MINDANAO TIMES editor-in-chief Amalia B. Cabusao was named as the 2015 journalism fellow by the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Fellowship for Professional Development, joining a very exclusive list of leaders committed to improving the industry.
US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg said that Cabusao was selected for her “fine work in strengthening a free and responsible media in Mindanao through journalism training programs for budding journalists.”
These training programs come in the form of regional conferences where journalists from around Mindanao gather to, in her words, further understand and discuss what they do.
An award ceremony in her honor, with members of the Aquino family attending, was held last Feb. 12 at the Manila US embassy’s Charles Parsons Ballroom. Goldberg and a member of the Aquino (Ballsy Cruz) family co-presented the journalism award.
Cabusao is the editor-in-chief of Mindanao Times in Davao City. She is also the training director of the Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MNICC) who leads in organizing the annual Mindanao Media Summit with the Mindanao Media Forum.
These trainings have given budding journalists a venue to also hone their skills.
“I don’t look at my job to change the people,” she said. Instead, Amy, as her colleagues call her, believes in the power of learning. “I believe that we have to be trained to become good journalists so that we can cover issues well and be understood by people.”
She believes that good skills allow media practitioners to put journalism theory to practice, and to deeply understand issues and realities in Mindanao, which are unique to the country.
The trainings that she’s organized has long made journalists in Mindanao understand the importance of solidarity.
“I share this award to all the journalists in Mindanao who, like me, are searching for the truth and writing close to the flame,” she said, referring to the journalists who never allow the lack of resources deter them from pursuing good stories.
She encouraged her colleagues to keep the fire of journalism burning and thanked them for the trust they’ve given her. “I’m just another person who’s trying to make a small difference,” she said.
She said that she is happy to have been mentored by many good people, among them included journalists Ramon Tuazon, Joan Maglipon, Yvonne Chua, and Carolyn Arguillas.
Cabusao’s passion for Mindanao—the environment, women and children, and culture and the arts—is reflected in her newspaper’s fair and substantial media coverage. Cabusao is also actively engaged in promoting Mindanao through her work as an editorial consultant for a lifestyle magazine called M.
The US Embassy’s Public Affairs Section established the Ninoy Aquino Fellowship for Professional Development in 1988 to commemorate Senator Ninoy’s accomplishments in journalism and public service.
In 2009, the fellowship was renamed the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Fellowship for Professional Development to honor President Cory’s contributions to strengthening Philippine democratic institutions.
According to the US Embassy website, previous Aquino fellows for journalism included Fr. Eduardo “Ponpon” Cariño Vasquez, Yvonne Chua, Cheche Lazaro, Sen. Loren Legarda, Tina Palma, Luz Rimban, Vergel Santos, Howie Severino, Marites Vitug, and Anthony Taberna.
(photos courtesy of Ariel Sebellino in Facebook)
DEPARTMENT of Tourism assistant secretary Art Boncato; Monsanto Philippines Corporate Affiars lead Charina Garrido Ocampo; Mindanao Times publisher Jesus G. Dureza; editor-in-chief Amalia Cabusao; Mindanao Times columnist Dr. Aland Mizell; Times president Dr. Guillermo P. Torres Jr., and Philippine Press Institute’s Ariel Sebellino.