KSS SELA Manager Speaks on Editorial Writing
Like mother like daughter. That’s what they commonly say. But Dr. Lourdes D. Servito, the Mom, will always say, she is proud that her daughter has become better than she is, in campus journalism.
KSS SELA Manager, Maria Dolour Servito-Navarra, the daughter who is a graduate of International Cultural Studies major in Communications and Journalism publicly acknowledges that her Mom was her coach, mentor, and trainor. While the Mom graduated a bachelor’s degree in Journalism (Cum Laude) in a local university, the daughter graduated Magna Cum Laude in Brigham Young University Hawaii, U.S.A.
Last year, Maria Dolour lectured in Feature Writing at the Pangasinan National High School during the Division Campus Journalism Workshops in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
This time, ten years after graduating from high school, she was back to her Alma Mater, Mapandan National High School, Mapandan, Pangasinan as a resource person in Editorial Wiriting during the two-day District-Based Seminar Workshop in Campus Journalism, Aug. 27-28.
The seminar-workshop attended by some 100 elementary and high school student writers of Mapandan District was also a reunion of successful alumni of Mapandan NHS as the chosen lecturers: Maria Dolour, Editor Class ’98, for editorial writing; Marlon Perado, Cartoonist Class ’99; and Caesar Francis Calimlim, Editor Class 2000, with their former language teachers, Gloria Franco Soriano and Rowena Caberto Casta, now Head Teachers of Filipino and English Departments, respectively, as organizers of the seminar.
About seven years ago, the first principal of Mapandan NHS was no less than Dr. Servito who organized the first school publications in the aforementioned school; the Mapandan Star, and Ang Pandan. Dr. Servito is now the Principal IV of Calasiao Comprehensive National High School.
Categories: KSS News Tags: campus journalism, editorial writing
Servito Lectures on Feature Writing
Dr. Lourdes D. Servito, KSS Consultant, veteran school paper adviser now a principal, lectured on feature writing during the three-day Refional Training Workshop on Campus Journalism for Advisers and campus journalists at the Juan G. Macaraeg National High School, Binalonan, Pangasinan.
The workshop was attended by some 500 young penpushers from the various public and private elementary and secondary schools of DepEd Region I, Aug. 23-25, with Pangasinan II division as host.
Simultaneous lectures on the different journalistic writings were conducted with the local media men and other experienced paper advisers as resource persons in newswriting, editorial writing, copyreading and headline writing, photojournalism, sportswriting, radio broadcasting, and editorial cartooning.
After each lecture, writing workshops followed and the lecturers were tasked to read and comment on the participants’ outputs to help them out in improving their writing styles. The resource persons were also obliged to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the articles reviewed during the critique session.
Dr. Servito observed that the feature writers have a good stock of vocabulary, and were able to come up with creatuve titles and interesting feature leads.
Some of the points that need improvement however, included establishing connectivity and transition from the title to the lead, lead to the body, and from the body to the conclusion of the feature story. Choosing the right word, accuracy in fact, and editorializing were also some of the common concerns among the young writers.
Categories: KSS News Tags: feature writing
Not Smart Enough
I just came from 7-11, a stone throw away from KSS. My niece was getting bored and so we treated her for some slurpee to which she refers to as “juice”, and some of her favorite peanuts. We found a spot to settle in when my attention was drawn to a noodles and pancit canton rack which says: ” save P2, pay only P9.” I did a quick math. As a frequenter of grocery stores, I know the suggested retail price of different products. If consumers really would save P2 as they pay P9, then a pack of regular pancit canton is P11; as implied by the tag.
I can’t help but call on my sister who was so busy tailing her baby around the store. I mockingly read the label to her and sarcastically asked, “Does a pack of pancit canton cost 11 pesos? It’s P7 something, right?” She nodded with a pout.
Buying one of those will definitely not save anyone two pesos but cost them additional two.
I know convenience stores like 7-11 have higher prices since what they sell is more expensive — convenience. But this is another issue. It’s a clear false advertisement which I always condemn. Misleading information, ambiguous statements. I always dislike those tactics which obviously show lameness. It’s very obvious. That makes it doubly ridiculous to even post and advertise.
Looking at wikipedia for “false advertisement,” I was surprised to discover a long list of various kinds of this deceptive advertising:
Sale/Inflated Price Comparison
This is a very sly style, wherein advertisers compare the sale price with the “regular” price for the same product. Retailers may inflate the price misleading purchasers that they have saved money, when actually they have not.
Buy one take one
Many are deceived by this kind of propaganda, where products were doubled or even tripled in price. Even if consumers get another product besides the one they intend to purchase, the truth is, they spent the same.
50 % off
I don’t really buy into this kind of advertisement. Just think about it, why would they sell a product still in a good condition half the price?
If I came across one of these huge posters that says “50% off” I always take a peek at the tag. Most often than not, I observe the tags appear to be very new. I suspect that before putting the product on a discount as huge as half the price, they increased or even doubled the price; making buyers pay for the same price without the discount.
Two days ago, I accompanied my sister in buying a pair of pants and shoes. She saw a pair of black step-in marked “50 %” off. An old white tag was shrouded by a green one that says “P400.” My sister thought since it was for half the price, she’d pay P200. Later, after deciding that she’d purchase it, she was told that the regular price was “P800″ instead. I wasn’t convinced it was for that much as I suspiciously inspect the quality of the shoe wear. It was obvious, surely not durable. Not seated on a nice, shiny glass shelf (which may imply that a product worth a huge deal). It was just thrown into a huge rectangular box. It wasn’t even of a good and famed brand.
But since she needed it urgently and she can’t afford to spend another two long hours of searching for a pair of her size, she eventually bought it.
They’re playing it smart with buyers, but that’s definitely not smart enough.
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags:
Tips to Increase Vocabulary
1. Answer crossword puzzles for fun.
2. Play word games like scrabble, text twist, word factory, and the like.
3. Write your diary or journal.
4. Compile new words learned and use them in context.
5. Engage in dictionary habit. Better still; read the thesaurus.
6. Read a lot everyday. Set a goal to read at least 3-5 books per month.
7. Compile ideas for writing, like topic file, scrapbooks, photo file.
8. Keep a list of adjectives or your favorite words and phrases.
9. Keep a file of sports lingo.
10. Have your headline vocabulary file.
11. Write to friends and relatives.
12. Engage in professional blogging.
13. Create your website and interact with other websites too.
14. Books and magazines should be at an easy reach at home, or in the office.
15. Have a corner or bulletin board for vocabulary-building.
16. Learn to take notes while reading, or while listening to speeches, talks, or lectures.
17. Have a regular visit to the library.
18. Create or enrich your own library.
19. Have magazine subscriptions at home, and in the school or office.
20. Talk to and/or write to native speakers of the language.
Categories: Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, News Writing, Speech Writing Tags: increase vocabulary, tips to increase vocabulary, vocabulary
Thea Louralei
By: Dr. Lourdes D. Servito
Thea Louralei is a pretty, lovely, cute, and smart baby.
Happy proud parents Thelmo and Dolour must be.
Even Gamma and Gampa are so proud of Thea Louralei.
All kids, neighbors and kins are fond of this Aloha baby.
Loving, sweet, happy, and multi-talented baby.
Only about 2 years old, Thea is amazingly brainy;
Understands and communicates in English, Filipino, dialects as well.
Recites her ABC and sings lots of songs almost perfectly.
Active, alert, untiring, delightsome baby with power memory.
Lover of nature at a very tender age; likes flowers to adorn her ear
Even pets, birds, animals, trees, and fruits — she loves ‘em all.
I call her Hawaiian lei as she was already in her mom’s womb then.
Sunshine in the rain; apple of our eyes; a fountain of joy;
Music lover baby. she recognizes tones and notes easily.
Adorable, amiable Thea Louralei loves all other babies she could see
Running, screaming, dancing, singing, reading, writing, swimming, she likes well.
Talking, praying, playing, cleaning, and watching her fave Dora and Barney.
Baby Thea Louralei is a precious gift, a great blessing to the family.
A warm hug, sweet kisses from her make us stress-free.
Baby Thea volunteers to pray before meals and before bedtime,
Yes we learn a lot, even nurturing our faith, from a dear Aloha baby.
Categories: Poetry Tags:
Tips in School Administration
Excerpts from a lecture by: Dr. Lourdes D. Servito
School Administration and Management
1. Have a burning desire to continually learn.
2. Be an advocate of changes for the better (reforms) and continuous improvement.
3. Create teams, innovative activities to develop talents and achieve goals.
4. Set targets, goals, vision and mission, and plan, work towards attaining such.
5. Establish open lines of communication.
6. Inspire people to do good continuously.
7. Help others succeed in their chosen fields and lines of interest.
8. Be a role model of positive values/attitudes/behaviour.
9. Work,laugh, and celebrate achievements with your staff.
10. Praise good works/dees…reprimand violators and “lazy bones.”
11. Power up commitment and dedication to work.
12. Exemplify patience and diligence.
Remember the Gospel or Work from David O. Mckay
“The privilege to WORK is a GIFT; the power to WORK is a BLESSING; and the LOVE of WORK is SUCCESS.”
Categories: KSS News Tags: managing a school
Fiscal Management in Education
Excerpts from a lecture by Dr. Lourdes D. Servito
Financial Priorities for School Leaders
(Based on Ann McCamy’s book, “Financial Priorities — Straight Talk to School Leaders”)
1. Establishing a clear financial focus — alignment between school’s mission and school’s finances.
2. Ensuring financial integrity — through proper control on behavior.
3. Resourcing people resources — by focusing on the talents, abilities, associations, and passions of the entire school family.
4. Financial Accountability — to promote financial effectiveness.
Four types of financial accountability:
a. operational accountability
b. fiscal accountability
c. employee accountability
d. personal accountability
5. Developing Teamwork and Innovative Strategies — Example: creating fund- raising
6. Establishing a Resource Management Program with committees on Information and Advocacy, special events, documentation, database, and project implementation and monitoring.
7. Financial Report Card — to analyze the details of income flow and expenditures.
8. Financial Strategic Planning
9. Communication to all concerned
Categories: KSS News Tags: Financial Priorities
Tips in Editorial Writing
1. Use the “we” approach or the 3rd person, since an editorial represents a group opinion.
2. Build the opinion from a newspeg. An editorial is not just a mere opinion but it is pegged on a news event, idea, or a news story.
3. For controversial issues, present both sides; take up the advantages and advantages. Ask the readers to decide or come up with their opinion or concept.
4. If you need to take sides, be on the right track; support and sustain good deeds; commend exemplary actions or projects.
5. If you may attack, attack the situation, the problem or the issue, not the person.
6. While we can educate, inform, explain, and influence readers through the editorial, we have to avoid preachiness.
7. We can use beautiful language as we may depending upon the purpose to be achieved in writing the editorial.
8. The editorial title like the lead or the first sentence or paragraph should be catchy and one that attracts or compels readers to read the story or material.
9. The conclusion should flow naturally from the lead to the details in the development of the body of the story.
10. Like the feature story, the editorial should have a catchy title, attractive lead, organized body and a conclusion that would help shape readers’ opinion over issues and concerns presented.
Categories: Editorial Writing Tags: editorial, editorial writing
Tips in News Writing
1. Use the 3rd person point of view
Unlike in feature writing where one can use the 1st person, 2nd, and 3rd approach, news stories should be in the 3rd person only because news are events that are reported to the people basically for information.
Example:
“Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino was laid to rest, Aug. 5, which was made as national holiday to give chance to all Filipinos to sympathize with the bereaved family and to ponder on the legacy of faith and freedom left by Cory to the nation.”
NOT this: (2nd person)
“You must have attended President Cory’s funeral, one significant event in Philippine history. (except when the story is a news feature.)
NOT this: (1st person)
“I tied a yellow ribbon to each post in my house as my unique way of expressing my sentiments and appreciation for what Cory has done for the country.”
This could be a part of a diary or if it were a quoted remark, source should be cited and be made a part of a news feature.
2. Use adjectives sparingly.
You can use all the adjectives that you want in feature writing but NOT in the News. Adjectives and other descriptive words connote opinion and subjectivity which is contrary to, of course, objectivity, which is a quality needed in news, particularly in straight news reporting.
Though, it is alright to say “…the big tremor of 1990…” since it was really a strong or big (intensity 7) earthquake which was experienced in 1990.
But NOT in this case: “The beautiful principal explained the meaning of BESRA, which is Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda.”
The use of the adjective “beautiful” is NOT proper if this statement were to be a part of the news report, unless it is a quoted statement.
3. The straight news story follows the inverted pyramid structure – that is – facts are arranged according to diminishing importance – from the top or beginning (most important data) to the concluding part (least important details).
4. The news story may also start with feature leads, such as the following:
a. Quotation Lead: “The Filipinos are worth it.” – Kris Aquino. (referring to the love (0f country)/ sacrifices made by her parents, Ninoy and Cory Aquino)
b. Question Lead: “Will Kris enter politics, too?”
c. Staccato Lead: “Yellow roses. Yellow ribbons. Yellow balloons. Yellow T-shirts. Yellow confetti. All these dominated Cory’s last day on earth; and all these signify love for Cory from the Filipino nation and even the world.”
d. Descriptive Lead: “Yellow ribbons hug every post. Patriotic songs linger the air waves. Even Dawn’s ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon” comes alive. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) offers a volley of fire. Eight canon balls continuously blasting, one every thirty minutes until sunset. Philippine flags, half-mast. Tears flooded the nation. The worldwide icon of democracy just passed away. “ (CHIT-chats)
e. Punch Lead: “Beware of young terrorists!” (students who are vindictive over failing grades)
f. Parody Lead: “Tying a yellow ribbon under the ole oak tree…as a message of love to Cory was one of the commonplace sights during the bloodless EDSA revolution and Cory’s passing away recently.”
5. Timeliness is an indispensable news value. So it is important to present the fresh angle or the newest angle of the event.
Categories: News Writing Tags: descriptive lead, news feature, news writing, punch lead, question lead, tips in new writing
An XX or an XY?
Blue or Pink?
We’re tres marias. My husband Khristopher has five sisters. Girls rule (with nine girls) in my Mommy’s side. Girls also outnumbered the boys in Daddy’s family. My in-laws already have two granddaughters and a grandson. A baby girl adorns my parents’ grandparenthood.
Obviously, we are a family of XX chromosomes! It’s no wonder why both our families (my husband’s and mine) hope for a baby boy.
Long before our marriage, we’ve already had those what-to-name-our-future-kids and how-many-kids-you-want talks. He convicted he wanted his first born a boy; a junior at that — another Khristopher. I begged to disagree. With a positive purpose though. A cheesy one — I want him to be the one and only Khristopher in my life. Contrary to what he thinks: that I don’t like his name.
On the other hand, people who notice how pretty I carry my extra pounds and my bulge can’t help but insist I am having a girl. Mommy & Daddy observed it as well, they stated, “Looks like it’s a girl again.” Some meticulously examined the shape of my belly. Pointed or round? Another queerly studied my nose and concluded that a baby girl is on the way. Others took a peek on my neck. Is it darkening? How about my underarms? Do I look more masculine or feminine?
So it is blue or a pink? A toy train or a barbie doll? An XX or an XY?
To cut the suspense, I underwent ultrasound yesterday afternoon at 3:20. Dra. Chuson showed and explained, one by one, the baby’s brain, heart beating at 147, rail-like spinal column, legs, shoulders, nostrils with no signs of cleft palette; measuring every part — from head to toe. It was amazing how she said the baby is “chewing.” The silhouette of its face astonished me. Beholding the form of its head kept me in awe. I could just imagine how my husband quietly flashed his big smile. It slipped my head to take a glance on his reactions as my attention was pasted on the screen. It would’ve been another amazement.
“How about its gender doc?” he excitingly butted in.
Scrolling down between the legs, pointing the cursor to a flat surface emphasizing a distinct line, she surely uttered, “It’s a baby girl!”
Way before this official declaration, my motherly instincts were already at work. I had this in depth yet unsure feelings of cradling a girl inside of me. Perhaps that was the reason why as early as the second month of pregnancy, I looked for my Mommy’s Hawaiian-English dictionary; literally browsed each page; knitted some two to three words pleasing to the Filipino ear; and came up with a considerably, nice-sounding Hawaiian wahine (girl) name.
My husband, in a couple of times was tempted (but denied) to put his hopes high for a Khristopher Jr. Yet certainly, both our prayers contained hopes for a healthy, normal, and strong baby leaving behind the least thought of preferring a boy.
Now buying blue boots and bibs or pink panties is definitely out of the question. Besides, having a baby is already an extreme blessing and a bliss, more so a healthy and normal one. Requesting for a boy instead, is too much and unnecessary.
Khristopher and I couldn’t wait for the coming of our baby girl. Pink ribbons, lacy hats, butterflies and sunflowers, cute knickknacks. Can’t wait.
That night he, as usual, spoke to the baby in my tummy telling her how happy we were to find out she is a girl.
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: pregnancy, pregnant