2002 - Ama Report

January 23, 2003

AMA-CMC Rhijngeesterstraatweg 40 P.O. Box 75 2340 AB Oegstgeest The Netherlands Thru: Ms. Marjolijn Eshuis Program Officer for Asia Ref. #: AMA/Fil – 1218.4

Dear Ms. Marjolijn: Peace and solidarity greetings! The Titus Brandsma Center-Media Program (TBC-MP) took off the ground, much on a higher level, last year (2002); thus, producing productive results. We give due credit to your organization’s full support and believe in us, Filipinos, in our capability to serve our own people well for the enthusiasm and inspiration to accomplish a little beyond our expected results. Again, we express our sincerest gratitude. However, we admit that we lagged on our research project since there was a take over of position in the coordinator level on the early part of 2002 and the baseline data needed in the study seems to be lacking. Thus, we have to coordinate again with the different Carmelite communities and other contacts to help us acquire these. The process in itself is very tedious aside from the fact that time is needed. A staff from each community must go to the provincial office to request for these data. Supposedly, presentation of research results was scheduled on the early part of 2002. Though, we already have the initial results (please see attached report) with us and was already re-echoed during our February 19-March 9, 2002 trip to the communities. Also, we made the research community-focused, meaning, presenting the significant findings of each community in addition to the general findings we have. Thus, re-working on the tabulation and computation of data is required. The reason for this is to help us focus on the needs of that particular community. Presentation of final results will be done on March 2003. Impact on the local media program in the communities was manifested as their activities were focused on strengthening their organization. In coordination with TBC-MP, they have formed their own core group who now spearheads their media program—consisting of lay ministers, leaders and catechists. They have already undergone planning for their local media program and submitted themselves to a rigid media education series, which consists of five courses. Major activities implemented last 2002 to strengthen more the Carmelite Media Ministry were as follows:


Initial re-echoing of research results in areas where the research was conducted primarily Carmelite communities;




Media core group formation and planning in local communities during the initial trip, February-March 2002;




Media education series for the core groups and journalism seminars to students (all levels) of three schools and college seminarians of Cebu community;




Launching of the 2nd Titus Brandsma Award-Philippines focusing on journalists in the line of fire particularly in Mindanao;




Joining an international media group such as SIGNIS-Philippines, the new World Catholic Association for Communication marrying two older organizations, UNDA (radio and TV) and OCIC (film);




Expansion and working with network partners from Church-based and secular media organizations in advocating the cause of media education via lecture series and fora;




Evaluation trips to the communities to assess the local media programs’ existence and sustainability;




Attendance and participation in seminar workshops, forums and lecture for continuous development of capabilities;




Regular film-dialogue in the Center, which was well attended by film enthusiasts, students, filmmakers, religious and lay people;




Completion of research analysis.

From these activities, we feel that we are touching the heart of the matter and must continue to do so, focus more on our mission as social/Church communicators and respond to issues affecting communities and help them develop their abilities through continuous education and formation program. Thus, we asked again for your support by granting us bridge funds to sustain and monitor the local media programs for a year, which will then conclude this last phase of the project.

Attached are our Program Report for 2002 and a short write-up of Research 3. Financial report will soon follow after the auditing. Thank you very much and more power!

Respectfully,

Fr. Marlon Lacal, O. Carm Director, TBC-MP

PROGRAM REPORT Program RESEARCH 1. 3rd Part Research: Impact of Media & Communication in Selected Rural & Urban Areas


Consolidation, tabulation, computation and analysis of findings: with 1,200 respondents in 7 communities (San Francisco, Agusan Sur, Cagayan de Oro, Sibulan, New Escalante, Cebu City, Quezon City and Ilagan, Isabela)




Re-echoing of initial results to the Carmelite communities where the research was conducted through an organized talk with the lay and Church leaders, school coordinators and faculty held last February-March, 2002




Re-working on the tabulation, computation and analysis of data since the format and approach of the whole research was changed into a more community-focused research meaning the entire paper would consist not only of the general findings, but salient findings per community and of course, conclusion from January-February, 2003




Inclusion in the research paper of baseline data, wherein population of each of the communities will be compared to national statistics

the Secretariat of the Philippine Commissariat 2. Series of Lecture: Impact of Media and Communication (as resource person and organizer). This is also a re-echo/sharing of the results of the study conducted with the same title by Titus Brandsma CenterMedia Program in 2001-2002

Media Core Group Formation and Planning


February 23-24, 2002 at New Escalante’s Vocation Center, Negros with 10 pax consisting of lay leaders, ministers and catechists




March 2-3, 2002 at Carmelite Monastery, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, with 8 pax consisting of lay leaders, ministers and catechists




January 24-26: Carmel News, Titus Brandsma Center with 10 pax consisting of the chroniclers of the different Carmel Communities




February 20, half day (PM), at the Carmelite Monastery of our Lady of Maravillas and St. Joseph, Dumaguete with 30 pax consisting of the Third Order of Carmelites (TOCs), Church and lay leaders and the cloistered nuns




Same day at St. Paul College, Dumaguete with 40 pax communication students




February 22: half day (PM) at Mount Carmel College, New Escalante, Negros with 35 pax consisting of the faculty, school coordinators and non-teaching personnel

2. Local media programs & their respective core group

MEDIA EDUCATION 1. Formation of the Carmelite Chroniclers: Carmel Chronicler’s Meeting (lectrure/workshop) in collaboration with







February 23, 2002, half day (AM), at New Escalante’s Vocation Center, Negros with 60 pax from different Basic Christian Communities in the area consisting of lay leaders, ministers, catechists and barrio people March 3, 2002, half day (AM), at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Rosario, Agusan del Sur with 65 pax from different BCCs in the




New Escalante, Negros (30 pax) * Lay ministers (April 20, 8 – 8 PM) * Catechists (April 21, 12 NN – PM)




Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan (May 3-5) (30 pax)




San Francisco, Agusan (May 10-12) (30 pax each)




New Escalante, Negros * Lay ministers (August 24, 8 – 8 PM) * Catechists (August 25, 12 NN – PM)




Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan (Sept. 2002)




San Francisco, Agusan (Sept. 2002)

3. Journalism Seminar/Workshop: Write Like A Real Pro: Effective Writing for Beginners 4. Media Education Series/Courses: Lay leaders, ministers and catechists



Impact of Media & Communication in the Life of Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Lay Leadership and Media: July 2002, 30 pax, same areas, area consisting of lay leaders, ministers, catechists, TOCs and parishioners




February 25: whole day at Carmelite Formation Center, San Alberto with 10 college seminarians as attendees




February 28-March 2: at Mount Carmel College Gymnasium in San Francisco, Agusan with a combination of 60 students in all levels from the same school (batch 1) Output: Student Publication from which the college publication may make use of the idea produced in improving their publication




Formation of Local Media Educators: Media and the Bible




Impact of Media in the Works of Evangelization (BEC Level Community)




Community Alternatives against the Influence of Media

FILM DIALOGUE




March 4-6: at Mount Carmel College Gymnasium with 65 highschool students from Mt. Carmel Highschool (Rosario) and Fr. Urios High School (Prosperidad) Output: Highschool Student Publication from which ideas can be used in making their very own publication

Film dialogue sessions for the year 2002 had a total of 16 sessions with an average number of 36 participants per session. Participants are mostly students, young professionals, filmmakers, reporters, newspaper columnists, religious missionaries, development workers and education.


Escalante, San Francisco and Patin-ay (September – October 2002) 30 pax




Escalante, San Francisco and Patin-ay (November 2002) 30 pax




Regular film shows with varying themes for every month such as Controversial, Women’s, Original Versions, Book to Film and Aspects of Cinema

Thus, journalists are pressured to create a balance and point the positive side of Mindanao and not to discriminate our Muslim brothers.

Every second Saturday of every month January – December 2002


Special Quarterly Screenings Every end of the quarter usually at the end of the last month March, June, September, December 2002

Screenings with the most number of attendees


January 12: (Thesis, Abre Los Ojos, Battle Royale & Alab) 50 pax




February 9, Films on Love: (L’avventura, The Cranes are Flying, Pornographic Affair) 55 pax




December 14, Controversial Films 2: (Naked Lunch, Crash and Caligula) 67 pax

Projects for Expansion/Promotion


Construction of the pelikula@titusbrandsma website, currently operational except for other parts wherein content are being finalized ( http://titus.plasticfrog.org )

2ND TITUS BRANDSMA AWARD


For this reason that the direction/setting of the Award was refocused and instead of concentrating on the mainstream media in urban areas like Manila, we focused on the community media

Theme: Journalists of the South, A Challenge in Crisis Mindanao, as much as we Filipinos try to shun away from its bad reputation, it is still a place enveloped in danger because of certain threats like the Abu Sayyaf, bombings, kidnap for ransom groups, militarization, which creates havoc.




Production of brochure, currently the contents are already being finalized




Direct Mails to schools with communication department encouraging tie-ups with film organizations as an outreach program and conduct free-willing film dialogue as a part of media education




Special Quarterly Screenings with lectureseminar, guest speakers are filmmakers, cinematographers, writers and theologians for the reflection




Winner: Ms. Carolyn Arguillas,Outsanding Print Journalist, October 22, 2002, Henry Lee Irwin Hall, Ateneo de Manila University during the Catholic Mass Media Awards Carolyn personifies what Mindanao journalists have always wanted to do report Mindanao events from the eyes of their fellow Mindanaoan; fought editors over inaccuracies that portrayed Mindanao as a hopelessly war-prone and violent land with deliverance nowhere in sight; with devotion to accuracy, she stick to facts in the face of pressures deadline or otherwise and was always quick to lash out at colleagues who compromised the truth by accepting bribes; a relentless critic of war and continues to support through writings a culture of peace, cultural understanding

and a tri-people approach to Mindanao’s complex problems.




Organizational dynamics: A Strategic Planning was conducted attended by the regular consultants, the program staff and the management of the Center. Weekly meetings by the 2-member Media Program team and a Monthly meeting with the 4-member Media Research Team were observed. A Year-end assessment planning is calendared on December 13,2001.




Personnel. The program is supervised by the Program director, a Carmelite friar. Daily management is given to the Program Coordinator with a Program Assistant. Two regular consultants are retained in ensuing the success and quality of the research projects undertaken. The Executive Committee of Titus Brandsma Center, which meets quarterly, decides on the policy and direction-setting of the program.

NETWORKING 1. PCCNet 2. 36th World Communications’ Sunday and launching of CBCP World

3. SIGNIS-Philippines

ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING

Prepared by: Jofti A. Villena, Program Staff




With the group’s commitment to advocacy and education, one major forum was organized in response to the Fourth World Meeting of Families held here in Manila: Are Poor Families Good News for us Christians? (September 18, 2002) half day – PM, Titus Brandsma Center with 60 pax from different sectors of our society – urban poor, elderly, abandoned children, Muslim/Moro, religious, students, lay and labor




Joint Celebration, May 12, 2002, Cardinal Sin Hall, Arzobispado de Manila, Intramuros, Manila




Institutional Commitment: Membership to an International Catholic Association for Communication, first general assembly held was March 15, 2002 at St. Paul’s College, Manila

Noted by: MARLON LACAL, O. CARM, Program Director