News Writing Exercises

News w key 2 SEAN MICHAEL S. FADRIQUELA Newswriting: Write a news article based on the following facts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What: 1. government troops on the hunt for Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and the alleged masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings clashed with a group of bandits. 2. three marines were injured after the incident Where: in the Southern island province of Sulu When : on Friday This was according to military reports.

Supporting details: Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Caculitan --- Marines spokesman. Around 11:30 am, troops from the 7 th Marine Batallion clashed with some 40 Abu Sayaf members. The clashed happened in Danag Village. This was in Patikul town. This was according to Caculitan. Caculitan further said that the Abu Sayaf sufered casualties. He cannot give exact figure. He also said that He could not easily ascertain if Janjalani and two other Jimaah Islamiya bomb experts Dulmatin and Omar Patik were with the group that engaged with the marines. Sulu province – has been sealed of in the hope of catching the Al Qaedalinked militants. The Abu Sayaf and the JI attack in South east Asia.

have been responsible for the worst terrorists

The Al-Qaeda militants have escaped military dragnet several times The United States has put up ten million dollar bounty. This was for Dulmatin’s capture. One million dollar each for the capture of Janjalani and Patek.

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NEWS WRITING Exercise 3 Make a news article based on the following facts:

Who:

National Bureau of Investigation and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

What: They arrested a counterfeiter. They also seized hundreds of fake denomination Philippine peso bills. When: The arrest happened last week. Where: It happened in Sta Cruz, Manila.

Other details: -- Nestor Mantaring – NBI Officer in charge. -- He presented the counterfeiter in a press conference on Monday afternoon. -- Ronnie Jacobo – the counterfeiter. -- He was a resident of 895 Quezon Boulevard, Sta Cruz, Manila. -- Article 166 is all about forging treasury or bank notes, obligations and securities. -- Jacobo faces charges of violating Article 166. -- Six to twelve years imprisonment – this will be the punishment of Jacobo if proven guilty. -- Marivic Jacobo – Ronnie’s wife. She is an accomplice to the crime. The NBI is also searching for Marivic. -- Regional Director Ruel Lasala – head of the NBI National Capital

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Region Division. He launched an investigation upon receiving information that the suspect was engaged in the printing and sale of fake 500 and 1,000 peso bills. -- An NBI agent posed as a buyer and bought a fake 500 and 1,000 peso bills from Ronnie and Marivic. -- Wilfredo Villaluz – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Supervising Agent. According to him, the suspect did a good job. -- Bills were complete with watermark and security thread. -- Upon closer look one would notice that the security thread is actually a sticker. -- The suspect (Jacobo) admitted using Corel draw and Adobe Photoshop basic graphic design program for his counterfeiting activity. -- The 500 peso bills and the 1,000 peso bills were sold at 75 each. -- 453,000 – the amount of counterfeit bills recovered by the authorities. Exercise 1 Newswriting Write straight news based on the following facts which are given at random:

-- The attacked happened in Lucban town. This is 160 kilometers south of Manila. -- The New Peoples Army burned down the generator set of the Globe station. The incident happened on Saturday. -- Police Inspector Joselito Mendoza, Lucban police chief -- Suspected Communist New Peoples Army rebels attacked another Globe Telecommunications Relay Station -- Arnel Gatila – the security guard of the Globe site. 3

-- The communist rebels ordered Gatila at a gun point to open the gate of the station -- “The whole incident happened in just five minutes. -- Mendoza said that past noon Saturday, some 20 heavily armed rebels attacked the cellular site located in the village of Paez. -- According to Mendoza, the attacked happened when the lone security guard was eating his lunch. -- The Globe cellular site still not operational as of Sunday, according to Mendoza. -- Once inside, the rebels spilled gasoline on the generator set and guard house. -- The communist guerillas have intensified attacks on Globe communication towers because of the company’s refusal to pay the so-called revolutionary taxes. -- After setting the equipment and bunkhouse on fire, the terrorists hurriedly escaped,” Mendoza said over the phone.

Exercise 2 Newswriting 2009 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random:

- the incident happened shortly after midnight yesterday. - unidentified men sprayed the casualties with bullets. - two men died in the said incident. Another was seriously wounded. - the unidentified men were in a sport utility vehicle. 4

- A service crew of a fast food chain named Sonny Cagaoan was declared dead on arrival at the Mary Johnston Hospital. He is 22 years old. - Cagaoan died due to gunshot wounds in the head and body. - Investigation showed that the victims were having a drinking spree in front of a house along Panday Pira Street. Here, the suspects in a dark blue Mitsubishi Pajero repeatedly shot at the group. Afterwards, they drove away. - The car’s plate number is ERY-929. - Danilo Fajardo- the companion of the two.He is 19 years old and is under observation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for gunshot wounds in the arm and foot. - Chief Inspector Alberto Peco – head of the Homicide Section of the Manila Police District. Accoding to him, revenge could be the motive for the attack. - Another who also succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head is Mar Jerkin Tan. Tan is 24 years old and a maintenance crew of the Ninoy Aquino Int’l Airport. - the suspects were backed up by unidentified men on board another sports utility vehicle resembling an Isuzu Crosswind. - Police are verifying the identities of the owners of the vehicles used in the shooting. - Peco said his follow-up team failed to find Quan and the rest of his gang at their residences. - Peco gathered from the witnesses that several days ago, Tan and his group figured

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in a fight with five residents of the nearby Dandan Street resulting in injuries. the injured here are the cousins Francis Quan and Edward Basilio.

Exercise 3 Exercise 3

Newswriting 2009 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random

- Ferdinand Paglinawan – Police Officer 2 of the QC Traffic Sector 2. He was the one the one who identified the fatality.

- the incident happened in Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City yesterday morning.

- Michael Franca- He was killed while 14 others were injured. It happened when a speeding bus rammed a Manila Electric Co. post. Franca is 32 years old. He lives on Saint Catherine Street, Barangay Holy Spirit.

- according to the investigator, the victim was apparently hit by the bus. Afterwards he was dragged and pinned between the bus and the wall of the building. The building smashed after the concrete Meralco post split due to impact.

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- Joel Bacus – name of the driver. He is 37 years old. According to Paglinawan, Bacus claimed that the bus lost its brakes and he could no longer control the steering wheel.

- the bus is on its way to Baclaran from Bulacan when the incident happened. Around 9 a.m.

- the driver will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with multiple physical injuries and homicide.

- thirteen passengers of the bus sustained bruises and abrasions. They were brought to the nearby hospital for treatment.

- Franca was reportedly crossing Don Mariano Marcos Avenue when a Rubino Elena bus struck him. The bus has a plate number PWZ-900.

- The driver sustained wounds in his foot. He was also brought to the hospital even as he was placed under the custody of the Quezon City Traffic Sector 2.

- ‘the victim’s death was brutal’– said by Paglinawan to The Star in an interview.

Exercise 4 Newswriting 2009 7

Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.

 Roxana Saberi – US –Iranian journalist. She was sentenced to eight years in jail by an Iranian revolutionary court. This was according to Saberi’s lawyer.  Saberi was charged because of spying for the United States.  Saberi is 31 years old. She has been detained in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since January.  The verdict was the harshest sentence ever meted out to a dual national on security charges.  Abdulsamad Koramshahi – Saberi’s lawyer. According to him, Saberi has been sentence to eight years in jail, and he’s going to appeal, because according to Iranian law the verdict can be appealed within 20 days.  Saberi’s father was greeted with shock and said that her daughter had been “tricked” into confessing. She was initially reported to have been detained for buying alcohol, an illegal act in the IslamicRepublic.

 Saberi went on trial behind closed doors on Monday accused of spying for the US.  The case against Saberi has raised deep concerns in Washington and among the right groups.  According to ISNA news agency, as it quote unnamed judiciary sourcea revolutionary court had sentenced Saberi for espionage – a charge that could have risked the death sentence.  Hillary R. Clinton- US Secretary of State.She was deeply disappointed over the sentence. She also said that Washington would “vigorously raise” its concerns with Tehran. No date yet has given to the verdict.

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Exercise 5 NEWS WRITING Exercise 3 Make a news article based on the following facts:

Who:

National Bureau of Investigation and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

What: They arrested a counterfeiter. They also seized hundreds of fake denomination Philippine peso bills. When: The arrest happened last week. Where: It happened in Sta Cruz, Manila.

Other details: -- Nestor Mantaring – NBI Officer in charge. -- He presented the counterfeiter in a press conference on Monday afternoon. -- Ronnie Jacobo – the counterfeiter. -- He was a resident of 895 Quezon Boulevard, Sta Cruz, Manila. -- Article 166 is all about forging treasury or bank notes, obligations and securities. -- Jacobo faces charges of violating Article 166. -- Six to twelve years imprisonment – this will be the punishment of Jacobo if proven guilty. -- Marivic Jacobo – Ronnie’s wife. She is an accomplice to the crime. The NBI is also searching for Marivic. -- Regional Director Ruel Lasala – head of the NBI National Capital Region Division. He launched an investigation upon receiving information that the suspect was engaged in the printing and sale of fake 500 and 1,000 peso bills. 9

-- An NBI agent posed as a buyer and bought a fake 500 and 1,000 peso bills from Ronnie and Marivic. -- Wilfredo Villaluz – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Supervising Agent. According to him, the suspect did a good job. -- Bills were complete with watermark and security thread. -- Upon closer look one would notice that the security thread is actually a sticker. -- The suspect (Jacobo) admitted using Corel draw and Adobe Photoshop basic graphic design program for his counterfeiting activity. -- The 500 peso bills and the 1,000 peso bills were sold at 75 each. -- 453,000 – the amount of counterfeit bills recovered by the authorities.

Exercise 7 Newswriting 5 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random:

> Five suspected kidnappers were killed in Urdaneta City in Pangasinan. It happened after police raided their hide out. A house in Bgy. Palina West belonging to Rosendo Matias.

 A certain Julian Rodriguez was kidnapped in Las Pinas on April 15. Rodriguez is 22 years old.  The purpose of the raid is to rescue Rodriguez, the victim.  Lorelei Fajardo- Deputy Presidential Spokesperson. She said Pres. Arroyo ordered PNP Chief Director Jesus Verzosa to immediately rescue Julian after the kidnapping 10

was brought to her attention by a certain architect Palafox.

> The bodies of the suspects were found sprawled in dif. rooms of the house according to Castil.

> Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr.–Urdaneta Police Chief. He said in an interview that Rodriguez was found inside a room with one of the dead suspects in an unfinished concrete house. Rodriguez was unhurt. >those who were killed: -Army T/Sgt. Dionisio Obillo ------ he was the alleged gang leader -AWOL Marine Rosendo Matias -Roger, son of Rosendo Matias -Marcial Fontanilla and -an unidentified gang man

>Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan – Ilocos region Police Commander. He said the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) monitored the gang’s movement after they kidnapped Rodriguez (April 15) then they brought him to a safe house in Urdaneta City.

Exercise 8 Newswriting 1 Write news articles based on the following facts which are given at random -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11

-Kuen Chua – He is 46 years old. He was rescued by the operatives of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) yesterday morning. -The rescue took place at 11:30 a.m. This happened after 17 days of captivity. -The rescue happened following an encounter with members of the kidnap gang at Belen Street in Barangay Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City -The police rescued unharmed the Filipino-Chinese businessman from his kidnappers.in Quezon City. -Immediately following Chua’s rescue, PACER operatives went to various locations to arrest the remaining members of the kidnap-for-ransom gang. -Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina – PACER Chief. According to him a still unidentified member of the kidnap gang was killed while another suspect, identified as Christopher Nanson. He is 35 years old, and was arrested. -A certain Adriano Ventulla of Antipolo City – He is the alleged owner of the safehouse. where Chua was kept. He will be invited for questioning. -Chua was kidnapped last Sept. 10 by four armed men wearing t-shirts that bore the word “police.” The kidnappers initially demanded P30 million for Chua’s release. -Espina described Nanson as a native of Camalig, Albay. He is a resident of Castro street, which is in Sta. Lucia in Novaliches, Quezon City. ============================================== ================= Newswriting 2 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.

What: commuter safety zones was launched. the safety zones is 24 hour Who: Makati City police and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) under the city government. When: it happened yesterday.

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More details:-

- Gilbert Cruz- Makati Police Chief Senior Superintendent. - Supt, Cruz said that the project was initiated to protect night shift employees such as call center agents. - He said that 5 such zones were identified in the city’s business district-the intersections of Ayala and Gil Puyat Avenue, Pasong Tamo and Gil Puyat, the 6750 building along Ayala Avenue. - Makati has a total of 146 international and local business outsourcing companies and 72 call centers in its business district.

How is it done: -Supt. Cruz further said that a team of two DPS personnel will patrol the area. -They will do it round the clock. A police car will be on standby. They will also check on commuters who may be victims of robbers or snatchers.

Exercise 9 Newswriting 2009 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random

- Ferdinand Paglinawan – Police Officer 2 of the QC Traffic Sector 2. He was the one the one who identified the fatality.

- the incident happened in Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City yesterday morning. 13

- Michael Franca- He was killed while 14 others were injured. It happened when a speeding bus rammed a Manila Electric Co. post. Franca is 32 years old. He lives on Saint Catherine Street, Barangay Holy Spirit.

- according to the investigator, the victim was apparently hit by the bus. Afterwards he was dragged and pinned between the bus and the wall of the building. The building smashed after the concrete Meralco post split due to impact.

- Joel Bacus – name of the driver. He is 37 years old. According to Paglinawan, Bacus claimed that the bus lost its brakes and he could no longer control the steering wheel.

- the bus is on its way to Baclaran from Bulacan when the incident happened. Around 9 a.m.

- the driver will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with multiple physical injuries and homicide.

- thirteen passengers of the bus sustained bruises and abrasions. They were brought to the nearby hospital for treatment.

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- Franca was reportedly crossing Don Mariano Marcos Avenue when a Rubino Elena bus struck him. The bus has a plate number PWZ-900.

- The driver sustained wounds in his foot. He was also brought to the hospital even as he was placed under the custody of the Quezon City Traffic Sector 2.

- ‘the victim’s death was brutal’– said by Paglinawan to The Star in an interview.

Exercise 10 Newswriting Write straight news based on the following facts which are given at random:

-- The attacked happened in Lucban town. This is 160 kilometers south of Manila. -- The New Peoples Army burned down the generator set of the Globe station. The incident happened on Saturday. -- Police Inspector Joselito Mendoza, Lucban police chief -- Suspected Communist New Peoples Army rebels attacked another Globe Telecommunications Relay Station -- Arnel Gatila – the security guard of the Globe site. -- The communist rebels ordered Gatila at a gun point to open the gate of the station -- “The whole incident happened in just five minutes. -- Mendoza said that past noon Saturday, some 20 heavily armed rebels attacked the cellular site located in the village of Paez. 15

-- According to Mendoza, the attacked happened when the lone security guard was eating his lunch. -- The Globe cellular site still not operational as of Sunday, according to Mendoza. -- Once inside, the rebels spilled gasoline on the generator set and guard house. -- The communist guerillas have intensified attacks on Globe communication towers because of the company’s refusal to pay the so-called revolutionary taxes. -- After setting the equipment and bunkhouse on fire, the terrorists hurriedly escaped,” Mendoza said over the phone.

Exercise 11 Newswriting 2009 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random:

- the incident happened shortly after midnight yesterday. - unidentified men sprayed the casualties with bullets. - two men died in the said incident. Another was seriously wounded. - the unidentified men were in a sport utility vehicle. - A service crew of a fast food chain named Sonny Cagaoan was declared dead on arrival at the Mary Johnston Hospital. He is 22 years old. - Cagaoan died due to gunshot wounds in the head and body. - Investigation showed that the victims were having a drinking spree in front of a 16

house along Panday Pira Street. Here, the suspects in a dark blue Mitsubishi Pajero repeatedly shot at the group. Afterwards, they drove away. - The car’s plate number is ERY-929. - Danilo Fajardo- the companion of the two.He is 19 years old and is under observation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for gunshot wounds in the arm and foot. - Chief Inspector Alberto Peco – head of the Homicide Section of the Manila Police District. Accoding to him, revenge could be the motive for the attack. - Another who also succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head is Mar Jerkin Tan. Tan is 24 years old and a maintenance crew of the Ninoy Aquino Int’l Airport. - the suspects were backed up by unidentified men on board another sports utility vehicle resembling an Isuzu Crosswind. - Police are verifying the identities of the owners of the vehicles used in the shooting. - Peco said his follow-up team failed to find Quan and the rest of his gang at their residences. - Peco gathered from the witnesses that several days ago, Tan and his group figured in a fight with five residents of the nearby Dandan Street resulting in injuries. the injured here are the cousins Francis Quan and Edward Basilio.

Exercise 12 17

Newswriting 2009 Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.

 Roxana Saberi – US –Iranian journalist. She was sentenced to eight years in jail by an Iranian revolutionary court. This was according to Saberi’s lawyer.  Saberi was charged because of spying for the United States.  Saberi is 31 years old. She has been detained in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since January.  The verdict was the harshest sentence ever meted out to a dual national on security charges.  Abdulsamad Koramshahi – Saberi’s lawyer. According to him, Saberi has been sentence to eight years in jail, and he’s going to appeal, because according to Iranian law the verdict can be appealed within 20 days.  Saberi’s father was greeted with shock and said that her daughter had been “tricked” into confessing. She was initially reported to have been detained for buying alcohol, an illegal act in the IslamicRepublic.

 Saberi went on trial behind closed doors on Monday accused of spying for the US.  The case against Saberi has raised deep concerns in Washington and among the right groups.  According to ISNA news agency, as it quote unnamed judiciary sourcea revolutionary court had sentenced Saberi for espionage – a charge that could have risked the death sentence.  Hillary R. Clinton- US Secretary of State.She was deeply disappointed over the sentence. She also said that Washington would “vigorously raise” its concerns with Tehran. No date yet has given to the verdict. 18

Exercise 13 Write a news article based on the following facts given at random. Newswriting 1  Senior Police Officer 1 Ferdinand Geres- is a member of the the Gubat town police.  He was shot dead early Sunday morning. This was according to Chief Inspector Ayn Natuel who is the Spokesperson of the Bicol police. Natuel relayed the news of the killing in a text message Sunday.  The killing took place in Gubat town which is in Sorsogon. Responding town police operatives collared one of the gunmen. Thus happened when the said gunman was hiding near the scene of the crime. A Philippine National Police officer said this.  Robinson Huete – name of the gunman. A resident of Barangay Bulacao, in Gubat. He was arrested by police operatives and was tagged as one of the gunmen that shot Geres.  2:30 a.m. Sunday – the shooting took place. This happened when Geres was about to board his tricycle along Manotok street-in Gubat town.  Natuel could not say if the crime was related to insurgency or ordinary crime.  The arrested suspect has been detained at the town jail.  He is also undergoing interrogation.  Several armed men fired Geres at close range. He was killed instantly.

Exercise 15 Write a news article based on the following facts given at random. Newswriting 1  Senior Police Officer 1 Ferdinand Geres- is a member of the the Gubat town police. 19

 He was shot dead early Sunday morning. This was according to Chief Inspector Ayn Natuel who is the Spokesperson of the Bicol police. Natuel relayed the news of the killing in a text message Sunday.  The killing took place in Gubat town which is in Sorsogon. Responding town police operatives collared one of the gunmen. Thus happened when the said gunman was hiding near the scene of the crime. A Philippine National Police officer said this.  Robinson Huete – name of the gunman. A resident of Barangay Bulacao, in Gubat. He was arrested by police operatives and was tagged as one of the gunmen that shot Geres.  2:30 a.m. Sunday – the shooting took place. This happened when Geres was about to board his tricycle along Manotok street-in Gubat town.  Natuel could not say if the crime was related to insurgency or ordinary crime.  The arrested suspect has been detained at the town jail.  He is also undergoing interrogation.  Several armed men fired Geres at close range. He was killed instantly.

QCSSPC 2 Newswriting: Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.

- A woman was rescued Monday from the sea of the southern Philippines

- She’s alive .she was rescued by airforce para-jumpers. This was announced by Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alexander Pama. 20

- The rescue happened more than 24 hours after a passenger ferry she was on sank, the navy said.

- The Super Ferry 9 sank of the coast of Zamboanga peninsula early Sunday.

- Lita Casunglon – the identity of the woman. She was believed to be one of two People listed early Monday as missing from the Super Ferry 9.

- The rescue leaves only one of the 958 passengers and crew unaccounted for.

- This was announced by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Monday.

- Still to be identified are the bodies of one male and four female victims,according to NDCC

- The NDCC identified four of the 9 confirmed casualties: They are: James Patrick Gallego, he is two years old; Ferdinand Apolinario, he is 21 years old, Carina Ampere, 23 years old and Ferdinand Estrada, 45 years old.

- Passengers and crew were able to abandon ship before the SuperFerry 9.

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- Captain Jose Yap – skippered Super Ferry 9 bound for Ilo-Ilo City. The ship departed from General Santos City at about 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

- The ship completely submerged at 9:10 a.m. Sunday, NDCC said. Before the ship Submerged some had thrown out babies overboard and jumped of the ship in panic.

-Captain Yap gave out a distress call at 3:30 a.m. Sunday saying that the ship was Was listing on its starboard side 9.5 nautical miles west of Banga Point in Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte.

QCSSPC 3 Newswriting: facts which are given

Write a composite news based on the following

at random.

- 7 persons were killed in Quezon. - The fatalities were killed in separate road accidents along Maharlika Highway. - a two-year-old - included in the fatalities. - Apolonio Dalawampu – jeep’s driver. He was dead on the spot. - Joshua Comienzo – a pedestrian. He was also dead on the spot. - Superintendent Danilo Morzo – Police chief of Sariaya town. He said an owner type jeep went wayward. The jeep also sideswiped a parked dump truck and later on plowed into a group of pedestrians about to cross the highway. 22

- Leah- Comienzo’s mother – she was injured, also Arnulfo Subayba. Both of them were in critical condition. - Highway Patrol Group investigators said four other people were killed in similar road accidents along the Maharlika Highway - Joel Oflaria – a student. He was 14 years old. He was not wearing a safety helmet. He was killed when his motorcycle smashed into two other motorcycles parked on the road side. This happened also in Maharlika Highway, in Plaridel town. - He was declared dead on arrival due to severe head injuries. - Oflaria was rushed to the Dona Marta Memorial Hospital in Atimonan.

QCSSPC 4 Newswriting: given

Write a news article based on the following facts which are at random.

 Maj. Eugene Batara – spokesman of the military’s Western Minadanao Command.  He was the one who identified the fatalities: Juraisa Taub – she was eight years old. Naima Nasser – she was thirty five years old. Patrah Nassir – five years old Gemmar Arkan – four years old Nihma Arkan – she was forty seven years old  Batara said one of the passengers of the ill-fated watercraft who was identified as certain Sinnag Arkan is still missing as of press time. 23

 the pump boat hired by the said persons capsized due to rough sea conditions.  They were en route to Pata Island to attend a fiesta and to avail of free medical service.

Hatib Sakan Arkan, sixty years old Salip Aprson Jaynal, 40 years old months old

Elein Parson, eight years old Benhor Junior Taub, four

Rakmah Bahari, 45 years old

Hussein Arkan, 40 years old

Admer Hussein, 14 years old

Armager Imbay, 14 years old

Junior Taub, 27 years old

Edemar Taub, 14 years old

Ardamir Imbay, 28 years old

Nurhima Parson, 13;

Tungga Uddaman, 45 years old

Mado Tunnga, 18 years old

 They are all residents of Sitio Mangal-Mangal, Masjid Punjungan, Kalingalang , Caluang.

 Five persons were killed in the incident.  The incident happened Saturday in Pata Sulu. This was according to the military.  14 were rescued. The incident happened after the pump boat they were riding capsized of Daingdong Island.  The 23rd Marine Company immediately coordinated the launch of a search and rescue operation with the help of local residents and local divers in the area with 10 pump boats,” he said.  One of the pump boat operators was able to swim toward a nearby island and asked for help.  The incident was brought to the attention of the commanding officer of 23rd Marine Company. 24

TAPAT 1 NEWSWRITING Direction: Write a news article based on the following facts given at random. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alioden Dalaig - Chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal department. He’s a lawyer. He was found slumped unconscious with a gunshot wound in the chest. He was shot dead in Manila yesterday morning. James Jimenez – Comelec spokesman. He confirmed that Dalaig was killed but failed to elaborate on the motive of the attack.

Words of Jimenez: “I’m here confrming it was Attorney Dalaig who was killed. Right now, members of his family and the Comelec family are waiting for autopsy results.”

Filomena – name of Dalaig’s wife. She claimed that her huisband had been receiving death threats lately.

Jimenez further said that they would leave it up to the police to investigate the motive behind Dalaig’s killing. We were very shocked. I could not believe it when people started calling me about it. He is a big loss for the Comelec.

The wife failed to elaborate on the threats made to her husband.

SPO4 Alfredo Dela Rosa – He led the investigation. According to him there were no witnesses so far to describe how Dalaig was shot. 25

According to Dela Rosa Dalaig was carrying P300,000 cash but ruled robbery out as possible motive. Dalaig’s money and personal belongings were intact following the attack.

Dalaig was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Ospital ng Maynila, this was according to officials. Dalaig was found unconscious in front of the Hyatt Hotel at the corner of M.H. Del Pilar and Pedro Gil streets in Ermita, Manla. TAPAT 2 2007 Taguig – Pateros Division Young Writers Contest Signal Village Elementary School, Taguig City November 12, 2007

NEWSWRITING Direction: Write a news article based on the following facts given at random. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Esteban Conejos Jr. –Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Afairs. He said that the nine Pinoy seamen were scheduled to leave at 11:20 p.m., Port Louis in Mauritius. That was 11:20 Mauritius time.

Nine Filipino seafarers will arrive home tonight. They mutinied and took over a fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. This was according to the Department of Foreign Afairs.

Vice President Noli De Castro – Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers. He 26

announced that the nine seamen would be repatriated.

Names of the nine seamen: Roderick Sumang, Dexter Alday, Dennis Tolentino, Edwin Lee,Cirilo Moraleja, Jesus Baniqued, Socrates Silar, Jose Mempin, and Noel Cusi.

Bernadette Mendoza –Vice Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. In her report to Vice President Noli De Castro, she said that the representative of the vessel’s owner promised to send home all nine Filipino seamen.

The captain will not file criminal actions against the nine seamen – This was based on the agreement reflected in the police report. The captain will pay for the airfare costing $720 each, and shoulder their food and lodging while everything is being processed for their repatriation.

Jui-yin Huang – the captain of the ship. The Filipinos agreed that they would just take the airfare

According to Mendoza, the captain made it clear that he would not pay the salaries of the nine seamen that could reach $150 - $200 each per month

The nine seamen are set to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, 10:30 p.m. from Dubai. Strive for Excellence - Dr. Fuentes

“We should strive for excellence.” 27

This was the challenge posed by Dr. Victoria Q. Fuentes, Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent to the participating young writers during the Opening Program of the 27th Quezon City Division Young Writers Contest which is now being held at Bago Bantay Elementary School, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

“For the last five years, the performance of Quezon City in Campus Journalism is so far unbeatable, as it has been champion always,” Dr. Fuentes stressed.

She further noted that such performance is simply because, young writers in our division always have trainings in the diferent areas of campus paper writing.

“Another reason is the fact that teachers do their jobs and always aim for excellence, Dr. Fuentes added.

“You need to really work hard, and give your best in whatever endeavour you’ll undertake. You should double your eforts and rewards will be yours at the end,” she said.

With the theme, “Promoting a Culture of Peace Through Responsible Journalism,” the contest aims to train budding writers in the diferent categories of Campus Journalism and to prepare them for the coming Metro Manila Young Writers Contest. _____ public and private schools participated in this annual gathering of student writers. “Pagsikapan Ninyong Makamit ang Minimithing Tagumpay” - Dr. Fuentes

“Bilang mga batang mamamahayag, marapat marahil na pagsikapan ninyong makamit ang minimithing tagumpay,”

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Ito ang hamon ni Dr. Victoria Q. Fuentes, Tagapamanihala, Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, Lungsod Quezon, sa mga kalahok na batang manunulat, sa Pambukas na palatuntunan ng Pandibisyong Paligsahan na kasalukuyang ginaganap sa Bago Bantay Elementary School, Lungsod Quezon.

“Kayong mga batang mamamahayag ay magiging matatag na sandigan sa hinaharap, kung pagbubutihin ninyo ang anumang Gawain na nakaaatang sa inyo,” wika pa ni Dr. Fuentes.

“Ang Lungsod Quezon ay palaging nangunguna sa paligsahan sa pagsulat, at halos matagal na panahon na ring tayo ang kampeon,” wika pa niya.

“Sa inyong mga kamay nakasalalay ang ikapagtatagumpay ng ating mithiin. Gawin ninyo ang inyong buong makakaya at magtiwala sa sarili, higit sa lahat, magtiwala sa Diyos,” dagdag pa niya.

“Walang imposible, basta ginagawa ninyo ang buong makakaya. Nawa’y pagsikapan ninyong makamit ang inyong minimithi,” pagdidiin pa ni Dr. Fuentes sa pagtatapos ng kaniyang mensahe.

“Ang Pandibisyong Paligsahan na may paksang “Promoting a Culture of Peace Through Responsible Journalism, at taunang ginaganap ay sinalihan ng may ______ paaralang pampubliko at pribado mula sa Lunsod Quezon.

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