May 15,2012 To Be A Journalist Is Only A Privilege-Arnaiz By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Not all people are journalists or writers. Only few individuals were chosen for such ind of calling. Thus to be a journalist is onl y a privilege. This was the explanatory statement uttered by PDI correspondent Jani Carbonilla Arnaiz who was unanimously elected as President of the recent newly-organized NU JP (National Union of the Journalists Of The Philippines) Southern Leyte Chapter . The organizational meeting was held at one of well- nown establishments here in this small city located along the coastal area facing the Canigao Channel and th e Sogod Bay where cool breeze is blowing from the open seas. The formation of the new NUJP chapter here in this province was initiated by the random visit of its incumbent Secretary General Rowena C. Paraan. During the initial past meeting held at Kinamot Sa Abgao Restaurant only two med ia private practitioners and two government media wor ers were present. Other pr acticing print and broadcast journalists were not able to attend for some reason s. Being a journalist for an overall 21 years as erstwhile correspondent to several newspapers in Maasin, Cebu and Tacloban in separate occasions, this is the very first time that the NUJP hierarchy was able to thin and to consider membership from far-flung province li e Southern Leyte. Furthermore, journalists contributing news and feature articles to the provincia l newspapers in some parts of the country are commonly underpaid. Despite of thi s undeniable truth, they have stic ed to their vocation , aside from being professional s most of them. The only consolation of their than less job, as emphatically stated by Jani C. A rnaiz, is that they are rubbing elbows with the rich and the famous . On the other hand, their provincial counterparts who were fortunate enough to be accepted as correspondents to Manila-based broadsheets were receiving much more in terms of financial compensations. They have also the per s of attending free training/seminars/wor shops sponsored by their respective outlets with free lun ch and accommodations. Plus reimbursable traveling expenses in going to the plac e of venue and bac home. The newly-elected NUJP Chapter President together with the group is also plannin g to conduct training/seminar among editors of high school and college campus pa pers in the province. When the plan reaches its realization, some resource spea ers shall be coming fr om the NUJP-Manila main office. Meanwhile, there shall be a seminar on ither in Maasin or Tacloban tentatively act NUJP-Manila office to discuss about cretary General, after he would present journalism trauma scheduled to be held e on July 7, 2012.Arnaiz still has to cont which venue is to be preferred by the Se a site that he finds here suitable and c

onducive for such ind of seminar. Other elected officials and members were: 1)Dindo Alaras of DYSL-Sogod-Vice-Pres ident; 2)Jade Nombrado of DYDM-Treasurer; 3)Angelina Boo of the Southern Leyte Times-Secretary; 4)Erna Sy-Gorne of PIA-Associate member; 5)Marcelo Bong Pedalino of P IA-Associate member;6) Freelance Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.- member; 7)Ramon Boyser of DYDM-member; 8)Nicolas Lanugon of DYDM-member; 9)Fran Bandibas of DYDM-membe r. According to Alaras, unidentified lady wor ing at DYSL-Sogod has also expressed her earnest intention to join NUJP. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)