I am starting a series of reports prepared by six scholars of our RB Scholarship Fund who had been awarded a two-year grant that would allow them to prepare various types of information and communication materials on the dynamics of community life. The five are now on their second year and are enrolled at the Mindanao State University, Bicol University, University of Mindanao, Visayas State University and Silliman University. The sixth, a graduate student at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication is writing her thesis on The Indigenous People and Radyo Sagada.

The reports are based on their observations on community life which they have documented through various communication channels – print and broadcast, and the new information technology. In the process, they not only learn the dynamics of community life but are also able to participate in its activities. In the process, they hone their skills in storytelling as well as processing data and utilizing them in various formats. These as well as the ability to work with and participate in various programs and projects of government and nongovernment organizations. One other scholar is a graduate student who is working on a thesis about the role of Radyo Sagada in upholding the rights of indigenous people.

The first piece was prepared by scholar Fayzah Inshirah Alonto Ala who chose Marawi as it holds significant demographic importance particularly in its post-conflict situation during the 2017 siege. Fayazh observed Marawi’s Transitory Temporary shelters to understand the state of their living conditions.

The first shelter, Buganga Temporary Shelter is home to hundreds of displaced Marawi residents who faced issues with basic needs such as water, shelter and livelihood. With eight years of residing in the shelters, she found evidence of deterioration in their homes. In Bakwit Village, residents were threatened with displacement as the land where the village sits could be taken back by the private landowners. She met with principals of the Marawi Schools Division Office, participated in a series of community forums organized by the NGO Office, interviewed street vendors regarding their opinions about the postponement of the BARMM election, interacted with veteran journalists, and connected with S’bang Ka Marawi. This is a local community organization engaged in skills training on writing “compelling” reports, designing infographics, and producing video reports which she says helped her produce stories with accuracy and ethical consideration.

Fayzah was also selected to engage with the International Media Support (IMS), organization which provided her skills in storytelling. With MindaNews, an agency dedicated to telling Mindanao stories on how to elevate the quality of community reporting, she was among those trained in broadcasting, ethical reporting, and media safety training as a S’bang Ka Marawi Patroller.

She has also written feature stories for Davao Today. One is about a drag queen who balances the role of a breadwinner and performer, and about fisherfolk’s concern over a newly built bridge as it prevented them from fishing, their main source of survival. The other three are “Farm debts weigh heavier than rice sacks;” “Davao’s elderly street sweeper;” and “When a barangay becomes a river.” Pictures taken by Fayzah accompany the feature stories.

We hope that by the end of their internship period where they learn under a mentor and are provided learning materials and resources that allow them to travel around the community, they shall have learned not only how to source materials and prepare them using the traditional formats but to have learned additional skills. The latter include listening, and other nonverbal forms of communication, and working with and facilitating participation of various groups in the community using the new information technology of AI. Thus, they can demonstrate the role of information and communication in addressing many of the emerging critical problems of the community and the nation.

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