PCP and Radyo Sagada conduct a visual storytelling workshop to empower local communicators

Participants of the “Visual Storytelling Through Photography and Multimedia Workshop” pose for a souvenir in front of the Big Dipper Homestay after the opening program on the first day of the workshop on Aug. 25, 2024.

Story and photos by Glecelyn Simba

All the way from the capital, Manila, the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) went to the highlands of Mt. Province for the “Visual Storytelling Through Photography and Multimedia Workshop,” from Aug. 24-25, 2024, in partnership with Radyo Sagada 104.7 FM, at Big Dipper Homestay, Sagada.

Radyo Sagada 104.7 FM is the country’s first and only surviving community radio station run by Indigenous Peoples (IP). It was established in June 2010 but was officially launched in 2011.

PCP's two-day workshop aimed to equip local communicators of diverse ages with skills and knowledge in visual storytelling through photography and multimedia production. Participants of the event included student journalists, young radio broadcasters, as well as representatives from both government and non-government sectors, among others.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General and former chairperson of PCP Jose A. Torres Jr. was present on the first day of the event to welcome the participants. 

“Turuan [ang] mga bata, lahat tayo, matututo kung paano gamitin ang media, paano kumuha ng magandang litrato, paano magkwento ng ating mga buhay para marinig naman doon sa taas [ng gobyerno],” said Torres during his opening remarks.

The outreach program logged a total of 30 participants composed of elementary, high school, senior high school, and college students from Bangaan National High School, Bangaan Elementary School, Balugan Elementary School, Saint Mary’s School, Sagada National High School, and Mountain Province State University.

Staff and employees from the Philippine National Police, Mountain Province Provincial Information Office, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bangaan Fidelisan Tanulong Aguid Madongo Pride Farmers Association also participated in the workshop.

“Nakatutuwa na napakarami na ang may interes sa media at komunikasyon. Isang karangalan na maimbitahan na magsalita sa harap ng mga kalahok - edad mula sampu hanggang 57…,” shared Torres on a Facebook post.

Empowering local storytellers

True to their station’s mission, “to be the voice of the community of Sagada and Mountain Province, involving the people in producing and disseminating information and entertainment; to provide a forum for issues and concerns, creating critical awareness for meaningful social change,” Radyo Sagada strives to provide a platform to the unheard members of their community, such as indigenous people, peasants, women, youth, workers, advocates and environmentalists, and other sectors in the Cordillera.

However, along with forwarding this mission, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) recorded a significant increase in the number of attacks and threats against the press and the media from the Duterte administration and now under Marcos Jr. administration with 135 incidents.

According to the CMFR and NUJP 2024 report of incidents and attacks by region, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recorded seven incidents, placing fourth with the most recorded attacks. Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol registered the highest numbers of incidents, respectively.

It also shows that by medium of communication, radio logged 25 incidents of attacks, while online platforms recorded the most attacks with 67.

Amid the continuing attacks and challenges faced by the media and radio stations in the Philippines, Radio Sagada continues with its mandate of providing truthful information to the mountainous areas of the Cordillera, which have been underserved by mainstream media.

At the present, the radio station is being run by station manager Gwendolyn Gay L. Gaongen. The station is currently being manned by diverse ages of broadcasters, including elementary and high school students, the youngest a 10-year old.

Recently, Radyo Sagada received the Ka Louie Tabing Memorial Achievement Award in Community Broadcasting during the 18th Gandingan Awards 2024 of the UP Community Broadcasters’ Society (ComBroadSoc) held at the University of the Philippines Los Banos.

The station also earned the Best Educational Program in the radio category in the 2018 Cordillera Health Advocacy Media and Promotions Champion held in Baguio City.

Workshop proper

The workshop was packed with lectures, discussions, and practical exercises delivered and facilitated by the PCP officers and members. 

The event kicked off with a presentation on the basics and technicalities of photography and photojournalism, facilitated by Rappler’s photojournalist Angie de Silva. Freelance photojournalist Luis Liwanag had a refresher on the language of the image and visual literacy.

Then a lecture on news caption writing was delivered by UST journalism graduate Rainiel Angelyn Figueroa and UP journalism student Glecelyn Simba.

Before the participants along with their designated mentors roamed around Sagada for the first practical shooting exercise using their available cameras, photojournalist Orange Omengan, a native of Mountain Province, talked about the possible subjects, topics, and development issues that could be found in communities for effective storytelling, followed by a presentation on safety and risk management from Ramon Jose, communications officer of the Quezon City Local Government Unit Disaster Risk and Reduction Office. The main topic for the first practical photography exercise revolved around environmental and community development issues and initiatives.

After the given time outside the venue, the program proceeded with a lecture on photo selection and post-processing using mobile editing applications such as Snapseed and Lightroom facilitated by photojournalists Portia Dinglasan and Figueroa. The photos, accompanied by a short caption, were posted on a private Facebook group for more adept feedback.

Geared with photography, editing, and captioning skills, the workshop advanced to video and multimedia productions for the second day  of the program.

PCP Chairperson Jimmy Domingo facilitated the discussion on video shooting styles, basic camera movements, and video editing using a mobile phone. Meanwhile, Figueroa taught the scriptwriting and storyboarding processes. 

The participants were once again allowed to explore the environs of the venue for another practical exercise: participants shoot videos and photos and conduct video interviews for a simple story package, assisted by their respective mentors.

The two-day workshop concluded with video editing using common mobile editing apps, including Capcut, FilmoraGo, and InShot. All the multimedia outputs were critiqued in plenary and constructive feedback were provided. The awarding of certificates of participation and tokens to the participants and speakers preceded the solidarity dinner.

Other PCP officers and members present during the workshop were veteran  photojournalist Romeo Mariano, Taiwan-born photographer Daniel Ceng, and Bicolano freelance photographer Jarvis Ivan Sadiua.

The workshop, supported by Saturday News Forum, Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), Asia Indigenous Peoples PAct (AIPP), AIP Construction, Log Cabin, Diana Daoas, Salt & Pepper Agricultural Learning Center, is the  4th Community Outreach Program of PCP since its establishment in 1997.