Ang Dabawenyo

The last time I was in Cebu was… I don’t remember! It’s been so long ago already… Well, I’m flying tomorrow and will be back in Davao on the 30th.

The original purpose of my trip was to contribute to a journalists’ conference called Media Nation. Unfortunately, the organizers have postponed the event, giving Ces Drilon’s kidnapping as the reason. Yeah, I know, she’s been released already. Go figure!

The purpose of Media Nation, as I was told, was to discuss the Mindanao issue: particularly, the lack of media exposure of the real situation in Mindanao. The organizers’ postponement of the event is a surprising, yet typical, reaction to happenings in Mindanao. They said they needed to “process” the kidnapping (even though it was clear that Ms. Drilon was going to be released already). And the postponement was made more than a week after the kidnapping. Curious, isn’t it?

How serious about the true image of Mindanao are these Metro Manila-based media people, really?

Anyway, I’m still going to Cebu. My ticket’s non-refundable, and, while re-booking is possible, the Media Nation organizers cannot yet tell me when it will be held… Cebu Pacific’s airfare is dirt cheap, but there’s no way of booking an open ticket!

Besides, I’ve already set a get-together with Visayas bloggers. I’m going to meet with them on Sunday, 29 June, thanks to Winston, who arranged this informal meet-up. Winston and I thought of doing this so that we could share the MB experience with our Cebuano counterparts. I’d also like to take this opportunity to tell them about WordCamp Philippines. Hopefully, some of them will be able to attend.

I’m looking forward to staying at Waterfront Hotel in Lahug! I’ll blog about that, for sure.