2010 Journalism Summer Training at Ciudad Christhia from June 4-6: A Refresher Course

I have to deeply thank Ms. Josephine Bonsol (now a famous food and lifestyle blogger) for letting me experience and join the summer training for campus journalists at the Ciudad Christhia 9 Waves Resort last June 4-6. I did learn a lot of new things and boost my confidence in my writing skills.

June 4

My mom accompanied me to San Francisco High School, where the delegates would be fetched by the vans and school yellow cabs to Ciudad Christhia. At around 4pm, we were all gathered at the Eucalyptus session hall for registration. At the opening ceremonies, Mrs. Ligaya A. Regis, Education Supervisor I in Journalism for Public and Prviate high schools, welcomed the 71 campus journalists and shared reflections about the training.

"You get what you expect," started Mrs. Regis, and told the young journalists to have open minds to learn more. She also stressed the reflection that "life asks of every individual a contribution and it is up to that individual what it should be."

"Affirmation of success." Mrs. Ligaya specially inspired the campus journalists to keep on repeating a positive thought, "because what one thinks will always be a reality."

At 6pm after the students were given their respetive rooms, they had dinner, and Ms. Josephine Bonsol and Ms. Christina Feliciano distributed night tickets for those who wanted to swim at the 9 Waves Resort from 7pm-8:30pm.

June 5
Ms.Josephine Bonsol earlier reminded us that breakfast would be from 6-7am, then the seminar would start at 8am.

Bagong Silangan school paper adviser Mrs. Marissa Ruca first taught Pagwawasto at Pag-uulo ng Balita. She reminded us that copyreading seriously needs a lot of concentration and carefulness. She practiced us with a few articles and later gave us copies to copyread in one hour. I definitely learned a lot from Filipino copyreading especially about the symbols to be used.

After a snack at about 10am, Mr. Moises L. Tarrobal, E. Rodriguez Jr. High School paper adviser, taught us Pagsulat ng Lathalain. He gave us a start by teaching the basics in feature writing , and introduced the different lead styles to start a good article. He made the journalists write a lathalain about the new president of the Philippines.

After lunch, Mrs. Ligaya Regis trained the young writers in editorial writing (also her principal field in journalism). She taught the step-by-step process of drafting, starting and ending a good editorial, with the kinds of lead styles. She also instructed the journalists to write an editorial about sex education.

At around 4:30pm after another snack, Mr. Moises Tarrobal returned to discuss Pagsulat ng Editoryal. He introduced the different kind of editorials (persuasuve, criticism, and argumentative), and cited articles of each kind, identifying their differences in structure and style.

June 6
Ms. Josephine Bonsol shook the journalists' cranky bones and muscles first thing in the morning by teaching them basic yoga exercises.

Mrs. Marissa Ruca first gave her evaluation in our work in Pagwawasto at Pag-uulo ng balita and also gave oral exercises. A North Fairview High School journlalist got the highest score.

Mr. Moises Tarrobal also gave his evaluation, giving only three words: Sawimpalad, Bukaspalad, and Mapalad.

Dr. Elizabeth Meneses, DepEd NCR Supervisor, next gave her lesson in feature writing.She discussed the types of feature articles and stressed that emotion with vivid descriptions is the key to a good story.

She also shared the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing article: The Girl in the Window: The Feral Child, and let the journalists ask questions about it.

She also made them write a feature about the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash of Channel 2, and later, declared a Quezon City Science High School student to be the best.

After the 10am snack, Carlos P.Albert High School paper adviser Ms. Milet Alcala discussed Copyreading and Headline writing, and gave refresher exercises.. She mentioned facts, grammar and correct figures are the important factors in editing a copy.

Quezon City Superintendent Dr. Victoria Fuentes visited the seminar during lunch. Mr. Eulogio Pebres, school paper adviser of Balingasa HS then lectured about Pagsulat ng Balita. He reminded the journalists the importance of structure and objectivity. He also let the writers evaluate his student's winning articles in the 2010 National Schools Press Conference in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Mrs. Ligaya Regis first evaluated the writers' editorial articles, then food blogger and Lagro High School paper adviser Ms. Josephine Bonsol discussed Newswriting. She stressed the importance of gaining authority when reporting or writing a news article, and also knowing the latest events and current affairs through reading.

At around 4:30pm, Ms. Christina Feliciano called for the closing ceremonies, where Mrs. Ligaya Regis, Mr. Eulogio Pebres and Edbert of the School of Saint Anthony gave their final words of inspiration and evaluations on the training.

It was all worth it. The accomodation in Ciudad Christhia was amazing, especially their service of food and the food itself. I enjoyed swimming in the resort, and watching Travel and Living in their cable television all night made me learn new and more wonderful things.All the mentors in the training really gave inspiration and new lessons in my journalism class.

All thanks to Ms. Josephine Bonsol!