I am a writer

I was first a writer before I became a teacher. Both are my passions in life. But I know that I belong more in the classroom than in a newsroom. That is why I left writing after more than a year in a regular newsroom to join the college teaching profession.

But I am a writer. So, when I started teaching at the age of 22. I continued writing as my part-time job. I would write about politics, economics, and corruption. Those are hardcore news.

My first newspaper article was written for the Davao Catholic Herald in October 1986, covering the First Youth Convention of Sta. Ana Parish. After that initial piece, I felt an irresistible pull toward journalism and continued writing articles about Sta. Ana parish activities. In 1988, I was hired as a news writer for the Mindanao Journal. The following year, in 1989, I transitioned to the teaching profession but continued writing part-time because both writing and teaching are my true passions.

I genuinely love to write. When I’m not working on news articles, I often find myself crafting short stories for my classroom instructional materials. In my poetry class, I use my own poems, some of which I wrote during my college days. Additionally, I compose new poems to demonstrate the writing process to my students. I also incorporate my own news articles as examples for my journalism class.

This week, as I join the Social Communications Ministry in celebrating the Archdiocesan SoCCoM day, I wish all members to develop their love for writing. Despite the focus on Church-related news, the work of our SoCCom is still genuine and valuable writing in every sense of the word. Their contributions play a crucial role in keeping our community informed and connected.