On Finding a Good Story to Tell

Last Thursday, I was once more invited to be a guest in a Youth Forum in a former colleague’s hometown. I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it as I’ve just been advised of my Cebu trip and I needed to arrange the necessary materials and preps for me and my boss. And so I texted my friend, apologizing profusely for the inconvenience I might have caused.

Of course, I was feeling bad already. I’ve always liked going to youth fora, sharing my experience as a writer to aspiring young bloods who are dreaming of seeing their bylines in a newspaper or magazine one day.

They remind me of how I was once – though I’m still young and the age gap remains to be within the ate range. (Ha ha ha!)

So to make a long story short, I was able to make it.

And I was only too happy to while away that Friday afternoon with them. It’s like getting an adrenaline shot after exhausting most of my energies, walking, stepping in and out of the MRT, clambering up the MRT steps and braving the monster traffic of the metropolis.

There I was right, right smack into a group of high school seniors trying hard to formulate the toughest question they could possibly throw at me, and I was surprised I didn’t flinch.

Of course, it was all about writing. How it was when I started, the issues and the obstacles that were dealt with. How to find that piece, that material from which a newsworthy story could possibly take off.

I wasn’t much of a deadline-beater. While I had my fair share of elbowing my way of getting a good quote or haggling for a chance to ask a question, I’ve always thought of myself as a sportswriter and more. Features and human interest pieces never fail to get me all tingled-up, as chasing a subject for an in-depth story is my thing. Though at times I get snagged by the trappings of the corporate jungle, I ache for that moment when I could just type away to my heart’s content or scribble (at varying intensity) on my journal.

There’s this one kid who asked, how do writers and broadcast journalists like Sandra Aguinaldo and Jay Taruc find a good story? If I remember it right, her name is Glo Anne and she’s a senior in a national high school in Mandaluyong City. I could tell the kid digs documentaries as her eyes lit up the way (I guess we all do) a child’s eyes would whenever something special gets dangled before his/her eyes. This time, I shared my brief chat with two of I-Witness’ multi-awarded reporters/documentarists.

I asked the same question when I finally had the chance to tag along in an interview with Sandra Aguinaldo and Jay Taruc for GMA’s New and Public Affairs’ series of exclusives. I have to admit, I’m one of the nightowls who patiently waits for I-Witness’ weekly documentaries.

“Ang istorya, nasa tabi-tabi lang ‘yan,” commented Jay Taruc, whose I-Witness documentary P36 bested 340 entries and romped off with the Best Documentary recognition at the recently concluded 3rd Annual PopDev Media Awards.

The winning I-Witness episode challenged people to live with P36 a day – the amount  which  government says brings a Filipino beyond poverty level. It was produced by the team of Jay Taruc with Lea Llamoso as head and was conceptualized by researcher Gerald Paragas.

The 34-year-old Taruc, son of the legendary radio personality Joe Taruc, is among the most-awarded in today’s TV reporters. Not a few of his documentaries have reaped awards here in abroad – Basurero won for him and for GMA Network a finalist’s spot in the 2004 New York and Shanghai TV and Film Festival. I recalled how he put his feet in the shoes of garbage men in Payatas and afterwards, ate leftovers with a family living atop the Cubao flyover; his “Batang CP” documentary for I-Witness was a finalist at the ABU/CASBAA for the UNICEF Children’s Rights Award in 2004. He witnessed how Cerebral Palsy (CP)-afflicted children excel in whatever field they chose provided that a supportive family was around. Peter Jonas, who co-hosted the episode with him, is a batang CP who graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines.

Equally moving was Jay’s experience with menfolk who assume the post of midwives in San Remigio, Antique. He joined the traditional hilot in crossing rivers and climbing mountains to service expectant mothers in the far-flung barrios of San Remigio. He witnessed first-hand the contrasting methods of science and tradition in birth-giving. In one of his most recent documentaries for I-Witness, he revisited “Iskul Bukol” and the Philippines’ comedy trio – Tito, Vic, and Joey for the retrospective episode titled “Wanbol University,” and discovered that TVJ merchandise is still a hit even today.

In 1999, his “Child Labor” work was a finalist for the UNICEF Special Award at the New York TV and Film Festival. The same documentary achieved the Award for Investigative Journalism a year later. His “Comfort Women” documentary was also cited at the CNN World Report Award for Best Coverage of an On-Going Issue in 1998.

I’ve always believed that those who would like to make it to the world of broadcast journalism should be equipped with strong writing skills. Whenever I’m pressed for an advice, I always tell my young audience to sharpen their mind by reading and writing everything and anything that they fancy.

Jay and Sandra are only two of the living proofs that my opinion holds a lot of truth.

Sandra’s a Journalism major whose share of the print medium included stints with the Manila Times (then owned by the Roces). She extensively covered the political beat before finding herself in the bosom of the Kapuso compound.

While Jay’s training include being a PA for his dad and a researcher on various things – from the most mundane to the more pressing stuff.

His grooming as an accomplished documentarist did not happen overnight. He has gone through various trainings and seminars, the most prestigious of which was facilitated by the CNN International Professional Program (IPP) at Atlanta, Georgia, USA from February to March of 1998. To his credit, he has become a reporter/correspondent/producer from 1997 to 2001 for Brigada Siete, a weekly multi-awarded investigative television magazine and from which he started as a researcher and segment producer.

Later on, he was assigned as writer and host for I-Witness, a multi-awarded, internationally acclaimed documentary show for television and is the only program on Philippine television devoted to full length documentaries. Until today, Jay remains committed in writing and producing stories for this television series in the hope of hyping social awareness among I-Witness’ viewers.

Over that particular lunch, I was extra happy. I thought to myself, my style of getting my stories then when I was still in active duty was pretty much like that of Jay’s.

By immersion. Being part of the entire process of things – from thinking out loud and pitching the story to fully immersing myself into the thick of things and become part of the whole. Personally, it gives a different sense of fulfillment, an intoxicating high, knowing every thread of your story like the back of your hand.

I recalled my story of the first Pinay boxer – Mitchell Martinez – who won in the Asian Boxing Championships in 2001, that story made me realize the kind of discipline that our national athletes need to possess, their sacrifices and the kind of respect that they truly deserve. That’s why, it’s no open secret to my friends that boxing gloves rank higher than my soccer balls and spikes. It feels nice to share it with them over lunch, and knowing that they understand the feeling of putting all of this for a story that will show a different perspective on things.

“Ang istorya, nasa tabi-tabi lang, magkakaiba lang sa treatment”, I recalled Jay sharing his insight.

True. So true.

You just have to make your five senses work. See things with open eyes. Hear things as they sound off, minus personal prejudices. Feel things as they affect you and how they interact with the immediate surroundings. Smell and taste what life could offer, be a witness to the ever unfolding and ending of various stories and be an agent of possible change; or be the story-teller that will open the eyes of those who have yet to see, yet to hear, yet to feel, yet to smell and taste.

***

On a lighter note, my officemate intimated a rather overwhelming reception for Telebabad darling Marian Rivera a.k.a. MARIMAR. She was talking to her friend who’s working at the US Embassy just as I was typing this column. Her friend narrated how phenomenal Marian has become, even to foreigners, since her Marimar debut.

“Girl, hindi lang siya pang-local. Even the Americans stopped their work and asked for their picture to be taken with her! Nakakaloka!”

Apparently, Ara Mina and Cristine Reyes were also there, probably to get their visas as I’ve heard they’d be joining the US tour of ABS-CBN’s noontime program as guests. One of their PA's was heard to have shouted, “Sir, pasingitin n’yo kami, taga-ABS kami!”

But the pleas fell on deaf ears as the source intimated that all eyes were on Marian. The source noted that Marian’s appearance in the embassy really had everyone scramming to catch a glimpse of her comely face and charming smile.

Who wouldn’t be beguiled by her? She’s the total package - beauty, brains, talent (acting, dancing and singing) and a personality that simply charms people from all walks of life and ages.

Now, isn’t she such a FIND!!! Awwww!!!