The "I-KMJS na ‘yan!" Vibe: Jessica Soho's Masterclass for Campus Journalists

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

When a broadcast legend like Jessica Soho takes the stage, you don’t just get a talk; you get a masterclass. At the National Schools Press Conference (#NSPC2025) in Ilocos Sur, campus journalists weren't just lectured—they were ignited. What happened when a veteran journalist met the next generation of storytellers? A dramatic convergence of "truth bombs, purpose checks, and all the vibes." It was a moment so powerful, it could only be described as, "I-KMJS na ‘yan!"

The AICFRBG of Journalism: A Seven-Point Manifesto

Jessica Soho didn't just share tips; she laid out the foundational pillars of her career, a seven-point manifesto for ethical and impactful journalism, which she encapsulated in the acronym AICFRBG:

Accuracy

Impact

Content

Fairness

Reading

Balance

Doing Good

Let's dive into these "truth bombs" that form the bedrock of a journalist's moral compass.

Accuracy: The Bedrock of the Profession

Soho didn't mince words. Accuracy is the "bedrock or foundation" of journalism. She stressed that a journalist must report what is genuinely true and verifiable. It's about facts, not fiction; data, not rumors. She warned against blindly trusting second-hand information or social media gossip, emphasizing the two-source rule and the necessity of confirmation from reputable sources. "First-hand information is gold," she declared, a resounding call for journalists to do the legwork and witness events themselves.

Impact: Telling Stories That Matter

Journalism isn't just about reporting; it's about making an impact. But this impact must be achieved with integrity. Soho cautioned against falling into the trap of sensationalism or tabloid journalism, which can manipulate facts for clicks and views. The goal is to tell a story "clearly and with impact," without resorting to exaggeration. The power of a story lies in its ability to move, inform, and inspire, not in its ability to shock.

Content: The Unquestionable Monarch

"Content will always be king or queen," Soho said, a timeless truth in an age of information overload. She reinforced a crucial principle she’s carried throughout her career: the story is the star, not the journalist. "Hindi tayo ang istorya. Ang istorya ang bida, hindi tayo." (We are not the story. The story is the protagonist, not us.) It’s a humbling reminder that journalists are merely conduits for stories that need to be told.

Fairness: Giving Every Story a Voice

In journalism, fairness isn't a suggestion; it's "gospel truth." A journalist’s sacred duty is to "always get the other side of the story, to give the other person a fair shake." When someone is accused, you must get their side of the story. You must listen to their perspective and their tale, because "each one of us has a story to tell." This commitment to fairness ensures a balanced and complete narrative.

Reading: The Journalist’s Lifeline

A journalist must be a curious and interested individual, and the only way to achieve this is through extensive reading. "You need to write, so you need to read. It's as basic and simple as that," Soho stated. Reading provides depth, knowledge, and a broader understanding of the world and its people. It is the fuel that powers a journalist's curiosity and the well from which they draw their insights.

Be Good and Do Good: The Ultimate Moral Compass

Finally, Soho left the young journalists with a powerful message that transcends the profession itself: Be Good and Do Good. This isn't just about professional ethics; it's a call to moral ascendancy. She implored them to criticize "on issues, not so much on personalities." This means no bullying, no name-calling, no below-the-belt attacks, and absolutely no spreading of fake news. "Being in media gives us some sense of moral ascendancy," she explained, emphasizing that journalists hold the "moral compass of the nation." It is a profound responsibility that demands a commitment to goodness.

Jessica Soho's masterclass was more than just a speech; it was a rallying cry. She didn't just teach the young journalists how to be better reporters; she showed them how to be better human beings. The message was clear: if you want to be a journalist, you must be a storyteller of truth, purpose, and passion. And with that, the next generation of storytellers was sent forth, equipped with a renewed sense of purpose and the unwavering spirit of "I-KMJS na ‘yan!"

Beneath the Asphalt: The Buried Truth Behind Metro Manila's Floods

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Let's delve deeper into this critical issue. The question of why our streets flood so easily goes beyond the simple answer of heavy rain. It's a dramatic story of human development clashing with the natural world, a narrative that affects millions of people and billions of pesos.

The Real Culprit: A River's Memory

The prevailing assumption is that floods are caused by clogged drains and relentless downpours. While these factors contribute to the problem, they are not the root cause. According to Dr. Mahar Lagmay, Executive Director of UP NOAH, the real reason is a matter of geography and urban planning. The most flood-prone streets are not random—they are located in areas that were historically natural waterways. "It was really a waterway, but we paved a street over it," he explains.

This means that every time it rains heavily, water naturally seeks out its original path. These paths, however, have been sealed by layers of asphalt and concrete, forcing the water to rise and overflow. Metro Manila, in particular, is an isthmus situated between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay and lies on one of the Philippines' widest floodplains. It is home to a major river basin, the Marikina River Basin, and eight smaller sub-basins. The region's geography makes it naturally prone to flooding, a vulnerability that has been amplified by uncontrolled and rapid urbanization since the 1970s. This "urban sprawl" has covered natural ground that used to absorb rainwater, leaving the water with nowhere to go.

The Heavy Price of Urbanization

The consequences of this geographical oversight are staggering. The "urban flashfloods" that paralyze cities have a devastating economic impact. According to a 2017 study co-authored by Dr. Lagmay, the estimated daily economic loss due to traffic congestion from flooding in Metro Manila is up to Php 2.4 billion per day. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has long partnered with the Philippines to address this issue, recognizing that such frequent disasters are a major impediment to sustainable economic growth. Their projects, like the Manggahan Floodway, have been instrumental in mitigating damage, with one analysis showing an 80% reduction in damage during a major typhoon.

But the issue isn't just about economics; it's also about a century-old drainage system that is overwhelmed by modern development and is often clogged by garbage. The combination of these factors makes flooding inevitable, even with relatively short but intense rain events.

The Path Forward: Science, Technology, and Community

Despite the grim picture, there are actionable solutions. A study on "Street floods in Metro Manila" published in the Journal of Environmental Sciences outlines several key interventions:

Elevate Roads: Raise the elevation of streets that are in topographic low areas, especially where they intersect with creeks.

Improve Drainage: Design and build more effective drainage systems that can handle large volumes of water and direct them to the nearest stream channel.

Utilize Technology: Employ tools like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and flood simulation to create accurate maps and models for more precise urban planning. This kind of technology helps engineers determine which roads are lower than the creeks and how to best manage water flow.

Complementing these structural changes are community-based initiatives. The Lyfsaver app, developed by the UP Resilience Institute and other partners, is a community-powered platform that allows people to report real-time hazards like floods and landslides. This crowdsourced data provides a more accurate picture of what's happening on the ground, enabling faster response times and better-informed decisions. It is a powerful example of how the public can be part of the solution, transforming a problem of geography into a problem of collective action.

In the end, the flooding on our streets isn't an act of nature, but a consequence of our choices. The solution lies not just in better engineering, but in a fundamental shift in perspective—recognizing and respecting the natural pathways of water that our concrete jungles have tried to erase.

Photo from the Market Monitor

Reclaiming Power: Indigenous Communities Lead the Way to a Just Energy Future

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A dramatic shift is underway in the global energy transition, and it's being led by Indigenous communities. No longer content to be bystanders or victims of large-scale energy projects, these communities are stepping into roles of leadership and ownership, transforming the conversation from one of extraction to one of empowerment. This movement is rooted in ancestral wisdom and a deep respect for the land, proving that a cleaner energy future can also be a more just and equitable one.

From Extraction to Empowerment: A New Era of Energy

For generations, Indigenous lands have been a prime target for resource extraction, often without the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the people who live there. This has led to environmental damage, loss of traditional territories, and a lack of real power in decision-making. The traditional energy transition model risks continuing this cycle, viewing Indigenous lands as mere locations for renewable energy projects rather than recognizing the people as key partners.

However, a new model is emerging, one that centers on Indigenous rights, co-ownership, and benefit-sharing. This shift is not just about fairness; it's about building more effective, resilient, and sustainable energy systems. When Indigenous leadership is at the forefront, projects are developed with respect for culture, values, and land, ensuring that economic benefits support the entire community—families, education, and future generations—not just corporations.

Global Examples of Indigenous Leadership in Clean Energy

Across the globe, Indigenous communities are demonstrating how to build a clean and just future.

Canada: The Dokis First Nation's Hydroelectric Co-ownership

The Dokis First Nation in Ontario, Canada, is a powerful example of this new model. After decades of advocacy, the community now co-owns a 10-MW hydroelectric facility. This partnership grants them equity participation and benefit-sharing, allowing them to support ecosystem restoration and advance their own economic self-determination. This is a clear demonstration of how rights-based collaboration can deliver clean energy while respecting Indigenous sovereignty.

New Zealand: The Tauhara Māori Trust's Geothermal Partnership

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Tauhara Māori Trust has become a significant player in the geothermal energy sector. The trust owns 35% of a major geothermal project and has the right to increase their share to 50%.  This project is developed on the community’s terms, with deep respect for Māori culture, values, and land. The economic benefits directly support their whānau (family) and the well-being of future generations, making it a powerful example of climate solutions rooted in indigenous self-determination.

The Philippines: Community-Led Micro-Hydro Systems

In the Philippines, Indigenous communities are not just participating in energy projects; they are co-creating them. With over 20 community-based micro-hydro systems in the Cordillera and other regions, Indigenous peoples are building their own solutions.  These systems, with a combined capacity of approximately 400 kW, are built with appropriate technology tailored to local needs. They provide clean power to homes, schools, and local livelihoods, bringing local control and resilience to rural areas.

The Path Forward: A Call to Action

These groundbreaking examples show that the energy transition must be a move from taking to sharing, from exclusion to participation, and from imposed projects to Indigenous-led solutions. Major challenges remain, including a lack of FPIC, weak protection of Indigenous rights in clean energy governance, and the risk of digital exclusion in tech-driven energy systems. Without Indigenous leadership and consent, the energy transition risks becoming just another form of extractivism.

As we honor International Indigenous Peoples Day, we are called to center Indigenous rights, share the benefits of a clean energy future, and co-create a truly just and sustainable world. This future, guided by ancestral wisdom and community power, promises to be cleaner, fairer, and more respectful of both the planet and its people. 

Photo from Mongabay