Documentaries and News Casting/Reporting

I started watching I-Witness Documentaries in Powerhouse QTV 11 last January. I felt like so acquainted to the said program alongside other current affairs shows such as Reporter’s Notebook and Jessica Soho Reports. It happened that I wasn’t able to follow the usual programs during my college years since we didn’t have a tv set in the apartment. I am just glad to know that the broadcasting company still air some replays of their documentaries. Whenever I am watching such real life-issues and stories presented by indeed very good reporters, I always end up wondering about the protocol a particular documentary program follows in selecting the right reporter to conduct the research and deal with a certain issue [too inquisitive ‘bout this matter eh?].

On News Casting and Reporting...

It’s not because I am messed up by the usual news personalities we see all day and night in news programs [they have established themselves in the course of time, anyway] but I’m again thinking that in their presence, the reporters or at least the far-more-experienced-than-reporters staffs couldn’t excel as anchors or news casters [or into a position such as those highly regarded in the studios]. We all know that both concerns have different matters to consider. Again, this is by all means a question by a person who’s only wondering bout what and how it goes in public affairs and journalism [and so whoever reads this and has any comments, feel free to give some].

Well, known to the concerned viewers, the roles of an anchor and a reporter are almost interchangeable [at least an anchor can grab that of a reporter’s but the latter can’t easily have an anchor’s position].  While the reporter gathers the news [of all encompassing aspects] in the field, the anchor stays in the studio to convey collected info through TV or radio networks. The former does everything at least from gathering and assembling info, voice casting and script writing while the anchor may or may not write the news as he/she will deliver it later.

Unknown to us [but of course may seem too obvious], an anchor’s rank is esteemed and highly paid [accdg to a friend of mine who’s working in a local network].

The return of Brigada

I highly commend Brigada for again venturing into this kind of conveying news to the public. There are really lots of public matters we tend to ignore just so because we, in general aren’t actually informed about the real scenarios in the society. For me, it is a good thing to have such program that will discuss local problems in the country whether in the rural or urban as I may say. For a public affairs’ pillar [GMA News] Jessica Soho, who’s been in the said field for years [way back Beltran and Sotto’s Brigada Siete], it seems to be her time to give back what she has received in the course of her stay in the department by mentoring the new generation of journalists/reporters. Though I was not really concerned with the news ‘til 4^th grade, I knew there were running news programs like Hoy! Gising, Frontpage, Brigada Siete, Magandang Gabi Bayan, etc.  Through time, the people have in general changed preferences on how news are delivered. The contemporary time needs [well as I deem so] a progressive strategy to capture interests amongst people.  A touch of opinion in an unconventional news program like that of Brigada with small bits of documentaries shows how news programs respond to what the present time calls for. Also, let me speak well of it again as the program gives the reporters behind the limelight [reporters who appear infrequently] a chance to give some commentaries on their reports as Jessica shares her own insights as well. Whoa. I so love it. [If I am not into the field of science, I’d probably in journalism. kapal...]

John Mark Katindig Torres

Voices within

All day long, I've been hearing voices [and it bothers me somehow]. Aside from the noise produced by my surroundings, something deep within me seem to cause me wariness...

God exists...

Teacher: Did God create everything?
Student: Yes.
Teacher: If so, then God created evil. Therefore, God is evil.

Suddenly 1 student stood up...
Student:  Ma'am, does COLD exist?
Teacher: Yes it does.
Student: Actually Ma'am, it doesn't. According to the laws of physics, COLD is simply the absence of HEAT...
              Now, does DARK exist, Ma'am?
Teacher: Of course it does.
Student: DARK doesn't exist...It is only the absence of LIGHT...
             Just like EVIL, it is only the absence of GOD in a man's heart...

Teacher left speechless...

Let there be PEACE!!!

from pastillas wrappers...yum yum...

delightful candy with a sweet message

An Overnight Stay in Intramuros: The Transient

               Yesterday’s an incredible day for me. I went to Intramuros, Manila to find a place to stay overnight for the following day’s exam in the University of the City of Manila (College of Medicine).  It was more or less 2 1/2-hour trip from Bulacan. I entered the walled-city through an ingress just in front of the City Hall. It’s always a great feeling to explore such a wonderful ancestral place but I won’t dwell on that matter for now.  With an unsteady gait, I walked inside the area and search for an apartment. I strolled through small avenues and corners of every street; there were many food stalls and carinderia and some old establishments that have remained standing for years. Some lanes were flooded by stinky left-overs and trashes [how I wish the local officials exert some effort regarding these] of which I found a good breathing exercise must be practiced, reminding me then those times when I was still part of a school choir [holding a lungful of air for a moment and controlling gradual inhale-exhale process]. I was indeed holding my breath as I struggle to cross and stride over some areas in the place until I found a row of commercial residences. Inquiring was far easier than walking through the streets [laughs..] and it was a relief when I finally found a place to stay. It took me almost an hour waiting for the landlady to show where I will be spending the night so I chose to take an early dinner. There was a carinderia in the first floor and I was wondering if the next two floors are for rent until I was lead to a typical student room upstairs by the landlady. Again, it stinks [laughs...] but had no other options to take so I need to grab the offer or else...hmmm...

                It was a four-cornered room with two double-decks and a small storage area. She told me that I’ll be the only one to occupy it for the night and that I should feel free to ask her boy for some needs. The stay will cost me a hundred and fifty pesos which I gave immediately before she left the room. I was planning to take a simple tour outside but I decided not to. Anyway, I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s exam and have enough rest. I was about to sleep at 9 when I heard not from afar videoke songs. Downstairs was crowded with people singing also and I couldn’t sleep [how I wish I brought my ear plugs, sighs...] It was really horrible; my eyes popped and my eardrums almost broke, I swear. The music, well actually the noise emanated just below my bed. All head turns, body curls, twists and the like; I did all of these but I really couldn’t manage to sleep and all I was thinking is whether I’ll still be able to take the exam the next day. It was 2:30a.m. when all of the stores decided to cease operations [operation sleep interference, grrr...] and I was very thankful, at least. I couldn’t sleep with lights on but I was forced by the circumstance because when I tried to turn it off, cockroaches came flying and creeping in the room and they’re disgusting, argh... [ I even heard squeaking mice]. It was 5 when I rose up and started preparing myself to do morning routines as fast as I can and leave the place, huh [far more relieving (laughs)].

PLM MCAT Day

With my eyes red and itchy extremities [mosquito bites, I guess], I went first to Mini Stop and bought two ham and cheese karimans; one for my breakfast, the other for a break [I hope we’ll have one]. It was already 6:30 and people are crowding the right side avenue of the university. Taxi’s and calesas came rushing from a nearby entrance to Intramuros. Aspiring medical students and hopefuls from different schools assemble in groups [maybe in an aim to find schoolmates. Some frat and sorority members added up with the crowd disseminating pamphlets and brochures of their societies [ain’t too excited to have us huh?!] No worries ‘cause I got nothing against them; in fact, I am thankful for the candies [oh so sweet] and the pencil. After signing in a logbook, I rushed to my room to find a comfortable place and some peeps also. I was surprised to see my co-UP interviewee, Josiah but we set off; he’s in the other room. I was assigned in the auditorium/lecture hall where seats fold themselves; the usual cinema type of seats. Some students have already occupied the frontmost seats so I decided to take the third row seat near the aisle. I saw my classmates Alvin and Aizelle with their 4^th yr friends.

The exam sheets came and I felt like there’s nothing to worry about actually [not because I am confident but the night-before experience caused me too much anxiety and stress, sighs]. A strict proctor and a conventional what-should-I-do-ma’am assistant guided us throughout the exam proper.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila), as far as I know, is the only medical school to administer yet another exam called MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). It will further screen the applicants from astonishing number aside from the GWA and NMAT score. Got no idea about the contents of the exam; all I knew was it will be like the NMAT. We were asked to complete the whole set of tests in 3 hours with 20-25 minutes for a 50 item subtest and 45 minutes for a 100-item subtest. Knocked-off by limited time and literally difficult and mind-contorting questions, I smiled and prayed in silence [Oh my, where should I get the answers?! D’ **ck!] There were the Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Ability, Physical Sciences (Chem, Physics, Geo), Life Sciences (I like!), and Behavioral Sciences. The thing is, the items have situational questions and answers, though in choices, are in long statements also. Most of the time, I really found myself stunned by the very concept-specific questions and rely on either my store knowledge or what my instinct suggested. Psychology almost broke me; one couldn’t base an answer from an introductory course indeed. I guess I won’t say in detail any other thing about the exam. As a Bio student, life and physical sciences were manageable. An EQ test was also given after the timed special area tests. All in all, it was still yet another great experience and am hoping to have myself qualified for the interview a few weeks from now.

Next to UP, am with great hopes aiming to get into PLM [may it be part of God’s plan... PRAY PRAY PRAY!] Aside from the high passing rates in medical board exams, it offers quality education in really low-cost fees [relative to other medical schools in Manila]. However, am not that certain on their teaching method [trad or the PBL type].

FEU-NRMF results

Yip yip hooray! Thank you Lord! The results for the qualified applicants to the Institute of Medicine, FEU-NRMF are now officially released. I am one of the lucky qualifiers for the first batch and I owe them to my family, to Assumption Development Foundation (ADF Family), friends and most especially to God. To  Tatay (mom’s late father), thanks for the inspiration. Am now ready to conquer the medical field [though I still have to wait for UP on March, hoping it will bear fruit also] c:

Here’s the link people:

http://www.feu-nrmf.ph/pdf/medwaitlistn1strel11-12.pdf

I believe I also have some batchmates of mine in the list. I hope they have checked it already.