INQFocus writer joins 19 other journalists in cancer reporting fellowship

ONLINE poster announcing the 20 journalists who made it to the “Think Pink Journalism Fellowship on Reporting Breast Cancer in the Philippines” PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

MANILA, Philippines—A researcher and writer of the INQUIRER.net’s INQFocus channel has been chosen as among 20 participants in the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and Novartis’ fellowship on breast cancer research and reporting.

Cristina Eloisa Baclig, content researcher and writer for INQFocus, was named as one of the journalists taking part in the “Think Pink Journalism Fellowship on Reporting Breast Cancer in the Philippines” organized by PPI and Novartis.

INQFocus is a channel in INQUIRER.net dedicated to research, features, and special reports.

Aside from Baclig, 11 journalists from the National Capital Region (NCR) or Luzon also got the fellowship:

• Jimmy Domingo, Licas News
• Anne Ruth Dela Cruz, BusinessMirror
• Kimberlie Quitasol, Northern Dispatch
• Villamor Visaya Jr., Luzonwide News Correspondent
• Celeste Anna Reynoso Formoso, Palawan News
• Dexter See, Baguio Herald Express
• Elmer Recuerdo, Daily Tribune
• Rhadyz Barcia, Manila Times
• Madonna Tividad Virola, Philippine Daily Inquirer
• Winnie Aguilar, IBC-13
• Ruel B. Mazon, Mindoro Bulletin

Seven fellows are from Mindanao:

• Grace Cantal-Albasin, Rappler
• Yas D. Ocampo, MindaNews
• Allan Maestrado Mediante, Mindanao Daily News
• Lina Sagaral Reyes, BukidnonNews.net
• Julie S. Alipala, Philippine Daily Inquirer Mindanao Bureau
• Froilan Gallardo, MindaNews
• Cristina E. Alivio, SunStar Davao

Mildred Galarpe, of SunStar Cebu, was the lone fellow from Visayas.

The journalists were chosen by the organizers based on story proposals they submitted on the breast cancer situation in the Philippines.

The roster of fellows was officially announced on August 31 at a roundtable, “Inspiring Conversations on Breast Cancer in the Philippines”, organized by the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society and ICanServe Foundation, and supported by Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

The fellowship is also a collaboration among PPI, Novartis Healthcare Philippines, and ICanServe Foundation.

Last June, the three organizations signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Novartis to organize a workshop that aims to help local journalists gain a deeper understanding of breast cancer.

The MOA, as well as the fellowship, is supported by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and the Alliance and Partnerships for Patient Innovations & Solutions (APPIS).

“Media must go beyond reporting just the statistics and give a human face to their stories,” said Rolando Estabillo, PPI chair, in a previous statement.

“By keeping people and communities informed, this will also empower breast cancer patients and survivors,” Estabillo said.