
(Refer to the syllabus)
Note: Sports News is not included since this special news article combines News, Feature and Editorial precepts.

Imagine this …
You are a reporter of a newspaper covering a beat in the Iloilo Port Terminal. While going home for work, you notice an old man ferrying people across a narrow waterway that divides the passenger bancas from the wharf.
You have passed by him hundreds of times before without a second thought, but suddenly you get off your motorcycle press and grab your notepad. You have just spotted a feature story.
You take a candid shot of the old man and start asking him questions about himself, his family, his job, his odd experience with the endless stream of humanity that he ferries daily across the small brook.
At home, you sit down and focus your thoughts on the old gnarled ferryman and study the odds and ends about him on your notepad. You organize your material and determine your focus of interest. Then, you begin to write your story:
REGIE Zabalacheng has the loneliest job in town.
Each day, he ferries hundreds of people across the Iloilo stream, but no one bothers to say “hello,” or even give a friendly wave.
Sabalacheng, 68, of 70 Lopez Jaena Street, Iloilo City, has been at his job for 40 solitary years.
“Nobody ever pays attention to me except to give me the two peso-fare after I get them safely across the river. I know them all by face because I see them every day but I don’t know their names,” Zabalacheng said with a cynical grin, “I guess they don’t know mine either.”
“It’s not a bad job, but it sure gets lonely.”
The story continues with more quotes from Zabalacheng, a description of his appearance and mannerisms, anecdotes from his 40-year career, and his family.
You’ve got a feature story.
The Wall Street Journal Formula
Here is a structure for features that the Wall Street Journal has used successfully for many years.
Beginning (introduction)—Start with an anecdote or an illustration of the theme (1st to 2nd paragraphs).
Theme—Shortly after the beginning, state the point of the piece (3rd to 6thparagraphs).
Body—Provide details that elaborate on that theme. Tell the reader what is happening and why and what’s being done about the situation. This serves rather than conclude on a secondary piece of information as to most news stories, a feature may have what is called a kicker, a punch at the end that drives home the theme and that the reader must always remember. (5th to 7th paragraphs)
Topics for Feature Stories

1. Personalities
2. Experience and adventure
3. Description
4. Narratives
5. Backgrounders
6. Developmental feature articles
7. “What to do” and “How to” articles

How to introduce (begin) the Feature article?
Unlike straight news, a feature article may begin in any form and in any style. It depends on the topic or purpose of the writer. Most features, however, may be introduced by any of the following:

1. Rhetorical question
WHO says that age is an obstacle to education?
Take it from Procopio Dimakulangan of San Miguel, Iloilo who stopped going to school 50 years ago after finishing the elementary grades. This year, he enrolled as a first year evening student at Andres Bonifacio High, Ateneo de Iloilo’s adopted school.
2. Startling statement
“HINDI pa kami laos!”
Ito ang pahayag ng mga “young once”—mga guro, pinuno ng paaralan at mga magulang—nang kanilang ipinagdiwang ang Araw ng Ateneo, Agosto 17, at lumahok sila sa iba’t ibang palatuntunan at paligsahan upang bigyang-buhay at kasanayan ang pagdiriwang.
3. Narrative statement
MRS. NELIA Marie Pradas, a fourth year evening student sends herself and her six children to school, acting as mother and father at the same time.
Every day, Mrs. Pradas takes her tentative place between the half-time tinderatending her sarisari store during the day and the half-time student studying at night.
4. Quoted remarks
“I EARN while I learn.” He smiled at me as the interview reeled off. “How can you work, have a part-time job as an exotic dancer, and at the same time go to school?” I asked.
“Well, it is easy, she explained. “I don’t do all of these at the same time.”
5. An old maxim, an aphorism or a “salawikain
“TUBIG, tubig sa lahat ng dako, ngunit kahit isang patak ay walang maiinom.” Itong siniping sabi ni Samuel Coleridge sa tulang “The Ancient Mariner” na wala nang bisa ngayon. Kahit na tubig na galing sa baha ay maiinom na. Paano? Ganito ang paraan.
6. History or background of the subject
ISLAMS throughout the world, including our Filipino Muslim brothers observe the holy month of Ramadan, starting Sept. 17. Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Muslim calendar. It is observed by Muslims as the Lenten Season is commemorated by Christians.
7. Problems to be discussed in the article of fact to be established
THIS IS the answer to the rising cost of vegetables: raise your own.

Ending the Feature article
1. A summary of the whole article
MAKINIG ka sa dalubhasa: ang paninigarilyo ay lubhang masama sa kalusugan. Maaring maturingan kang tunay na lalaki dahil sa paninigarilyo mo, subalit hindi tatagal ang buhay mo upang mapatunayan mo ang iyong pagkalalaki.
2. An announcement of the main point for the first time
THEREFORE, a major part of the development communications effort should be directed at strengthening the character of the people and developing in them moral values, particularly by self-discipline, self-reliance, strength of character, and fortitude.
3. A question left in the reader’s mind
ANG KAMAY ng makabagong Pilipino ay handang marumihan. Pinaiikoit niya ang gulong ng pangkaunlaran. Iwina-wagayway niya ang bandila ng kalayaan—kalayaan laban sa paghihikahos, at kalayaan sa kamangmangan.
4. Suggested results or significance
LET US conserve our forests now if we want to save the future of our country and of our children.
5. A forecast or prophecy
IN SIX-AND-A-HALF centuries from now, if population explosion would not be checked, there would be one person standing on every square foot of land on earth. By that time, people would be devouring one another for there would be no more space for plants to grow.
6. A repetition of the introduction
ASKED if he had formal training in photography, Lovely Sepe finally answered, “Ah, it is now the reverse. It is here where I learn as I earn, not earn as I learn.” (the lead of the feature article is, “I learn while I earn).
7. A repetition of a sentence or slogan, or a reference to the title
AFTER four years of working as a houseboy, working during the day and going to school at night, Jose Bonifacio will soon graduate as a first honor student.
Now, who says that poverty is a hindrance to education?
(The title of the feature article is “Poverty, not a hindrance.”)
8. An appropriate quotation
NESTOR claims that he is poor. But when asked why he gave his last centavo to the old man, he answered:
“It is not what we give, but what we share
For the gift, without the giver is bare,
Who gives himself with his alms feeds three
Himself, his hungering neighbor and me.”

A good feature writer should possess the following:

1. a keen observation
2. an intellectual curiosity
3. ability to find features in everyday happenings
4. cupboards of descriptive words (using all senses)and everyday idioms
5. the skill to weave words into interesting sentences and paragraphs
6. the ability to write effectively
7. the attitude to “think first before writing” and to “show (suggest), not tell, things”

Feature Example
Topic: Abortion
COME TO me, Mama. Come, touch me and feel my pain. Don’t be afraid now, Mama. You weren’t when you killed me.
Here, touch this… can you feel it now, Mama? The excruciating pain that consumed my helpless body? You inflicted that, remember?
Look at my body, now a mass of rotting flesh and coagulated blood. The dregs of what was a tiny human body. A body that was soft with a tiny head matted with a sheen of baby hair. A tiny body with a tiny heart that pulsated in time with yours. These were my fingers and ohh!... Here’s my thumb which I sucked while snugly tucked inside you.
You see, I had long lashes just like Dad’s. My sensitive mouth was just like yours. And here are my ears that heard your quickening heartbeat when you’re afraid.
I could have been a wonderful child if you’ve let me live.
I could have been baby boy, just what Daddy wanted. A strong, healthy and bubbly bundle in your arms. My hypersensitiveness would have exasperated you.
Daddy? Hmmm… He could have coached me in playing basketball. He’ll be the passer and I am the shooter. I could have grown into a writer. You would be proud of me coz I’m gonna join contests.
Mama, see I was alive but not anymore. So, please let baby brother live. He could also be as wonderful as me. His life wouldn’t be like mine. A life that never was.
EDITORIAL WRITING
What is an Editorial?
It is the official stand of the publication on a relevant development or issue. It is a concerted commentary written by any member of the editorial staff who comments or gives the newspaper’s or staff’s opinion on an issue which is of interest and importance to the public.
The editorial is considered the soul of the newspaper for it stirs the conscience of the readers to action; it influence and molds public opinion. It is usually written in formal language, expressing the stand of the paper on controversial issues of the day. It has no byline.
It is the expression of the people’s conscience, cause, and convictions.—Joseph Pulitzer
Characteristics of a good editorial

1. Must have clearness of style
2. Moral purpose
3. Sound reasoning
4. The power to influence public opinion
5. Lead logically to a conclusion
6. Present only one idea
7. Avoid wordiness
8. Present facts not mere opinion
9. Concise, around 250-300 words or 2,000-2,500 computer characters (at most 6 paragraphs)
10. Must be decisive and bias

Types of editorial

1. Editorial of information
2. Editorial of interpretation
3. Editorial of criticism
4. Editorial of commendation, appreciation, or tribute
5. Editorial of argumentation
6. Editorial of entertainment
7. Mood editorial
8. Pooled editorial

How to write an editorial?
In writing editorial, select only one specific idea to develop. Be sure the topic is of interest to the reader.
Organize your editorial in three parts:
1. Introduction
Contains the newspeg with the reaction. It is usually one short paragraph.(A newspeg is a brief statement about the news event upon which the editorial is based or an existing issue that needs to be solved right away)
2. Body
It may take two to four short paragraphs that support or justify the reaction. Cite reasons, statistics, interviews, or figures.
3. Ending
The ending, sometimes called the clincher, summarizes the editorial’s stand. It must be crispy and difficult to forget.
Example of an introduction
(reaction is italicized; newspeg is in regular font)
The new office policy of requiring tardy students to study their lessons in the literary while they wait for the next period is both timely and wise.
It is a source of great pride and inspiration for our school to come out second in the NSAT regionwide.
Our general PTA is really generous and concerned for the student’s welfare. They will donate labor and materials to improve the school gym.
Titles
Like in feature articles, the editorial has also a head or title which should be brief (preferably less than four words), forceful and interesting. In writing editorials, there is no room for “balimbings.” Though the writer must present both sides, he/she must, in the end, take a concrete stand on the issue. To perfect this, one must keep on toes on the different issues swarming the society from the most complicated to the most mundane topics.
Pointers in writing editorial

1. Make the editorial interesting enough to read.
2. Develop it from one specific, limited idea, phrased in one sentence and expanded into the body of the editorial.
3. Have a purpose well in mind that should be accomplished with sufficient data.
4. Organize all data into well-reasoned arguments, with each argument leading up to the conclusion.
5. Peg the lead sentence on recent, relevant news for its impact value.
6. Present both sides of an issue and clarify tricky aspects with a widely understood analogy or with an illustration that makes for easier understanding.
7. Direct the editorial towards the establishment of a consensus.
8. Article must be simple, direct, clear, and forceful.
9. No double meanings.
10. It must reflect clear, logical thinking.
11. Subject matter must be significant to the readers.
12. Sentences and paragraphs must be comparatively short.

Do’s and Don’ts in writing an editorial

1. Win the reader’s interest with an impelling lead paragraph.
2. Avoid generalities by using plenty of facts and by telling what these facts mean.
3. Keep your editorials short; around 300 words (2,500 computer characters) only.
4. Do not preach, scold or moralize.
5. Relate editorials directly to the lives of the reader.
6. Avoid the first person, “I.” Use the editorial “We.”
7. Write simply.
8. Develop editorial from only one specific, limited idea, phrased in one sentence and expanded into the body.
9. Sentences and paragraphs should be relatively short.
10. Accomplish your purpose.

Editorial beginnings
An editorial may start with:
1. A simple statement that gives enough of the situation, problem or news to be discussed.
2. A question that calls attention to, give an idea about the problem or point out the logical development of the topic.
3. A striking statement that jolts the imagination and arouses the interest of the reader.
4. A quotation relevant to the subject under discussion.
5. A narrative illustrating the problem or situation.
Example:
Vandals
ATENEO de Iloilo’s walls have a new coat of paint and are presently clean. Whether they retain their present state of cleanliness depends almost entirely on the students.
The first spots appeared as a result of negligent student leaning against the walls and scraping the soles of their shoes on them. Some students have also taken a peculiar delight in making long pencil scrawls on the walls as they go to classes.
According to an observant parent, Ateneans, more than any other group of students, abuse their buildings. This report, whether true or otherwise, should serve as a challenge.
Will the walls remain clean?
SPORTS WRITING
What is Sports Reporting?
Sports writing has become one of the most popular forms of modern journalistic writing. More and more Atenean readers are now turning to the sports section before looking at the more prosaic news of the time.
But while may talk about sports, there are only few who can write a sports story. Even experienced reporters get lost covering games and writing about them because it takes more than just answering the 5 W’s and 1 H to be able to come up with a comprehensive sports news story.
Example
ILAGAN, Isabela—Isabela National High School, behind the remarkable performances of Florante Carreon and Paul Gonzales, took all the Roxas National High School could offer before hacking out a close 60-59 win in an exhibition game held at St. Ferdinand College Court here, Tuesday.
Carreon scored 21 points to lead Isabela and Gonzales 13 points but delivered this on the crucial part of the game including the winning free throw.
The game started in a roller-coaster encounter and the first half ended 28-27 with Isabela on the lead.
The second half was still close and Roxas took the lead with two minutes to go, but Gonzales displayed a big heart as he connected a three-pointer to give Isabela the lead, 54-53.
Rolly Menor carried Roxas on that decisive moment and tied the game at 59-all with 15 seconds to go.
Gonzales fished a foul with 10 seconds left and split his charity for the lead, 60-59.
Herman Menor refused to give up but his last desperate jumpshot went in-and-out of the ring.
“Faith carried us through this game, it’s a good game,” said Gonzales after the game.
Box scores:
INHS (60)—Carreon 21, Gonzales, 13, Magusib, 12, Mercado 6, Aguinaldo 4, Martinez 2, Cabanlong 2, Ong 0, Lim 0, Gumaru 0.
RNHS (59)—Menor 22, Balagan 18, Malaca 12, Soriano 7, Allavigan 0, gonzaga 0, Advincula 0, Limbauan 0, Galapon 0.
Sports News Structure
Like any other news story, a sports story has a lead and a body. The sports lead is the attention-getter and the body is the news in a-nut-shell.
The classic 5 W’s and 1 H appear in the sports lead as: 1. Who won? 2. How did they win? 3. Against whom? 4. By what score? 5. Where? and 6. When?
The Torres High School Quintet (1) poured 10 baskets in the last three minutes (2) to edge out the Osmenians (3) 65-63 (4) at the opponents homeground (5) yesterday afternoon (6).
This kind of summary lead may vary.
The lead can also highlight other elements like:
1. The key play
LAKANDULA, Iloilo—The visiting Soliman High School sluggers bombed the Lakandula batters with six runs in the third inning to subdue a nerve-frazzling Lakandula rally, 14-12, as they clinched the invitational game here, in connection with the celebration of the school’s Foundation Day.
2. The outstanding player
EDWARD Ong of Ateneo de Iloilo, after almost four hours of battle over the chessboard, copped the most coveted YMCA trophy after outwitting Philippine Science High School chesser William Santos in 27 moves of a Sicilian defense.
3. Analytical approach
RIDING high on sizzling spikes and tricky placing, the spitfire Ateneo Blue Dragons blasted the Ateneo Blue Eagles killers in the crucial third set to won 15-10, 11-15, 15-7 in the Jesuit Athletics Meet (JAM), Sept. 21, at the Sacred HeartSchool in Cebu yesterday
The body
After the lead, the other elements follow in descending order. These will include:

1. Team and/or individual standing
2. Decisive plays
3. Best scores for the day
4. Play-by-play
5. Quotations

Elements that make up a good sports article:

1. Personalities
2. Play-by-play description
3. Statistics and comparisons
4. Quotes by players
5. Quotes by trainers and coaches
6. Background stuff on players
7. The importance or significance of the event
8. Background of the game
9. Weather conditions
10. Crowd and celebration

Lingos and Slanguages

Basketball (basketbol)
Quintet, goal (gol o buslo), dribble (dribol), pivot, rally, rebound (rebaun), technical foul, 15-foot line, hook shot, zone defense, first half (unang kalahati), tip-in, full court, press, box out, slam dunk, man-to-man, trey, full-court press, hook shot, goaltending, baseline, board, layup (leyap), out-of-bounds, dominated the paint
Baseball or Softball (beisbol at sopbol)
Diamond, pitcher (pitser), catcher (katser), back stop, hit a homerun, rolling ball, short stop, southpaw, pegged at third, fast ball, playoff (n, adj), play off (v.), slugger, wild pitch, bullpen
Boxing (boksing)
Southpaw, slugger, rabbit punch, kidney punch, referee stopped contest (RSC), technical knockout, featherweight,
Chess
Checkmate, rook, queenside, Sicilian opening, Ruy Lopez defense, Queen’s gambit, knight, white, black, fast pawn, en passé, castle, pin, open check, blunder, Philidor’s defense
Volleyball
Spike (spaik), placing (pleysing), change court, kill (kil), Chinese kill, block, net ball, wallop (wallop), jump serve, spiker (spay-ker), server (serber)
Soccer or Football
Soccerites, goalie, corner kick, penalty kick, full back, defenders, booters, kick off (v.), kickoff (adj)
Track
Pass on the baton, breasted the tape, clock a new record, photo finish, distance runner, century run
Tennis and Badminton
Best of three matches, love set, backhand, drive, doubles, racket, forehand, smash cut
Swimming
Tanker, aquabelle, breast stroke, plunge, springboard, tank, dive, summersault

‘
COPY READING AND HEADLINE WRITING
Copyreading is much like the work of a communication arts teacher correcting compositions, except that he uses different symbols.
A copy may be a news item, an editorial, a feature story or any literary article.
Duties of a copyreader:

1. Straighten out ungrammatical construction.
2. Shorten sentences and tighten paragraphs.
3. See that the paper’s style requirements are strictly followed. Check names, addresses, title, designations, identifications, figures, etc.
4. Rewrite the story completely if it is poorly written.
5. Rewrite the lead or the first few paragraphs whenever necessary, but must never tamper with the facts unless he is sure of his corrections.
6. Delete all opinion, speculations and statements on news which are without attribution or sources.
7. Watch out for slanting or any attempt to present the story in a subtly biased way.
8. Watch for libelous statements.
9. Recheck figures and totals.
10. Cross-out adjectives in news which tend to make a story sound over-written.
11. Cut a story to size or to the required length if necessary.
12. Check attributions and see to it that they are properly identified.
13. Challenge facts, claims, or reports when they sound anomalous, illogical and incredible.
14. Check sluglines and paging sequences
15. Write headlines

What to copyread?

1. Errors in fact
2. Errors in grammar
3. Errors in structure
4. Errors in style
5. Libelous and derogatory statements
6. Seditious and rebellious matter
7. Expressions contrary to law and good taste
8. Opinion and editorializing statements
9. Verbal deadwood, redundancy
10. Technical terms, slang, jargons

Copy-reading symbols
Punctuation Marks
Symbols Meaning Outcome
The Bionic Woman Emphasize quotes “The Bionic Woman”
Dr Arthur Cruz Jr Emphasize periods Dr. Arthur Cruz Jr.
said “I must go.” Emphasize comma said, “I must go.”
Numbers and Abbreviations
in Nov. Spell out in November
Doctor Arthur Cruz Abbreviate Dr. Arthur Cruz
twenty boys Use numeral 20 boys
2 girls were… Spell out Two girls were…
Special form of type
Manila, philippines Capitalize MANILA, Philippines
Letter and word changes
meet on Saturday Bridge over meet Saturday
those b oys Close up space those boys
Fe Cruz Principal Transpose Principal Fe Cruz
recieve Transpose receive
pamplet Insert letter pamphlet
went market Insert word went to market
Manila pAper Lower case Manila paper
received free gifts Delete word received gifts
judgement Delete letter within judgment
develope iskill Delete before/after develop skill
the most talented and Kill the principal
enthusiastic principal
Allright wehave time Insert space All right we have time
We were indeed very Run in copy We were indeed very
happy because happy because…
Others
Paco, Manila… Indent for paragraph Paco, Manila…
Today he will… Today he will…
Welfrido Cruz Spell as written Welfrido Kruz
One boy came Restore text; disregard On boy came
correction
Elected prexy Center subhead Elected prexy
the un - Syllabicate the un-
finished task finished task
The gong Set in boldface the gong
She read Les Miserables Set in italics She read Les Miserables
30 or # Story is finished
more or ) Story is unfinished
Seminar Text continued on the
(…2) Next page
# - folio copy See copy as written
Note: To arrange paragraphs just place the number (e.g. #1, #3) of the corresponding paragraphs in the left portion of the copy.
SAMPLE COPY TEST
Slug line: ________________________
Headline: _____________________________ No. of units: ____________
The PNU elementary school launch the anual cleanliness & beatification contest September 16 at the school social hole.
In a mating with Presidents and vice-presidents of each class from Grade III to Gr. Six, Mrs. Alegria Flora Principal explain the prosedures to folow.
According to the principal, its class class will be given an areas to cleaned. Ones a week, school officials will vissit the area and chose the cleanest amongst them.
Prices will be awarded to the class who’s area will be pick the cleanest for 3 times. Th
This will give insentives to the students explained Mrs. Flores.
The handsome and intelligent Mr. Garcia Ramon, vocation al teacher who facilitated the meeting told the studes that thru the contest cooperation will be developed
while order and cleanliness be maintained.
Congrattulations Mrs. Garcia
Headlining
It is easy to write the news headline. Just look at the first paragraph called the lead which contains the gist, Just write the gist of that lead.
Do’s and don’t’s in writing traditional headlines

1. Make your headline answer as many W’s as possible.
2. The headline should summarize the news story, but must avoid using all the words used in the lead. It should contain nothing that is not found in the story.
3. Positive heads are preferable to negative ones. School physician allays flu fear is better than Flu epidemic not rampant in city.
4. Out a verb expressed or implied in every deck.
5. Omit articles like a, an, and the, and all forms of the verb to be (is, are, be, etc.), unless needed to make the meaning clear.
6. Use the strongest word in the first line as much as possible.
7. The active verb is better than the passive verb in headlines (Food production drive intensified; RP’s lost image abroad regained)
8. Use the present tense for past stories and the infinitive form for future stories (Archbishop Sin bats for national reconciliation; Lantern parade to cap Xmas affairs).
9. Write numbers in figures or spell them out depending upon your needs for your unit counts.
10. Avoid heads that carry double meaning.
11. Use only common abbreviations.

Punctuating a headline
1. Use a comma in place of the conjuction and
2. Two related thoughts should be separated with a semicolon.
3. The dash may be used in smaller decks but not for headlines in large types.
4. The single quotation marks are used in headlines.
5. Follow the other rules of punctuations.
Unit counting in headline
½ unit - jiltf and all punctuations except the em dash (--), and the question mark (?)
1 unit - the question mark, space, all figures, capital JILTF, all lower case letters except jiltf
1 ½ units - the em dash, lower case m and w, and all capital letters except capital M and W and JILTF
2 units - capital M, W
Headline vocabulary (Formula: subject-verb-object ala text message)

1. Faculty club strengthened (beefed up)
2. Enrolment decreases (dips)
3. Science examinations announced (quiz bared)
4. Contests highlight Animal Week (cap)
5. Santos urges cooperation (bats for, calls for)
6. DepEd disapproves tuition fee increase (bucks, nixes, axes)
7. Ateneo wins 12 medals in press contest (bags, romp away with; tilt, parley)
8. Principal praises editors humility (lauds, extols)
9. Local staff dominates press tilt (rules, lords over)
10. Local basketball players retain championship (sluggers; crown)
11. US attacks Russ nuclear test (hits)
12. Laurel ends diplomatic tour (winds up)
13. Cops ended syndicate (busted)
14. Slay suspect questioned (grilled, probed)
15. RP sees import hike (eyes)
16. 456 pass bar exams (hurdle)
17. Lim dismisses 5 cops (fires)
18. RP-Malaysia dispute solved (row)
19. Fiscal dismiss rape charge (dismiss; rap)
20. Import talk delayed (snagged)

Mga halimbawa

Huwag gumamit ng pangalan maliban kung kilala ito
Mali—Jaime Diaz, nahalal na pangulo
Tama—Mag-aaral ng Mapa, nahalal na pangulo ng samahan
Maging tiyak (specific)
Mali—Mag-aaral, nagwagi sa paligsahan
Tama—Mag-aaral ng Mapa, nagwagi sa pagsulat ng balita
Iwasan ang opinyon sa balita
Mali—Paaralang Datu Puti, lumaro ng kahanga-hanga
Tama—Paaralang Datu Puti, nanalo ng 3 sa 4 na laban
Lagyan ng pandiwa ang bawat ulo
Mali—Limang guro sa seminar
Tama—Limang guro, dadalo sa seminar
Iwasan ang paggamit ng negatibong pandiwa
Mali—Paligsahan sa talumpatian, hindi matutuloy
Tama—Paligsahan sat al;umpatian, pinagpaliban
Gumamit ng makakatawag-pansing pandiwa
Mahina—Tinato ng Ateneo ang St. Joseph, 50-36
Malakas—Pinataob ng Ateneo ang St. Joseph, 50-36
Gamitin ang maikli at kilalang salita
Masalita—Bayang Pilipinas, sasali sa pandaigdig na palaro
Maikli—RP, sasali sa olimpiyada
Iwasan ang paggamit ng pantukoy at ng pandiwang pantulong nahango saverb to be
Mali—Si Japhet Burgos ay ang napiling punong patnugot ng Ripples
Tama—Japhet Burgos, napiling punong patnugot ng Ripples

EDITORIAL CARTOONING
It is an editorial page illustration expressing opinion and interpretation (a column or opinion in cartoon form). The word cartoon is derived from two words: caricature and lampoon.
A caricature is an exaggerated description, generally by sketching. It is a pictorial representation of a person or thing in which a defect or peculiarity is exaggerated so as to produce a ludicrous effect.
A lampoon, on the other hand, is a piece of malicious writing, a personal-written satire that attacks and ridicules.
A good cartoon appeals to the reader’s sense of humor in order to persuade him/her to accept an opinion.
How to conceptualize?

1. Read/listen—research your facts well.
2. Decide on your point of view or angle of your chosen issue.
3. Make your comment on the issue.
4. Translate your comment into coordinating, representative graphic symbols (e.g. crocodile for corrupt officials and typewriter for press)
5. Take into consideration the paper’s target readers.
6. Sketch/make doodles.
7. Draw your final cartoon.

Ways to present your view

1. Take the issue to a ridiculous situation.
2. Exaggerate the effect of an issue.
3. Use cliché or something contemporary or “in.”
4. Juxtapose or put together two events, even unrelated ones.
5. Take quotes literally. Play with words.
6. Consider the occasion.
7. Make an interesting artwork.
8. Caricature a political figure and add a punch line.

Tips for cartooning
1. Limit the use of words and labels.
2. Use universal symbols, those which can be understood at once by your intended reader.
3. Have your own style. Do not copy or plagiarize.
4. If your cartoon is about the editorial for the day, it must reinforce the stand stated in the piece.
5. Choose a most interesting issue and express your comment in an arresting way.
6. Do not clutter your cartoon with unnecessary details or complicate your drawing with artistic touches. These will just distract from the impact of the cartoon. Minimal is better.
7. Cover your cartoon with a frame or border.
8. Use shading to make your article more convincing.
Steps in Editorial Cartooning
Dr. Net Billones, one of the country’s top cartoonists, suggests the following steps:

1. List down the subjects to choose from.
2. Once the subject is chosen, ask what is the issue? What is the paper’sopinion about the issue?
Example:
Issue—Press freedom
Opinion—The government is going back to the martial law days as far as press freedom is concerned.
3. Decide the symbols to be used
Example:
Government—GMA
Press freedom—bird (dove) flying, typewriter, school paper
Repression—chain, scissors, slingshot, bar
4. Draw the cartoon.

Examples:

Prepared by:
Engr. HERMAN M. LAGON, Ph.D.
Subject Area Coordinator, Physics Teacher
Most Outstanding HS Campus Paper Adviser of the Philippines 2005 (DepEd) and
Hall-of-Famer, Most Outstanding Campus Paper Adviser in Region VI (PIA)
0920-2294759; h_lagon@yahoo.com; jotwithsirh.blogspot.com

Ateneo does mission with the lumads

2011-05-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

Ateneo does mission with the lumads

By Parvane Mae Lagon

“We tutored incoming freshmen, distributed school supplies, had a short but meaningful retreat, cooked our own food, lived and learned with the lumads way of life.”

Thus said Primo Escobanez, one of the four Atenean faculty and staff who went for an outreach expedition in Brgy. Miarayon, Kalakag, Bukidnon, last April 29-May 8, 2011.

The weeklong undertaking was aimed to deliver 13 large boxes of school uniforms, notebooks, books, and the like which mostly came from grade school and high school graduates of Ateneo de Iloilo. Likewise, it was intended to “get the feel” of the possibility for similar AdI-SMCS mission in Mindanao in the near future.

Aside from subject area coordinator and former outreach program head Escobanez, the virtual ‘advance party’ was also joined by Herman Lagon, also a subject area coordinator, grade school staff Bob Selomenio, and Campus Minister Agnes Gatpatan.

“I feel so blessed in joining the Bukidnon mission,” Lagon said, adding, “It is so enlightening and revealing to visit a cool place that virtually has a centuries-old history of Jesuit mission.”

“Staying in the place and immersing with the lumads' way of life is like putting into flesh what Jesuit mission work is all about."

Lagon and Selomenio left Iloilo with the boxes of donation April 29 and met with Escobanez and Gatpatan May 1 in Cagayan de Oro City. The day after, the four paid a visit to sister school Ateneo de Cagayan also known as Xavier University and visited the Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay City where they met a number of residing Jesuits which includes former AdI-SMCS teacher Bro. Noel Bava, SJ, iconic Mindanao Peace Initiative Bishop Honesto Pacana, SJ, and the legendary spiritual director Matt Sanchez, SJ.

In that same day, Fr. Matt accompanied the AdI-SMCS mission team to a bumpy, mountainous four-hour ride to Miarayon, one of the three mission areas of the Jesuits in Bukidnon province. There they settled in a two-floor wooden Jesuit house and became visiting tutors in math and values subjects to 70 incoming freshmen for two days, turned over boxes of donated items, distributed school supplies to 100 young kids in two barangays, attended masses, visited and talked to local officials and residents, trekked the nearby barangays (including small vegetable farms), did a half-day retreat (with Fr. Matt), bought and cooked food, among others.

Since the area is about 1500 meters above sea level, they had to wear sweaters even during noon time to bear with the Baguio-like atmosphere. The team took the boat in CDO May 6, passed by Cebu May 7, and returned to Iloilo May 8.

Gatpatan, for her part, said: "I wish we can go back to the place again with more volunteers. It is a great place for a personal retreat, mission work, and outreach initiative. The lumads are great people to be with and learn from. Indeed, a ‘Bukidnon Mission Part 2’ is worth contemplating upon.”###

ON K12 EDUCATION

2011-03-27T00:06:00.001-07:00

Column Name: Impulses

Column Title: K12 is ok

By Herman M. Lagon

P-Noy’s government gives full support to the K-12 Education Plan. As part of his Educational Reform Program, the administration believes that adding more years to basic education in the Philippines could help solve the problem of unemployment, keep up with global standards, and help Filipino students to have more time to choose the career that best suits their skills.
K-12 Education specifically means adding two more years in the secondary level plus kindergarten in pre-school. Such plan is not that easy for it also concerns the financial capacity of parents, the number of schools and classrooms, the number of teachers, and even the availability of books and other school supplies.
If this ambitious multi-billion-peso plan becomes successful, then the Philippine education system can become more competitive among other countries around the world. It is worthy to note that only the Philippines and one country in Africa or in South Asia I believe have 10-year basic education cycle. Most countries have 12 years before their students take any college course. Some more progressive countries even have 14 years for pre-college education.
However, it won't work if the needed elements to make it work aren't present.
Such elements, as stated above, include the adequate supply of schools, classrooms, chairs, manpower (teachers, administrators, and staff), books, laboratory equipment, instructional aids, utilities, community support, curriculum approaches, etc. If the government could allot a bigger budget to educational needs, then we could be one-step ahead towards the success of the K-12 program.
Furthermore, parents (especially those who belong in the poor sector) should be properly informed and motivated of the advantages of the K-12 Education Plan. This is very important since parents play a major role in providing the child's school allowances, supplies, and fees for other school projects and activities. Add to that the support of parents towards their children in terms of guidance and teaching.
Once this succeeds, it is best hoped that Filipino students would be more literate, skilled, and competitive to be able to find jobs more easily and contribute to the country's pride as well as the country's economy.
To note more, the K12 Basic Education Program is the Standard Education Program throughout the world. This has already been implemented on most countries and nations, especially on those which are economically progressive and has high values for human skills and efficiency.
As an educator, I fully understand the government’s desire to raise the quality of education here in the Philippines. Each year, the need for highly competitive graduates continues to grow as the demand for high paying jobs spread across the globe. Each year, ironically, our school produce is becoming more incompetent, unskilled, and illiterate. Sadly, this is proven by the different educational and labor surveys, diagnostic and achievement tests.
While this proposed K-12 education program may help us achieve that (which obviously could take many years), there are concerns in the education sector that need the more immediate response and attention of the government.
Some say that extending the number of years in school will not directly affect nor influence the quality of education because it would only mean adding more budget for more teachers and classrooms. After all, we’re for quality and not quantity, they say.
I am not sure if they are correct. What I am sure of is that the present 10-year system does not work and we need to do something about it; that K12 aims for a quality and relevant education; that good education defines good citizenship and national progress.
So, until the critics have a more concrete and not a motherhood-statement alternative, I will peg my hope to the K12 plan and support it in any way possible. Besides, the P-Noy government is serious in fulfilling it. What’s more, 98% of the world’s population says K12 works. Numbers and evidences don’t lie.
* * *
Engr. Herman Lagon, Ph.D., teaches physics in a private catholic school in Iloilo City. He may be reached through h_lagon@yahoo.com.

Let’s not abandon RP—Fr. Reuter, SJ

2010-03-08T16:25:00.000-08:00

Below is the message penned by Fr. James Reuter of the Society of Jesus, forwarded to me by my philosophy teacher Dr. Vilma Templora via Yahoo! Mail. I am yielding my column space today for this meaningful email brigade material wishing that the message of the good priest will spread out to the greater majority of the discerning Filipinos.
* * *
My beloved Philippines
*From : Fr. James Reuter, SJ*
By her own admission, GMA (GloriaMacapagal Arroyo) rightfully assessed that over the last decades; our republic has become one of the weakest, steadily left behind by its more progressive neighbors.'
* * *
Forty years ago, we were only second to Japan in economic stature, and way ahead of Singapore , Hong Kong , Malaysia , and Thailand. Today, at our present growth rate, it will take us 30 years to get to where Thailand is.
* * *
1. A population of 160 Million;
2. Of those, 70 to 90 million (equivalent to our current population) will live below the poverty line;
3. Our national debt is estimated to be at US$200B (compared to US$28B when Marcos fled, and US$53B today);
4. We will be competing, not against Thailand or even Vietnam, but against Bangladesh ;
5. We will be the most corrupt nation in Asia , if not in the world (we're already ranked 11th most corrupt nation by Transparency International) ...
* * *
The signs are clear. Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort.
* * *
We've seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government, NGOs, church groups and people's organization devote themselves to the task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds.
* * *
But not even two people's revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent in reversing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but three steps backward.
* * *
We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people, can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the spiritual realm.. It's time to claim GOD's promise of healing of the land for His people.
* * *
It's time to gather GOD's people on its knees to pray for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation.
* * *
Is prayer really the answer? Before you dismiss this as just another rambling of a religious fanatic, I'd like you to consider some lessons we can glean from history.
* * *
England's ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation, a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers.
* * *
The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it the most powerful nation today - a strong faith in GOD and a disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept across the land.
* * *
In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today, led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho. No wonder it has emerged as a strong nation when other economies around it are faltering.
* * *
Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here there is genuine humbling and seeking of GOD through prayer, moral reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to general prosperity.
YES, we believe prayer can make a difference. It's our only hope.
* * *
Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask for five minutes of your time in a day, to forward this email to your close friends and relatives.
* * *
This is the kind of unity which can make a big difference. Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer, you can be more involved by starting your own prayer group or prayer center.
* * *
We have tried people power twice; in both cases, it fell short. Maybe it's time to try prayer power. GOD never fails. Is there hope? YES! We can rely on God's promise, but we have to do our part. If we humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will heal our land. By GOD's grace, we may yet see a better future for our children.
* * *
'If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.'(2 Chronicles 7:14).
* * *
If you care for your children and grandchildren, PLEASE pass this on.
* * *
Let's not just abandon the Philippines
Father James Reuter, SJ
* * *
Random Quotes:
When you absolutely have to land that plane, there will be a runaway—even if you can’t see it sometimes.—John Hamm, managing director of operations, Internet Capital Group
There are so many things that we are capable of, that we could be or do. The potentialities are so great that we never, any of us, are more than one-fourth fulfilled—Katherine Anne Porter, short story writer, novelist (1890-1980)
* * *
Engr. Herman Lagon, who “Facebookly” describes himself as a “social scientist,” is a physics teacher and a PhD. student in Math. He may be reached through h_lagon@yahoo.com.

FEATURE ARTICLE FOR EDSA CELEBRATION

2010-02-25T16:47:00.000-08:00

‘Not Yet Over’

By Engr. Herman M. Lagon

THE CHAPEL bell rang almost in unison with the siren howling all over the place, intermittently squeaking as it passes by the narrow street of Lapuz Norte, La Paz, Iloilo City. Radio transistors were in full volume while people flock to the plaza that is just a stone’s throw away from our house. Men and women alike wore happy faces and shared a festive ambiance, embracing each other with almost tears in their eyes.
I was a 10-year-old grade six student then.
“Looters and vandals have entered Malacanang,” the radio broadcaster said in vernacular, adding, “Marcos is out! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”
Only then that I realized that the strongman they call “Makoy” was just kicked out from The Palace and a new revolutionary government was about to be formed with Tita Cory, the bespectacled widow who looked more of a resident housewife than a statesperson, leading the pack.
For the lack of the right word let me say that the feeing then was feisty but surreal—people in different genres, classes, and orientations came together neatly and forcefully in February 1986 to cause the fall of the Imelda, rather Marcos, dictatorship.
Who won’t be awed with the turning of events? Ferdie’s bootlickers turning against himself, the civil disobedience launched by his opposite alter egos Cory and Cardinal Sin, and on top of it all, the multitudes of people from all walks of life marching in Edsa with only their rosaries and flowers as shields against the M16-boosted, tank-reinforced, camouflaged loyalists.
When my Mom Diana asked me few days after the revolt to accompany her to the University of Iloilo where she teaches, I gave her my nod with thrill on my mind, wondering what might be happening there amid Edsa revelries.
I was not surprised. Classes were suspended, of course, and just like everywhere else, the school was also covered with streamers while retro-fashioned students and sharp-tongued teachers alike wore sunflower-colored ribbons and what not.
People crowding all over the hallways, parking spaces and corridors were showered by confetti, speeches and pamphlets at the quadrangle, all blabbing against the former dictatorial regime and asking for support to the new government. The crowd can’t say more but agree. “Tama na! Sobra na! Napalitan na! Panalo na!,” they cried.
When everybody was in jubilation, I heard a group of students at the corner of the stage shout “but the war is not yet over!” Noticeably, they wanted to say something but they were politely denied and the closed-fisted organizers of the program just proceeded with the singing of the famous revolutionary song “Ang Bayan Ko” to end the hours-long prayer rally.
That was it.
And the great waves turned into gushes, it calmed, and died unnoticed.
Twenty years later and true to Edsa’s ideals, Filipinos are now somehow free to speak their mind, to air their grievances. Not too much reckless arrests. Not too much physical tortures. But that is about all Edsa can offer right now. That is all Edsa can clearly boast for.
We may have a voice now courtesy of the so-called People Power. But what is it for? Few, if not none, is listening anyway. Many have turned apathetic, lethargic, self-centered, and pessimistic . Yes, we do periodic, freer elections that are alien during the Marcos regime. But is it the votes or the politician’s money and clout that count?
We are almost back exactly to where we started. Juan de la Cruz has reclaimed his middle names: Poverty and Corruption, lots of it! Traditional vested interests are back. Political order is out of order. Nationalist ideals are adrift. Education, labor, and justice are turned into a shaggy dog story. National unity is in tatters. The poor are still poor (in fact, poorer), and the rich are still in charge. Imperialist capitalism emerges stronger and unrestricted than ever. The Edsa spirit is near death.
Two and a half decades later and there’s hardly anything left to be said about Edsa. There are no sirens, nor festive mass actions anymore. No media hypes. No school rallies. No yellow pamphlets. No L-shaped finger signs that means down to tyranny and bad governance. People consider the day ordinary, except that it means a working holiday. In fact, in a recent survey by Pulse Asia, it was found out that 7 out of 10 of the Filipino youth are not even aware of what Edsa is all about!
I am now a workhorse physics teacher in a Jesuit institution and a PhD Math DOST scholar in the metropolis. Yet every time Edsa is marked, I always remember those UI guys in jeans and red Che Guevarra shirts who, though in an anticlimax fashion, bravely reminded us that “the war is not yet over.”/###

Column Article (Sept. 22)

2009-09-22T01:52:00.001-07:00

Impulses

By Engr. Herman M. Lagon

Electoral activism

Mar Roxas said, "this fight (running vs administration) is to right the wrong, to fight corruption, to fight the wrong. He further said the fight was about the people's thirst for change finally overcoming those who want to continue the "tayu-tayo (we) system, the horse-trading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all.
I just hope he will walk his talk.
* * *
Roxas also said, “We are up against forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal, against us. For them, the good life will continue; for us, the fight will continue."
What is to be done then? Give us the specifics please.
* * *
Noynoy, for his part, said, I say that Mar Roxas has a lot of traits which has shown how he has served the country. That’s why there’s no shame to propose his getting the second highest post in the land.
What he meant was Roxas is his spare tire. But there is no offense meant, of course.
* * *
Signatures are now being gathered asking Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas to run for congressman in the 2010 elections.
This is no good news for the Gonzalez son-dad team. Will Treñas be joining the bandwagon of mayorable Jed Mabilog? That would be an added insult to the King’s injury.
* * *
Unlike his predecessors, Serbian coach Rajko Toroman is more concerned about the chemistry of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team than the team’s need for size.
That’s a good kind of basketball philosophy—chemistry first, before height. In the same token, in school, the basketball varsity philosophy should be—studies first, before field goals.
* * *
Army soldiers recently captured two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Igbaras, Iloilo.
Two out of hundred Reds in Panay, that’s a good development.
* * *
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has registered 124 inmates from the Makati City Jail in the second district's election office on Monday.
We have thousands more inmates who need to register in other parts of the country. This is a good sign for convicted rapist-murderer Jalosjos who heads the Kakusa Party List.
* * *
Several youth volunteers in the province have organized the Aklan Youth Organization (AYO), considered as the only province-wide independent youth group.
If they are really that independent as they allege they are, then this is a good development as far as youth electoral activism is concerned.
* * *
Officials and employees of the Province of Iloilo and 34 out of its 42 towns are recipients of extra cash gifts found to have been illegally disbursed and irregularly granted.
We are taking about a total value of over P144 million here. All misappropriated, misused. Is this worthy to be called a subtle fund fraud? Go figure, town mayors!
* * *
Six months following the kidnapping of three teachers in Zamboanga Sigubay, the military has yet to confirm exactly where the Abu Sayyaf group has been hiding them.
Until now, they still cannot pinpoint where the kidnappers brought the teachers. Then where is the so-called military intelligence here? Then where did the millions of peso budget for intelligence work go?
* * *
The panel investigating the sinking of SuperFerry 9 is looking into the possibility that one of the vessel’s side doors was not properly closed, causing ocean water to rush into the bottom of the ship during its last voyage two weeks ago.
This is ridiculous! How about the report that the ship is already leaning towards the left before it departed? How about the accounts of victims that they’ve heard of some explosions in the engine room? How about the allegation that SuperFerry boats are under-maintained and substandard?
* * *
A Japanese toddler who strayed onto rail tracks got away with scratches yesterday after a train ground to a halt on top of her, police and rescuers said.
Luck at its best.
* * *
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who is seeking the vice presidency in 2010, shrugged off the pronouncement of Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who accepted Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s offer to be his runningmate. Puno said that although he welcomed Roxas’ decision, he doubted Roxas’ ability to bring reforms to the country.
Puno may be right. Roxas didn’t prove his worth that much yet as an executive officer. On the contrary, Puno already did prove himself. Just look at his greatest masterpieces—PGMA and Erap—and you will understand the magnitude of his so-called achievement.
* * *
Puno said to describe Roxas in jest: “he’s taller, more good-looking and younger than me.”
He forgot to say that Roxas is also less “politically traditional” than he is.
* * *
Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores has expressed strong opposition to the proposed 1,000-percent increase in terminal fee at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA).
Of course he must oppose it. Election time is nearing. He can’t afford to make positions contrary to what his voters wish for.
* * *
Sen. Manuel Roxas II formally declared yesterday he is running with Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr., and both promised not to steal from the people if elected.
That’s a tall order to do. Not to steal in any way when you are in power? At least they have the guts to say that. But, how about Gibo and Puno? Can they say that, too?
* * *
Creative writer and UP professor Jun Cruz Reyes on Tuesday complained of falling victim to military harassment, days after a trainee intelligence officer was caught conducting surveillance outside the residence of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera.
The specter of Martial Law is in the offing.
* * *
Even with his impressive comeback fight over the weekend, Floyd Mayweather Jr. still has not yet reclaimed the pound-for-pound mantle from its current recognized holder Manny Pacquiao, as far as an online survey of a popular sports website (Yahoo! Sports) is concerned.
That’s understandable. But things will change for sure if Manny will lose against Miguel Cotto.
* * *
Ron Artest says that if the Los Angeles Lakers don't repeat as NBA champions, fans can point their fingers at him.
I am pointing my finger at him this early on. Artest is more of a liability than an asset. It was proven many times in the previous teams he was in.
* * *
A mentally ill man hacked to death his parents and cooked the severed head of his father early Tuesday in Capiz province, police said. Also past midnight yesterday, a newborn baby was found abandoned and stuffed inside a plastic bag in a residential area in Antipolo City.
This is too much to handle.
* * *
The New People's Army has resorted to illicit activities such as illegal drug trade, the military claimed yesterday. The allegation stemmed after soldiers recently raided an abandoned NPA camp in Sitio Tigbasa, Brgy Tigbanaba, Igbaras, Iloilo, where a bag of marijuana leaves was recovered apart from bombs and ammunition.
It (drugs) can either be planted by the Army or the soldiers are really telling the truth. You figure.
* * *
Filipino architect Gonzalo “Jun” Raymundo, Jr. was selected as one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Guggenheim Art Shelter Competition and has been leading the online voting polls for the award, the Philippine Embassy in Washington reported on Tuesday.
This is another pride of the Filipinos. The world of Art indeed is a great social leveler. It knows no country.
* * *
In the highest-level conference yet on climate change, 100 world leaders come to the United Nations on Tuesday to decide how to start an energy revolution. While attention turns to U.S. President Barack Obama's first U.N. speech, the most substantial changes may come from what the presidents of China, India and other major economies spell out for billions of people and their households, businesses and farms in the decades ahead.
Nonetheless, whatever we do here in the Philippines in our own little ways will always leave a good footprint in the worldwide attempt to make Mother Earth smile once more.
Former University of Iloilo Student Activity Director Roberto Mesias passed away at high noon of Friday, Sept. 18. His remains now lies at Somo Funeral Homes at Delgado Street.
* * *
My deepest sympathy to the family of Sir Mesias—most especially to former UI Star paper adviser Ana, Mr. Mesias’ wife, who happens to be one of my writing mentors during my college years.
* * *
When a man puts a limit on what he can do, he has put a limit on what he can do.-Charles M. Schwab, CEO, Bethlehem Steel (1862-1939)
* * *
Joke of the day: A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says "You've been brought here for drinking." The drunk says "Okay, let's get started."
* * *
Special thanks to the best national broadsheets in the country—the Daily Inquirer and The Philippine Star—plus the PIA, PNA, radio pundits Aksyon and Bombo Radyo, internet search engine guru yahoo.com, joke-of-the-day.com, and TV giant ABS-CBN for the real-time updates they share to the people as part of their public service and right-to-information orientation. As I am deeply in debt with these media outlets, I am also appealing to my readers to support them in any way possible.
* * *
Engr. Herman Lagon, who “Facebookly” describes himself as a social scientist, is a physics teacher and a PhD. Student in Science Education Major in Mathematics.

Column: Impulses (please spread this article)

2009-07-25T00:22:00.000-07:00

Are we NATs?
By Engr. Herman Lagon

Very recently, the Division of Iloilo City was declared as a “high performing schools division” in the country due to its mind-boggling feat in the National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grade Six pupils. No less than the division superintendent, boasted this in the papers and in some of his speaking sorties. But does this claim have statistical, logical, and moral ascendancy? Is the assertion of our local DepEd and our “pleased” local officials well-founded?
If the raw scores are to be believed, it says that the 1st up to the 39th placers in the NAT are all from public elementary schools in the metropolis. The private schools, popularly considered to be the blue chip educational hubs in the city, ranked way below that of the DepEd-managed institutions. Some of them are Iloilo Scholastic Academy (47th), Ateneo de Iloilo (49th), St. Joseph School (50th), Assumption School (52nd), Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus (53rd), Iloilo Central Commercial High School (56th), Angelicum School (57th), and Westbridge School for Boys (59th).
What does this mean?
Out of 70 participating grade schools, 53 from public and 17 from private institutions, the first 39 best performing schools are all from public schools?! Not even one private school got into the top 39? This is inconceivable! This is a statistical improbability! The odds of this kind of overrated and enormously dubious achievement is 1 is to goggleplex! Who in his right mind will believe this?
I asked my PhD in Science Education Major in Math classmates at West Visayas State University (WVSU) and all of them—and I mean all—are one in saying that this result, considering the context of Iloilo City, is beyond possibility! One of them even retorted: “They (DepEd) might be joking. The Ilonggos are not that dumb to believe this baloney!”
Are we nuts enough to believe this statistical joke hook, line and sinker? Are we that naïve, apathetic, or mathematically ill-equipped to just eat this big chunk of tall tale, a big lie, as it is?
DepEd’s numbers want us to believe that no private school in town can match the first 39 public schools in the areas of Filipino, English, Science, Math, and HEKASI. No one, not even the excellent Language programs of Ateneo and Assumption, or the first-rate math instructions of ISA and ICCHS, or the finest scientific pedagogies of Ateneo and Westbridge School can prevail over or just equal the exploits of these 39 public schools in the city?
If the present NAT result is really true, why is it that in other city inter-school contests or academic tests—may that be in journalism, public speaking, mathematics, science and technology, history, and the like—it is most of the time, if not always, the private school students that excel?
Where’s the logic here?
A number of people in the city would like to enroll and are working hard to enroll their kids in some of the well-known private schools in town. And three of the main raison d'êtres are quality education, more modest hi-tech facilities, and creditable formation program. But the point of view of the latest NAT result suggests otherwise.
I am saying this with all due respect to the very many competent teachers and administrators in public schools. But we have to admit, their brilliant teaching skills will never be enough if these are not complemented by reliable and error-free books, learning-friendly classrooms, complete laboratory facilities, healthy and highly parent-supported students, clean school environment, updated instructional and teaching tools and strategies, undistorted administrative concepts of evaluation and assessment, longer and authentic class hours, well-oiled faculty formation system, judicious and apt salaries, and consistently values-oriented culture of excellence.
Yes, there are public elementary schools that continuously and consistently live to their vision and mission for academic excellence. But are we suppose to believe that there are 39 of them who are more academically excellent in the context of Grade Six instruction as against some of the private schools in town? That not even one of these private schools can get into the 39th place?
In contrast, the NAT result for second year high school students in Iloilo City revealed that there are roughly 6 or 7 public schools (mainly special science schools) that went into the top 20 spot while the other 14 come from the private schools. What makes this result more believable is that those public schools that went into the top spots are Philippine Science High School, SPED-ISEC, UP Visayas, and WVSU—all considered schools with good academic reputation. To solidify the validity of the result, same popularly known outstanding private schools also shared the top spots, namely, Assumption, Ateneo, ISA and Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus. Almost identical to this is the result of the recent National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) for fourth year students.
To note, some private elementary schools just received their NAT results a month ago. Curiously, only the achievement result of the private schools were given to them; no mention of the result of the public schools to compare with. Why separate it? On the extreme end, NAT-Second Year gave these same private schools the complete top 55 ranking of the high schools (private and public schools combined) in the city. Why can’t NAT-Grade 6 results be distributed in the same way?
Where is this coming from? My rage to this statistically ridiculous and logically unbelievable performance of the division of Iloilo City stems from the undeniable fact that this can only be possible if different forms of cheating happened in the conduct of the NAT in the grade school. And in my simple personal one-on-one interviews and surveys to some public school students, teachers and administrators, I have realized that cheating in NAT, more specifically in some city schools, is already common knowledge!
How do some schools cheat? What are these shocking strategies?
1. Tell better students to give their answers while instruct not-so-good students to get answers from the former. In this case, the good ones are assigned in strategic places so “division of tasks” is ensured. In short, they tell students to cheat, nothing less. If these instructions are coming from teachers, what kind of values are we modeling or offering to our young kids? This is so demonic that I consider this the antithesis of education!
2. Proctors, teachers and even administrators give and announce the answers to the pupils taking the test. This is terribly immoral, to say the least. This highly decadent act must never even be thought of or dealt with in a school with very young learners under their formative state of development.
3. Intellectually-challenged students are encouraged, if not forced, not to attend and take the NAT. Students who are asked to be absent are directly told that they are “no good” at all or asked to lie and say that they are “sick” during NAT day. This is one of the worst ways to kill a pupil’s self esteem and self-respect, the values that we are supposed to boost and improve in them.
4. Months are used exclusively for NAT reviews, setting aside the usual curricular demands of the school. This approach defeats the purpose of an achievement test. The result would be invalid and unreliable because class instruction is not normal anymore and is tampered with dubious variables and inconsistencies.
5. Some good students from other grade level take the test for another person. This act of misrepresentation and forgery is a counterculture. It fosters dishonesty and deceit. That is why these are called crimes (and the ones who do it are criminals) in the legal parlance.
6. Answers are checked and verified by school officials, proctors, and teachers. This is not part of the standard procedure in NAT taking. Here, the venue for cheating is pregnant. Therefore, test results may end up invalid, highly questionable and moot.
I am a product of a public elementary school. And I am proud of it. That is why it pains me to see that the kind of school that we had in the past—a school full of love and self-respect; a school that nurtures honesty, integrity, and veritable excellence but abhors cheating, lying and stealing—is not the same anymore as we have at present.
Yes, there are still public schools out there that deserve in the top 39. These are elementary schools who took the NAT the way it should be done. But from the looks of it, it seems that some guys in DepEd have not just cheated their way to get high NAT scores, but more alarmingly, have cheated the pupils—the supposed hope of our fatherland.
They are the ones who have killed these young kids’ self respect. They are the ones who have taught students that cheating is justified. They are the ones who have shown to kids how to dupe and swindle. They are the ones who have paraded to these young tots the normalcy of stealing one’s answer and the habit of lying to people. These are the ones who teach these children to act like them, animals: value-less, greedy, unprincipled, monsters, and cheat.
What is the price of all these deceptions? High ranking in the NAT result matrix? Nice nod and smile from the supervisors or from the city mayor? Unfounded pride one can get from this lie? The measly perks? The intoxicating pleasure of fame? All crap!
This is a plain mockery of the country’s educational system! What is more alarming is that this educational treachery may even be possibly happening in other parts of our already sorry nation. Something must be done. Something must be stopped. Something must be learned.
Nonetheless, whoever are the culprits can already dethrone Satan in hell!#
***
Engr. Lagon is a physics teacher. He is presently finishing his PhD in Science Education Major in Math degree at West Visayas State University.

The Copy Editor's Lament By George Martin

2009-07-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

I was sitting on the copydesk
just watching o'er the scene
when the dealer sent a juicy
story over to my screen.
It had power, sex and politics and violence - it was great;
and the headline on the dummy said:
- 6 column 48.

So I rearranged the commas
and I tidied up the lede
and I patched up all the typos
and gave it one more read.
I typed in all the coding
and prepared to write the hed
when a voice came from the news desk,
and this is what it said:

"Pass me back that dummy, please,
I have to change the page.
Composing found a missing ad,
the foreman's in a rage.
If they find the guy that lost it,
they'll be skinning him alive.
And that headline that you're working on ...
- make that a five."

Four columns? Well, that's tougher
but a deskman does his best
to keep the story's gist intact
and leave out all the rest.
I thought a little while,
and then my hands did fly
But just before the head was writ,
I heard the news desk cry:

"Pass me back that dummy please,
I have to make a fix.
It really needs a graphic
or the editor will bitch.
They'll make it on the Macintosh
and ship it here to me.
And that headline you are writing ...
- make that a three."

Now a head that's just three columns
forces choices quite absurd
do you write it as a label
or just use only verbs?
I struggled and I puzzled
and at last I did compose.
When over at the news desk
a voice once more arose:

"Pass me back that dummy, please,
I have to make a change.
How I forgot the sidebar,
is really very strange.
A page without a sidebar,
would make the reader blue.
And that headline you are writing ...
- make that a two."

Now a head that's just two columns
is a challenge and a strain;
they often make no sense at all,
to write them is a pain.
I finally got a concept
but before I put it down
I looked up from my VDT
and saw the news desk frown.

"Pass me back that dummy, please
there's one more thing to do.
We have to have a locator map;
the reader needs a clue
to where this all is coming down
and where it's being done.
And that headline you are writing ...
- make that a one.

Sometimes a copy editor
is like a cornered rat,
hemmed in and surrounded,
his hopes collapsed and flat.
There's no way out, all one can do
is fight with tooth and claw.
This time 'twas so, and so I wrote:

Panel
eyes
law

Example Short-Story "Feature"

2008-08-30T04:13:00.000-07:00

Frank: A Personal Retrospection

By ENGR. HERMAN LAGON

It was an experience of life, death, and loads of Toblerone.

That weekend I thought it was just the typical, brownout-causing typhoon. With the backdrop of a biblically deluge-like downpour, I wantonly slept myself away from 11 p.m. of Friday (June 20) until 11 a.m. of Saturday (June 21). I thought to myself, this typhoon will pass and I need all the rest that I can to recharge for my school chores in the Ateneo de Iloilo next week.

Half conscious, I went down to our house toilet to take a leak. As I stepped on the tiled floorboard which has a foot depression from our main floor, I was greeted by water all over the place. It was rainwater turning our comfort room into a kiddies' swimming pool!

But it didn't surprise me a bit. I said to myself, Jaro is just like this every time heavy rain falls; there is almost fictional working drainage system at all to start with. More so, our place is near the lowland CPU area. Water peeping some inches away from our floor and warning siren squealing all over the place is just normal, very ordinary.

When I turned on the battery-powered radio, details of a flashflood are described as if it were the end of the world by screaming reporters. I told myself this is another typical sensationalized broadcasting modus operandi employed by people in the airwaves just to gain the alluring temptation of ratings.

So I tried to go back to my lovely inviting bed and doze out myself anew for an hour. Then, the great shocker: my daughters, Psyche and Parvane, whom I also convinced to sleep and save energy for the next tasking Ateneo week of school work, woke me up and informed me that the water has turned from dirty white to Milo brown, and it is rising very fast. I immediately went out of our mezzanine floor and got stunned by what was taking place. Everything in the main floor and in our small backyard, including my motorcycle, was swimming, engulfed by muddy waters that smelled like it came from the boondocks.

So, a science teacher as I am, I then took data from the radio and approximated the rate of increase of the water level. It was providential perhaps that my cellphone was just charged in school the other night and so I had the luxury of texting my other colleagues, asking about their state in real time. Most of the replies seemed to be just a replay of what the radio onsite reporters are talking about.

And then, at 11:40 a.m., a text from my principal Ma'am Au came, telling me that the main floor of her house at Brgy. Cuartero, Jaro (just about 600 meters away from our house) is already ravaged by the "mudflood" with "hehehe" after the message. I thought it was just a joke, a coping mechanism by my ever strong-willed mentor. But based on the radio dispatches, the area was indeed a Frank "hot spot."

And so I texted my principal back asking her if she's alone in her house, knowing that her busy, on-call medical doctor daughter is not always in the house. She replied an hour later, saying: "I am alone and I am now on top of my bed with Jake (her Labrador dog)."

And that's the cue. Although she didn't tell me to go there and help, the graphic description of my 60-or-so boss standing on top of her bed surrounded by flood waters is enough to signal danger.

But deciding to go there is not that easy to make, for going there means leaving my family, also under Frank attack. I said to myself, it must not be a pick between one over the other. I must decide by measured deduction.

And so I devised a plan. I told myself I have to use science to make the right calculated choice. I am, in the first place, a physics teacher to start with. Juxtaposing the records like the path of the scheming typhoon, the descriptive air reports, the rate of increase in flood tide as to the normal ocean tide, the source of the flashflood, wind direction, and the manner of rainfall, I theorized that the most likely maximum flood height will be reached at around 1:30 p.m.

And so, I waited and found out that the rising of the water seemingly stopped at 2 p.m. Only then, that I decided to go and "visit" Ma'am Au. So I changed, left my cellphone in my school bag, and placed P200 bills and my identification card in my side pocket just in case.

Wearing a black "Teatro Atenista" shirt and a dark-brownish, baggy shorts, I braved through the stomach-deep, river-like 300-m stretch of Lopez Jaena, Jaro. In just few steps, I already realized that the slippers that I wore were useless due to the 6-inch deep mud that I am walking on. So I have to wade through barefoot (good thing I didn't have any open wounds that time).

I tried the first pass via the CPU fifth gate route but I retreated back due to the rising, gushing tide. As I braved through the Lopez Jaena stretch, I tried to pass through Fajardo Street from the other end but it was worse than the previous one. At the intersection of Lopez Jaena and Fajardo, the current of the seemingly flash mud flood reminded me of the great Niagara Falls, only that this time it is scary rather than lovely. Here, I can already hear the raucous splash of the angry water.

My third way choice was the Santa Isabel Street, just a block away from Fajardo. But it was again "unpassable," even the six-by-six government trucks were not able to take on the wrath of the maddening current.

Then I tried to take it through the Jaro Elementary school just behind the Jaro Cathedral (that was then turned into an instant refuge camp). But the situation there was worst. People were hauled just to cross the lake-like intersection via a wobbly orange inflated boat attached to an inch-thick rope, with about three rescuers trying to stabilize the whole contraption. I even overheard a bystander jesting in Hiligaynon "the boat may instead kill rather than save others."

I tried to take the fifth alternative—that is to ask the government dump trucks to ferry me over to Ma'am Au's place. But when I had a chance to see one, the driver, even if I already told him that my "lola" is trapped and I need his help (of course, I thought I must exaggerate things a little bit ad hominen to get his precious yes), I was only greeted with a poker face, as if the driver had heard the same tale over and over again with no solution to offer. The area needs a pump boat or an Amphibian tank, not a truck, I just consoled myself amid rejection.

After the hopeless help seeking from the busy rescuers, I was left with no choice but to choose the sixth recourse, the one near the Ted's Batchoyan in Jaro Plaza, the one they call Libertad Street. The path seemed to be less treacherous. I can also see a handful of bold warm bodies cutting through the chest deep muddy waters at the end of the two-block street.

Ma'am Au's place is just about 300 meters from the Jaro Plaza. Although it also means three-century stretch of mud and water, I joked myself, at least the path is not full of thorns and land mines.

And so started my 16-hour calvary.

The first block was just a breeze although I had to use to a bamboo stick just to make sure that I was stepping on pure mud and not on sharp edges.

Then the crossing came. I needed to pass through it while walking sideways. My body was streamlined to the direction of the strong current while I walked perpendicular to it. Few others who passed the same way needed to do this while holding hands just to make sure that they won't be literally swallowed by the furious flashflood.

The other intersection near Fajardo was, for me, the most trying part of my journey. Chest deep, the muddy water moved like small lines of raging bulls. They were so fast and so strong that local Tanods needed to place a 1 ½-inch thick nylon rope across the street just to keep the few but daring passers pass through it unharmed.

Before even going to the starting point of the line, I felt like I was strongly pushed by the water to the nearby concrete wall. Good thing I was given a hand by a similarly struggling Tanod just to cling through the rope.

Just as I thought that the worst of it had passed, I had to cross the 6-meter street turned kayaking area with only my bare hands and the improvised cable. Although the Tanods were there to "cheer" us, I was left by myself to do the crossing and before I knew it, I was already "floating" horizontally with my hands holding the rope as if it were the last day of my life.

Inch by inch I tried to move to my left while in a prone floating position with strong current of mud water gushing through my body. My floating body is paralleled at about 1 ½ meters from the ground. Halfway through the rope, I almost lost my grip but I braved it nonetheless for losing my hold might mean my early death. When I eventually completed my daring ordeal, I was greeted with a big tap at the back by a Tanod on the other end telling me that I did it really well. I didn't care anymore to bother him and ask what he meant.

And so, I proceeded straight to the lower portion of Fajardo Street where I have to pass through the side fences of the houses ala Spiderman-Aquaman. The water was already nose-deep and I couldn't pass through the middle part of the road for it has turned into a death trap due to the mad current. I was left with no choice but to start swimming through the edges of the road where cars were already floating like logs. People in their second floor houses watched me, perplexed.

Then I reached another crossing near the Jaro I Elementary school and the Brgy. Cuartero Outpost. There just under the roof of an almost drowning beauty shop, I already started to think of going back and waving the white flag. But the worsening condition strengthened more my resolve to proceed to my target. I told myself, I have come this far, I must not give up. Ma'am Au may need my help (by this time I didn't have any idea what kind of help I could give her) all the more in this kind of Bangladesh-disaster like situation.

The current was already too much for me to handle. I could barely move an inch from where I stood (or swam, I didn't know exactly what I was doing by then). I clutched at the window grills of the "sunken" parlor and waited (buoyed) my way for my next plan while looking at the cabinets, small snakes, wooden planks, and plastic containers floating (or swimming in the case of cold-blooded vertebrae) through the river-like street.

Then I saw a group of residents sheltered at the other side of their elevated house rummaging through whatever items they could see drifting in the virtual stream. I made a sign for help and, after minutes of waiting, they threw me a rope for me to at least get into their place (which is just an eskenita away from Ma'am Au's house) for quick refuge. I asked them about "the way to the white Korean building," my best reference for my target's house. They told me that the area, which is only 100 meters away from where I was, was already two meters deep.

After a few minutes of rest, I started swimming through the narrow passageway towards Ma'am Au's house. This 100-meter stretch of deep, flowing mud water is one of my most unforgettable and closest encounters with the Grim Reaper. Exhausted already, I used all the possible swimming styles I could just to make a few centimeters forward. I tried the back stroke and laughed at myself for doing such (and for drinking mud water in effect). All the years of my life, I thought that the fancy dog style ridiculous, but that situation proved otherwise.

Along the way, I had to freestyle-dog style myself from place to place where I had nothing to cling. Most of the time I clung to walls of many kinds—bamboo, concrete, galvanized iron, grills, cactuses, and bougainvilleas. One time, I had to move using the floating tricycle as my life vest of sort. While doing this, I saw small houses with only roofs left to be seen, and luckier people in their second floors just staring at me, perhaps confused about the senselessness of what I am doing.

After drinking a glassful of mud water and while chilling in the cold afternoon, I reached the house of my principal with only the other half of the house (upper portion of the windows and roof) visible. Only an inch of the concrete fence is seen. I perched on it to rest for a minute while Labrador Jake barked at me. Then it rained anew.

I called Ma'am Au up and she was there at her grilled window, equally surprised with my presence amid the flood. Swimming though the screened pane, I saw her bobbing with barking Jake at her side. In the downpour, I thought I heard snatches of her voice telling me to pass through the back door. Little that I know that from where I was, a lot of cacti were barricading so I had to take them out and swim through the back door which really, I did not know where.

I realized that the slippers that I tried to use as mini oars have been useless since the start so I placed them in one of the windows of the house before I proceeded at the back portion of the house only to discover a day later that that pane where I placed my tsinelas is about nine feet high.

Looking for the back door swimming was a great struggle for me. The place seemed to be like a small kitchen of sort and many pointed things like corrugated steels greeted me like hideous teeth of beasts from hell. I thought to myself, what if I will step on these sharp things or get snagged by pointed kitchen wares.

Finding the back door had been difficult already but when I realized that the door was locked from within, I thought that Hades was making fun of me bigtime. Suspended on an instantly improvised Styrofoam floater, I kicked and banged the door hard just to force it open. The water and the floating refrigerator made it more difficult to let loose. But persistence ruled and eventually the wooden door slowly gave way.

As I entered the house, only then did I realize the gravity of the damage. Everything floated—TVs, refs, computers, tables, cabinets, vases, books, and what not. The bungalow house was half-filled with water, including the two-step higher mezzanine floor where Ma'am Au's room is.

I gaped when I saw my principal indeed on top of the bed with Jake still woofing. Only this time the bed was also floating. Ma'am Au and Jake did a balancing act on bed half-soaked with mud water. The bed was then the third highest place where she can be on; the second is the top of the frail cabinet, and the third is nothing else but the roof top.

It was already about 3:30 p.m. that I came to "rescue" Ma'am Au. She seemed happy to see another member of the homo sapiens species with her, but like me she was equally clueless how to get out from the area amid the awful condition.

And so, while Ma'am Au was doing her balancing act, I looked for a place where I could "sit" near her just to dry myself off. Lo and behold, a three-inch horizontally wide baluster which was still submerged in water was there for me. I placed a thick book on one side of the plank and a soaked square upholstered chair seat on the other just for my butt and feet to rest lest sit in the same fetal position for hours.

I told my "floating, bed-balancing" principal, who is also texting her family and friends for rescue, three available options. First, I will go back and tell the rescuers the better way to Ma'am Au's place for help. Second, we will swim through the route I took using an improvised floating devise made up of blue mineral water containers. Third, we will just buy our time and wait for the rescuers to come or stay and wait for the water to settle.

Hours came and the water is settled very slowly. I was trying to use my science to provide an answer to our condition but the most that I could do was to measure the rate of falling of the water level by approximation.

Dusk came and I really could not bear the fact that my principal was wet from the hip down while I was trying to dry myself in a balancing act with the filmy baluster just outside her room. By this time, both of us were cold, our teeth chattered, our bodies freezing in the dark. So I devised a plan to look for the aluminum ladder that I earlier saw at the back door of the house. I said to myself, this can be a good contraption where she can sit on to dry herself for a while as we waited for the water to settle.

And so I swam anew in the eddy of black coffee. I tried to look for the stepladder using merely my sense of touch. And found I did. Happily I swam to my principal's room and showed the ladder to her. She climbed over it, and sat on top of it as I continued my own balancing act in the baluster. By now I was just a hand stretch away from her.

When I thought that everything was all right, Jake went mad and barked up his lungs, seemingly showing his disagreement with the ladder idea. After almost 30 minutes of listening to the cacophony of Jake's barks, Ma'am Au and I both surrendered and looked for another way to stay dry. My principal and I looked instead for a taller table. Good thing the dawdle lowering of the tide has allowed us to make use of the TESDA-made steel desk, now turned 2-square-foot "bed" for my ever-inventive principal. I never thought that she would be staying on the same "flat" space in a fetal position for the rest of the night.

At one point, while blanketed by darkness, I thought I saw from the windows that the water level had fallen through the floor already. When I tried to get down from my baluster-small resting place to check, I plunged down face and chest first to the water as if I were diving for the Olympics. Only then did I realize that the water was still high and everything was just a pigment of my imagination. I was soaked wet and I thought hypothermia crept on me trying to embrace me.

Motherly as she is, my principal, with her fading flash light looked for some dry towels in the upper portion of the half-submerged cabinet and gave it to me to at least ease the nippiness I was experiencing. She needed to distance herself from me since the possessive Jake is around "protecting" her. So she had to throw the towels to me like we were playing catch.

Our situation was so ironic yet full of meaning. As I thought that I was salvaging her one way or the other, Ma'am Au was saving my life, too. We were making ourselves afloat, hopeful, and sane symbiotically, like mother hen and her foolish chick!

Communication was difficult and my principal's phone was already low bat. So, at one time, we tried to look for the phone of Ma'am Au's daughter-physician in the adjacent room wishing that it could still be used for SOS. Since the place was relatively elevated, we tried to look for the gadget as if we were catching a sly shrimp in a navel deep fish pond. We failed (in fact, I only "caught" some pairs of stilettos) and went back to our original position.

Another moment, we received a swift call from Fr. Manny Uy, SJ, of Ateneo de Iloilo who was in the Jaro Cathedral helplessly waiting for the water to subside to rescue us. He quickly talked to Ma'am Au, seemingly giving her all the comforting words available just to enliven her spirit. When the phone was already given to me, all I heard was an intermittent voice that says "…thank you for being there Sir H…you must be ready for the possibility of getting up the roof for refuge if everything gets worse..." It was then so clear to me that I must have a ceiling-breaking Option 4 to think about—and I must do it clandestinely for Ma'am Au's sake. This plan was not fleshed out though for the place is so dark that I had this difficulty in looking for a hammer and for the ceiling opening. Good thing the water was not rising anymore by then, letting me think to stick with Option 3, that is to kill time and just wait for the rescuers to save us.

After dusk, I tried to swim around inside the house to rummage for food. In the first "voyage" I found a tray full of food zings: tomatoes, peppers, gingers, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, and the like. This earned me a smile from Ma'am Au. My second voyage hours later yielded a Brojas bread that was floating just few steps from my cozy baluster spot. Jake and I ate this one.

My third "food expedition" happened at 3 a.m. when Ma'am Au and I orally expressed our instinctive hunger. This time, my intention was to look for whatever I could in the kitchen, even if it took turning every piece of appliance upside down.

After 15 minutes of clueless search, I set my eyes on the floating refrigerator, thinking that there might still be something plastic covered inside that can be munched on for an early morning delight just to fill our stomach with much-needed carbohydrates and sugar.

So, like a famished but adrenalin-rushed Ethiopian, I turned the ref to its upright position and placed a heavy narra-chair on top of it for it not to float and move. I then slowly opened the ref and, as if hearing the heavenly voices of the angels, I saw in front of me a bar of giant Toblerone still cold and dirt free! Only then that I have learned the whole refrigerator was sealed from its magnetized door and remained unspoiled. Everything inside was still in tact, in fact it was still cold and frosty. The lower part, upon opening, was immediately swamped by the inflowing water, but the dry upper portion of the tall ref was still filled with meat and milk products plus some pastries.

I said to myself, "this is heaven sent, miraculous even." Sharing an alp of Toblerone to Ma'am Au and eating the huge remaining part of it while drinking a cold fresh milk, I said to myself, this is a quirk of fate. In the middle of the storm, at the vortex of fretfulness, in the core of the flashflood, we were munching butter scotch and my ever-craved-for Toblerone. We were drinking like royalties.

This morsel of exuberance plus the hours-long, irreplaceable chitchats sustained us (and kept our sanity perhaps) until we were rescued by Jesuit brother Errol and two other school co-employees Sirs Rod Rod and Boy at 6 a.m. of Sunday when the tide has already gone down knee-deep.

It was so interesting to note that despite the gloomy backdrop of the muddy flood, amid the heroic rescue attempts that our Jesuit friends and relatives have tried from 4 p.m. of Saturday up to the early morning of Sunday, we felt so light and in high spirits as we greeted the morning sun, walking in the still rushing waters of Brgy. Cuartero, Jaro towards SM Jaro where a number of our friends and co-workers waited for us in tears.

We said to ourselves, we have been working together (she as my mentor and me as the often stubborn apprentice) in school for seven years now but our 16-hour Typhoon Frank experience seemed to bind us more. For me, it was a thought-provoking, awe-inspiring but slackening marathon conversation. It was a substitute-less bonding of sort, so calming, so transcendental. For me, it was a wish-come-true—like my other wishes that is to have a similar chat with my idols philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, physicist Albert Einstein, socialist Che Guevara, and revolutionary musician Bob Marley.

Frank, in all its cruelty, served as an umbilical cord linking us (Ma'am Au and I) like mother and son. It made me feel a part of her and her to me. That is perhaps the closest that I can describe the peculiar attachment that I have now with her after our death-defying experience.

It all turned my perspective in life 180 degrees. Right before my eyes, I saw how material possessions can easily vanish in a blink of an eye. I saw how long-kept books, highly-invested in computers, newly-constructed shanties, and even precious lives peter out. But, amid these, I also saw the triumph of the will of the human heart.

After the Typhoon, our school conducted some series of sharing-processing activities to students and teachers, and eventually spearheaded a Panay-wide relief operation (Task Force Frank). Here, I realized that all of us have our own taste of heroics, rants, and comics. Stories of great courage and sense of sacrifice abound like spring water. Indeed, Frank was frank. He taught us about life the hard way. He taught us to let go and to let God.

Frank, the 6th Typhoon that hit the Philippines in the year 2008, hit us hard last June, the 6th month of the year, at 6 p.m. of Saturday, the 6th day of the week. It was so demonic of him to just frantically turn away from the normal low pressure route, fool the weather experts, and surprise Region 6 with its devastating blow killing almost a thousand Filipinos, capsizing 120 vessels of different sizes, and damaging P50 billion worth of property and business opportunities.

But then again, callous at it may seem, I thank Frank in a sense for waking us all up. Yes, the damage has been done and it was so faith-challenging. But the message has been sent forth more clearly. Let go. Let God.

Looking back, I have realized that, despite the wild heroics, I never meant to put my life at risk. It just happened. It was plain instinct. A distress call was made, and I had to respond. But I have to admit, I responded more crazily because it concerned the person that I call my second mom.

They say I was a hero. I always impulsively tell them, of course I was not. I offered nothing to Ma'am Au except my annoying presence. Only that I was then at the right time and at the right place. It was not me at all who did the good and the right things. It was Him, no more, no less./END

Lecture 13: Photojournalism

2008-07-30T04:44:00.000-07:00

PHOTOJOURNALISM

is the art and science of making news, opinions or features in photograph form.

* * *
Things to know

1. The photo will not be reproduced as clearly as it was in its original form. Details are lost in processing, accounting for smudges.
2. The photographer should be asked not to use a screen as intended for better photos like the ones used in magazines.
3. Flat, smudgy, grayish pictures or soft print that melts into the background should not be used.
4. If the picture is great, it deserves to be played big; if the picture is ordinary, it needs to be played big.
5. Action pictures are better than the “firing line” or “firing squad” and pose pictures.
6. Get glossy prints, not matte.
7. Get big prints for reduction.
8. Don’t put pictures back to back.
9. Pictures have moments of truth such as the punch of Filipino boxer Many Pacquiao that knocked out Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico.
10. If you have to use group pictures, use it big to allow recognition of people in it, unless it is a crowd scene where the crowd is more important than the expression of the faces.
11. Even crash scene looks dead with only the plane shown or the train wreck pictured. People running away from it or people rushing to it for rescue would make it lively.
12. Small pictures are ineffectual. Details and impact are lost.
13. A one-column long picture can be very attractive. So can a shallow but wide picture as outstretched hands dropping coins in a hat being passed around for the earthquake victims in Indonesia.
Cropping is the process of cutting off or marking out unwanted parts of a photograph or an illustration.

* * *
Writing captions (cultines)

1. All rules in news writing apply to caption writing.
2. Captions should be written in short, pithy sentences, say an average of 15 words for a sentence.
3. The basic questions every caption must tell of its picture are: 5 W’s and 1 H.
4. Give the full Christian names or first names to identify everyone in the picture. Be accurate. When you name people in the caption, make clear who is who. Of course, this can’t be done in crowd pictures.
5. A gay picture should have a gay caption.
6. A caption is conversational. It should exploit the picture’s potential interest, e.g., Queen Elizabeth wearing a special order while Prince Philip, her husband, the uniform of an admiral. These should be mentioned in the caption.
7. A caption should supplement what is seen.
8. The caption should not contradict the picture.
9. Don’t begin a caption with “Photo shows…” This is totally unnecessary.
10. When a picture accompanies a news story, explain the picture in the caption.
11. Don’t rewrite the news story as a caption.
12. Captions should be indented, font must be different.

* * *
Examples:

BOMBS AWAY. A mish-mash of evidence allegedly recovered from the Mandaluyong hideout of the two suspects in the Valentine’s Day bombing is presented by the police to the media on the day of the raid late last month.

MIGHT. A soldier displays a recoilless rifle which he used during an assault on an Abu Sayyaf camp in Indanan, Sulu. The camp was taken over by government forces in a continuing offensive against the group that has links with the terror network al-Quida.

WANTED CAGER. Coach Chot Reyes eyes three Filipino collegiate players in the US to join the much publicized, Asian Games-bound RP Philippine Team.

Lecture 12: Editorial Cartooning

2008-07-30T04:34:00.000-07:00

It
EDITORIAL CARTOONING

is an editorial page illustration expressing opinion and interpretation (a column or opinion in cartoon form). The word cartoon is derived from two words: caricature and lampoon.

A caricature is an exaggerated description, generally by sketching. It is a pictorial representation of a person or thing in which a defect or peculiarity is exaggerated so as to produce a ludicrous effect.

A lampoon, on the other hand, is a piece of malicious writing, a personal-written satire that attacks and ridicules.

A good cartoon appeals to the reader’s sense of humor in order to persuade him/her to accept an opinion.
* * *
How to conceptualize

1. Read/listen—research your facts well.
2. Decide on your point of view or angle of your chosen issue.
3. Make your comment on the issue.
4. Translate your comment into coordinating, representative graphic symbols (e.g. crocodile for corrupt officials and typewriter for press)
5. Take into consideration the paper’s target readers.
6. Sketch/make doodles.
7. Draw your final cartoon.

* * *
Ways to present your view

1. Take the issue to a ridiculous situation.
2. Exaggerate the effect of an issue.
3. Use cliché or something contemporary or “in.”
4. Juxtapose or put together two events, even unrelated ones.
5. Take quotes literally. Play with words.
6. Consider the occasion.
7. Make an interesting artwork.
8. Caricature a political figure and add a punch line
* * *
10 drawing techniques

1. Use the acronym “see” for the basic ingredients for an effective cartoon drawing.
a. SIMPLE
Even basic shapes positioned properly in relation to each other would be enough.
b. EXPRESSION
Eyes are the most expressive part of our anatomy. Next, comes the mouth. Third, are the hands.
c. EXAGGERATE
Overemphasize a feature or several features to make your cartoon funny.

2. In drawing caricatures, exaggerate the prominent features of the subject.

3. Take advantage of your medium.
a. Pen and in, brush and ink, charcoal or dark pencil.
b. Contrast the black and white.
c. Dark areas tend to catch the focus of the eyes.

4. Properly place your shadows. Simplify your light source. Have only one light source.
5. Read and draw left to right.
6. Use less words. Less is more difficult, but the better. Instead, use symbols a lot, especially familiar ones (e.g. crocodile for corruption).
7. Don’t overwork your drawing (using too much props, background, details, etc.)
8. Keep your message clear to the intended reader, not only to yourself. Ask the opinion of others.
9. If you can, apply Balance and Composition; Depth and Perspective.
10. Be funny, except in tragic situations.

* * *
Tips for cartooning

1. Limit the use of words and labels.
2. Use universal symbols, those which can be understood at once by your intended reader.
3. Have your own style. Do not copy or plagiarize.
4. If your cartoon is about the editorial for the day, it must reinforce the stand stated in the piece.
5. Choose a most interesting issue and express your comment in an arresting way.
6. Do not clutter your cartoon with unnecessary details or complicate your drawing with artistic touches. These will just distract from the impact of the cartoon. Minimal is better.
7. Cover your cartoon with a frame or border.
8. Use shading to make your article more convincing.

* * *
Steps in Editorial Cartooning
Dr. Net Billones, one of the country’s top cartoonists, suggests the following steps:
1. List down the subjects to choose from.
2. Once the subject is chosen, ask what is the issue? What is the paper’sopinion about the issue?
Example:
Issue—Press freedom
Opinion—The government is going back to the martial law days as far as press freedom is concerned.
3. Decide the symbols to be used
Example:
Government—GMA
Press freedom—bird (dove) flying, typewriter, school paper
Repression—chain, scissors, slingshot, bar
4. Draw the cartoon.

Lecture 11: Copyreading

2008-06-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

COPYREADING

C opyreading is much like the work of a communication arts teacher correcting compositions, except that he uses different symbols.

A copy may be a news item, an editorial, a feature story or any literary article.

* * *

Duties of a copyreader:

1. 1. Straighten out ungrammatical construction.

2. Shorten sentences and tighten paragraphs.

3. See that the paper’s style requirements are strictly followed. Check names, addresses, title, designations, identifications, figures, etc.

4. Rewrite the story completely if it is poorly written.

5. Rewrite the lead or the first few paragraphs whenever necessary, but must never tamper with the facts unless he is sure of his corrections.

6. Delete all opinion, speculations and statements on news which are without attribution or sources.

7. Watch out for slanting or any attempt to present the story in a subtly biased way.

8. Watch for libelous statements.

9. Recheck figures and totals.

10. Cross-out adjectives in news which tend to make a story sound over-written.

11. Cut a story to size or to the required length if necessary.

12. Check attributions and see to it that they are properly identified.

13. Challenge facts, claims, or reports when they sound anomalous, illogical and incredible.

14. Check sluglines and paging sequences

15. Write headlines

* * *

What to copyread

1. 1. Errors in fact

2. Errors in grammar

3. Errors in structure

4. Errors in style

5. Libelous and derogatory statements

6. Seditious and rebellious matter

7. Expressions contrary to law and good taste

8. Opinion and editorializing statements

9. Verbal deadwood, redundancy

10. Technical terms, slang, jargons

* * *

Copyreading Symbols

(NOTE: THE SYMBOLS ARE NOT PRINTED HERE DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT INTERESTED PARTIES MAY EMAIL THE JOT BLOG ADMINISTRATOR AT h_lagon@yahoo.com SO THE ACTUAL LIST OF SYMBOLS WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU FRESH AND UNADULTERATED.)

1. Punctuation Marks

Symbols Meaning Outcome

The Bionic Woman Emphasize quotes “The Bionic Woman”

Dr Arthur Cruz Jr Emphasize periods Dr. Arthur Cruz Jr.

said “I must go.” Emphasize comma said, “I must go.”

2. Numbers and Abbreviations

in Nov. Spell out in November

Doctor Arthur Cruz Abbreviate Dr. Arthur Cruz

twenty boys Use numeral 20 boys

2 girls were… Spell out Two girls were…

3. Special form of type

Manila, philippines Capitalize MANILA, Philippines

4. Letter and word changes

meet on Saturday Bridge over meet Saturday

those b oys Close up space those boys

Fe Cruz Principal Transpose Principal Fe Cruz

recieve Transpose receive

pamplet Insert letter pamphlet

went market Insert word went to market

Manila pAper Lower case Manila paper

received free gifts Delete word received gifts

judgement Delete letter within judgment

develope iskill Delete before/after word develop skill

the most talented and Kill the principal

enthusiastic principal

Allright we have time Insert space All right we have time

We were indeed very Run in copy We were indeed very

happy because happy because…

5. Others

Paco, Manila… Indent for paragraph Paco, Manila…

Today he will… Today he will…

Welfrido Cruz Spell as written Welfrido Kruz

One boy came Restore text; disregard On boy came

correction

Elected prexy Center subhead Elected prexy

the un Syllabicate the un-

finished task finished task

The gong Set in boldface the gong

She read Les Miserables Set in italics She read Les Miserables

30 or # Story is finished

more or ) Story is unfinished

(…2) Next page

# - folio copy See copy as written

Note: To arrange paragraphs just place the number (e.g. #1, #3) of the corresponding paragraphs in the left portion of the copy.

* * *

SAMPLE COPYREADING MATERIAL

Headline: _____________________________________

No. of units: ____________

The PNU elementary school launch the anual cleanliness & beatification contest September 16 at the school social hole.

In a mating with Presidents and vice-presidents of each class from Grade III to Gr. Six, Mrs. Alegria Flora Principal explain the procedures to folow.

According to the principal, its class class will be given an areas to cleaned. Ones a week, school officials will vissit the area and chose the cleanest amongst them.

Prices will be awarded to the class who’s area will be pick the cleanest for 3 times. Th

This will give insentives to the students explained Mrs. Flores.

The handsome and intelligent Mr. Garcia Ramon, vocation al teacher who facilitated the meeting told the studes that thru the contest cooperation will be developed

while order and cleanliness be maintained.

Congrattulations Mrs. Garcia.

COPYREADING EXERCISE

Check the corresponding number of the correctly spelled word:

1. 1. ocasion

2. all-right

3. embarassment

4. inspite of

5. harrassment

6. privileges

7. commitee

8. diphtheria

9. dessimenate

10. tommorow

* * *

COPYREADING EXERCISE

Verbal deadwood

Column A Column B

_______ 1. for the reason that a. died

_______ 2. a larger proportion b. believes

_______ 3. at the present time c. although

_______ 4. succumbed to injuries d. now

_______ 5. at an early date e. remind

_______ 6. is of the opinion f. many

_______ 7. in the neighborhood g. near

_______ 8. in the event of h. soon

_______ 9. in spite of the fact i. because

_______ 10. draw the attention of j. if

* * *

COPYREADING EXERCISE

Redundancy

1. The final conclusion revealed that the dead corpse was a victim of a fatal murder.

2. The other alternative is to get some new recruits.

3. It was definitely decided to give free gifts to the underprivileged poor on Christmas.

* * *

COPYREADING EXERCISE

Brevity

1. The play will be shown in the month of December.

2. The meeting lasted for a period of two hours.

3. These children are the ones who are influenced by indecent films.

4. The building closed its door at five o’clock p.m. in the afternoon.

* * *

COPYREADING EXERCISE

Opinion and editorializing news articles

1. Mr. Amador Cabansag, a very energetic teacher of electricity in the famous Osmena High School, held a very successful demonstration lesson.

2. The most efficient and knowledgeable principal represented the school in the well-known national press conference.

* * *

COPYREADING EXERCISE

Correct Usage, Grammar, etc

1. 1. The sick man was (taken, brought) to the hospital.

2. Where is the other (pair, mate) of this shoe?

3. It is (unhealthy, unhealthful) to stay (in, under) the hot sun.

4. The article (shaded, shed) light on the whole subject.

5. The cadets are marching (on, in, at) the campus.

6. Come to work (in, on) time or you will be (fired, fired out).

7. Put all your (bedding, beddings) away and (take, bring) your (baggage, baggages) (in, on) the corner of the room.

8. Our main concern (is, are) reference books which (is, are) very dear nowadays.

9. Five and six (is, are) eleven.

10. My friend and teacher (wants, want) me to visit her.

11. I (was, have been, had been) absent yesterday.

12. The criminal was (hang, hung, hanged) by the mob.

13. The owl unlike most birds is awake at night.

14. Claro m. Recto wrote “Abajo los cocoteros” and “Shadow and Solitude.”

15. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor (Dec. 1941; December, 1941; December 1941)

16. The birthday (celebrant, celebrator) received many gifts.

17. Mother is often tired from the (everyday, every day) chores.

18. Peter tried to (reason, reason out) to his father about his low grades.

19. The jeep (collided, crashed) against the wall of the school.

The old (is, are) richer in expertise than the young.

Lecture 10: What is Sports Writing?

2008-05-17T00:06:00.000-07:00

ports writing has become one of the most popular forms of modern journalistic writing. More and more readers are now turning to the sports section before looking at the more prosaic news of the day.

But while may talk about sports, there are only few who can write a sports story. Even experienced beat reporters get lost covering games and writing about them because it takes more than just answering the 5 W’s and 1 H to be able to come up with a comprehensive sports news story.

* * *

Example of a sports article

(NSPC Winning Piece)

ILAGAN, Isabela—Isabela National High School, behind the remarkable performances of Florante Carreon and Paul Gonzales, took all the Roxas National High School could offer before hacking out a close 60-59 win in an exhibition game held at St. Ferdinand College Court here, Tuesday.

Carreon scored 21 points to lead Isabela and Gonzales 13 points but delivered this on the crucial part of the game including the winning free throw.

The game started in a roller-coaster encounter and the first half ended 28-27 with Isabela on the lead.

The second half was still close and Roxas took the lead with two minutes to go, but Gonzales displayed a big heart as he connected a three-pointer to give Isabela the lead, 54-53.

Rolly Menor carried Roxas on that decisive moment and tied the game at 59-all with 15 seconds to go.

Gonzales fished a foul with 10 seconds left and split his charity for the lead, 60-59.

Herman Menor refused to give up but his last desperate jumpshot went in-and-out of the ring.

“Faith carried us through this game, it’s a good game,” said Gonzales after the game.

INHS (60)—Carreon 21, Gonzales, 13, Magusib, 12, Mercado 6, Aguinaldo 4, Martinez 2, Cabanlong 2, Ong 0, Lim 0, Gumaru 0.

RNHS (59)—Menor 22, Balagan 18, Malaca 12, Soriano 7, Allavigan 0, gonzaga 0, Advincula 0, Limbauan 0, Galapon 0.

* * *

Aside from having the “nose for news,” a sports writer should also:

1. have interest in all sports event

2. know the rules and regulations of the event or game he is writing about, and

3. have a working knowledge of the language and jargon of sports writing usually referred to as the sports lingo.

* * *

Types of Sports stories

1. 1. Advance story (dope or prognostication)

a. straight news story

b. background story

c. prediction story

2. Coverage story

3. Advance coverage story

* * *

ike any other news story, a sports story has a lead and a body. The sports lead is the attention-getter and the body is the news in a-nut-shell.

The classic 5 W’s and 1 H appear in the sports lead as: 1. Who won? 2. How did they win? 3. Against whom? 4. By what score? 5. Where? and 6. When?

The Torres High School Quintet (1) poured 10 baskets in the last three minutes (2) to edge out the Osmenians (3) 65-63 (4) at the opponents homeground (5) yesterday afternoon (6).

This kind of summary lead may vary.

* * *

The lead can also highlight other elements like:

1. 1. The key play

LAKANDULA, Iloilo—The visiting Soliman High School sluggers bombed the Lakandula batters with six runs in the third inning to subdue a nerve-frazzling Lakandula rally, 14-12, as they clinched the invitational game here, in connection with the celebration of the school’s Foundation Day.

2. The outstanding player

EDWARD Ong of Ateneo de Iloilo, after almost four hours of battle over the chessboard, copped the most coveted YMCA trophy after outwitting Philippine Science High School chesser William Santos in 27 moves of a Sicilian defense.

3. Analytical approach

RIDING high on sizzling spikes and tricky placing, the spitfire Ateneo Blue Dragons blasted the Ateneo Blue Eagles killers in the crucial third set to won 15-10, 11-15, 15-7 in the Jesuit Athletics Meet (JAM), Sept. 21, at the Sacred Heart School in Cebu yesterday

* * *

The body

After the lead, the other elements follow in descending order. These will include:

1. 1. Team and/or individual standing

2. Decisive plays

3. Best scores for the day

4. Play-by-play

5. Quotations

* * *

Elements that make up a good sports article:

1. 1. Personalities

2. Play-by-play description

3. Statistics and comparisons

4. Quotes by players

5. Quotes by trainers and coaches

6. Background stuff on players

7. The importance or significance of the event

8. Background of the game

9. Weather conditions

10. Crowd and celebration

* * *

Lingos and Slanguages

Basketball (basketbol)

Quintet, goal (gol o buslo), dribble (dribol), pivot, rally, rebound (rebaun), technical foul, 15-foot line, hook shot, zone defense, first half (unang kalahati), tip-in, full court, press, box out, slam dunk, man-to-man, trey, full-court press, hook shot, goaltending, baseline, board, layup (leyap), out-of-bounds, dominated the paint

Baseball or Softball (beisbol at sopbol)

Diamond, pitcher (pitser), catcher (katser), back stop, hit a homerun, rolling ball, short stop, southpaw, pegged at third, fast ball, playoff (n, adj), play off (v.), slugger, wild pitch, bullpen

Boxing (boksing)

Southpaw, slugger, rabbit punch, kidney punch, referee stopped contest (RSC), technical knockout, featherweight

Chess

Checkmate, rook, queenside, Sicilian opening, Ruy Lopez defense, Queen’s gambit, knight, white, black, fast pawn, en passé, castle, pin, open check, blunder, Philidor’s defense

Volleyball

Spike (spaik), placing (pleysing), change court, kill (kil), Chinese kill, block, net ball, wallop (wallop), jump serve, spiker (spay-ker), server (serber)

Soccer or Football

Soccerites, goalie, corner kick, penalty kick, full back, defenders, booters, kick off (v.), kickoff (adj)

Track

Pass on the baton, breasted the tape, clock a new record, photo finish, distance runner, century run

Tennis and Badminton

Best of three matches, love set, backhand, drive, doubles, racket, forehand, smash cut

Swimming

Tanker, aquabelle, breast stroke, plunge, springboard, tank, dive, summersault

* * *

Aids (crutches) that may be useful in covering the game:

1. Basketball—FG (field goal), FT (free throw), PF (personal foul), TP (total points), js (jumpshot) etc.

2. Baseball and softball—ab (at bat), h (hit), rbi (runs batted in), e (error), etc.

3. Volleyball—p (placing), bs (booming service), s (spiker), bb (block ball), etc.

* * *

Salitang magkasingkahulugan

Nagwagi – namituin, bumandila, namayani, nagnuna

Natalo – nagapi, nagahis

Magtutuos – magsasagupaan, magkakasubukan, magpapaligsahan

Kalaban – katunggali

Pinatumba – ginupo, nilampaso, pinulbos, tinambakan, pinayukod, pinakain ng alikabok

* * *

SPORTS WRITING EXERCISE

Make a four-paragraph news article with hypothetical story about a basketball exhibition game where the Filipinos won against the best players in the NBA.

* * *

SAMPLES:

Gin Kings bag PBA crown

BARANGAY Ginebra broke the game wide open late in the third period behind Mark Caguioa and finished off Red Bull Barako, 103-86, Wednesday night to capture the Gran Matador Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference crown at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Caguioa presided over Ginebra's uprising in the third quarter with 15 of his team-high 26 points, firing three triples that broke the backs of the Barakos and handed the Gin Kings their first title in the post-Sonny Jaworski era.

Caguioa's exploits electrified a jampacked crowd of 16,468, majority of them Ginebra diehards who compounded the misery of the jittery Barakos with their non-stop chants and jeers.

Romel Adducul, Eric Menk, Torraye Braggs and Andy Seigle then took over from Caguioa and the Gin Kings went in for the kill by building a solid 16-point spread, 86-70, that launched Ginebra to its first crown in seven years.

Lacking their usual spunk, the Barakos simply folded up as the Gin Kings ended the best-of-five series at 3-1.

Ginebra last tasted victory during the 1997 Commissioner's Cup title as Gordon's Gin with Jaworski as playing coach.

Overall, the La Tondeña franchise snared its fifth PBA crown and matched sister team San Miguel Beer's feat as the lowest seed in the playoffs to win a championship. The Gin Kings were ranked sixth prior to the quarterfinals.

"We competed and worked as a team. We had mistakes in the past but we've learned from them. All the hard work paid off," said a teary-eyed Barangay Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Tanquingcen, who replaced Allan Caidic as chief bench tactician in the middle of the conference, became the fourth rookie coach to achieve the feat after Joel Banal of Talk 'N Text, Purefoods' Ryan Gregorio and Coca-Cola's Chot Reyes.

Aside from these achievements, the Gin Kings also owned the distinction of becoming the first team to hand the Barakos their first defeat in three PBA Finals.

The Gin Kings also gave import Torraye Braggs his first taste of a championship ring in his entire professional career.

Eric Menk, who was named Finals MVP, finished with 22 points to complement the fine work of Caguioa and Braggs, who also had 22 markers on top of 15 rebounds.

Jimwell Torion, who was suspended in Game 3, started for the Barakos but was immediately pulled out of the game after hurting his right hand during a loose-ball scuffle midway in the first quarter.

Despite Torion's absence for most of the first half, the Barakos were able to sustain their offensive through the outside snipings of Victor Thomas and Homer Se's incursions.

A three-pointer by Thomas, named Best Import of the conference, gave the Barakos an early 17-10 lead and although the Gin Kings cut down the deficit to 30-27 at the end of the first quarter, Red Bull held its ground until Braggs began throwing his weight around in the paint.

Scores:

GINEBRA 103 -- Caguioa 26, Braggs 22, Menk 20, Adducul 13, Seigle 13, Dimaunahan 5, Calpito 2, Helterbrand 2, Salvacion 0, Santos 0.

RED BULL 86 -- Thomas 32, Se 19, Valenzuela 15, Tugade 10, Pennisi 3, Baguio 2, Villanueva 2, Harp 2, Ordonio 1, Robinson 0, Asaytono 0, Torion 0.

Quarters: 27-30, 52-48, 78-68, 103-86.

Lecture 9: Writing Editorials

2008-05-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

Editorial

is the official stand of the paper on a relevant development or issue. It is a concerted commentary written by any member of the editorial staff who comments or gives the newspaper’s or staff’s opinion on an issue which is of interest and importance to the public.

The editorial is considered the soul of the newspaper for it stirs the conscience of the readers to action; it influence and molds public opinion. It is usually written in formal language, expressing the stand of the paper on controversial issues of the day. It has no byline.

It is the expression of the people’s conscience, cause, and convictions.—Joseph Pulitzer

* * *

Content of the editorial section

1. Folio

2. Masthead

3. Editorial proper

4. Editorial column

5. Editorial cartoon

6. Editorial liner

7. Letter to the editor

* * *

Characteristics of a good editorial

1. Must have clearness of style

2. Moral purpose

3. Sound reasoning

4. The power to influence public opinion

5. Lead logically to a conclusion

6. Present only one idea

7. Avoid wordiness

8. Present facts not mere opinion

9. Concise, around 250-300 words or 2,000-2,500 computer characters (at most 6 paragraphs)

10. Must be decisive and bias

* * *

Types of editorial

1. Editorial of information

2. Editorial of interpretation

3. Editorial of criticism

4. Editorial of commendation, appreciation, or tribute

5. Editorial of argumentation

6. Editorial of entertainment

7. Mood editorial

8. Pooled editorial

* * *

How to write an editorial?

In writing editorial, select only one specific idea to develop. Be sure the topic is of interest to the reader.

Organize your editorial in three parts:

1. Introduction

Contains the newspeg with the reaction. It is usually one short paragraph. (A newspeg is a brief statement about the news event upon which the editorial is based or an existing issue that needs to be solved right away)

2. Body

It may take two to four short paragraphs that support or justify the reaction. Cite reasons, statistics, interviews, or figures.

3. Ending

The ending, sometimes called the clincher, summarizes the editorial’s stand. It must be crispy and difficult to forget.

* * *

Example of an introduction

(reaction is italicized; newspeg is in regular font)

The new office policy of requiring tardy students to study their lessons in the literary while they wait for the next period is both timely and wise.

It is a source of great pride and inspiration for our school to come out second in the NSAT regionwide.

Our general PTA is really generous and concerned for the student’s welfare. They will donate labor and materials to improve the school gym.

* * *

The editorial has also a head or title which should be brief (preferably less than four words), forceful and interesting.

* * *

Pointers in writing editorial

1. Make the editorial interesting enough to read.

2. Develop it from one specific, limited idea, phrased in one sentence and expanded into the body of the editorial.

3. Have a purpose well in mind that should be accomplished with sufficient data.

4. Organize all data into well-reasoned arguments, with each argument leading up to the conclusion.

5. Peg the lead sentence on recent, relevant news for its impact value.

6. Present both sides of an issue and clarify tricky aspects with a widely understood analogy or with an illustration that makes for easier understanding.

7. Direct the editorial towards the establishment of a consensus.

8. Article must be simple, direct, clear, and forceful.

9. No double meanings.

10. It must reflect clear, logical thinking.

11. Subject matter must be significant to the readers.

12. Sentences and paragraphs must be comparatively short.

* * *

Do’s and Don’ts in writing an editorial

1. Win the reader’s interest with an impelling lead paragraph.

2. Avoid generalities by using plenty of facts and by telling what these facts mean.

3. Keep your editorials short; around 300 words (2,500 computer characters) only.

4. Do not preach, scold or moralize.

5. Relate editorials directly to the lives of the reader.

6. Avoid the first person, “I.” Use the editorial “We.”

7. Write simply.

8. Develop editorial from only one specific, limited idea, phrased in one sentence and expanded into the body.

9. Sentences and paragraphs should be relatively short.

10. Accomplish your purpose

* * *

Editorial beginnings

An editorial may start with:

1. A simple statement that gives enough of the situation, problem or news to be discussed.

2. A question that calls attention to, give an idea about the problem or point out the logical development of the topic.

3. A striking statement that jolts the imagination and arouses the interest of the reader.

4. A quotation relevant to the subject under discussion.

5. A narrative illustrating the problem or situation.

* * *

EDITORIAL WRITING EXERCISES:

Across the street from the school are computer stations where students flock during their off-periods. They spend their snack money on computer rentals and stay there playing until the bell rings for their next periods. Write an editorial on these facts.

Lack of study habit is again rampant in school. What should be done about it? Write an editorial using any of the Editorial types you have learned.

* * *

SAMPLES:

Vandals

ATENEO de La Salle’s walls have a new coat of paint and are presently clean. Whether they retain their present state of cleanliness depends almost entirely on the students.

The first spots appeared as a result of negligent student leaning against the walls and scraping the soles of their shoes on them. Some students have also taken a peculiar delight in making long pencil scrawls on the walls as they go to classes.

According to an observant parent, Atesallians, more than any other group of students, abuse their buildings. This report, whether true or otherwise, should serve as a challenge.

Will the walls remain clean?

* * *

(Editorial of criticism)

Respect flag rites

A FLAG ceremony whether it be a flag raising or a flag retreat is sacred. Therefore, it should be observed with all the solemnity and sacredness a Filipino citizen can muster.

The National Anthem (Pambansang Awit) like the national flag should be treated with ceremonial respect.

On this, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Kawit in 1898, it is perhaps timely to remind all and sundry to behave during flag ceremonies.

Sad to say, many students, during the Monday morning flag-raising ceremonies, instead of standing at attention while singing the National Anthem, and while reciting the Patriotic Pledge (Panatang Makabayan), move around, play, and make fun, completely disregarding what is going on.

It is for this reason that we are calling the attention of all teachers, especially the social studies teachers to give more emphasis on educational values, love of country, respect for the flag, veneration of heroes, and proper behavior during flag ceremonies.

If flag ceremonies cannot be held properly, why then do we hold them at all?

- The Newsette, Manila

* * *

Editorial of Tribute (Nagpaparangal)

Ka Doroy

Si G. Bobby Zabalate, lalong kilala sa pangalang “Ka Doroy,” ay nagiwan ng isang legado na mahirap mapantayan ng kanyang mga kapanahon sa pamamahayag.

Nang siya’y nabubuhay pa, kanyang ibinuhos ang kanyang panahon sa walang sawang pagtulong sa mga nahihirap lalo na sa mga kabataang mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng pagkaloob ng mga iskolarship.

Isa sa kanyang mga proyekto ay ang pag-ilak ng pondo para sa ampunan, pagamutan at paaralan. Kanya ring iayos ang Plaza Libertad na nagging isang pandaigdig na palatandaan ot landmark. Pinangungunahan din niya ang pagpalabas ng mga libreng pangkulturang pagtatanghal at ang pagpapaganda ng mga liwasan sa Lungsod ng Iloilo.

Sa sariling pagsisikap at angking talino, siya’y nagging matagumpay hanggang siya’y inangkin bilang isang huwarang anak ng lalawigang Iloilo.

Yumao na si Ka Doroy, subalit siya’s mananatiling buhay sa puso ng bawat Ilonggo.

Lecture 8: Feature Writing Exercises and Samples

2008-05-04T01:57:00.000-07:00

FEATURE WRITING EXERCISES

Describe vividly your seatmate in a two-sentence paragraph.

Write a short (at most five paragraphs) feature article about abortion. It doesn’t matter if you are for or against it. What is important is you remain factual yet entertaining, convincing and informative. Provide your own title. Show your work to your group mates.

You are the feature editor of your school paper. This morning while you were on your way to school, you saw a Grade 4 pupil helping an old woman cross the street. Fourth year boys, who were playing nearby saw the old woman but did not care to help her.

You interviewed the young boy. Now write a feature story on the boy or on the incident. Supply the facts you gathered from the interview. Remember, you are not writing an editorial. Note also that like an editorial, a feature article is hung on a natural or artificial newspeg. Give an interesting and entertaining title.
* * *
Feature Examples

Topic: Abortion

COME TO me, Mama. Come, touch me and feel my pain. Don’t be afraid now, Mama. You weren’t when you killed me.

Here, touch this… can you feel it now, Mama? The excruciating pain that consumed my helpless body? You inflicted that, remember?

Look at my body, now a mass of rotting flesh and coagulated blood. The dregs of what was a tiny human body. A body that was soft with a tiny head matted with a sheen of baby hair. A tiny body with a tiny heart that pulsated in time with yours. These were my fingers and ohh!... Here’s my thumb which I sucked while snugly tucked inside you.

You see, I had long lashes just like Dad’s. My sensitive mouth was just like yours. And here are my ears that heard your quickening heartbeat when you’re afraid.

I could have been a wonderful child if you’ve let me live.

I could have been baby boy, just what Daddy wanted. A strong, healthy and bubbly bundle in your arms. My hypersensitiveness would have exasperated you.

Daddy? Hmmm… He could have coached me in playing basketball. He’ll be the passer and I am the shooter. I could have grown into a writer. You would be proud of me coz I’m gonna join contests.

Mama, see I was alive but not anymore. So, please let baby brother live. He could also be as wonderful as me. His life wouldn’t be like mine. A life that never was.

Topic: Abortion

LISTEN TO the cry of the unborn.

Listen carefully and see. He is there—frail, delicate, heart beating with the glorious thump of life. Blood running in his anemic veins, smooth hands, dainty feet, pink flesh, unseeing eyes all in the protective shell of his mother’s womb. His soul’s voice cries out in joy as he looks forward to the bountiful harvest he will reap in life. A fresh breath of life; a new creation carefully molded by the hands of God.

But listen. He is there. Crying out in excruciating pain. He feels the sharp tingle of needles tearing his flesh. His unseeing eyes roll up. In confusion and rage. His once joyful soul now crying for the need of life. But no one heard him. No one heeded his call as he plunged into the world of nullity. His last breath reeked of revenge. The unborn was silent.

Listen to the cry of the unborn.

They stare at you and contemplate their sweet revenge.

Look around you. The guilt-ridden eyes of women carrying this burden state back at you. They know their child will not be able to feel its parts during the first recital. They know she will not be able to play Chinese garter or beat up the boys next door because she is gone. They are gone. Millions of unborn children are presented with the gift of life only to be taken away by selfish ambitions.

The burden they carry is their revenge. The guilt that is locked in their hearts is their revenge—the revenge of the unborn.

Listen to the cry of the unborn.

Their chances in life were selfishly taken away. Their rights as human beings were unjustly abused. Their hearts and souls yanked out and were swallowed up in a cloud as dark as ebony. They lust for death as revenge but they have no voice. They cannot scream.

Listen to the cry of the unborn. They need you.

* * *
Tomorrow
By Pamela Joy Go, AdI-SMCS
· 700 words in 1 hour
· First Prize masterpiece, DSPC 2002
· Theme: Environmental Problems
· No. of participating schools: 25

HEAL the world,
Make if a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying,
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

I could only stare at the third-grade pupils as they interpret this Michael Jackson classic for their presentation during the flag ceremony. They seem to be so full of life, so vibrant. Nothing in this world could seem to break the unbeatable character they have glowing brightly inside them.

I sigh as my thoughts fall on the degrading society that we are having now. How long will these naïve tots have the overwhelming spirit in them? How will they manage to smile?

Look around you, human. What do you see? The pressing issues concerning the destruction of Mother Earth is too real…too hard to ignore.

The huge forest fires that terrorize countless of species both here and abroad. The perennial garbage problem that embraces the government like a cold pack of harsh ice. The dwindling population of all sorts of mammals and reptiles…the endangered species. The red list is getting longer and longer. Soon, I doubt if we’ll ever be able to keep track of all the creatures that have disappeared from the face of the earth forever.

Yes, we want to escape from these enigmas. We really want to. But listen. It’s also we who are keeping ourselves chained to the enslaving powers of material riches. We are blinded by the glitter of gold every time we cut down trees.

However, there are better realities in this issue our ancient mentality should just think about. The contemporary ambience of people all over the world getting more humane, more environment-friendly, more real is embracing us. Any maybe, just maybe, we could start from here.

A year ago, I came across this Reader’s Digest article that suggested a different view of this dilemma. While countless others would rather stick to the old, hopeless sense of presenting these inevitable facts, the article examined the optimism that, surprisingly, never left us.

We still have a chance. At least, that’s what the article said. People are becoming civilized. We are no longer a heartless breed of warm bodies out for nothing but earthly wealth. Through time, we have evolved to be persons with some sense. And Mother Earth is pretty much depending on it. Her whole life, her whole existence is actually relying on this so-called sensitivity that we are starting to acquire.

These are not made-up facts, ladies and gentlemen. No, this isn’t escapism. We are not merely creating this news for the sake of lessening the parables that grasp us by the throat. This is reality.

And this is where we could start. Instead of being a wet blanket, why not take a positive paradigm shift? This maybe is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. And this could take us somewhere in renovating our home, to say the least.

Yes, the predicaments around us are more than enough to last us a lifetime. There’s no way they’ll be solved the moment we put our acts together. They may not even be solved in the entire life of this generation. They may not even be solved at all. But let us begin. Let us start now.

In John F. Kennedy’s words, “United there’s little we cannot do. Divided, there’s little we can do.” If we hold hands now, if we open our hearts to one another and disregard those barriers that keep us from being who we truly are, then maybe we could still hang on to life.

As I watch the children hold hands and dance about the stage, I recognize in their eyes what we almost lost—hope. The smiles pasted on their innocent faces spell a promise that there will be a tomorrow. And that tomorrow will surely be better.

Tomorrow, the world will be healed.
Tomorrow, the world will be a better place.
For you and for me and the entire human race.

* * *
Lathalaing naglalarawan (Description)

Pagdalaw sa Lawa ng Bulusan
Ni Perlegio Paderes
Mataas na Paaralan ng Samar
Unang Gantimpala, NSPC 1993

KUNG sinasabing ang pluma ay higit ha pakapangyarihan kaysa anumang snadata, sa pluma man ay may higit pang makapangyarihan. Ito ang ganda ng kalikasan.

Kahanga-hanga, makapitlag-puso, makalangit, kapita-pitagan at walang pinag-iwan sa isang tunay na paraiso. Ito ang Lawa ng Bulusan, lawa para sa sinumang nilalang na ibig mapag-isa upang lasapin ang biyaya ng tunay na katahimikan sa buhay o dili naman kaya’y upang lunasan ang hapdi ng puso sa pamamagitan ng walang sawang pagmasid sa mapang-aliw at masaganang kagandahan ng buong pusong inihain ng kalikasan.

Sa aking nasaksihan sa una kong pagdalaw sa lawang ito na matatagpuan sa dakong timog silangan ng lalawigang Sorsogon na may apatnapu’t limang kilometro mula sa punong bayan ay ang mga sumusunod:

Isang likas na daan o pilapil na maaring mapagdaanan na tuloy-tuloy sa buong paligid. Sa pampang naman ito ay nakapalibot ang malilin na punong-kahoy na pawing nangayuko at animo’y nahihiyang nagbubulungan.

Sa paligid pa rin ay ang mgaburol na siyang nagsisilbing muog sa sinuman o anumang ibig magsamantala sa walang batik na kagandahan nito. Sa libis naman ng burol ay para-parang inihasik and naglalakihan at nag-papaligsahang mga magagandang bulaklak.

Tunay na kawili-wili at kahanga-hanga. Ang malamig na simoy nghangin ay nakapagpapadama na waring ang buhay ay walang katapusan. Ito ang mga pangunahing katangian ng lawa ng Bulusan na may labing anim na hektarya ang lawak at may tatlumpu’t dalawang metro ang lalim. Ang lawa ay tatlong daan at animnapu’t limang taong gulang na. Ito’y maaaring marating sa pamamagitan ng bus o anumang sasakyang pangkalsada sa loob ng may humigit-kumulang sa dalawa at kalahating oras.

Ibig ba ninyong dumalaw doon? Kayo’y malugod na inaanyayahan at buong pusong tatanggapin ng mapang-akit na lawang nakahimlay sa tuktok ng higanteng bulkan.

* * *
Human Interest Feature Article

George, he’s a hero!
By Emilyn Martinez

IT IS “natural” for women to be lavanderas if that is the best thing that they can do for a living, but have you heard of a guy who does laundry to support his family? Well, there is such an unusual guy in our school.

George Francis, a 17-year-old junior, has taken on the difficult responsibility of providing for his little sister and brother. He is father and mother to them, since both his parents are deceased. His three other sisters have their own families. Fortunately, his youngest brother is cared for by an aunt.

To be able to feed his siblings and send them to school, George does the laundry of a family in Moriones. Saturdays he washes their week’s laundry and Sundays, he irons them, a back-breaking job that assures him P400 a week. And for schooldays, at 5 p.m., when his classes are over, he cleans the house of his amo for a monthly wage of P500. In one month, he earns a total of P2,100 which he says is enough for their food, daily baon and monthly rent of P300.

“I’ve been doing this for three years now,” he says. “Mahirap, pero nasanay na ako (It’s hard but I’m already used to it).” Despite his work, he manages to get good grades. And although he has so much to do, he does his share of the housework because he doesn’t want to tire out his brother and sister “I want them to concentrate on their studies,” he says.

George Francis is only one of our many students who must struggle daily in order to survive. If Rhona Mahilom, the girl from Negros who saved her younger sisters and brothers when their house caught fire, is a hero, George is a hero for saving his sister and brother from starvation, for giving them a home and family to afford them the security they badly need in their formative years.

George’s touching story serves as an inspiration to us. We give you, George, a big round of applause. We are proud of you and may your tribe increase.

Lecture 7: Structure of a Feature Article

2008-05-04T01:44:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal Formula

Here is a structure for features that the Wall Street Journal has used successfully for many years.

Beginning (introduction)—Start with an anecdote or an illustration of the theme (1st to 2nd paragraphs).
Theme—Shortly after the beginning, state the point of the piece (3rd to 6th paragraphs).
Body—Provide details that elaborate on that theme. Tell the reader what is happening and why and what’s being done about the situation. This serves rather than conclude on a secondary piece of information as to most news stories, a feature may have what is called a kicker, a punch at the end that drives home the theme and that the reader must always remember. (5th to 7th paragraphs)
* * *
Topics for Feature Stories
1. Personalities
2. Experience and adventure
3. Description
4. Narratives
5. Backgrounders
6. Developmental feature articles
7. “What to do” and “How to” articles

* * *
How to introduce (begin) the Feature article
Unlike straight news, a feature article may begin in any form and in any style. It depends on the topic or purpose of the writer. Most features, however, may be introduced by any of the following:

1. Rhetorical question
WHO says that age is an obstacle to education?

Take it from Procopio Dimakulangan of San Miguel, Iloilo who stopped going to school 50 years ago after finishing the elementary grades. This year, he enrolled as a first year evening student at Andres Bonifacio High, Iloilo Scholastic Academy’s adopted school.

2. Startling statement
“HINDI pa kami laos!”

Ito ang pahayag ng mga “young once”—mga guro, pinuno ng paaralan at mga magulang—nang kanilang ipinagdiwang ang Araw ng Ateneo, Agosto 17, at lumahok sila sa iba’t ibang palatuntunan at paligsahan upang bigyang-buhay at kasanayan ang pagdiriwang.

3. Narrative statement
MRS. NELLY Marie Pradas, a fourth year evening student sends herself and her six children to school, acting as mother and father at the same time.

Every day, Mrs. Pradas takes her tentative place between the half-time tindera tending her sarisari store during the day and the half-time student studying at night.

4. Quoted remarks
“I EARN while I learn.” He smiled at me as the interview reeled off. “How can you work, have a part-time job as an exotic dancer, and at the same time go to school?” I asked.

“Well, it is easy, she explained. “I don’t do all of these at the same time.”

5. An old maxim, an aphorism or a “salawikain
“TUBIG, tubig sa lahat ng dako, ngunit kahit isang patak ay walang maiinom.” Itong siniping sabi ni Samuel Coleridge sa tulang “The Ancient Mariner” na wala nang bisa ngayon. Kahit na tubig na galing sa baha ay maiinom na. Paano? Ganito ang paraan.

6. History or background of the subject
ISLAMS throughout the world, including our Filipino Muslim brothers observe the holy month of Ramadan, starting Sept. 17. Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Muslim calendar. It is observed by Muslims as the Lenten Season is commemorated by Christians.

7. Problems to be discussed in the article of fact to be established
THIS IS the answer to the rising cost of vegetables: raise your own.

* * *
Ending the Feature article

1. A summary of the whole article
MAKINIG ka sa dalubhasa: ang paninigarilyo ay lubhang masama sa kalusugan. Maaring maturingan kang tunay na lalaki dahil sa paninigarilyo mo, subalit hindi tatagal ang buhay mo upang mapatunayan mo ang iyong pagkalalaki.

2. An announcement of the main point for the first time
THEREFORE, a major part of the development communications effort should be directed at strengthening the character of the people and developing in them moral values, particularly by self-discipline, self-reliance, strength of character, and fortitude.

3. A question left in the reader’s mind
ANG KAMAY ng makabagong Pilipino ay handang marumihan. Pinaiikoit niya ang gulong ng pangkaunlaran. Iwina-wagayway niya ang bandila ng kalayaan—kalayaan laban sa paghihikahos, at kalayaan sa kamangmangan.

4. Suggested results or significance
LET US conserve our forests now if we want to save the future of our country and of our children.

5. A forecast or prophecy
IN SIX-AND-A-HALF centuries from now, if population explosion would not be checked, there would be one person standing on every square foot of land on earth. By that time, people would be devouring one another for there would be no more space for plants to grow.

6. A repetition of the introduction
ASKED if he had formal training in photography, Lovely Sepe finally answered, “Ah, it is now the reverse. It is here where I learn as I earn, not earn as I learn.” (the lead of the feature article is, “I learn while I earn).

7. A repetition of a sentence or slogan, or a reference to the title
AFTER four years of working as a houseboy, working during the day and going to school at night, Jose Bonifacio will soon graduate as a first honor student.

Now, who says that poverty is a hindrance to education?

(The title of the feature article is “Poverty, not a hindrance.”)

8. An appropriate quotation
NESTOR claims that he is poor. But when asked why he gave his last centavo to the old man, he answered:

“Not what we give, but what we share
For the gift, without the giver is bare,
Who gives himself with his alms feeds three
Himself, his hungering neighbor and me.”

* * *
A good feature writer should possess the following:
1. a keen observation
2. an intellectual curiosity
3. ability to find features in everyday happenings
4. cupboards of descriptive words (using all senses)and everyday idioms
5. the skill to weave words into interesting sentences and paragraphs
6. the ability to write effectively
7. the attitude to “think first before writing” and to “show (suggest), not tell, things”

Lecture 7: What is a Feature Article?

2008-04-23T02:24:00.000-07:00

It is hard to define a feature article because it can take so many forms and can cover so many subjects. However, a reader may easily distinguish feature stories from news stories through its different characteristics.

A feature article is an essay based on fact. It’s a virtual drop bag. It is never fictitious. This makes it different from ordinary essay you study in your literature class.

Like an editorial, a feature article is hung on a newspeg.

Feature stories, like news stories, are written to inform but they enlarge news in a leisurely and entertaining way. They are written to add life to the paper and therefore their style lends more to the creativity of a writer.

The main objective of news is to inform while that of a feature article is to entertain. But feature articles may also instruct, advise, influence, inform, and entertain at the same time.

The matrix below compares and contrasts news, feature and editorial articles.

COMPARISON
1. Definition
2. Main Purpose
3. Timeliness
4. Length
5. Use of words
6. Use of sentences
7. Paragraph
8. Use of literary devices
9. Use of adjectives/opinion
10. Parts
11. Style
12. Structure
13. Title/Headline
14. Kinds
NEWS
Report an event
To inform
Timely
Short
Simple precise, concrete
Short, simple, 15-25 words average
No topic sentence, one idea, one paragraph
Journalistic, direct to the point, no idioms, figures of speech
Uses adjectives sparingly; opinion, never
Lead, (Bridge), Body
Follows style-sheet newspaper style
Inverted pyramid
Short (subject-verb; telegraphic sentence form)
(Refer to the syllabus)

EDITORIAL
Interpretation of an event/issue
To interpret
Timely
Around 300 words (2000 computer characters)
Simple, forceful, direct
May be longer
With topic sentence, longer
Journalistic, direct to the point, may use idioms, figures of speech if properly handled
Adjectives used freely; primarily opinion
Introduction (newspeg, reaction), body, conclusion (clincher)
Follows style-sheet, newspaper style
Hypothesis, arguments/stand on issue, conclusion
Shorter (at most three words)

FEATURE
An essay based on facts
To entertain using present human interest stories
Timely
Depends upon the needs
May be descriptive, flowery, colorful
May be longer
With topic sentence, longer
Literary, can be journalistic; idioms, figures of speech used freely
As much as desired

Introduction, body, ending
Composition style or newspaper style
Suspended interest or pyramid structure
Any length as long as it is appealing to the reader/topic

Note: Sports News is not included since this special news article combines News, Feature and Editorial precepts.
* * *
Additional point

Short words are words of might
By Gelett Burgess

This is a plea for the use of more short words in out talk and in what we write. Through the lack of them our speech is apt to grow stale and weak, and, it may be, hold more sham than true thought. For long words at times tend to hide or blur what one says.

What I mean is this: If we use long words too much, we are apt to talk in ruts and use the same old, worn ways of speech. But if we use short words, we have to say real things, things we know, and say them in a fresh way. We find it hard to hint or dodge or hide or half say things.

For short words are bold. They say just what they mean. They do not leave you in doubt. They are clear and sharp, like signs cut in a rock.

* * *
IMAGINE THIS…

You are a reporter of a newspaper covering a beat in the Iloilo Port Terminal. While going home for work, you notice an old man ferrying people across a narrow waterway that divides the passenger bancas from the wharf.

You have passed by him hundreds of times before without a second thought, but suddenly you get off your motorcycle press and grab your notepad. You have just spotted a feature story.

You take a candid shot of the old man and start asking him questions about himself, his family, his job, his odd experience with the endless stream of humanity that he ferries daily across the small brook.

At home, you sit down and focus your thoughts on the old gnarled ferryman and study the odds and ends about him on your notepad. You organize your material and determine your focus of interest. Then, you begin to write your story:

REGIE Zabalacheng has the loneliest job in town.

Each day, he ferries hundreds of people across the Iloilo stream, but no one bothers to say “hello,” or even give a friendly wave.

Sabalacheng, 68, of 70 Lopez Jaena Street, Iloilo City, has been at his job for 40 solitary years.

“Nobody ever pays attention to me except to give me the two peso-fare after I get them safely across the river. I know them all by face because I see them every day but I don’t know their names,” Zabalacheng said with a cynical grin, “I guess they don’t know mine either.”

“It’s not a bad job, but it sure gets lonely.”

The story continues with more quotes from Zabalacheng, a description of his appearance and mannerisms, anecdotes from his 40-year career, and his family.

You’ve got a feature story.
* * *
Activity: Make a Feature Article about your Parents. Make it as interesting as possible. Some might say that this kind of topic is so lousy that they demand for something more odd or challenging. Fact is, one of the best indicators of a prolific feature writer is when he or she is able to make boring subjects very interesting to the greater majority. Can you? Again, please email me your articles at h_lagon@yahoo.com or at jotwithsirh@yahoo.com.

Lecture 6: News Rules and Samples

2008-04-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

NEWS WRITING EXERCISE

Find the 5 W’s and 1 H

On Saturday, April 30, the moon will pass directly in front of the sun causing a total eclipse for half an hour.

Aboard an airplane flying 30,000 feet above the ground was born a fat plump baby boy this morning to a 60-year-old woman.

At least 100 young surfers, who are members of the Surfing Association of Brgy. Ortiz will go to Siargao on Nov. 22-26 to view the Annual Championship Competition.

* * *

NEWS WRITING EXERCISE

Write a summary lead using the data below:

reforestation drive

held at the foot of Mt. Makunat in Lambunao

last April 10

local boy scouts participated in the three planting activities

they were headed by Scout Master Joven Kidlat

Write a summary lead using the data below:

seminar on population education

third of a series

being currently held this year in Laklak High School

reason: in observance of World Population Year

held March 31 at the school social hall

* * *

Do’s and Don’ts in writing a news story

Write the story immediately.

Play up the dominant points.

Be accurate and truthful.

Avoid opinions called editorializing.

Use adjectives sparingly.

Avoid libelous, seditious and rebellious matters, prejudice and bad taste.

Give source (attribution) of the news.

Write names in full when these are mentioned for the first time.

Identify the names mentioned.

Avoid redundancy.

Watch out for errors in fact, grammar, structure, and style.

Observe the guidelines for clear effective writing (unity, coherence, emphasis, brevity, clarity, etc.)

Adopt a paper stylesheet or stylebook for consistency and professionalism (in Ripples, we officially adopt the Daily Inquirer Stylebook)

* * *

Guidelines in writing a news story

Give your lead sentence a “punch” to catch the interest of the readers.

Starts with the most important event or idea.

Use the rule or proximity and explain how the news affects the people in the locality or the students in school.

If your story has something unusual or novel to tell, bank on that for the lead. It’s hot copy.

Make your sentences concise and clear so that they could be easily understood. Long tedious sentences will likely “kill” the readers’ interest. Besides, they usually “lose” the readers along the way. News stories are not “luxury” or ”pleasure” reading. They have the basic function to inform.

Use simple words. Using highfalutin words does not prove anything but pedantry and literary pretentions. Even literary writers try as much as possible to use simple words.

Never be afraid of breaking the rules if it will prove helpful in making a good copy.

* * *

NEWS WRITING EXERCISE

Make a four-paragraph news report of out jotwithsirh.blogspot.com activities. The article shall be published the day after writing it. Supply the headline.

* * *

SAMPLES:

Failed bank heist ends with 1 dead

AN ALLEGED bank robber was shot dead by a security guard in a robbery hold-up at Equitable Bank, Quezon St., Iloilo City noontime yesterday.

Police Supt. Bakleng Bading of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) identified the fatality as Garin Farm thru a Comelec identification card, while the security guard was identified as Neil Andrew Tupaz y Falayfay, 42, of 17 Gen. Blanco St., Iloilo City.

Police reports revealed that at 10:45 a.m. Monday, the suspect entered the said bank to encash a check with a companion waiting outside. The suspect demanded money from the teller, Ethel Booba Sya, but the latter refused prompting Farm to grab the guard’s shotgun. In the commotion, the guard fired the gun, hitting the victim in the abdomen.

A certain Mr. Pelongsya informed the police thru a phone call about the incident.

The companion of the suspect evaded arrest and is still being hunted by the authorities. No amount was reportedly lost.

6 killed in attacks vs cops

THE PHILIPPINE National Police has blamed the New People's Army rebels for the two ambush attacks yesterday, April 10 that killed five policemen and a security guard.

Three policemen were responding to a call about an alleged bomb in Silang town, Cavite when they were shot dead on Thursday afternoon, a police report said.

Two hours later, unidentified men sprayed a police checkpoint in Olongapo City with bullets, killing two policemen and a security guard. Two other police officers were seriously wounded.

Authorities said they have launched an investigation of the attacks that could be the work of the NPA.

PNP chief Director General Edgardo Aglipay said the communists were known to step up their attacks just ahead of their anniversaries.

The Communist Party of the Philippines marks its 36th anniversary on December 26.

Aglipay also noted that the communists announced in October that they would step up their attacks.

Sanggol, binigti at itinapon ng ina

IMUS, Cavite– Upang maitago ang kanyang pagbubuntis at panganganak, isang 17-anyos na babae ang dinakip ng mga awtoridad matapos na patayin ang kanyang sariling sanggol na kapapanganak pa lamang kamakalawa ng hapon sa Bacoor, Cavite.

Kasalukuyang nakakulong si Monica Merca, tubong-San Mariano, Isabela at stay-in maid sa Alabang Hills Village, Muntinlupa City habang pansamantalang inilibing ang sanggol na si Baby Merca sa Public Cemetery sa Bacoor, Cavite.

Ayon kay SPO3 Rodolfo Arboleda, alas-2:30 ng hapon nang matagpuan ang isang patay na sanggol na nakalagay sa itim na plastic bag na nakalagay sa basurahan.

Tinungo ng mga pulis ang lugar at nakita nila na nakabigti ng panty ang leeg ng sanggol at nakabalot ng t-shirt na puti.

Isang sobre din ang nakuha ng mga pulis sa nakabalot sa sanggol na mula sa San Beda College at nakapangalan sa mag-asawang Alvin Domingo ng Alabang Hills Village, ng nasabing lungsod.

Hindi nag-aksaya ng oras ang mga awtoridad at agad na nagtungo sa bahay ng mga Domingo kung saan nakita nila si Merca na namumutla at kasalukuyan pa ring dinudugo.

Dito inamin ni Merca na mag-isa niyang ipinanganak ang kanyang sanggol noong Miyerkules ng gabi at siya na rin ang nagputol ng pusod nito.

At sa takot na malaman ng kanyang mga magulang sa probinsiya ang kanyang pagbubuntis, ipinasya na lamang niyang patayin ang sanggol.

Ayon naman sa amo ng suspek natatakot ito sa kanyang mga magulang dahil madalas umano itong sinasabihan na sagabal ang pagbubuntis sa kanyang trabaho. (Ulat ni Herman Landi)

Lecture 5: Novelty Leads

2008-04-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

N

ovelty lead

Astonisher lead

CHAMPION of Division of Iloilo City!

BETTER look your best this week!

Contrast lead

FOUR MONTHS before the Green Drive, Zone 3 of Brgy. Bo. Obrero, Iloilo City was the dirtiest community. Three months after the campaign, it won first place in the cleanliness contest sponsored by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Epigram

LIKE father, like son.

Herman Lagon Jr. graduated first honor this year. Twenty years ago, his father, Engr. Herman Lagon Sr. also topped his class and delivered his valedictory address on the same rostrum where the young Lagon gave his.

Picture lead

THE NEW principal, Ms. Arianne Agnes Ciao, although only in her early thirties, is already silver-haired. She seldom talks, but when she does, she talks with sense.

Background lead

THE CPU campus was turned into a miniature carnival ground Sept. 1 during the 89^th Foundation Day celebration of the school. Decorated with buntings and multicolored lights, the University quadrangle was a grand setting for a barrio fiesta.

Descriptive lead

DRESSED in white polo barong, and with diplomas in their hands, 109 graduates marched down the stage to the tune of Hail Alma Mater.

Parody lead

WATER, water everywhere, but no water to drink. This was what the flood victims found to their dismay.

Punch lead

VICTORY Day!

Bonifacio High School celebrated March 18 its fifth victory in the city-wide journalism contest.

One-word lead

MARCH!

Thus ordered Chess Club president Pol Buenconsejo to start the “Walk to Win” fund-raising drive.

Quotation lead

“THE YOUTH sucks,” thus said Association of Dimwits president Don Pepot in a seminar-workshop yesterday in Brgy. Walang Kwenta, Siete Pecados, Guimaras.

Question lead

WHO WILL reign as Miss Intramurals this year?

This will be known Aug. 8 after the final screening to be held at the WVSU gym.

* * *

NEWS WRITING EXERCISE

Identify what kind of lead is used in the following:

He used to be a mechanic. Now, he is president of a college.

Dressed in caps and gowns, and with diplomas in their hands, the graduates sang their farewell song to their alma mater.

There was food and fun galore! The student body of Lally Jane Cabanilla High School held an excursion in Villa beach last Sunday.

Supt. Rasan Trompeta was the guest speaker during the investiture of boy scouts held Jan. 15 at Jaz Tandug High School.

* * *

N

ews leads are not always one sentence in length, but because of the frequent paragraphing in journalistic writing, a one-sentence lead (of at most 25-35 words) is the most common. Whatever the arrangement, the lead answers some or all of the 5 W’s and 1 H. The shorter, more complete and clearer the lead, the better it is.

* * *

Lecture 4: How to Write a Lead?

2008-04-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Lead

It is a single word, a phrase, a clause, a brief sentence, an entire paragraph or a series of paragraphs. The main function of the lead, aside from introducing the news story, are to tell the story in capsule form and to answer right away the questions the reader would naturally ask.

A good lead answers all the important questions of the reader, indicates the facts if they are all important, and arouses the readers’ interest to continue reading the story.

* * *

Kinds of lead

Conventional or summary lead

Grammatical beginning lead

Novelty lead

* * *

Conventional or summary lead

This kind of lead used in straight news, answers right away all or any of the 5 W’s and/or the H. It may be one of the following:

WHO lead

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo addressed, April 20, the PMA graduates in Baguio City.

WHAT lead

AN ENTRANCE examination will be given Nov. 24 to all graduating high school students desiring to enroll in the four-year college course.

WHERE lead

TRAPICHE, Oton, Iloilo will be the site of the next International Film Festival.

WHEN lead

TODAY, almost to the hour, the Revolutionary Government was proclaimed by former President Corazon Aquino.

WHY lead

BECAUSE of poverty, around a hundred students dropped from school last year. This was learned from Iloilo Scholastic Academy principal Juan dela Cruz.

HOW lead

BY APPEALING to the school board, the University of Iloilo was able to construct a 30-storey, concrete building.

* * *

Grammatical-beginning lead

Prepositional-phrase lead

WITH BROOMS and other cleaning equipment, boy scouts from the Iloilo public high schools cleaned the city markets in consonance with the city mayor’s Clean and Beautiful Drive.

Infinitive-phrase lead

TO ENCOURAGE tourism, balikbayans are given a warm welcome by their fellow Filipinos.

Participial-phrase lead

HOPING to cop first place, the ISA woodpushers honed up for the chess championship games. (present participle)

DRESSED like priests, robbers were able to enter the bank. (past participle)

Gerundial-phrase lead

WINNING the developmental communications trophy during the national press conference was Iloilo Scholastic Academy’s best achievement of the year.

Clause lead

BECAUSE Sept. 9 was Osmena Day, all lessons in class dealt with the life of the late President Sergio Osmena Sr. (subordinate, adverbial)

Lecture 3: News Writing (Introduction)

2008-04-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

‘FIRST-AID KIT’ IN JOURNALISM

WHAT IS JOURNALISM?

OURNALISM is the art of writing for publication in newspapers and other media, embracing all thoughts and actions that have significance and interest to the readers. In this kit, we will only concentrate on print journalism.

* * *

WHAT IS NEWS?

ews is an oral or written report of an event that happened, is happening, will happen in the North, East, West, or South that is of interest to the reader and which should be reported.

But what is interesting to one is not always interesting to another.

* * *

Elements of the News

Conflict

Immediacy or Timeliness

Proximity or Nearness

Prominence

Significance

Names

Drama

Oddity and Unusualness

Romance and Adventure

Sex

Progress

Animals

Number

Emotion

* * *

BASIC RULE IN WRITING: ACCURACY, BREVITY, CLARITY. ABC.

* * *

NEWS WRITING EXERCISE

Identify the elements involved on the following headlines. There may be more than one answer.

Principal issues new school policy

Dog saves master’s life by attacking robbers

Cure for AIDS discovered

Man becomes pregnant

Icebergs appear in Northern Luzon

Senator injured in a car accident

Two solons lambaste each other, then end in a fist fight

Woman permitted to celebrate holy mass

Filipino wins Miss World title

10 killed in shootout

* * *

Different forms of writing an incident

Situation: A fire broke out and four persons made their separate essays on what happened.

For a 10-year-old grade school pupil,

“I saw a fire. It was a big red fire. It burned a house. There were many people around. Some men put water on the fire.”

For a romantic high school student,

“Fearful scarlet tongues arose to the star-studded heaven and licked greedily at the doomed edifice while the stout-hearted firefighters risked their all to quench the terrible conflagration.”

For a lady bystander,

“You know, Mare, there was a fire in our community. I think it cost the owner a great deal of money. The date was August 8. August is the eighth month. So I bet in the lottery, 8-16-24-32-40-48.”

For a campus paper writer,

“A fire of undetermined origin razed to the ground a two-storey apartment owned by lawyer Herman Lagon of 80 Lopez Jaena St., Jaro Iloilo City, last night. Four trucks from the Jaro Fire Station subdued the fire within an hour. The damage estimated by the police at P500,000 was covered by insurance.”

The combination of simple, vivid and dignified articles produces a copy simple enough for Mr. Average Reader to understand. We call it news article.

* * *

Narrative vs News

(Example: Dog hero story)

Narrative: Pyramid (from less important to climax)

News: Inverted Pyramid (from climax to less important)

* * *

Sample News

Headline (ulo ng balita)

Dog dies saving blind master

Lead (pamatnubay)– Most important facts

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD dog saved the life of his blind master, Thursday night, but the canine’s loyalty cost the trusty animal his life.

Bridge—Elaboration of lead

In serious condition today in Doctor’s Hospital is Erland Escobanez, 71, a street sweeper. Escobanez of SSS Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City was found early this morning unconscious on a sidewalk near the Aglipayan Church in the Iloilo Terminal Market.

Less important facts

Police theorized that Escobanez was knocked unconscious when he fell, his head hitting a stone. Potpot, his dog, apparently tried to shield its master from the cold and the rain by draping itself over the fallen man.

When discovered this morning by the Police Patrol, Escobanez was still out cold. The dog lay near, dead.

Relatives of Escobanez who is still a bachelor, told authorities that he always took nightly strolls at about 11 p.m. with his dog.

Minor facts

According to doctors, only the warmth from the dog’s body saved Escobanez from certain death.

Escobanez told police that he remembers nothing of the incident. A wallet containing P500 was still in his pocket leading the authorities to rule out robbery.

* * *

Types of news stories

Scope or origin

Local news

Foreign news

Dateline news

Chronology or sequence

Advanced or anticipated (dope or prognostication)

Spot news (reporter an eyewitness of the event)

Coverage news (beat)

Follow-up news

Treatment

Fact story (plain exposition)

Action story (narrative of actions)

Speech or quote story

Content

Routine story

Police reports

Science news

Development communication

Sports news

Structure

Straight news

News feature

b.1 Single-feature structure

b.2 Several-feature structure

Advanced news

Investigative

Interpretative

Depthnews

Minor

News brief

News bulletin (gist of the news)

News-featurette (quirks in the news)

Sidebar (side by side with the mother story)

Flash (boxed message)

(next topic: News Lead

Lecture 2: Campus Journalism Act

2008-03-31T06:29:00.000-07:00

Sniff the essence of the campus journ law

By Engr. Herman Lagon

Student writers today are provided with many opportunities to exercise their freedom of expression, with the implementation of the Republic Act 7079, the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.
I have written articles related to the Campus Journalism Act before as I have noticed that its effectivity is somehow hampered by many factors in the campus level. Let me highlight the point why RA 7079 was promulgated as stated in Section 2 - Declaration of Policy as follows:
The Campus Journalism Act is a general rules provided by the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the press in the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth.
In furtherance of this policy, the State shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at improving the journalistic skills of students concerned and promoting responsible and free journalism. The Declaration of Policy has emphasized many points in promotion of a vibrant campus press as a key player in the development of an academic community.
The practice of free journalism has its veins connected to the freedom of expression and of the press. Yet, despite the clear declaration of this law, many campus publications are not totally free.
I am writing this NOT in the context of Ateneo de Iloilo campus journalism for the culture in this Jesuit school is one thing that other papers may envy of. Ateneo writers, although still high school students, manage their own funds up to the cent, work faithfully according to its functions from the editorial office up to the printing press, publish about 10 papers in a school year, trains their members in regular basis, and are never hounded by the evils of unbridled censorship.
But this is too good to be true in other school papers in the country, college publications included, where student writers seem to be marketing agents of their very administrators and papers are sometimes fund-raising holes or ego-tripping grottos of some educators.
Student writers are suppose to have brains and the influence to shape the culture and history of their academic communities, as they are expected to make a difference in the larger communities they will later practice. And there is no question as to the intellectual capacity of many student journalists in handling issues in the campus level to promote and strengthen ethical values. In fact, there are more student journalists who are in good moral standing and have the integrity to write about issues concerning the studentry than those in public office.
Sad to note, the present kind of campus journalism seems to be working at the surface level (contest or popularity oriented rather than issue oriented) instead of a functional program that truly addresses the long-term development of the campus press. This is one reason why, in spite of the penning of The Campus Journalism Act of 1991, many campus publications remain underdeveloped and are not mature enough to tackle issues that can bring meaningful change to society.

This blog site aims to be part of the solution; it aims at least sniff the real essence of RA 7079. It aims to break feeble walls, to build uncluttered doors; to sharpen rudimentary norms; to fashion a people-oriented campus journalism philosophy. /Ripples

Lecture 1: The Ripples and its Code of Ethics

2008-03-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

Lecture 1.1: Rationale

The Ripples, like any other school publication, is a newspaper geared to effectively cover the pulse of its Alma Mater as accurately as possible. Since its inception three decades ago, it carries with it the mark of the Ignatian tradition of love, service, and excellence,

This newspaper aspires to be a soundboard for the students of Ateneo de Iloilo as it is the official media on campus that is sacredly considered “the student voice.”

As a student-run publication, The Ripples is a valuable asset to the Ateneo de Iloilo community. The Ripples is an outlet for the students and a way to bring to the attention of the students or its partners regarding local or social issues that they may not be aware of.

As it hones students’ journalistic skills, The Ripples also serves as an alternative yet effective venue for students to put into flesh their brand of selfless service and unconditional love through the might and merit of their words, sketches, images, and voices.

Lecture 1.2: The Ripples Code of Ethics

Adherence to a journalism code of ethics will lead to a greater credibility and help The Ripples or to any school paper for that matter to fulfill its challenging campus journalist mission as unbiased, open-minded, progressive, and excellent as possible.

These selected guidelines (taken from The Ripples Constitution, Manual and Stylebook) apply to all members of The Ripples and to all students who want to work in the ideals of a true campus journalist:

1. Plagiarism and Fabrication
Plagiarism is prohibited and is illegal if the material is copyright protected.
For the purposes of this code, plagiarism is defined as the word for word duplication of another person’s writing and shall be limited to passages that contain distinctively personal thoughts, uniquely stylized phraseology or exclusive facts. A comparable prohibition applies to the use of graphics.
Information obtained from a published work must be independently verified before it can be reported as a new, original story.
This policy also forbids lifting verbatim paragraphs from a wire service without attribution, credit, or pointing out that wire stories were used in compiling the story. Material that is published online, on the Internet, should be treated in the same way as if it were published in more traditional broadcast media.
The use of composite characters or imaginary situations and/or characters will not be allowed in news or feature stories. A columnist may use such an approach in developing a piece, but it must be clear to the reader that the person and/or situation is fictional and that the column is commentary and not reporting. The growth of narrative story development (storytelling devices) means that reporters and editors should be especially careful not to mix facts and fiction and not embellish fact with fictional details, regardless of their significance.

2. Underlying cultural values and biases
Examine underlying cultural values and biases that may be in stories, photos or other content and eliminate them. Beneath what is said, there is sometimes an implied cultural belief. They are not stated in the story, but the reader is required to understand them to get the intended meaning. Such stereotypes are apparent in racial jokes; the prejudices that make racial slurs acceptable in some groups and the biases that make other cultures’ heritages or gender orientations seem “abnormal.”

3. Photo illustration and alteration
Electronically altering the content of photos or cartoons for news and general feature stories or as stand alone news and feature photos is not allowed. Exceptions to this include adjustments to contrast and similar technical enhancements that do not affect the truthfulness of the subject and context of the subject or scene. Content may be altered for creative purposes as a special effect for a feature story if the caption and credit-line includes that fact and if the average reader would not mistake the photo for reality. These photos should be tagged as photo illustrations. Readers expect photos and stories to be truthful.
Setups or posed scenes may be used if the average reader will not be misled and if the caption and credit-line tells readers that it is a photo illustration or reenactment or restaging of an event, including award presentations. Recording the original action is always preferred.

4. Use of crime photos
Certain photographs and other graphic presentations of crime or accident news have tremendous impact on those directly involved as well as on readers. The line between acceptable intrusion into people’s lives and justified news value can be difficult to determine. Care should be taken to maintain the dignity of the subject as much as possible without undermining the truth of the event, especially in regard to the use of sensitive photographs of local persons involved in such situations.

5. Scrutiny of public figures
Conflicts exist between a person’s desire for privacy and the public good and the public’s right to know about a public person’s life. Persons who freely choose to become public figures (like politicians and other government officials) should expect a greater level of scrutiny of their life than a private person. This also includes a person who might find himself/herself involved in a public situation.
Staffers have the responsibility to make sound judgments based on the real news value of the situation, common sense and decency. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy. One exception is those involved in criminal activity or in court. In these instances, the reporting must be balanced between a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights and with the public’s right to be informed.

6. Comment from all sides
To serve the public through fair, unbiased coverage, reporters should make every effort to research and seek comment from everyone with a direct interest in the story. Should a source be unwilling to comment or unavailable for comment, the story should include that information.

7. Source relations and source fact checking
On many occasions, news sources might ask for an advance copy of an The Ripples article, graphic, photograph or page design. In order to maintain the integrity and independent editorial judgment of the The Ripples, such requests are almost always rejected. The Ripples staff members are encouraged to check key quotes and paraphrases and other facts with sources, especially on difficult scientific or technical subjects, to ensure accuracy. But it is against The Ripples policy to give any source prior viewing of any story, graphic, photograph or page design prior to publication, unless they are the paper’s consultants or moderators.
While campus journalists must struggle to maintain objectivity and fairness, they must also realize they are dealing with real people who are not unfeeling sources of information.
Reporters should treat people with respect and dignity.
Reporters should also realize that most people are unfamiliar with how a newspaper operates and are usually not media savvy. Reporters should be clear and straightforward with such sources to make sure they are aware of what the reporter is doing.

8. Obscenity and profanity
Words, pictures or graphics commonly considered profane or obscene should not be used without careful consideration. They should not be used gratuitously or for shock value.
Profanity should only be used in a justifiable, appropriate context and when all the other alternatives have been considered and exhausted.
Staff members should abide by all laws while performing their duties. The more responsibility a staff member has at the The Ripples, the greater responsibility the staff member has to conduct him or herself professionally. Students must remember they represent the The Ripples on and off the job and act accordingly.

9. Openness and Magis
It is the full responsibility of every The Ripples apprentice, staff, or editor to hone his/her skills in journalism as to ensure excellent piece of work anytime, every time, and all the time. They must never cease to train themselves as they continue to be open, to be corrected, and to be trained by others.
Apathy, indifference, and mediocrity are every campus journalist’s nightmare.
In the context of St. Ignatius, every campus journalist must always aim to be more, and to do more. Henceforth, to stop learning or to stop unlearning is a mortal sin in The Ripples book.

Note: Please refer to The Ripples Constitution, Manual and Stylebook for more complete discussion of the paper’s Code of Ethics.

* * *
Rants? Raves? Inquiries? Clarifications? Kindly contact Sir H at jotwithsirh@yahoo.com. Everything discussion will be done in full confidentiality.

JOT for you!

2008-03-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

Warm liberating greetings!

jotwithsirh is not a contest, nor a compulsory requirement.
This blog is initially conceptualized to train grade school and high school students from Ateneo de Iloilo about the rudiments of campus journalism without necessarily competing against other holiday chores like the Ateneo Summer Sports Camp, overseas or inland vacation or excursions, family reunions, reviews and other trainings this summer.

The online training is free of charge. There are no deadlines to beat without your consent. All you have to do is to read at your own pace the blogs published herewith and follow the suggestions given should you want to be helped more via online mentoring.

Sir H will be showing you how to be better campus writers by asking you to do something like an exercise and send your masterpieces to him for corrections. Again, all these shall be done at your own pace. You will not be forced to write or send anything if you don’t feel working on it. In effect, you will be the one who will learn from your own doing with Sir H just leading or challenging you along the way. The kind of learning that you will get from here will then be measured by the degree of your eagerness to learn.

This blog believes that campus journalism is more of a skill than a talent. Like karate and basketball—all skills-based disciplines—only the persistent and the relentless ones will end up the better learners. Hence, jotwithsirh strongly advices you to participate actively in its general exercises. Do more, learn more, to be more.

The whole training will start with the ethics, history, aims, and functions of journalism. Then this will be followed by the different major facets of the trade: news, news gathering, editorial, feature, sports, copyreading and headline writing, cartooning, photojournalism, lay-outing, radio broadcasting and scriptwriting, creative writing, and argumentation and debate, in that order.

While there are general exercises and online lectures, there will also be one-on-one mentoring. This will be done on a case-to-case basis, though.

Facilitation and formation are the very foundations of the methodology of this online course. It means that all the activities here will lead you to a higher goal—that is to make you a better Christian writer. Surely, you will gain knowledge better this way and treasure more what you will achieve later.

It is worthy to stress that this is our maiden voyage in the realm of online journalism training. As we start with the Atenean writers this year, we hope that in the future we can extend our services to the outer dimension of our school and help as many budding writers (including paper advisers) possible to enjoy the benefits and wonders of campus journalism—always (and will ever be) for the Greater Glory of God.

Sir H

PS: Sir H may be reached through YM, mobile phone (0919-8304452) and email: h_lagon@yahoo.com for more clarifications.

Journalism Online Training with Sir H

2008-02-23T02:07:00.000-08:00

Hi guys!
In response to the demand for an online, free-of-charge, and quality journalism training, this administrator--Engr. Herman M. Lagon--wish to be part of the solution. I only hope that this attempt to spread the value of journalism will not end up in naught.
Sir H