Why we write and don’t

I began my love story with writing when I was around six years old, first grade.

Our teacher required us to write our everyday activities which I wrote in a narrating manner on my blue and red ruled notebook. They were filled with big bold letters, a clear statement that I just started how to write. But mind you, those daily updates entries helped me remember what we did whenever my parents asked. I also was not able to miss any assignment and quiz to work on for the following days. As a child, I had no escape.

Soon after, I moved from notebooks to hardbound journals which cost about two hundred bucks apiece. I used all my savings to buy those cute journals which had either a kitty or a butterfly on it. Entries were random, but most commonly about my daily frustration. A lot could happen in a pre-teenager's life - problems with peers, not having the latest fashion or gadget and not being allowed to go out on a school night. It felt like the world was crumbling down on me.

Then social media came and we heard of the wonders of a blog. It became so easy for me and my friends to use blogs as our outlets for emotions that didn't fit our daily decorum. We would bash our unwanted friends, school officials and even our own parents on these blogs. Little did we know about its easy access to the rest of the world, the people concerned included. Critiques were raised and many of us were given a weekend off of no cellular phones or laptops, it was rebellion at its best.

But journalism started to change my thoughts of writing forever. The craft was not just a way of venting feelings. It was a way of reaching out, inspiring others and giving people public service.

I was an aspiring competitor in the Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference but I never made it. Yet we had months of practice and immersion in the world of journalism. Practices which I thought were useless helped. We'd write columns and news stories every night which our coach critiqued in the meanest way possible. It broke my heart and challenged me to not be the sore loser. I worked hard to make my work the best she could have ever read - but it turns out you never can't please everybody, even in the real world.

Now here I am, given space by this humble newspaper to write. But things have changed lately in the landscape of journalism.

As a journalist was recently convicted of libel for an allegorical illustration, I'm afraid I and other youngbloods in this craft will now be afraid to write as it is a possible avenue for conviction. One can be called a criminal for describing a work of fiction based on facts. We realized that it cannot be our refuge if we want the truth out. All taught in school are ideological and not applicable in the field.It is so easy for a person to charge you for a published idea, whether it's the truth or not.

The judgment day was a sad day for the people of the press. Although some say it was a fair decision, it raised eyebrows on those who are supporters of the press. There is freedom in this fourth estate yet as the judge wrote in his decision, "There must be a limitation to the freedom of the press."

My only wish is that due freedom will be given to those who have the heart to put the truth out for the people to know.

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Congratulations to ABS-CBN Cebu, The FREEMAN and Banat news for garnering recognitions in this year's Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards!