SM invites public to view photo exhibit on “How members of media cover news “

The news gatherers

Photo exhibit on “How media cover news” in SM Ecoland

A weeklong photo exhibit is mounted at the 2nd level of the Annex at SM Ecoland in Davao City that opened May 6 and will run until May 10 for the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.

Spearheaded by the Davao media group led by Ms. Amy Cabusao, editor-in-chief of Mindanao Times the exhibit was made possible with the support of long time partner SM City Davao inorder to share to the public how media gather and cover news presented through images taken during actual coverage on varied topics and events.

The opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was graced (as shown in the photo L-R) Ms. Cabusao, Ariel Sebellino , executive director of Philippine Press Institute, Antonio Peralta, Honorary Consul of Finland and interim chair of the Davao Citizens Media Council, and Lester Tantoco, SM City Davao Manager.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated in May each year and this year’s theme per UNESCO is “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all human rights.”

Mr. Tantoco in his welcome remarks encourages the public/shoppers to visit this photo exhibit “How we cover news”.

“The exhibit is a great platform to know the intricacies, including layers of editing and vetting before the news would reach the public,” he said.

SM City Davao has for over two decades now is the venue of Kapehan sa Dabaw every Monday. The mall also hosts every Thursday the Davao Sportswriters Forum.

“Media fora are among the venues where media obtain news,” he said.

SM, which considers media as family, also hosts every Tuesdays at SM Lanang Premier PEP Talks and Agri Forum.

Meanwhile, the group also on that day, May 6, held a forum at the Holy Cross of Davao College also in celebration of World Press Freedom Day with speakers Mr. Sebellino and Adrian Ayalin, senior reporter of ABS-CBN. Mr. Peralta, Embassy of Finland Honorary Consul and interim chair of the Davao Media Council delivered a message. Other partners for this activity were the Asian Center for Journalism and Davao Light and Power Company, Inc.

Top photo shows some members of the Davao media and corporate PR Managers of SM City Davao, San Miguel Foods and the NGCP and the interns covering the event as shown in the photo below.

Davao media and the community celebrating the 30th World Press Freedom Day.

Davao media gather anew for its annual ‘Scarevenger’ after three years of hiatus due to pandemic

One halloween

Scarevenger 2022, the Squid ball gamers

If I may recall, it was an idea of a select media friends a decade ago —- to gather together the (Davao media) with their preferred costumes on a Halloween. And the plan was finalized one afternoon at Starbucks in SMEcoland. Amy, Ian, Apol, Q, me, BingGonz and Tatay Rene were there and I volunteered to handle the Photo Contest among Davao’s photo journalists with the media in costume as their subject and must be taken while the subject media in costume was participating in the game. There were set of rules the participants adopted and as good soldiers, that was the rule for the day, made the fun more merrier.

And we made it on October 31, 2012 the first get together – dubbed “Scarevenger Haunt”, an amazing race where select tenants gave challenges to participants. It was fun and we gathered the tri-media people having the fun of their lives in their costumes. Why the gathering ? because getting together was setting aside deadlines, the presscon, the interview, the daily grind of writing stories and to enjoy even for a day, a stress free day to gain new friends, renew the friendship, strengthen rapport and camaraderie.

This year’s event after almost three years of a halt due to Covid-19 pandemic was originally set on October 27, 2022 but because of the groundbreaking of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge project, it was moved to November 11, 2022.

Not many of the pioneering group came but mostly first timers. Many new faces but there were few familiar ones.

It went well and thanks to SM PR team Kristianne Fusilero of SME and Rhea Pojas of SML for taking the lead.

We thank of course SM for being the long time partner and our benefactor including – the prizes, the venue, the food and our regular sponsors for other prizes and tokens, namely, San Miguel Foods, Inc., National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, San Miguel Beer, Rogen Inn, Park Inn by Radisson, SM Bowling Center.

As SMCD mall manager Lester Tantoco said in his brief message during the opening of the event last Friday of “Squid Ball Games” he said though the gathering was themed with “halloween” the event was also an early Christmas get together for our media friends who are our family.

“You are no longer our media friends but our families in the media,” Tantoco said.

He said you can always count on SM to help build the communities we serve at all time even as he said that your role in the industry transcends from providing the necessary information to the public of championing inclusivity – bringing people’s lives closer to things that matter, and helping them in your own little ways – which in the greater scheme of things, elevate the nature of humanity.

He encourages members of the press that “as your day today, playing Squidball games, take a step back from being your age to that of the Gen Z’s. It’d be fun so they say !”.

Although not all where dressed up for a theme, there were others who came as characters of “Squid games”, “Stranger things”, “Money Heist” to name a few, while one tried to dress up as “Atty. Woo” and the other as the main character Emilie of “Emilie in Paris”.

Also present was SM Lanang assistant mall manager, Precious Ann Legario.

Meanwhile, the participants, grouped into teams, competed in bowling, billiards, table tennis, basketball, archery, and singing thru videoke. Each game has corresponding points that were recorded by assigned marshalls. Winners were determined with the total points earned by each team.

The game director, Sunstar Davao editor-in-chief RJ Lumawag announced the winners and declared Team Naruto as the Grand Winner, Team Undas Spot as first runner-up and Team M, second runner-up.

Best in Costume was awareded to Jinggoy Salvador portraying as Sadako while the photo contest winner went to Team Nokus. The other competing teams were given consolation prizes. All media participants were also given tokens provided by the sponsors.

After the games and awarding, SM treated the press in a lunch at The Thai Guy of Sate Gai (pork bbq), Tom Yum, Red Curry, Yellow Curry, Steamed Rice and drinks, among others, Lemon Grass Tea.

Til the next. Ciao !