Feelings in the pen: When reporters become poets

It was one brief but special day when reporters did not hurry writing the news, but still dug deeper as they shared their thoughts about their work through evocative poems. ArdentComm Inc’s Ana Pista told GMANews.TV that the gathering last November 21 at a bar in Quezon City, was supposed to be a thanksgiving and early Christmas party for journalists covering the IT beat. But the occasion proved more meaningful. “Everybody was craving for idealism. Naisip namin na p’wede ang poetry reading sa Conspiracy (Bar) so bakit hindi magpa-contest sa mga reporters. (So we thought of holding a poetry contest among reporters at the Conspiracy Bar) We thought it would be a good idea to remind them of their purpose in writing through poems," Pista said. Pista said her company and the other organizers of the party received 13 entries from the reporters who used imagery, rhyme, and rhythm in telling about the challenges they encountered in data gathering, and truth telling. In the poem Deadline, Ike Suarez of the Manila Times tells what a journalist does everyday to come out with news.

Pound your beat Mr. or Ms. Reporter Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Their scents you must sniff Their facts you must ensnare Your editor you must please The public you must serve

In her From One Writer to Another, Michelle Callanta, editorial assistant of Gadgets Magazine, tells how the power of pen and feelings are used by a journalist to create his piece.

There is truth in the pen Emotions in the hand Rubbing the two together Can send flames across the land

Raul Virtudazo of radio dzBB talks about the dangers that journalists face, in his poem titled Reporter.

Ako ay isang reporter Balita sa akin ay murder Kahit may peligro, aber Tuloy ako sa pagkober

Manila Bulletin’s Edgar Hilario, in his poem, Ang Manila Pen, also talks about the risks that journalists had to take when they covered the November 29 siege of the Peninsula Manila.

Oh my God, the assault tank crashed the Manila Pen front Fired tear gas, hundreds of soldiers made a grabe assault Thank God, Trillanes et al chose not to be kaput Ay look, ‘yong mga media, naipit pala sa loob

Manila Standard’s Roderick dela Cruz in his poem Business Reporter shares the irony about a poor journalist covering the “moneyed" beats:

Nagsusulat tungkol sa World Bank, pero walang bank deposit Nire-report ang motor vehicle sales, pero walang kotse Nag-uulat ng hotel occupancy rates, pero wala man lang pang Sogo Nagsusulat ng medical tourism, kahit pa nilayasan ng s’yotang nurse na nasa London

Melvin Calimag of the Manila Bulletin, meanwhile, talks about his dream of becoming a journalist in Meron ba dyan?

Noong maliit pa ako, gusto ko nang magsulat Nang nag-aral na, sumaling pilit sa mga school paper Grumadweyt sa kolehiyo, lahat ng dyaryo sinipat Napasok at natupad, pangarap na makita ang pangalan

Marlon Magtira of PC Buyers Guide also shares how he appreciates becoming an IT journalist.

Kung di ako napadpad sa mundo ng IT media Siguro walang magaganda at poging nagpapadala Ng PR sa email ko tuwina Kung di ako napadpad sa mundo ng IT media Wala sanang junket sa Japan, sa Korea, at Phuket Di ko sana nakasama ang mga writer na malupet

Dela Cruz was chosen as the best “poet-journalist," and received a five in one color printer worth P8,000 from Brother Philippines and P5,000 from ArdentComm, Inc. Calimag won second place, and received a three in one color printer also from Brother Philippines plus P5,000 from ArdentComm, Inc. Hilario was third, who bagged a monochrome printer and P3,000 from Brother Philippines . Fourth was Virtudazo who received P2,500 from ArdentComm Inc. Magtira who received P2,000 from ArdentComm Inc., was fifth. Poet-musicians Gary Granada and Bayang Barrios, and poet Kris Lacaba were the judges in the competition. with reports from Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV