Now I am a writer for a newspaper and had been practicing this craft for more or less three years.. My only background in journalism was being a member of school pub since highschool and college but there it goes.

I wrote poems and short stories since highschool and my urge to write has become a passion from a mere ordinary hobby. I tried to join a local weekly tabloid in my home province in Aklan and there all it started.

Being a journalist is not easy. Philippines being considered as no. 2 most dangerous place for journalists profession also brought chill to my veins. I wanted to write everything I can think of – from issues of politics, sex, religion, education, crimes and corruption. But holding your pen as a weapon is not an easy task. I have been inspired of sticking to the truth and exposing the ills of the society – principles I have learned from the many years of my political activism has taken its roots deep inside my soul which I cannot remove.

But I’m afraid to die and I have taste of a a text threatenng me to “correct” my story, because they don’t like the tones on my write-ups. They are people of influence and can easily harm me if they want to… sweats pours like river on my forehead on my first threat I ever received.

Unlike my activist days, I’m willing to gave my life to its fullest in order to make this nation free. Now that profession commands me to do to the same, I’m thinking twice of doing it again. I am paid to the job of writing because I am just like anybody else an employee of a newspaper company. I have this power to write things about the world, people’s life and tragedy which is sellable.. But would it be enough to liberate the world?

I wanted to grow and now that I’m beginning to love this profession, I’m thinking would the temptation of money, power and influence derail me from growing into a gunuine and credible journalists?

We all know commercialization in this profession is at its peak, and the low-salaries being paid to local journalists such as I am has its repercussions. Many are blinded by the favors politicians mostly are giving them, and because of that the mission to write/broadcast the truth and partiality is affected. Moreso, instead of uncovering issues that directly affects the people which the media is a potent bridge to call the government attention on its inadequacies is being left out because of that temptations.

I never dreamed of being rich and also not being poor. Maybe, I just live my life on my choosen career poor but respected.