So I started a new blog. It’s called Jeric Pena Reports (JPR).

(Aside: I chose to go by the name “Jeric Pena” because “ñ” doesn’t have any place in the digital world.)

Jeric Pena Reports

JPR is my news blog. It’s where I post my video and/or photo essays, audio reports, and news articles. Yes. I basically shoot, write, edit, record, and report. I even do programming.

I’ve been working on this blog since December last year. And I know that I’ve still got a lot of things to do to make it the way I want it to be. For one, I need to buy more equipment. I just use my iPhone and a point-and-shoot digital camera to take photos and videos. I’ve already bought some gadgets to help me come up with awesome multimedia content, but they are still in transit. (Check my multimedia journalism gear wish list.) Nevertheless, I believe that JPR looks just fine for now.

So, are you interested in taking a behind-the-scenes look at Jeric Pena Reports? 

Broadcast Design

Well, I am also a broadcast designer for JPR. I designed and animated the lower thirds that I’ll be using for my video reports. Yes, it is inspired by the lower thirds that you see on CNN International.

Art Project

I also made my own microphone flag (You know, that box thing just below a reporter’s microphone that bears the station’s logo). I want a professionally-made microphone flag, but I can’t find a store or a person that does this thing so I decided to make my own.

Finished Product

Here’s the JPR microphone flag.

Stand-up

So, here I am testing the microphone flag I made and the lower thirds I designed. I am so excited to do some stand-ups!

Voiceover

Of course, I need to record voiceovers for my video essays and/or audio reports.

I got a ‘Kalabaw’ and I have the photos to prove it!

(Leftmost Photo by Fritz Tentativa / Philippine Blog Awards)

My podcast network, Brink Notes Podcast Network (BNCAST), was awarded as the 2011 Best Podcast Blog during the Philippine Blog Awards awarding ceremony held yesterday, December 3, 2011, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City. I attended the ceremony with my mom and she also won a touchscreen phone from Nokia during the raffle.

The kalabaw that I got is actually the Philippine Blog Awards trophy for this year.

I was so nervous before, during, and after the awards night. Really. I think my mom felt nervous too! When BNCAST was announced as the winner, I had to look at the screen showing my podcast’s name and URL several times just to be sure that I did win. I was shocked and my mom was shocked too! Who would have thought that I’ll win an award from the Philippine Blog Awards for the second time?

I am glad that I was able to say something when the award was presented to me. Yes, winners were given two minutes to give an acceptance speech. A fews before the awards night, I was advised thru email to prepare a two-minute acceptance speech. But I didn’t prepare one because I wasn’t really expecting to win. I really can’t remember the exact words that I’ve said during my speech. But I did say that podcasting is not dead.

It was nice to know that podcast blogs dominated the Best Vidcast / Podcast Blog category of this year’s Philippine Blog Awards—4  out of the 5 finalists for the said category were podcast blogs—unlike the previous years. I have been podcasting since 2005 and I really appreciate the fact that the Philippine Blog Awards do recognize podcast blogs.

Thank you, Philippine Blog Awards, for giving me (my podcast) this award!

Mom

I would like to thank my mom for tirelessly buying me microphone when I was still young.

I remember that you bought me my first microphone and sound system when I was still 4 years old. I think you’ve bought me more than a hundred microphones during those days because they broke easily. Can you still remember this?

Without that first microphone and stereo system, I wouldn’t have learned the art of using and speaking into microphones. Thank you.

Photo by Azrael Coladilla

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Philippines a few days ago to grace the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. In between the events regarding the said celebration, Hillary Clinton also attended a forum organized by GMA News and the Embassy of the United States of America in the Philippines.

On the eve of the forum, GMA News tweeted, “Any light questions (i.e. What makes you smile? et al.) for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? Tweet using #SecClintonManila hashtag.”

Knowing that there’s no harm in trying, I replied to the said tweet with a question for Hillary Clinton. I asked, “What’s on your iPod?”

I hope nobody stones me to death for asking a shallow question. GMA News asked for light questions and I gave them one.

But how did I come up with the said question?

Here’s the story. I just finished reading Steve Jobs’s biography by Walter Isaacson about a week ago. I remembered that Isaacson talked (wrote) about the contents of Steve Jobs’s iPod quite extensively. He also wrote about how Steve Jobs loved Bob Dylan. That part of the Steve Jobs’s biography made me think-slash-wonder about the kind of music famous people listen to.

I didn’t actually care whether GMA News would ask Hillary Clinton to answer my question or not. I just wanted to ask the said question.

The forum Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Conversation in Manila aired on GMA News TV 11 and was also streamed live on the Internet last November 16, 2011 at around 2:30pm. I wasn’t able to watch it live because I was in school (I was in my Philippine Literature class at that time).

When I arrived home at around 4:00pm, I immediately checked GMA News TV and I discovered that the forum was already over. So, I turned to Twitter to check on what transpired during the said forum. I did not see any hint that my question was answered. But I remember reading that Hillary Clinton is a BlackBerry person.

I was sad and heartbroken although I didn’t expect anything at all. But how can GMA News ignore such a witty question? And so I tweeted, “So @gmanews didn’t ask my iPod question for Sec Clinton.  #SecClintonManila”

But I was wrong. GMA News did ask my iPod question for Secretary Clinton.

At around 9:00pm, my sister, Dianne, arrived home and turned on the television just in time to see a portion of Station of the Nation Address’s (a news program) feature on the said forum. GMA News included in that feature the clip wherein Secretary Clinton was answering my question.

I jumped. I screamed. I danced. I did some crazy things to express how happy, ecstatic I was upon learning that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton actually answered my question! 

I don’t care if I was not invited to attend the said forum. I am happy and grateful because I was able to ask Hillary Clinton a question and she answered! And she answered lengthily!

Thank you to everyone who made this possible! You don’t know how much you made this lowly creature happy.

…and Manila is currently submerged in floodwaters because of the nonstop rains, I proudly present to you the most awesome cover/rendition of Rebecca Black’s sensational song “Friday,” a song that I sincerely and totally love.

The orchestration is just awesome, perfect, wonderful, magnificent, (insert a “positive” adjective here). I totally love it!

Enjoy!

Hello there! Yes, I’m still alive.

I love podcasting. I have been podcasting since 2005. Since then, I have already produced quite a lot (or a few) podcast shows. I currently run the Brink Notes Podcast Network. I’m actually producing four shows right now, three of which are hosted by me. Ever since I started podcasting, I’ve been wanting to have a room wherein I can record podcasts in peace without the annoying “city noise.” But, we didn’t have a space at home and I didn’t have the money. So, since 2005, I’ve been recording in my room.

Things have changed.

Fast forward to 2011, my podcast studio is currently being constructed!

BNCAST Studio as of February 20, 2011

The studio is a mess right now. This picture was taken last February 20, 2011, so it’s pretty messy-slash-disorganized-slash-ugly. It’s a work in progress. Nothing’s really final yet. I have already bought quite a lot of stuff for the studio—recording equipment, table/furniture, acoustic treatment, etc.

I’m so excited!

It’s a relatively small room, but I’m not aiming for a big recording studio. Instead, what I want is a radio booth. I think it can accomodate around 3 people (1 host, 2 guests).

Too bad, our camera’s busted so I really can’t post most recent pictures. But, you may check out BNCAST’s tumblr for more pictures.

Check out the awesome podcast shows that I produce at the Brink Notes Podcast Network.

Were you able to join Red Mobile‘s online contest that I blogged about few weeks ago? If yes, then you might one of the 10 winners of Nokia C3 from Red Mobile!

Winners of Red Mobile’s Crazy Low Unli Rates Online Promo

1. Jonaliane Meach S.A. Flores
2. Michael Tutor
3. Anthony Aguilar
4. Kristina Amanda Cruz
5. Ryan Apuan
6. Kimberly E. Sabas
7. Jerome Ng
8. Jesusa Onato
9. Glory Ann Ocay
10. Imo Garcia

To the winners, congratulations!

Can’t see your name in the list? Well, better luck next time. I’m so sure that Red Mobile will come up with more cool promos for you in the future.

Nevertheless, don’t forget about Red Mobile’s crazy low unli rates!

Red Mobile’s Crazy Low Unli Rates

Red Mobile has recently introduced their Crazy Low Unli Rates and they’re really crazy low! For P4, you’ll get unlimited text messaging for Red to Red subscribers. To register for the Red to Red unlimited text messaging, text TU4 to 9949. If you prefer calls over texts, Red also introduced the unlimited call and text service for Red to Red subscribers for only P8. To enjoy unlimited Red to Red calls and texts, text CTU8 to 9949.

Red Mobile proved that their services are really ABOT-KAYA and ABOT LAHAT.

If you’re looking for a mobile network operator in the Philippines that doesn’t suck, you really should consider Red Mobile.

Why?

Here are the benefits of using Red Mobile:

Red Mobile

1. Nationwide Coverage - When choosing a network provider, of course, the network’s coverage is one of the things that you should look into. This is very important especially if you frequently travel around the country. Red Mobile has the whole country covered so you don’t really have to worry about losing cellphone signal when traveling.
2. Strong Signal - With Red Mobile, looking for signal/reception isn’t a problem. As I’ve written before, they have nationwide coverage! This means that have the ample number of cell sites. You’re assured that you’ll always have strong phone signal/reception and clearer connections.
3. Unlimited Service - If you wish to stay connected to your friends and family members, unlimited call and text service is a must! Red Mobile has different pricing schemes depending on the unlimited service you miss to avail. Their unlimited service isn’t limited to Red Mobile subscribers! They also offer Red to SMART unlimited call and text service. Isn’t that great?
4. Crazy Low Unli Rates – I have recently blogged about Red Mobile’s Crazy Low Unli Rates! For P4, you’ll get unlimited text messaging for Red to Red subscribers. If you prefer calls over texts, Red also introduced the unlimited call and text service for Red to Red subscribers for only P8.

So, what are you waiting for? Turn Red! For more information regarding Red Mobile, visit http://www.redmobile.com/.

Red Mobile Around the Web

• LIKE Red Mobile on Facebook
• Red Mobile YouTube Channel
• Red Mobile Website

The Philippine Blog Awards is an annual event that aims to recognize Filipino-owned blogs that are notable in their respective niches. One of the awards given every year is the Bloggers’ Choice Award. The Philippine Blog Awards website describes the award as:

Blogger’s Choice

This award gives due recognition to the blogger who has been judged by fellow Filipino bloggers by vote as the 2010 Blogger’s Choice.

2010 Philippine Blog Awards

The awarding ceremony for the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards Luzon will be held on December 12, 2010. My podcast, Educ Today, is a nominee for this year’s Best Videocast/Podcast Blog category.  For more information, please visit the Philippine Blog Awards website.

Dear Friends and Readers,

I hope you can find time to nominate my podcast show, EDUC Today at this year’s Podcast Awards. The number of nominations each podcast gets is 40% of the criteria for judging. Therefore, every nomination for EDUC Today will really help in increasing the show’s chances of becoming a finalist (or even becoming a winner!).

Thank you very much!

Jeric Peña

What’s EDUC Today?

EDUC Today, launched last April 25, 2010, is a 30-minute weekly podcast that discusses and explains different educational issues affecting the teachers and students of today. EDUC Today is hosted by Jeric Peña.

Podcast Awards 2010? What?

Now on its sixth year, Podcast Awards is an annual set of awards given to the best podcasts as voted by netizens around the world. Podcast Awards is managed by Podcast Connect Inc.

How do I nominate EDUC Today at the Podcast Awards 2010?

1. Go to the Podcast Awards 2010 website at http://www.podcastawards.com.

http://www.podcastawards.com

2. Scroll down until you find the nomination form for the EDUCATION category. Type “EDUC Today Podcast” in the Podcast Name field while “http://eductoday.bncast.com” in the Podcast URL field.

EDUC Today Podcast

3. Scroll down until you find the “Your details” box. Type in your full name and your valid e-mail address in the appropriate fields. Also, choose one among the options listener, podcaster or both that best describes you. After doing so, you may also type comments regarding the podcasts you’ve nominated. Last, don’t forget to click SUBMIT.

Your Details

Thank you very much!

PodCastAwards Website Nomination Form

Nomination ends November 21, 2010 (2359 EST).

Yes! The first semester of academic year 2010-2011 has just ended for me. Hooraaay!

To be honest, I’m still speechless right now. I can’t believe that my first semester as a “regular” student is finally over. My first semester  was fine despite the electrical problem at my college. Yes, my college doesn’t have electricity for more than a month now! Just imagine holding classes at the corridors or even at the college garden (under a tree!). It was horrible and ridiculous all at the same time! Nevertheless, I can say that I did enjoy my first semester.

I’m not really sure how I performed this semester. But, I believe I did just fine.

What should I expect for the second semester? I have no idea. Plus, I don’t want to talk about the second semester yet. I just hope that by next semester, the electricity problem/s at my college will be fixed.

So, what will I do during my vacation? Well, I’ll probably work on stuff for Brink Notes Podcast Network. In fact, I have so many plans for BNCAST to the point that I don’t know what to work on first. Seriously. I’m actually thinking of adding a new show to the current BNCAST show line-up and I hope that this vacation will allow me to do that. Pretty exciting!

See you around!