The Real World (Experiential Report)

MPD PRESS CORPS




Manila Police District






TV5





Today as I step forward to another chapter in my life I can say that I’m the happiest person in the world to be able to learn and experience what I had as a media practitioner in Manila Police District. It was not a long journey, but it made me realize and see so many things that not most ordinary people can see and experience. Like most people say Experiences are the best teacher, every experience that we have there is something that we can always remember and learn with, something that can make us better or worst.

One month may not be that long but it was a great journey, I believe it’s not the span of time that counts the most but it is the memories and the experiences that you can always look forward with.

My stay in Manila Police District (Press Corps) being a writer trainee in Hataw showed me the real world. Of course being new to Police Beat made me so ignorant, I’m really clueless of what will happen on a day to day basis. I’m not that good in crime reporting before, because I really hate crimes, who would love to report crimes? People being killed? Nobody would like to be reporting those things because we would prefer good news than bad news. But reality bites, this is the world that we have, that crimes is a daily basis, it happens everywhere and anytime.

I was hesitant to be in this field, but knowing me I always love challenges, I love to explore new things and learn things that I don’t know. That’s how persistent I am; I always try and never quit battles.
So like every first timers I started with a scratch, my first day is like my first day in school, I was nervous. Seeing new faces, new environment and being new field pressured me. But things went so easy for me on my first day, because of my mentor who is the most kind mentor in the world, Leonard Basilio, he was expert in writing police stories. He helps me know the format and how I will be able to gather news in Manila Police District Office. So it wasn’t that hard for me to adapt the new environment in MPD.

I was able to published one article on my first day, though it wasn’t that perfect there were some parts of it that was edited but I’m still proud that I was able to make one, Good for a first timer .

The following days were stressful because I had to come from my graveyard shift at work to MPD. Sleepless, a lot oft things to do was pressuring me. But I knew I had to survive not just for myself but this things that I’m doing are for my future. And quitting is never an option; I don’t want to be a failure. Know matter how stressed I was, I continued my training, and thankfully Sir Basilio understands my time and wasn’t strict about it.

Luckily the next days I was able to publish more articles with God’s glory. Though writing those articles doesn’t really make me happy because those are incidents that involves people in crimes, and most of them are very rude. Writing the names of the people who are killed and who had traumatic experiences made me sad and realize that there are people in this world who can’t do anything good among themselves that they can kill humans just to get what they want and for simple reasons that I myself can say that Communication can solve. That’s the hardest part that I have to face when I’m writing, interviewing victims and suspects made me thing too much.

But that’s how life is, not all of us want to good things, that crimes are everywhere in our society that in one glimpse we might be on the news for certain reasons that we don’t pray to happen at all.

My stay in MPD opens my mind that everyday that we are alive is something that we should always be thankful to our creator, that everyday is such a blessing know matter how we are messed up with the kind of life that we have, still everyday is a blessing.
I developed my skills in writing police stories, I get used to how I would gather information’s and news for my article, that it takes effort to have a good story. I also learn to deal and communicate with people who are professionals and high profile, such as police directors, chief officers, TV anchors and photojournalists.

My one month stay in MPD gave me the opportunity to meet and greet the people in media, not just in television but mostly in print. Writers from famous publications such as Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Abante Tonite, Photographers, cameraman’s and of course news anchors in TV and radio. Being with them in one room is really a star struck experience, I’m amazed how they write and report there news, I look up to them and they inspire me a lot. They gave me some advices that are really very inspiring in my part, they would always tell me that they started with nothing, so I should trust myself and believe that I can be what they are right now or even more than what they have.

Policemen and officers, janitor and cook in the office became my friends; I would talk to them and exchange jokes to make them smile after working too much. I love having conversation with this people because you will learn a lot from them.
This are simple things that mark to my stay, I was lucky that I met the requirements for 15 articles, it was a blessing that I applied in HATAW, having a great mentor who is very helpful and kind made my stay worthwhile. The days I bond with him and the busy cramming days where things I would always miss. It was an unforgettable experience, and I’m looking forward to work with this people someday.

Now I can say, nothing is impossible as long as you trust yourself, all the lessons from MPD will always be a guide on my journey for my dreams that I hope to come true. (Sherry Rose Cayabyab)