Mt. Mayon's slow eruption

Within the past weeks, Mt. Mayon is slowly making its way to its major eruption. The activity of this volcano, which is considered as the most active volcano in the Philippines is continuously being monitored and observed.

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Mt. Mayon is considered as one of the most scenic beautiful volcanoes in the Philippines yet it is the most active one.

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Mt. Mayon started to show its signs of hazardous eruption


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Residents near the volcano are advised to evacuate. The government warned those living in the 6-km danger zone.



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Lava flows show the increasing volcanoc activity of the volcano.


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The volcano emits huge clouds of ash and smoke increasing the alert level.

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About 40,000 residents were evacuated from the vicinity of the volcano. Ashes emitted by the volcano created panic among the residents.

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Mayon Volcano continues to show signs "hazardous eruption". The experts say the major eruption of the volcano could happen within days.

With the continuous activity of the volcano, people are advised to be on alert and prepare for this eruption. The government should do all the measures to prevent further damages of the predicted eruption of the volcano.

Blogging as form of Journalism

“Definitely, [blogging] is a form of journalism,” Professor Rolando Fernandez said as he lectures in front of the Online Journalism class of the University of the Philippines Baguio.

For Professor Fernandez, an editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, blogging is indeed a form of journalism. Prof. Fernandez explained that blog is a means of accessing information and it renders

great help to journalists.

The editor points out some advantages that could be sought by journalists in weblogs. He said that since a lot of journalists have their own blogs, blogging is used as an alternative means for these journalists to report news.

Prof. Fernandez cited TV reporters as an example. He said, “In TV, katiting lang yung pwedeng iannounce [ only little amount of information is being broadcasted], but through blogs, they can print and write about those behind the scenes.” According to Prof. Fernandez, blog is meant for more space to further enhance reporters and also expand the frontier on information access. In line with this, he said that people have more access to information and can have a new issue everyday.

Through blogs, not only can journalists report their writings but they also find their sources and stories in them. Prof. Fernandez quotes a reporter, “I get some tips in other people’s blogs.” He added another journalist, a columnist of Malaya who said that she gets more reactions from readers in her blog than in her column in the newspaper. In this sense, blogs widen the idea or perspective of journalist with regards to the topics that they report. Blogs serve as “light” or an informative source. However, Prof. Fernandez said that journalists should be guarded against “garbage information”. He said one should check and verify the information. In line with this, he, as a journalist himself, related, “I don’t just accept information. I verify them.” According to him, checking facts should be done because everyone, anyone can publish anything through weblogs. Journalists should be aware of this.

Basically, Prof. Fernandez considers blogging as a form of journalism however not all bloggers can be addressed as journalists. According to him, bloggers are journalists if they do the same thing what a journalist does. With regards to this, he said to the students, “You learned the basics [of journalism]. You have the advantage over those who have no training in journalism.”

It's time to save the Environment

“Our environment is in danger and most Filipinos don’t care,” DENR-CAR Regional Director Samuel Peńafel said.

It is true that our environment continuously deteriorates. Massive soil erosions and landslides occur destroying establishments and burying the people alive. Flash floods rush through the lands drowning the people. The air that we breathe becomes more polluted. Our different wastes are scattered making our surrounding unclean and affecting our health as well especially the health of the children. Our mountains ceaselessly become bald because numerous trees are being cut down. The ozone layer becomes thinner and thinner each day effecting to global warming.

With these phenomena, we must do something. We need to act to protect our environment. We should not just sit there and watch our Mother Nature as she cries for help. We should save her and we must do it now.

Peńafel said, “If we do not act with urgency, our quality of life will suffer in the long run.”

We should look after our environment. There are a lot of ways in protecting it. Simple ways such as throwing your garbage in proper place and segregating them properly can make Mother Nature smile. Another thing that we could do is planting trees. In this way, we could add more trees that will help us make the air we breathe clean and safe. These trees could also prevent soil erosions, landslides and flash floods. We could also prevent the ozone layer from becoming thin. We can do this by avoiding the utilization of chemicals that makes the layer irritated. Those with vehicles should avoid smoke belching as well as those with factories. And lastly, we should participate and cooperate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in their projects that help the environment maintain its beauty and cleanliness.

No Politics?

"I am not here to talk about politics but what the people want."- GMA

On her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on monday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised not to talk about politics. However, I noticed that her SONA obviously included politics. From the first to the last part of her speech, GMA has mentioned and praised different politicians. She acknowledged her supporters in the congress, number of soldiers and police and even those who tried to oust her.

In line with my observation, I quote a paragraph from yesterday's Inquirer issue:

"She vowed not to talk about politics but her State of the Nation Address amounted to what could be payback to her supporters- from generals and lawmakers to local executives and Church officials..."

It is clearly observed that Ms. Arroyo did not stick to her word--not to talk about politics.

When GMA broke her own vow--not to talk about politics, something popped up in my mind. I thought, if the president can't keep her word with that simple vow, what more with doing the numerous projects she proposed. This may imply that our president is not capable of keeping her promises. This generates doubt on the part of the Filipinos like me. I doubt if GMA will stick to her proposed projects such as making "super regions."

If only GMA delivered her speech without saying politics is not included when in fact it is, she could have not bore a negative impression to the people.

The next time Ms. Arroyo delivers SONA, if she still seats as the president, simple things such as this should be given importance. She should note that every detail that comes out in her mouth is being observed, commented and sometimes "cooked" (criticized).

SONA: A Political Campaign?

"House Deputy Minority Leader Roilo Golez called President Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address a political campaign speech."

I read this statement as I browse through the frontpage of the Inquirer yesterday. I agree that somehow GMA's SONA on monday was a form of political campaign speech. I have observed that throughout her speech, lots of names of officials from the different areas in the country were mentioned. And not only mentioned by the President, they were praised for a job "well-done".

I think GMA has used her SONA to uplift the heart of the officials she mentioned who are mostly her allies. For me, the rationale behind this is that Arroyo wants to maintain the support of her allies and gain more support in her administration. When more supporters, GMA is more likely to stay in her position. Through highlighting these officials in her speech, she tried to catch their heart and attention. She hoped to gain more support in her administration as she tries to battle with her ousters.

For me, as she delivered her speech, she's like saying "See, I have recognized you, therefore, you must recognize me and support me all the way."

Another thing that made the recently held SONA a political campaign speech is that the President didn't discuss what were the things done in the past year. She has only proposed different projects and more promises to Filipinos. I think, she has used the SONA to "serenade" the people to still be with her because of the many projects presented. GMA has really used her wits just to stay in her seat.

"Hakot" crowd, where are they?

As I read one of the Inquirer's story yeaterday, I was intigued by a certain part of the story saying "No Hakot visible". It was written that the usual ubiquitous "hakot" crowd from the nearest slums were nowhere near the upper gallery nor at the side lobbies where they ate their packed lunch on previous Sonas.

Questions rapidly bothered my mind. Where are these people--the masses? Why are they not part of GMA's audience?

While I watch President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address on monday, I noticed that Arroyo's audience composed mostly of men and women who are high in profile. I thought, GMA's SONA was intended for celebrities (Politicians, known people and other important guests). Though covered by various television networks to make Filipinos not in the scene able to watch the important event, I think it was not for the masses, it's for GMA's supporters only.

The President should've considered the presence of the masses in the venue of her speech. Another thing that made her SONA exclusive for prominent people is the very tight security being imposed as the event is held. I have learned in yesterday's Inquirer issue that the security outside and inside the venue was very tight. No one was allowed to go out and inside while the speech is being delivered. I can agree that it's for the President's security but how can an ordinary Filipino get inside and hear the SONA personally when this was the situation.

The invisible "hakot" crowd may imply that the President didn't give importance to the masses-- the little people who,ideally, should be rendered with her services.

Inform the people...

Rainy season has come and typhoons find their way to hit our country. It was only this month when typhoon Florita hit Baguio and left damages to life and property. One of its way of destruction is inducing landslides.

Baguio city, as we all know, is vulnerable to landslides because of its geological structure. However, one must know what the safe or dangerous places are in the city.

In this week's issue of Baguio Midland Courier, one of its stories entitled "More Landslides Forecasted" has mentioned about the geo-hazard areas in Baguio. The writer repeatedly stated about the "identified" geo-hazard areas in the city. However, I noticed that he didn't even named at least one or two of these geo-hazard areas. I, then, ask what are these geo-hazard areas the writer talked about?

I tried to answer my own question as I do a requirement in one of my journ classes-- to report on environmental news. I wrote a report on the geo-hazard areas in Baguio city. I went to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR and asked for a list of landslide-prone areas in Baguio city. They provided the list together with a map which determines how an area is susceptible to landslides.

Here is some of the landslide-prone areas provided by the MGB: Dominican, Mirador Area, Kennon Rd, San Luis Extension, Mines View, Quezon Hill, Fairview, Magsaysay Avenue, Pacdal and Cabinet Hill. In the MGB's preliminary geologic hazard map, it was identified that areas along Trancoville, Aurora Hill, Holy Ghost Extension, Military Cut-off, Cabinet Hill-Teachers camp, SLU-SVP housing, Dagsian, Camp 7 and Club John hay are identified as highly susceptible to landslides.

My purpose for naming these geo-hazard areas in Baguio city is to make the people living in these areas aware and prepare especially when typhoons occur. This will inform them and help ensure their safety. In my report, I also included some preventive measures suggested by the MGB and the City Disaster Coordination Council such as building retaining walls, recrop and maintaining a proper drainage system. And as much as possible, avoid building structures in steep slopes.

I hope what I wrote will contribute a great help in the journalistic world. As a journalism student, I'm trying to fill what is lacking in the different news being reported such as this.

Bandila's waving on air

For further dissemination of information, ABS-CBN has created its newest and different kind of news program, the "Bandila".

Bandila is a late evening news anchored by most prominent newscasters of the network namely Korina Sanchez, Ces Drilon and Henry Omaga Diaz. Each anchors has established name in the field of reporting, adding to the program's credibility. The program focuses on current national events thus implying a sense of nationalism. Its background, flag of the Philippines, also touches the nationalistic side of the program which makes the viewers feel that they are Filipinos and they must be aware of the current events happening in the country.

It's interesting that it is not only a mere news program that reports for the sake of reporting. In some sense, it is an investigative reporting. Both sides of the issue are presented and the background of that certain story is also provided. Thus making it reliable. Bandila has somewhat diverted its direction as a news program. Besides its unusual late evening news timeslot which is 10:30 pm, Bandila has its unique sense of delivering the news. Unlike, 24 oras and TV Patrol World which only reports on what happened and who is involved, Bandila gives more detail to a story and explains it further. More people involved will be interviewed making the story full in a sense and more exciting.

However, though it seems that the program is credible and reliable, one thing I didn't like about the program is the fact that they produced reenactment when they have no actual footages. I think this may affect Bandila's credibility for the viewers might think that they just merely recreate important events. I also didn't appreciate the program's sound effects as background of the story. For me, it is disturbing. And another thing is that there's so much color in it. Though making the delivery alive, I suggest they restrain from producing much color in the background. The program also put much emphasis on its lead items, I think they should also give a deeper reporting on other topics.

As a whole, I think the newest program of ABS-CBN will become effective and may catch the heart of the viewers. With its early timeslot compared to other evening news, probably more people will watch this program making it stay on air.

CR for ClassRoom

Crowded classrooms, three or more students share a single textbook and now, inadequate space for holding classes.

At the frontpage of Inquirer's saturday issue, I was intrigued by one of its headlines. It was "In this school, lessons spill into toilet." Questions quickly popped in my mind-- What? Classes are held in the CR? How are the children? What do they feel having class in a toilet converted into a classroom? What's the government's action on this kind of situation?

It is a fact that our country has too many students but too few resources. In that same news, I learned that the teachers in that public school,Commonwealth Elementary, "struggle to house every student and cramming them into every available space including corridors, bathrooms and garages." Personally, I pitied the children, they shouldn't be suffering like that and they couldn't do anything but to sacrifice for their future.

It was also written in the story that "parents are pressing to have their children enrolled in Commonwealth school for reasons like it is near their homes or their place of work- a nearby public market. And the only nearby school is a church-run Claret School for boys with 60,000 worth of annual tution- equivalent to six month's wages of a typical minimum-wage earner in Manila." With these statements, I can see that there is not enough school built in that portion of Manila. I'm sure that this kind of problem also exists in other parts of the country. This should serve as a wake up call for the government.

The problem is addressed primarily to those in authority. They should do the efforts to make the educational system of the Philippines more functional.
Education for its citizens is essential to a country. Therefore, education must be a priority of the government.

Allan de Guzman of University of Santo Tomas Center for Educational Research and Development said in the story: "It's best for the government to invest its resources in education. If you try to look comparatively speaking, the world standard for education is eight percent of the National budget but the Philippines only invests 1.3 percent." With this statement, I conclude that more budget, more classrooms, more texbooks result to better education and more progressive country.

"Nursing" the board exams?

For the past few days, the leakage in this month's nursing board exams was the talk of the town.

Yesterday, I read another story about the said issue in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It says there that " Nursing schools execs call for swift investigation of leak in board exams."

It was said there that deans and faculty members of the country's more established nursing schools urged the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) should create independent body to investigate the said incident.

In line with this story, I think there should really investigate this matter. The PRC should immediately do something in finding the truth behind the leakage issue. The alleged leakage will affect not only nursing examinees of the recent exam but the whole country as well.

Many Filipino nurses are being hired abroad and many of the nursing graduates aim to work abroad. But if the issue on the alleged leakage in the nursing board exams goes on and the other countries eventually learn about it, what will they think of the quality of our nurses? They will surely doubt on the quality of Filipino nurses if they learn that some of the nursing examinees relied on the leakage.

The PRC should prevent this kind of situation to happen. They should act now and investigate the matter clearly and properly.

I will add another issue I found in the same story. It is written that, "the reality is that there are just too many nursing enrollees and nursing schools but not enough hospitals to provide the clinical experience and not enough qualified and experienced teachers."

It is true that they are too many nursing students that graduate and take board exams but there are few hospitals and qualified teachers that provide proper training to these students. If this is so, the quality of our future nurses is at risk. What more when there would be leakage in the board exam? What will happen to their future? If they are not properly trained and only passed the exam through leakage, are they fit to their chosen profession?