“Should You Rush To Copyright Your Invention Idea?”
Invention idea, what does this term mean? Chances are you’ve already heard this term, only you know it as “intellectual property”. It means that the idea is a product of the mind or the intellect, of the inventor. Once a legal claim is made, and established, the invention idea is considered a tangible property. The inventor or author can then go to court to have their rights enforced.
Examples of intellectual properties are copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. On the other hand, while trademarks and patents are also intellectual property, they fall under category of industrial property.
What are the differences between a patent? A trademark? And copyright? And what similarities do these three have in common? The USPTO has ruled that patents, trademarks, and copyrights are three types of intellectual property protection. But they serve different purposes. For instance, patents protect inventions, and improvements to existing inventions.
Trademarks on one hand, are defined as and include any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods.
On the other hand, copyrights protect literary, artistic, and musical works.
To register your copyrights, you’ll need to go to the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, found at Washington, D.C.
A Brief History of The Copyright Office
The Copyright Office was founded on the principle of American law, wherein an author of a work has the exclusive right to reap the fruits of his or her intellectual creativity for a limited period.
In May of 1790, Congress had enacted the first federal copyright law and the first work was registered within two weeks. Before 1870, and prior to the centralization of copyright records, it was the duty of the clerks of U.S. District Courts to keep the copyright claims.
Copyright” literally means the right to copy, and is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and audiovisual creations.
However, the “copyright” protection does not include any idea, procedure, process, slogan, principle, or discovery.
How does one go about copyrighting ones’ intellectual property?
The law says that your copyright protections begin from the time your work is created in fixed form, and it doesn’t need to be published. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. This means only the authors or those who derive their rights (family members and legal inheritors, are some examples) through the author can claim copyright.
But, you aren’t protected by the copyright law, if the creative work you did, was for hire. If so, these rights belong to your employer.
Work for hire is defined as the following:
1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as:
• a contribution to a collective work
• a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work
• a translation
• a supplementary work
• a compilation
• an instructional text
• a test
• answer material for a test
• an atlas
3) If you sign a contract, wherein your work is considered for hire.
Does your copyright protection exist only in the United States? Nope, it is available wherever you live, whatever your nationality and regardless of the fact that your works may be unpublished.
So now, you know which intellectual properties are covered by the copyright protection. You may be wondering, how do you apply for copyright protection?
Here are the conditions, wherein you’ve automatically secured your copyright protection:
• When it was fixed in a “copy”, which in this context is defined as material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, such as books, manuscripts, sheet music, film, videotape, or microfilm.
• When it was placed in a phonorecord for the first time. Here, "Phonorecord” refers to material objects which embody fixations of sounds (excluding, by statutory definition, motion picture soundtracks), such as cassette tapes, CDs, or LPs. This means, that a song (the "work") can be fixed in sheet music (" copies") or in phonograph disks (" phonorecords"), or both.
Now, that you know that the copyright protection comes built into the creation, how long is your invention idea protected?
• If your creative work was done on or after January 1, 1978, then copyright protection applies during your lifetime plus additional 70 years after your demise. If two or more of you created the works, then the plus 70 years after demise, will apply to the last surviving author.
• For the employer, who paid for the creative works, including the anonymous and pseudonymous works, the duration of copyright is 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.
Even if your invention idea or intellectual property is automatically protected under the copyright law, it is much better to register your works. When there is a legal dispute, the U.S. Copyright Office can step in to help you.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, August 21, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
The Other Domestic Diva - Your Helper!
Yes, I am talking about our domestic helpers. The very people who keep the Philippines afloat with their foreign remittances and bind our households together, yours, and mine – enabling us worry free work.
It’s an environment I understand so well, because I grew up with yayas.
However, my respect and admiration for them developed after I came to live with my aunt in Manila, where as part of my duties I trained a long procession of maids. Most of them were around 50 years old, saddled with an unemployed husband and hungry kids to feed. I called all of them Manang (an honorific title that means older woman). I oriented them on the basics of housekeeping, cooking food the way we liked it and how to traverse the maze that was Manila. Lest you think I was living in a grandiose mansion, I will stop here to describe the residence. It was a two-story mainly wooden apartment, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but no separate bedroom for the maid.
In the course of teaching them, I came to see the unvarnished truth of their lives. Their poverty had thrust them into the private lives of strangers. They had to live with their every move subject to the will of their employers. They lived through these vicissitudes, by keeping their values, a sense of humor and the cultivation of an indomitable spirit, which would not allow them to be crushed by what they did not know.
I learned a lot from them. In addition, through them I learned a lot about myself.
Scared of the Phone
In the 1980s, the rotary dial phone was the main lifeline of the business world. For my aunt, a real estate broker who worked from her home, this rung especially true. Therefore, it was without exception a rule that everyone in the house had to learn how to take business calls. Everyone including the maid had to learn!
Unfortunately, each time the phone rang the sound would bring on a fit of panic in Manang, and send her scurrying off to the kitchen at a speed that rivaled that of “The Flash” (a DC comics’ action hero). She was so visibly scared that I took it upon myself to answer the phone all the time.
However, my aunt objected, pointing out there would be days I wouldn't be home. As it was now, her clients and officemates often complained that her phone just rang and rang. Therefore, I had to teach Manang phone etiquette.
The Teaching of Manang Commences.
“Lift the receiver and let your voice ring aloud” – should have been the first instruction. Instead, I assumed incorrectly that since she had seen and heard how we answer the phone, all she needed was a brief review, after which the butterfly would emerge from her cocoon.
After some coaching, she says to me, “I’m ready.” The phone rings, she runs, and stoops down facing the phone. Without lifting the mouthpiece, she smiles at it and shouts, “Hello”. The phone, as you can imagine just continues to ring. She looks at me puzzled. “It won’t answer, just keeps ringing.”
Back to the drawing board I go. We review the basics. I start by pointing out the various parts of the phone, emphasizing the uses of the mouthpiece. We then go through the motions of her answering the phone, getting a reply and conducting conversation.
For a second time, she enthusiastically tells me “I’m ready!” when the phone rings announcing a call from another potential customer for my aunt. She runs to proudly lift the mouthpiece, and says hello. I hear the muffled reply, see her smile, and watch shocked as she puts the phone down! I ask her, “What did the caller want?” She says, “I don’t know, but I heard him say hello”.
It was then that I realized she needed to know the mechanics of the two-way communication process. We rehearse until this time I am at least partially sure she gets it. Not wanting to take another chance, I decide to test her skills. She successfully holds several short conversations with my cousin’s domestic helper at the other end. Finally, and unfortunately I feel we are ready to roll out the New Improved Manang.
A couple of days later, my aunt on the way to the bathroom, pauses at my open bedroom door. She tells me she is expecting an important call from her boss. If the call comes through while she is in the bathroom, she confides in me that she prefers I take the call. I agree. My aunt caps this conversation with small chitchat regarding the breakfast we took. She tells me that it just did not agree with her, and then enters the bathroom. During this entire exchange, Manang is moving in and out of the rooms distributing the ironed clothes.
The phone rings. Just as before, but this time from the opposite direction to before, and faster than “The Flash”, Manang dashes to clutch the mouthpiece and show off her newly learned skills.
“Hello?” She says in a still trembling but louder voice. The caller replies.
“Who is this please?” She fires off the second salvo. I nod my head in approval. Good. She is being prudent by extracting information from the caller.
The caller on the other end says something, which I didn’t catch. Meanwhile Manang is nodding her head as if to indicate understanding of what the caller is telling her. As for me, I’m mentally noting needed improvements. For instance, I think that I should remind her to interject phrases like, “Yes, I understand” or “I get it.” Meantime Manang continues to nod and smile at the phone caller who can’t see her.
“Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Tirol, I’ll be sure to remind her of the appointment.” She says with finality. My heart is almost bursting with pride at having graduated an honor student from Mylene’s school of phone etiquette.
Then, she says, “Oh, yes ma’am, my employer Mrs. Gomez is in the bathroom. She’s making poo-poo. Don’t worry, she says in a solicitous tone. I’ll tell her you called up.”
To this day, I wonder what it was that I somehow failed to teach her. However, for the life of me, I cannot pinpoint exactly where I made the mistake.
Manang Time to Eat. I would always remind Manang Cansing to call us for the meal. However, she had her own peculiar thinking about this. In Manang’s mind, announcing mealtime seemed to be an unnecessary task. One day, especially famished we requested that she prepare a meal ASAP! 5 minutes passed, then 10 and still no call for the meal. Wondering what could be delaying the meal, I finally go down to the dining room where I find the table set and our meal waiting to be eaten. I then found her in the kitchen, where my exasperated request for an explanation was met with a patient reply from Manang “But food has been set, you're the ones who are late”.
Manang Where. My aunt couldn’t find certain pieces of her lingerie. During a commercial break, she asks Manang. “Have you seen some of my lingerie?” Manang indignantly lifted her skirt up and waved it about, asking, “Look, am I wearing your underwear?” My aunt rendered temporarily speechless, looked at me. Later on, she confirms that the maid wasn’t wearing her underwear or for that matter any underwear at all.
Manang Insufficient Information. I had apparently forgotten the most important piece of information; teach the maid, the name of her employer.
One sunny morning, my dragon grandaunt who has a habit of dropping by unannounced, and hates being made to wait, was madly banging at the door. I didn’t know who it was, but couldn’t run down since I was dressing up. Therefore, I asked Manang to find out who was at the door.
Although the sounds coming through were muffled, I head the maid open the door, answer a question, and immediately after, shut the door.
Curious, I went down and inquired. “Who was it?”
She nonchalantly replies, “Oh just an angry old woman asking if this was the house of Mrs. Gomez."
“Didn’t you say yes?”
She replies, “But I don’t know who Mrs. Gomez is.”
I had to tell her in between breathless laughter that Mrs. Gomez was the name of my aunt, who had hired her. Manang went down giggling over her mistake, opened the door, and calmly informed my red in the face grand aunt (who had her mouth open in shock, when I peeked!). “Yes- this is the house of Mrs. Gomez and she is here. Then she closed the door. Okay, so I’m not perfect, I incorrectly assumed she’d usher the guest in.
Manang Lazy-eyed
The candidate for the helper position looked neat and clean, there was just one problem, she had a lazy eye that kept looking everywhere except at my aunt, who was interviewing her for the job.
An hour into the conversation, my aunt gave up being an adult and said, “Look, I hope you aren’t offended. However, I don’t know which of your eyes I should be looking at because one eye keeps wandering, and the other just stares straight at me. It is so disconcerting. Which eye should I be looking at while I talk to you?”
The helper chuckled, and said, “Well, you can look at either eye; I’ll still be looking at you anyway.”
Manang Pink Raisins
This Manang was rather shy about fixing herself a snack. Late one afternoon, I checked on her. She looked dazed. I asked her. “What did you eat?” She tells me she ate some pink raisins, which have given her a terrible headache and she feels like vomiting.
Pink raisins. We don’t have any. I asked her to show me the box. Pink raisins? Oh my gosh, it was rat poison!
What’s a person to do with domestic helpers? Or, that matter without them?
Your domestic helper gives you peace of mind. She’ll mother your children, work with the limited budget you give her for the groceries and fiercely guard your refrigerator, jewelry and enforce your house rules.
She’ll work tirelessly through the night without a complaint. She has boundless hope, patience, and a sense of humor to cope with your eccentricities.
Certainly – as the Filipina maids who work in Singapore so succinctly put it. ”We’re hard at work in your household so that you can run the country!”
It’s an environment I understand so well, because I grew up with yayas.
However, my respect and admiration for them developed after I came to live with my aunt in Manila, where as part of my duties I trained a long procession of maids. Most of them were around 50 years old, saddled with an unemployed husband and hungry kids to feed. I called all of them Manang (an honorific title that means older woman). I oriented them on the basics of housekeeping, cooking food the way we liked it and how to traverse the maze that was Manila. Lest you think I was living in a grandiose mansion, I will stop here to describe the residence. It was a two-story mainly wooden apartment, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but no separate bedroom for the maid.
In the course of teaching them, I came to see the unvarnished truth of their lives. Their poverty had thrust them into the private lives of strangers. They had to live with their every move subject to the will of their employers. They lived through these vicissitudes, by keeping their values, a sense of humor and the cultivation of an indomitable spirit, which would not allow them to be crushed by what they did not know.
I learned a lot from them. In addition, through them I learned a lot about myself.
Scared of the Phone
In the 1980s, the rotary dial phone was the main lifeline of the business world. For my aunt, a real estate broker who worked from her home, this rung especially true. Therefore, it was without exception a rule that everyone in the house had to learn how to take business calls. Everyone including the maid had to learn!
Unfortunately, each time the phone rang the sound would bring on a fit of panic in Manang, and send her scurrying off to the kitchen at a speed that rivaled that of “The Flash” (a DC comics’ action hero). She was so visibly scared that I took it upon myself to answer the phone all the time.
However, my aunt objected, pointing out there would be days I wouldn't be home. As it was now, her clients and officemates often complained that her phone just rang and rang. Therefore, I had to teach Manang phone etiquette.
The Teaching of Manang Commences.
“Lift the receiver and let your voice ring aloud” – should have been the first instruction. Instead, I assumed incorrectly that since she had seen and heard how we answer the phone, all she needed was a brief review, after which the butterfly would emerge from her cocoon.
After some coaching, she says to me, “I’m ready.” The phone rings, she runs, and stoops down facing the phone. Without lifting the mouthpiece, she smiles at it and shouts, “Hello”. The phone, as you can imagine just continues to ring. She looks at me puzzled. “It won’t answer, just keeps ringing.”
Back to the drawing board I go. We review the basics. I start by pointing out the various parts of the phone, emphasizing the uses of the mouthpiece. We then go through the motions of her answering the phone, getting a reply and conducting conversation.
For a second time, she enthusiastically tells me “I’m ready!” when the phone rings announcing a call from another potential customer for my aunt. She runs to proudly lift the mouthpiece, and says hello. I hear the muffled reply, see her smile, and watch shocked as she puts the phone down! I ask her, “What did the caller want?” She says, “I don’t know, but I heard him say hello”.
It was then that I realized she needed to know the mechanics of the two-way communication process. We rehearse until this time I am at least partially sure she gets it. Not wanting to take another chance, I decide to test her skills. She successfully holds several short conversations with my cousin’s domestic helper at the other end. Finally, and unfortunately I feel we are ready to roll out the New Improved Manang.
A couple of days later, my aunt on the way to the bathroom, pauses at my open bedroom door. She tells me she is expecting an important call from her boss. If the call comes through while she is in the bathroom, she confides in me that she prefers I take the call. I agree. My aunt caps this conversation with small chitchat regarding the breakfast we took. She tells me that it just did not agree with her, and then enters the bathroom. During this entire exchange, Manang is moving in and out of the rooms distributing the ironed clothes.
The phone rings. Just as before, but this time from the opposite direction to before, and faster than “The Flash”, Manang dashes to clutch the mouthpiece and show off her newly learned skills.
“Hello?” She says in a still trembling but louder voice. The caller replies.
“Who is this please?” She fires off the second salvo. I nod my head in approval. Good. She is being prudent by extracting information from the caller.
The caller on the other end says something, which I didn’t catch. Meanwhile Manang is nodding her head as if to indicate understanding of what the caller is telling her. As for me, I’m mentally noting needed improvements. For instance, I think that I should remind her to interject phrases like, “Yes, I understand” or “I get it.” Meantime Manang continues to nod and smile at the phone caller who can’t see her.
“Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Tirol, I’ll be sure to remind her of the appointment.” She says with finality. My heart is almost bursting with pride at having graduated an honor student from Mylene’s school of phone etiquette.
Then, she says, “Oh, yes ma’am, my employer Mrs. Gomez is in the bathroom. She’s making poo-poo. Don’t worry, she says in a solicitous tone. I’ll tell her you called up.”
To this day, I wonder what it was that I somehow failed to teach her. However, for the life of me, I cannot pinpoint exactly where I made the mistake.
Manang Time to Eat. I would always remind Manang Cansing to call us for the meal. However, she had her own peculiar thinking about this. In Manang’s mind, announcing mealtime seemed to be an unnecessary task. One day, especially famished we requested that she prepare a meal ASAP! 5 minutes passed, then 10 and still no call for the meal. Wondering what could be delaying the meal, I finally go down to the dining room where I find the table set and our meal waiting to be eaten. I then found her in the kitchen, where my exasperated request for an explanation was met with a patient reply from Manang “But food has been set, you're the ones who are late”.
Manang Where. My aunt couldn’t find certain pieces of her lingerie. During a commercial break, she asks Manang. “Have you seen some of my lingerie?” Manang indignantly lifted her skirt up and waved it about, asking, “Look, am I wearing your underwear?” My aunt rendered temporarily speechless, looked at me. Later on, she confirms that the maid wasn’t wearing her underwear or for that matter any underwear at all.
Manang Insufficient Information. I had apparently forgotten the most important piece of information; teach the maid, the name of her employer.
One sunny morning, my dragon grandaunt who has a habit of dropping by unannounced, and hates being made to wait, was madly banging at the door. I didn’t know who it was, but couldn’t run down since I was dressing up. Therefore, I asked Manang to find out who was at the door.
Although the sounds coming through were muffled, I head the maid open the door, answer a question, and immediately after, shut the door.
Curious, I went down and inquired. “Who was it?”
She nonchalantly replies, “Oh just an angry old woman asking if this was the house of Mrs. Gomez."
“Didn’t you say yes?”
She replies, “But I don’t know who Mrs. Gomez is.”
I had to tell her in between breathless laughter that Mrs. Gomez was the name of my aunt, who had hired her. Manang went down giggling over her mistake, opened the door, and calmly informed my red in the face grand aunt (who had her mouth open in shock, when I peeked!). “Yes- this is the house of Mrs. Gomez and she is here. Then she closed the door. Okay, so I’m not perfect, I incorrectly assumed she’d usher the guest in.
Manang Lazy-eyed
The candidate for the helper position looked neat and clean, there was just one problem, she had a lazy eye that kept looking everywhere except at my aunt, who was interviewing her for the job.
An hour into the conversation, my aunt gave up being an adult and said, “Look, I hope you aren’t offended. However, I don’t know which of your eyes I should be looking at because one eye keeps wandering, and the other just stares straight at me. It is so disconcerting. Which eye should I be looking at while I talk to you?”
The helper chuckled, and said, “Well, you can look at either eye; I’ll still be looking at you anyway.”
Manang Pink Raisins
This Manang was rather shy about fixing herself a snack. Late one afternoon, I checked on her. She looked dazed. I asked her. “What did you eat?” She tells me she ate some pink raisins, which have given her a terrible headache and she feels like vomiting.
Pink raisins. We don’t have any. I asked her to show me the box. Pink raisins? Oh my gosh, it was rat poison!
What’s a person to do with domestic helpers? Or, that matter without them?
Your domestic helper gives you peace of mind. She’ll mother your children, work with the limited budget you give her for the groceries and fiercely guard your refrigerator, jewelry and enforce your house rules.
She’ll work tirelessly through the night without a complaint. She has boundless hope, patience, and a sense of humor to cope with your eccentricities.
Certainly – as the Filipina maids who work in Singapore so succinctly put it. ”We’re hard at work in your household so that you can run the country!”
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Sample Press Release Article No. 1
DAVAO, Phils. (Feb. 2, 2001) --- In a move that has been highly praised by organizations dedicated to preserving the environment, as a long overdue recognition from the Arroyo gov’t of the importance of participating in conservation actions, newly installed DENR secretary Jeomari D. Gerochi signed a MOA with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI) Pres. Carlos A. Pedrosa, to radio tag the country’s endangered national bird, the Philippine Eagle.
Radio tagging or telemetry is a high technology application, which has been in worldwide use for the last three decades as the imperative tool for the study of endangered species. This method involves the capture of the wild species and strapping compact radio transmitters to their backs either by backpack harnesses or tail tags.
By homing in to the radio signals, or triangulating from two or more receiver positions with a directional receiving antenna, the PEFI field biologists are able to get an estimation of the Philippine Eagle locations and track them. This provides useful data on the species survival, productivity, home range and habitat use. Extensive studies on the backpack harnesses and tail tags have shown no adverse effect on their flying or reproductive abilities.
Dr. Hector C. Miranda Jr.’s (PEFI science director) proposal to DENR emphasized the significance of telemetry in unlocking the secrets to enable the PEFI to make informed decisions for better hands on management of the country’s national birds.
The testing sites for tracking and trapping the eagles will be conducted at known eagle nests at the Mt. Apo National Park covering Davao City, the province of Cotabato and the mountain regions of Bukidnon province.
While Dr. Hector C. Miranda Jr. and PEF Field Biologists will be the lead team to conduct the tracking and trapping expeditions of the Philippine Eagles, they’ll be aided by the DENR – Regional Eagle Watch Teams (REWT). Prior to this, PEFI will train DENR-REWTs on radio tracking, transceivers and other necessary skills for the expeditions.
Intensive fieldwork conducted in the 1970s’ and early 1980s’ have resulted in a better understanding of the endangered Philippine Eagles. But important questions remain unanswered. No reliable estimate of the Eagles population, its home range, habitat, territories, patterns of movements, dispersal, and mortality rates have been established.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI), the country’s only private non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our national bird, believes that radio telemetry is a valuable tool in unlocking these vital questions.
Radio tagging or telemetry is a high technology application, which has been in worldwide use for the last three decades as the imperative tool for the study of endangered species. This method involves the capture of the wild species and strapping compact radio transmitters to their backs either by backpack harnesses or tail tags.
By homing in to the radio signals, or triangulating from two or more receiver positions with a directional receiving antenna, the PEFI field biologists are able to get an estimation of the Philippine Eagle locations and track them. This provides useful data on the species survival, productivity, home range and habitat use. Extensive studies on the backpack harnesses and tail tags have shown no adverse effect on their flying or reproductive abilities.
Dr. Hector C. Miranda Jr.’s (PEFI science director) proposal to DENR emphasized the significance of telemetry in unlocking the secrets to enable the PEFI to make informed decisions for better hands on management of the country’s national birds.
The testing sites for tracking and trapping the eagles will be conducted at known eagle nests at the Mt. Apo National Park covering Davao City, the province of Cotabato and the mountain regions of Bukidnon province.
While Dr. Hector C. Miranda Jr. and PEF Field Biologists will be the lead team to conduct the tracking and trapping expeditions of the Philippine Eagles, they’ll be aided by the DENR – Regional Eagle Watch Teams (REWT). Prior to this, PEFI will train DENR-REWTs on radio tracking, transceivers and other necessary skills for the expeditions.
Intensive fieldwork conducted in the 1970s’ and early 1980s’ have resulted in a better understanding of the endangered Philippine Eagles. But important questions remain unanswered. No reliable estimate of the Eagles population, its home range, habitat, territories, patterns of movements, dispersal, and mortality rates have been established.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI), the country’s only private non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our national bird, believes that radio telemetry is a valuable tool in unlocking these vital questions.
MY RESUME
CAREER FOCUS:
Free lance contracts as a writer/editor/ graphics artist responsibilities
A results-oriented team player who can work alone in an efficient & organized manner.
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
13 years experience in public relations working with corporate, and non-government organizations with a strong technical command of the English language, familiar with virtually all writing styles. Such as conceptualization of & writing/editing of the following:
Advocacy campaigns, press conferences & familiarization tours.
Board meetings & cocktail parties
Experienced speaker & host for televised events, seminars & board meetings
Layout artist for creative print/radio ad copy (develops concepts & contents)
Photographer (Sony DVD, 8mm & digital camera)
WEB EXPERIENCE:
Keyword content writer for online content providers such as www.justarticles.com, Ms. Hetu, and articlesauthor.net, since 09/04.
2002-2003 Content writer & photographer for www.cometomati.com,
official website of the municipality.
2000-2002 Content writer for the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. official website.
1999-2002 Content writer for www.davaocity.com and co-partner for this domain.
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
“Adopting an Eaglet - Serendipity” Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sept. 14, 2001)
“Davao’s Eagle Man TOYM Awardee” Manila Times (Jan. 27, 2001)
“Eagles’ Surrogate mates” National Enquirer USA Edition (Feb.9, 2002)
“WomenTalk” opinion writer from 1996-2003 for Mindanao Daily Mirror, a multi-awarded community newspaper in the Philippines.
Feature writer for Manila Times (January 2000-2002)
“Deep Breasted”
“Boss of the Year Award”
“Hatching an Eagle”
“Back To The Wild”
Project Assistant Writer & Translator (English to the vernacular)
“ Their War, Our Struggle” information primer 09/20/04-02/15/05
Commissioned by: Save The Children Project UK thru Guava Consultancy, Inc.
For: National Government & Local Government Units, Non-government Organizations
FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT WORK:
IEC - Project Management Assistant
A DENR (foreign funded project) Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (SMICZMP) 09/03 - 08/04
Conceptualized, co-authored & edited four (4) central themes for DENR-SMICZMP
quarterly newsletters.
Designed & executed lay-outs of four (4) DENR-SMICZMP quarterly newsletters.
Authored new format and contents for the Project Director speeches & presentations
for DBM – central Office, NEDA, FASPO; Region XI & XII .
Conceptualized and led organized press tour for Region XII press
Created and authored new materials & content for exhibits:
Province of Sarangani Anniversary
PEF Annual Eagle Week June 2004.
Communications Officer
The Philippine Eagle Foundation
Communications Officer — The Philippine Eagle Foundation 12/2000 - 02/2002
Foundations’ counterpart producer & guide/translator for the National Geographic – Asia team. This collaboration resulted in the first footages taken of the hatching of an incubated eaglet and rare sighting of a week old eaglet in the wild.
Interviewed on National Geographic-Asia on work done for the foundation.
Designed & packaged a new look for the Eagle Center’s tour guides
including new uniforms, tickets & guide speeches geared for different audiences.
Raised Davao city grant from Php 250,000.00 to Php 1,000,000.00 for the year 2001.
FREELANCE WORK
CUES – USAid organization
Script writer for the seminar framework & tours set for Region XII, XI & IX
"South east Asian Cooperatives Summit ", December 17-19,2002.
Audience: 300 participants from the Philippines & other Southeast Asian Countries
USAid officials
Lecturer : “Basics for News writing & campaigns” February 2003
Audience: CUES partner/donor organizations & office personnel on the basics
of public relations
ECO-GOVERNANCE USAid organization February 5-12, 2003
Documentor & photographer: 5 Day seminar on the crucial module of the Solid Waste Management Plan of 6 municipalities from Region XII.
PUBLICIST WORK
Municipality of Mati
Created media plan & coordinated the press coverage for the municipality’s first festival: SAMBUOKAN 2001.
RESULTED: Festivities were fully covered by three Mindanaonan Dailies and one news agency, two (2) teams of both features & news teams of GMA and ABS-CBN broadcast networks, earning Mati its’ first extensive publicity in two decades.
Kadayawan Foundation, Inc.
Davao City’s private sector tourism promotional board
member of a 3-person team commissioned to make a road show presentation for the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) this February 19th, 2002.
Accomplishments:
scriptwriter for the multimedia presentation
editor for the audio-video presentation
authored the speeches for the following
Davao city Mayor's speech for the audio-video presentation
Kadayawan President’s speech to PANA
RESULTED IN: Audio-video presentation cited for excellence by and requested by the Aboitiz Shipping, Inc. corporate communications officer, for viewing on their ships.
SKYCABLE PUBLICIST
Work resulted in creating rapport between media publications, the city officials, subscribers; general public and the company.
Free lance contracts as a writer/editor/ graphics artist responsibilities
A results-oriented team player who can work alone in an efficient & organized manner.
EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
13 years experience in public relations working with corporate, and non-government organizations with a strong technical command of the English language, familiar with virtually all writing styles. Such as conceptualization of & writing/editing of the following:
- Annual reports, brochures, posters, seminar & tour materials;
- Campaign materials and process documentation
- Advocacy directed feature articles, commentaries, speeches and press releases.
- Public relations directed materials
- Press kits
Advocacy campaigns, press conferences & familiarization tours.
Board meetings & cocktail parties
Experienced speaker & host for televised events, seminars & board meetings
Layout artist for creative print/radio ad copy (develops concepts & contents)
Photographer (Sony DVD, 8mm & digital camera)
WEB EXPERIENCE:
Keyword content writer for online content providers such as www.justarticles.com, Ms. Hetu, and articlesauthor.net, since 09/04.
2002-2003 Content writer & photographer for www.cometomati.com,
official website of the municipality.
2000-2002 Content writer for the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. official website.
1999-2002 Content writer for www.davaocity.com and co-partner for this domain.
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
“Adopting an Eaglet - Serendipity” Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sept. 14, 2001)
“Davao’s Eagle Man TOYM Awardee” Manila Times (Jan. 27, 2001)
“Eagles’ Surrogate mates” National Enquirer USA Edition (Feb.9, 2002)
“WomenTalk” opinion writer from 1996-2003 for Mindanao Daily Mirror, a multi-awarded community newspaper in the Philippines.
Feature writer for Manila Times (January 2000-2002)
“Deep Breasted”
“Boss of the Year Award”
“Hatching an Eagle”
“Back To The Wild”
Project Assistant Writer & Translator (English to the vernacular)
“ Their War, Our Struggle” information primer 09/20/04-02/15/05
Commissioned by: Save The Children Project UK thru Guava Consultancy, Inc.
For: National Government & Local Government Units, Non-government Organizations
FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT WORK:
IEC - Project Management Assistant
A DENR (foreign funded project) Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (SMICZMP) 09/03 - 08/04
Conceptualized, co-authored & edited four (4) central themes for DENR-SMICZMP
quarterly newsletters.
Designed & executed lay-outs of four (4) DENR-SMICZMP quarterly newsletters.
Authored new format and contents for the Project Director speeches & presentations
for DBM – central Office, NEDA, FASPO; Region XI & XII .
Conceptualized and led organized press tour for Region XII press
Created and authored new materials & content for exhibits:
Province of Sarangani Anniversary
PEF Annual Eagle Week June 2004.
Communications Officer
The Philippine Eagle Foundation
Communications Officer — The Philippine Eagle Foundation 12/2000 - 02/2002
Foundations’ counterpart producer & guide/translator for the National Geographic – Asia team. This collaboration resulted in the first footages taken of the hatching of an incubated eaglet and rare sighting of a week old eaglet in the wild.
Interviewed on National Geographic-Asia on work done for the foundation.
Designed & packaged a new look for the Eagle Center’s tour guides
including new uniforms, tickets & guide speeches geared for different audiences.
Raised Davao city grant from Php 250,000.00 to Php 1,000,000.00 for the year 2001.
FREELANCE WORK
CUES – USAid organization
Script writer for the seminar framework & tours set for Region XII, XI & IX
"South east Asian Cooperatives Summit ", December 17-19,2002.
Audience: 300 participants from the Philippines & other Southeast Asian Countries
USAid officials
Lecturer : “Basics for News writing & campaigns” February 2003
Audience: CUES partner/donor organizations & office personnel on the basics
of public relations
ECO-GOVERNANCE USAid organization February 5-12, 2003
Documentor & photographer: 5 Day seminar on the crucial module of the Solid Waste Management Plan of 6 municipalities from Region XII.
PUBLICIST WORK
Municipality of Mati
Created media plan & coordinated the press coverage for the municipality’s first festival: SAMBUOKAN 2001.
RESULTED: Festivities were fully covered by three Mindanaonan Dailies and one news agency, two (2) teams of both features & news teams of GMA and ABS-CBN broadcast networks, earning Mati its’ first extensive publicity in two decades.
Kadayawan Foundation, Inc.
Davao City’s private sector tourism promotional board
member of a 3-person team commissioned to make a road show presentation for the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) this February 19th, 2002.
Accomplishments:
scriptwriter for the multimedia presentation
editor for the audio-video presentation
authored the speeches for the following
Davao city Mayor's speech for the audio-video presentation
Kadayawan President’s speech to PANA
RESULTED IN: Audio-video presentation cited for excellence by and requested by the Aboitiz Shipping, Inc. corporate communications officer, for viewing on their ships.
SKYCABLE PUBLICIST
Work resulted in creating rapport between media publications, the city officials, subscribers; general public and the company.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Sample Public Relations Article No.1
“SERENDIPITY”
“Serendipity” is the word that Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI) exec. dir and 2000 TOYM awardee, Dennis I. Salvador, uses to describe the major gift donation a very generous couple endowed the foundation with.
Two weekends ago, this soft-spoken couple strolled into Philippine Eagle Center at Malagos, as guests of a local university. The accompanying hosts recognized deputy dir. Doming Tadena (captive breeding head) and requested him to accompany them for the tour.
The couple listened intently as deputy dir. Tadena passionately explained why we needed to save Philippine Eagles from extinction, the larger problems this mission represents such as the continuing degradation of our forests and the loss of biological diversity. And, ultimately, the question of what we are leaving our children with. At the end of his impassioned speech they asked, “How can we help?”
“Among our many needs, we need generous godparents who can help us house one of the two eagles born last year and provide for their annual maintenance,” Tadena replies.
“We will help,” the couple answered. “We will adopt one eaglet and donate an enclosure for this. We will give the entire six year funding for its’ maintenance support now instead of on a yearly basis. This will enable you to utilize the annual earnings of the funds as additional sources of funding” At the end of this sunny afternoon, the November eaglet was adopted.
A few days later, the couple came back with their gift donation. Their one request : “No media funfare or photo releases." The very casual turnover ceremony was witnessed by one of their children, the university hosts and the Foundation team.
Many would define serendipity as pure luck – but PEF President Carlos A. Pedrosa says, “Serendipity is made possible when the right set of circumstances come into place. In this case, an enlightened couple who saw beyond the symbolism of the Philippine Eagle and on the other hand a group of people who work endlessly against environmental degradation.”
“With the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. I witnessed landmark results which given our present challenges, shouldn't have but did take place. I attribute this to the dedication, perseverance and hard work that the entire Malagos and Davao Philippine Eagle team have put into creating a legacy for a healthy environment. That’s the bottom line – leaving our children and generations to come with clean water and clean air by preserving the country’s rainforests – the Eagle’s habitat.” explained Pedrosa.
NOTE: published Sunday Inquirer Magazine 2001
“Serendipity” is the word that Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI) exec. dir and 2000 TOYM awardee, Dennis I. Salvador, uses to describe the major gift donation a very generous couple endowed the foundation with.
Two weekends ago, this soft-spoken couple strolled into Philippine Eagle Center at Malagos, as guests of a local university. The accompanying hosts recognized deputy dir. Doming Tadena (captive breeding head) and requested him to accompany them for the tour.
The couple listened intently as deputy dir. Tadena passionately explained why we needed to save Philippine Eagles from extinction, the larger problems this mission represents such as the continuing degradation of our forests and the loss of biological diversity. And, ultimately, the question of what we are leaving our children with. At the end of his impassioned speech they asked, “How can we help?”
“Among our many needs, we need generous godparents who can help us house one of the two eagles born last year and provide for their annual maintenance,” Tadena replies.
“We will help,” the couple answered. “We will adopt one eaglet and donate an enclosure for this. We will give the entire six year funding for its’ maintenance support now instead of on a yearly basis. This will enable you to utilize the annual earnings of the funds as additional sources of funding” At the end of this sunny afternoon, the November eaglet was adopted.
A few days later, the couple came back with their gift donation. Their one request : “No media funfare or photo releases." The very casual turnover ceremony was witnessed by one of their children, the university hosts and the Foundation team.
Many would define serendipity as pure luck – but PEF President Carlos A. Pedrosa says, “Serendipity is made possible when the right set of circumstances come into place. In this case, an enlightened couple who saw beyond the symbolism of the Philippine Eagle and on the other hand a group of people who work endlessly against environmental degradation.”
“With the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. I witnessed landmark results which given our present challenges, shouldn't have but did take place. I attribute this to the dedication, perseverance and hard work that the entire Malagos and Davao Philippine Eagle team have put into creating a legacy for a healthy environment. That’s the bottom line – leaving our children and generations to come with clean water and clean air by preserving the country’s rainforests – the Eagle’s habitat.” explained Pedrosa.
NOTE: published Sunday Inquirer Magazine 2001
Position Paper Addressed To The Philippine Gov't
Pinoy Independent Film Makers Group
Brief to: Honorable Jose Isidro Camacho
Secretary - The Department Of Finance
Regarding the
FILM POLICIES FOR INDEPENDENT FILM MAKERS
From Pinoy Independent Film Makers Group
Prepared by Cyril L_______ , National Coordinator,2003
Executive Summary
INTRODUCTION:
Introduced to Pilipino audiences in 1897, Philippine Cinema though the youngest of all our arts, remains the single major influence on our country’s’ imagination. Today, in reflection of the volatile political situation in our country, the existence of this one hundred year old art form is in jeopardy. In the last three years alone, annual output of local films has steadily plunged from an average of 130 movies to 89 movies. Along with the increasing paucity of quality made films are these factors:
OPENING STATEMENT:
We, the Pinoy Indie Filmmakers Group in consonance with the December 30 movement seek to support and engage President Arroyos’ reform agenda. Our vision and belief is that the answers to revitalizing the Philippine film industry is can be realized in its ability create films that show Philippine realities in complex and textured stories, and to developing world class Filipino talents.
Sadly, in today’s movies three formulaic story trends pre-dominate: sex & action oriented; teenyboppers love stories and scary thrillers. Because these films are consistently devoid of Filipino traditions, culture and values, made purely for profit, box office receipts continue to drop. Yet we know that Filipino viewers will pay to watch local movies even if they are not technologically sophisticated as long as they are speak of Pilipino voices. Examples of Filipino block busters are: Tanging Yaman, American Adobo, Rizal and Muro Ami, all were well patronized. Yet to compare, with the grosses of Hollywood movies that earn as much a 100 million pesos during a run here and that of local big production houses which usually gross 25 to 40 million to be considered blockbusters, you can see that the Filipino viewers needs are largely ignored and untapped.
We submit that Philippine independent film makers can revitalize the industry given opportunities and vital support by the Philippine government. To cite two recent examples of Independent film makers:
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP OUR SECTOR?We seek the support of the Department of Trade and Industry for the following measures:
CLOSING STATEMENT:
With the celebration of Philippine Cinemas’ 100 years of existence as an art, comes the pressing obligation to bridge the gap between entertaining and reflecting Philippine consciousness. While prognosis on the Film industry’s state is of deep concern, we know with this present administration’s commitment to the reform agenda, our industry will be re-energized. We, the independent film makers group are dedicated to assisting in the establishment of these measures in response to President Arroyos’ call to mount an effective reform agenda for the country.
Note: Secretary Isidro Camacho granted their petition.
Brief to: Honorable Jose Isidro Camacho
Secretary - The Department Of Finance
Regarding the
FILM POLICIES FOR INDEPENDENT FILM MAKERS
From Pinoy Independent Film Makers Group
Prepared by Cyril L_______ , National Coordinator,2003
Executive Summary
- Introduction: State of the Filipino Film Industry today
- Opening Statement: Name of the Film makers and vision
- Proposals:
- An executive order to create an Independent Film makers’ commission
- Create an Emerging Filmmakers Fund for production.
- Creation of an Independent Film makers’ Festival
- Closing Statement
INTRODUCTION:
Introduced to Pilipino audiences in 1897, Philippine Cinema though the youngest of all our arts, remains the single major influence on our country’s’ imagination. Today, in reflection of the volatile political situation in our country, the existence of this one hundred year old art form is in jeopardy. In the last three years alone, annual output of local films has steadily plunged from an average of 130 movies to 89 movies. Along with the increasing paucity of quality made films are these factors:
- Escalating costs of film production, from the films used to the processing is all imported.
- Exorbitant taxes -- Among such taxes are the amusement tax, culture tax, flood tax, and tax on raw materials.
- Film piracy -- high-tech film pirates deprive legitimate producers of potential income. Piracy forms include unauthorized airing, exhibition, and distribution of films in CAT-TV networks, video theaters, buses, hotels, restaurants, ships, etc., and video reproduction and retail establishments.
OPENING STATEMENT:
We, the Pinoy Indie Filmmakers Group in consonance with the December 30 movement seek to support and engage President Arroyos’ reform agenda. Our vision and belief is that the answers to revitalizing the Philippine film industry is can be realized in its ability create films that show Philippine realities in complex and textured stories, and to developing world class Filipino talents.
Sadly, in today’s movies three formulaic story trends pre-dominate: sex & action oriented; teenyboppers love stories and scary thrillers. Because these films are consistently devoid of Filipino traditions, culture and values, made purely for profit, box office receipts continue to drop. Yet we know that Filipino viewers will pay to watch local movies even if they are not technologically sophisticated as long as they are speak of Pilipino voices. Examples of Filipino block busters are: Tanging Yaman, American Adobo, Rizal and Muro Ami, all were well patronized. Yet to compare, with the grosses of Hollywood movies that earn as much a 100 million pesos during a run here and that of local big production houses which usually gross 25 to 40 million to be considered blockbusters, you can see that the Filipino viewers needs are largely ignored and untapped.
We submit that Philippine independent film makers can revitalize the industry given opportunities and vital support by the Philippine government. To cite two recent examples of Independent film makers:
- Tikoy Aguiluz’s, "Rizal Sa Dapitan" (Rizal in Dapitan, 1996), is an independently produced guerilla-style for a miniscule sum. The film focuses on a single episode of Rizal’s life, his four-year exile to Dapitan. It swept the 1996 Manila film festivals, went on to several international festivals, and won Best Picture and Best Actor in the 1998 Brussels International Film Festival.
- On the 23rd of March, a Filipino American made history in the United States. Too Much Sleep-an indie feature by David Maquiling, a magna cum laude graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts-became the first film made by a Filipino American to receive national distribution in the US. The product is a debut effort playing in 14 cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Dallas, and San Francisco among others. Dubbed as a subversive slice of suburban America and described as a sly and witty first film, it garnered rave reviews from The New York Times, The Village Voice, New York Post and New York Daily News.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP OUR SECTOR?We seek the support of the Department of Trade and Industry for the following measures:
- Support for an Executive Order for the creation of an Independent Film Makers Commission. This commission is envisioned to support the objectives of the independent film makers in the following ways but not limited:
- To provide policy and support services and advice to government agencies on the production of films and sound recordings,
- to contribute, financially and otherwise, to the work of film festivals and markets,
- to assist in the promotion of public interest in film as a medium of communication and as an art form and in the development of an informed and critical film audience,
- to provide financial and other assistance to the film and television industry in carrying out the industry's activities and to disseminate information about those activities,
- To work hand in hand with the proposed Emerging Filmmakers Fund to identify and give other assistance for productions. This aside from assistance to persons (including directors, producers, actors, writers and technicians) whose work in the film and television industry merits encouragement.
- Emerging Filmmakers Fund - In creating this fund we stress the importance of filmmakers maintaining their independence, i.e. retaining copyright and creative control of their work. How selections will be made is critical to the success of the fund. Who will be the decision-makers, advisors and readers and how will they be chosen? Input from the local independent filmmaking community will help answer these questions. We are prepared to put all our experience and expertise to help create this funding agency.
- A specifically created : Annual Film Festival for Independent Film Producers- This should be a nationwide celebration, which stipulates that these film entries be the only movies shown in theaters in the country for the duration of the festival. These would allow independent film makers’ access to a broader base of viewers, in first class cinemas, to which access is rarely given.
CLOSING STATEMENT:
With the celebration of Philippine Cinemas’ 100 years of existence as an art, comes the pressing obligation to bridge the gap between entertaining and reflecting Philippine consciousness. While prognosis on the Film industry’s state is of deep concern, we know with this present administration’s commitment to the reform agenda, our industry will be re-energized. We, the independent film makers group are dedicated to assisting in the establishment of these measures in response to President Arroyos’ call to mount an effective reform agenda for the country.
Note: Secretary Isidro Camacho granted their petition.
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