'It's not writing. It's what you write about'

On TIME magazine, Malcolm Gladwell's advice to young journalists:

"The issue is not writing. It's what you write about... Aspiring journalists should stop going to journalism programs and go to some other kind of grad school. If I was studying today, I would go get a master's in statistics, and maybe do a bunch of accounting courses and then write from that perspective. I think that's the way to survive. The role of the generalist is diminishing. Journalism has to get smarter."

ARMM LGUs push for greater autonomy to solve conflicts

(Published in Mindanao Insider, Oct. 21, 2009, W)

Local government units in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao have made great strides in conflict resolution, but they need greater autonomy to improve their justice system. This was one of the proposals discussed at the 2009 Governance Symposia yesterday in Davao City hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Local Governance Support Program in ARMM (LGSPA).

The symposia advocates for good local governance by showcasing good or innovative practices of LGSPA-participating LGUs in ARMM in pursuing peace and development through excellence in local governance.

“There is a need to improve the justice system both in the Philippines and ARMM,” said Guiamel Alim, Executive Director of Kadtuntaya Foundation Inc., a civil society organization working with ARMM communities to help resolve conflicts. Alim and mayors of LGUs in ARMM met reporters yesterday to discuss the symposia.

“The problem is there is forum shopping on justice system today,” said Alim, referring to the practice of those in conflict finding another justice system favorable to them.

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Video: The Philippine Eagle and his keeper

Watch this feature on what it means to take care of a Philippine eagle.




I produced this video for my Multimedia Journalism class.

Slideshow: Philippine Eagle

Who discovered the Philippine Eagle? Which famous man advocated for its protection? Know more about the Philippine Eagle in this photo slideshow.

Keeping Hope: A Philippine Eagle and his keeper

Taking care of the Philippine Eagle means more than work; it's keeping hopes alive for the endangered species' survival.

Debbie A. Uy | Oct. 16, 2009, Davao City


It is breeding season at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City, southern Philippines, and senior animal keeper Eddie Juntilla is in just after the sun rises. He is busy at this time, caring for three magnificent Philippine eagles – endangered species endemic to the Philippines. As human surrogate partner of male eagles Pag-asa, Pagkakaisa, and female Kahayag, Juntilla spends at least one hour with each eagle as part of imprinting.

Imprinting is the process of developing a relationship between a captive animal and human for the purpose of artificial insemination. The human caretaker collects semen from the eagle and inseminates this to the female bird.

Imprinting is similar to courtship, and during the breeding season from June to January, Juntilla practices courtship behavior to the eagles. To male eagles, he is the female; to the female, he is male. He brings twigs and leaves to the eagles to make as nest. He brings food such as rabbit, white rat, horse meat, and goat meat. In the wild, male eagles hunt food for females. The captive Pag-asa practices this natural food transfer behavior by leaving half of his food for his partner Juntilla.

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A special book: Travels with Herodotus

I've just finished reading Ryszard Kapuscinski's Travels with Herodotus. What an extraordinary book. Those who love reading, writing, and traveling -- this is a must-read. More than a great writer, Kapuscinski was a good man (I know even just by this book), and that's what I look for in my favorite writers. I like kind, decent, unassuming, and compassionate people, and you can tell from the way they write. Maybe that's why in the last two years I've been picky with my writers. Kapuscinksi is not flashy. Even if he is in the story, he doesn't draw attention to himself.

I'd like to read this book again, and hopefully Herodotus when I'm ready. Most especially, I'd like to write even just a little bit like Kapuscinski. (I know, but wishful thinking won't hurt!)

Some of my favorite passages:

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A typhoon’s aftermath

(Published Sept. 30, 2009, Mindanao Insider)

We in Davao can feel grateful that we live in a typhoon-free area and was spared from ‘Ondoy’s unceasing downpour. Even so, we have not been free from floods brought upon by heavy rains, poor and clogged drainage system, increased population, and improper trash disposal.

We like to think of our city as clean and green, but we know it is just a matter of time before our city starts to decay. The city lacks an updated long-term plan and the will to follow it; proof is the alterations on land reclassification. The solid waste management system has not been strictly implemented. The biggest lesson government has learned from typhoon ‘Ondoy’ is to be prepared. For leaders outside Luzon, there is no need to wait for a storm before local governments start preparing. The time to do so is now.

That is also good advice for us. We shouldn’t wait for government to help. Indeed, it is most especially during government inaction that Filipinos reveal their true character.

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Davao City: Donations to 'Ondoy'

Send donations (clothes, medicines, blankets, towels, water, infant milk, slippers, etc) to:

- Ateneo de Davao Jacinto campus. Drop off at the Samahan office
- ABS-CBN Bantay Bata 163 in Matina
- Philippine National Red Cross
- 2GO outlets
- Davao Light outlets (Bangoy, Bajada, Panabo)
- 1st Congressional District Office, Quirino Ave. corner Mabini St
- SM City Davao
- GMA Network Davao (Shrine Hills, Matina)
- IBP Davao Chapter in Ecoland, beside Hall of Justice near Ecoland Terminal.Accepting until Oct. 2.

Cash:
- Philippine National Red Cross through cellphone:
Text RED (space) AMOUNT to 4483 (Smart) or 2899 (Globe)
- ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya
Bank: Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111
- SunStar Online

UPDATES:

- Davao Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (DFCCCII) is accepting
donations in cash or kind (clothing, footwear, etc.), from Sept. 29 to October 1, 7:30-11:30 am, 1:30-4:00 pm.

For cheques, address payment to Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Drop off donations to the DFCCCII office at 2F, DFCCCII Bldg., Monteverde Avenue, Davao City (beside the Davao Volunteers Fire Brigade, across OWWA). Tel. 227-4598

All donations will be forwarded to Manila on Friday, October 2. All goods for transport to Manila will be handled by Sulpicio Lines free of charge.