Press Freedom Week kicks off; TF, Banat News win top prizes

CEBU, Philippines —  For the 25th year, media practitioners in Cebu come together for a week of fellowship and reaching out to the community through knowledge building and exchange.

The celebration also aims to remind journalists of the fight they fought to reinstate their freedom curtailed by Martial Law on September 21, 1972.

As in previous years, the celebration kicked off with a parade, which was followed by a Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Roberto Ebisa, SVD at the San Carlos Boys High Gym yesterday morning.

Ebisa, station manager of DyRF, is the president of the Cebu Chapter of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

In his homily, Ebisa highlighted the importance of seeking the truth and standing by the truth at all times.

“For us media practitioners, there is this holy device in us and that is the truth. If we remain truthful in what we do, it will always bring us home,” Ebisa said.

“You should look at your job as a vocation. When there is vocation, there is a calling and that we should start seeing what we are doing as a vocation not just a profession. When we have that shift, we were able to make our task truthfully,” he added.

Every day this week, news organizations in Cebu will host sessions that will tackle the current media landscape and the challenges faced by journalists.

The forum organized by The Freeman and Banat News will take place on Tuesday, September 19, at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center. Entitled Believe it or Not: Journalism and Blogging in the Age of Fake News, the forum will have as guests Camille Diola, editor-in-chief of philstar.com; Jon Joaquin, editorial director of Mindanation.com; and Atty. Ethelbert Ouano, professor of law at the University of San Jose - Recoletos.

Winners

For The Freeman and Banat News, the celebration this year started with two big wins.

Ten of the papers’ reporters put up an adrenaline-busting performance that earned the collective nod of the judges in yesterday’s Despacito-themed dance contest, a highlight of the opening program.

It was the first in a long time The FREEMAN clinched the top spot in the yearly competition, after settling for either second or third place in the past.

Jean Marvette Demecillo, the team’s leader who’s been dancing for the paper for four years now, said the accolade wasn’t served to them on a silver platter.

It was a challenge, she said, because members had different schedules, plus the occasional breaking news stories that had to be pursued in conflict with rehearsals.

Completing the group were Iris Mariani Algabre, Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad, Kristine Joyce Campaña, Gloreitta Lariosa, Odessa Leyson, May Miasco, Camille Pateres, Kristine Quintas, and Dezsa Rubio.

Since most of them were not really keen on dancing, there were also instances when their patience had to be tested to consider those who needed more time to learn the steps.

In these moments, it’s the group’s fellowship and teamwork that kept it going.

“We’re proud of the group because we have a strong camaraderie, and everyone was open to ideas on how to improve our routine. We’re also thankful to those who helped us financially. It’s really a company-wide effort,” Demecillo said.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) landed second place, followed by Cebu Daily News (CDN) and Sun.Star Cebu, which won third and fourth prizes, respectively.

Judge Arwin Abe, social media manager of Voyager Innovations Inc., commended how The FREEMAN and Banat News pulled off a presentation in which “the whole team seemed like just one person dancing.”

“Execution was the biggest portion of the scores so ang nakita naming tatlo (judges), execution comprises of entertainment value, synchronization. Ang sa Freeman kasi, it’s a whole team pero it seemed like one person was dancing,” Abe said.

“So as a dancer, yun yung tinitingnan natin. Kahit viewer ka, pag nakita mo ang isang performance, kailangan ma-star-struck ka kung paano nila ginawa kahit isang team sila. It doesn’t really matter kung ano ang concept. Ang kailangan mo lang lagi tingnan is how they have executed every step kung paano nila sinasapuso at kung paano nila bibigyan ng justice yung mga steps,” he said.

For another judge, Jasmin Sumaoy, corporate communications and manager of Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, The FREEMAN was a total package.

“There were groups na they were very good dancers, synchronized, sabay-sabay, pero they lacked sa aspect nung costume, so that’s why deserving ang Freeman kay complete package gyud,” she said.

Another crown

Less than 24 hours earlier, The Freeman’s editorial assistant for Lifestyle, Dezsa Rubio, was crowned Miss Cebu Press Freedom 2017.

Rubio, a 21-year-old stunner, dazzled the judges with her answer to the question, “What is the greatest problem of our society today, and how do you think you can help solve it through media?”

She said: “The greatest problem of our society nowadays is misinformation. With the advent of technology and social media, people can misinform a lot of times and if we are not responsible enough in verifying information, we will be blindsided by people with selfish interests. As a journalist, it is my responsibility to inform people on (the importance) of verifying information.”

Rubio now joins the long roster of Miss Cebu Press Freedom titleholders from The FREEMAN and Banat News that includes the likes of Jean Marvette Demecillo (2014), Jessa Marie Agua-Ylanan (2013), Grace Melanie Lacamiento (2012), Stacy Danica Alcantara (2009), Rachelle Dangin (2007), Ardelle Merton (2006), and Lani Ginete (2004).

Crowned Mr. Press Freedom is Christian Orellano of Cebu Daily News. — /JMO (FREEMAN)