When I was your age, I also dream of becoming a lawyer.

I wanted to be called and be known by

everyone as...(pause) ATTORNEY. Even if others would not call me by my name, Meynard or Mr
Magsino, basta may tumawag sakin sakin "attorney!", I'll be delighted, lilingon ako agad.

But during those times, I knew and I already accepted that it would take hard work for everyone to
recognize me as Attorney Magsino.

So I just enjoyed my four years stay in my second home, Sta. Teresa College. I had no fascination in
writing neither to become part of the student publication, The Leaf. The inkblot in my veins does not run
through yet because I believe that writing is a craft that can be learned by others and I do not consider
that writers are born.  Remember, writing is a learned craft. To say writers are born is to suggest that
one is either a writer or not. This is a hasty generalization. It cannot be said that musicians, doctors,
lawyers, engineers, footballers, farmers, and so on are born, not made.

I am not born a lawyer. Bago ko nakamit ang ATTY. Sa pangalan ko ay kinailangan kung magsakripisyo,
burning the midnight oil para lang matapos ang mga dapat basahin at immemorize na provisions ng
batas. I need to write scholarly and legibly so that the examiner would easily understand my arguments
in certain issues.

Writing is no different. Everyone learns at different speeds, but learning is a must unless you’re some
sort of prodigy. Prodigies are rare and unique. The rest of us get there through determination, hard
work, countless hours in front of a keyboard, and personal sacrifice. No mystical gift required. To claim
that writers can only be born is to disregard the roles of our schools, colleges and universities in
producing writers. The ability to write well is mainly determined by the environment in which one lives.
Thus, a child who is exposed to literature at an early age through storytelling and reading sessions is
likely to develop an interest in reading and writing. In addition, the availability of story books of various
titles at home and school can also arouse or fuel an appetite for reading, hence, writing. It is also
important to note that qualities like passion, drive, determination, hard work and patience are key in
making one a writer.

Of course, just like in any other venture, not all writers will be the same. Some will be average. Some will
be good, while others will be great.

When I entered college, I wanted to bring honors and accolades to my family. I let go of my happy-go-
lucky life during high school, I need to do great things. One of the best decisions that I made is to join
the student publication. Being a student journalist, I am able to voice out the student’s opinions so that
the administration will know and defend their side so the students may understand. Joining The
Westernian Advocate, official student publication of the University of Batangas, it broadens my
knowledge in journalism specifically in news and sports writing. I meet different people of all ages and
all walks of life. Once a Batang Advo always a Batang Advo. Sa UB po kasi kapag member ka ng ADVo,
normally ay sila yung mga nagiging cream-of-the-crops ng bawat department. Kapag may mga
competition sila yung mga nagrrepresent sa kani-kanilang mga departments. Nakapunta ako ng Bicol,
Palawan at Baguio because of ADVO. I represent the university in different fields of competition whether
in journalism or academics.
The school newspaper not only keeps us abreast on the latest issues inside the campus, it also unites the
students and the administration. Unity is a serious idea that should not be trivialized. Unity is not a
stand alone concept. It goes with diversity. Unity cannot be considered without diversity. That is the
reality. We all think differently, worship differently, live our lives differently. All of nature is about unity
in diversity. It is how we manage difference that makes unity possible.

Every press conferences na sinasalihan ko ay ibinibigay ko ang 100 percent ko, kasi gusto kong ibalik sa
university ang trust na ibinigay nila sa akin to compete sa mga ganung competition. Natutuwa ako na
nakakasalimuha ko ang iba’t-ibang members ng mga student publication ng iba’t-ibang colleges at
universities. Despite we represent our own schools, we have common goal to be involved and know the
issues, and we envisions printing the truth and raising the hell.

Nung first time kung sumali sa regional college press conference, I am nervous but at the same time
excited because gusto kong manalo para sa publication at magqualify sa Luzonwide press conference.
Since first time kung lumaban at ang mga kalaban ko sa category na sinalihan ko ay mga beterano na ng
press conference, maswerte pa din ako na nakasali ako sa Top 10 out of more than 30 students in
Region 4-A. So I failed to qualify in the Luzonwide Press Conference na at that time ay sa Tuguegarao
gagawin. With that failure, I told myself that I need to be better. In order to reach success, you need to
experience failures. If you fall down seven times, you need to stand up eight times. Kagaya po ng ibang
tao, I experienced defeat, kaya nung second time kung sumali sa press con sinabi ko sa sarili ko ay
gagalingan ko at I will bring home the bacon sa UB at hindi nga ako nabigo. Nung announcement na ng
winners, sabi ko sa sarili ko ay makapasok lang sa Top Ten ay Ok na sa akin kahit deep inside ang gusto
ko talaga ay magqualify sa Luzonwide kasi sa Puerto Princesa, Palawan gaganapin yun ng time nay un. I
won first place in Sports Writing and 9 th Place in News Writing.

“Journalism can never be silent: That is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak
immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the
air.” Just like what Mr. President Duterte echoed in some of his interviews, “I do not agree with what
you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” Nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas ang
freedom of the press. But despite the journalists have freedom it is subject to limitation. Dyan po
papasok ang salitang LIBEL. Under the Revised Penal Code, Libel is a public and malicious imputation of
a crime or a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, circumstances
tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or judicial person or to blacken the
memory of one who is dead. In layman’s term, ang libel po ay paninirang puri o malisyosong paggawa ng
kwento o istorya sa isang tao para masira o mawasak ang kanyang kredibilidad at integridad sa
pamamagitan ng pagsusulat o paglalathala sa dyaryo o magasin. Kaya po dapat ang isang manunulat o
mamamahayag ay naglalathlala lang ng pawang katotohanan.

What journalists can do. •Print the truth. (The big umbrella.) •Accurately report slanderous, libelous
comments made by others. •Publish critical opinions (but not on news pages). •Protect the identity of
sources (in most cases). •Use others’ words--enclosed in quotation marks and properly attributed.
What journalists can’t do. •Make stuff up. •Knowingly write and print untruths. •Print untruths due to
carelessness or negligence. •Report stuff that you agreed was “off the record.” •Tape conversations
without interviewee’s permission. •Use others’ words without enclosing them in quotation marks and
attributing them. •Steal information or acquire it by deception.

Even we have different dreams and ambitions in life, we are all binded by same circle of journalists, run
by same blood running through our veins, called ink and having the same goal to succeed and be the
next in line and that's where we incorporate unity in diversity.