Move Manila: A Rappler experience.

Move.Ph held an event entitled Social Media for Social Change last January 12, 2012, Thursday at Far Eastern University. A lot of students and educators were part of the said program. Almost a thousand of people joined and participated the event. They featured big names from the journalism industry as speakers during the seminar.

Veronica Pedroza of Al Jazeera (former CNN Asia broadcaster) gave her keynote speech. She discussed about her experiences first in ABS-CBN at CNN Asia, BCC and her astounding experience as an Aljazeera broadcaster. She also discussed about the "voice of the voiceless" or what we called the muted group, the tectonic drift in trust: Age of Deference VS Age of Reference, Wikileaks and the impact of social media in the practice of journalism.

Rappler Media Reporter Pat Evangelista had her Chat Session entitled Telling stories. He let us watch documentaries about Andi Eigenman, Maguindanao Massacre victims, and Bagyong Sendong victims as well.
Chat Session 2: The Fun and Challenge of Being a Multimedia Reporter was Natashya Gutierrez's turn. She discussed everything about multimedia journalism, the challenges and the fun part. And the thing that made her reporting life easier and faster: Her iPhone.

Chay Hofilena was the one who discussed the Risks and Potentials of Social media which made me enlightened about its pros and cons and how to be a responsible user of the internet. Maria Ressa the CEO and Executive Editor of Rappler.com discussed the main theme Social Media for Social change, Social Network Theory and degrees of influence rule.

Cheche Lazaro wowed the crowd when she lead the panel discussion with Veronica Pedrosa, Maria Ressa, a professor from UP Diliman and our very own Mr.Joven Csstro. During the panel discussion, Mr. Ryan Yturriaga, my ICT professor had the chance to ask the panel on their stand about journalists' security. Veronica Pedrosa answered his question and she stated that everyone of us should make a stand about this social problem involving Filipino journalists.

It was such a wonderful event and I hope there will be more event as such. It was my first time that I stayed awake the whole time in a seminar and I am so honored to finally see big names in the journalism industry.