Tuesday, October 13, 2009

More Powerful Than Typhoons


Typhoon Ketsana (locally known as Ondoy) devastated a large part of Metro Manila and nearby provinces with the worst flooding in more than forty years. Typhoon Parma (Pepeng) followed right after Ketsana and threatened to unleash its fury particularly in Northern Luzon. In spite of the aftermath of Ondoy and the brewing of another typhoon, 12 writers and editors decided to brave the storm and camped at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila to attend the writing conference of Magazine Training International.

From October 4 to 7, magazine writers and editors from Japan, Malaysia, India, United Kingdom, and the Philippines listened to us trainers as we shared about the calling of the Christian writer and the craft of writing and editing magazine articles. I particularly shared about the keys to powerful writing and got the participants busy with some writing exercises.

While writing this, I received an email from one of the participants from Japan. She informed me that she and her colleagues will be sharing to their editor-in-chief the things that they’ve learned while in the conference. During the conference also, a Filipina participant asked me if she could save a soft copy of my presentation. She anticipated echoing the seminar to her coworkers in the communication department of their institution.

I have been privileged to coach these brothers and sisters along with trainers Dr. Michael Ray Smith and Kim Snider. Dr. Smith is an award-winning writer, photojournalist, academic and conference speaker, and professor in communications at Campbell University (http://www.maryanndiorio.com/blog/archives/general/000413.php). On the other hand, Kim Snider is the editor of Moms magazine (http://www.apmedia.org/site/moms/) and coordinator of print publishing for Asia Pacific Media Ministries.

I could not have done my part during the conference if God had not empowered me. Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng showed their destructive force but God is continually building up people’s lives through the powerful writing of those whom He has called.

You may view pictures of the conference by clicking on this link http://www.facebook.com/marlene.legaspi.munar#/album.php?aid=115390&id=684578540