By Alan Pelayo

THE Probe Media Foundation, Inc. (PMFI) has selected Filemon O. Baturiano, Jr. of the City Mayor’s Office Naga as one of the participants of the “Population and Media: Visions for the Present ” fellowship for 2006. 

Yasmin Mapua-Tang, Executive Director of the Probe Media Foundation, Inc. accepted Baturiano’s fellowship and said that the PMVP is a fellowship and training program for aspiring Filipino TV news and current affairs journalists to improve and increase the reportage of issue on population and development. The project is implemented by the Probe Media Foundation, Inc (PMFI) and financially supported by the Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD). 

As part of the fellowship perks, the Probe Media fellow from Bicol will be provided with roundtrip travel to the venues in Manila and Visayas for the two workshops, accommodations and meals, training including materials, and additional production funds for the creation and delivery of the segments. 

Baturiano intends to produce three 2-minute population-related video segments which will highlight the Kaantabay sa Kauswagan, the award-winning urban poor program of Naga City; the Naga City Natural Family Planning Council, the only such council in the Bikol region with full backing by the Catholic archdiocese; and the Naga City School Board which have initiated educational reforms in the local public school system. 

A 14th University of the Philippines (UP) Graciano Lopez Jaena Journalism Fellow, Mon Baturiano currently edits the City Hall Matters, the official Publication of the City Government of Naga, and contributes in local community newspaper. He also served as Associated Editor of the VANGUARD monthly magazine of the Camarines Sur Provincial Governor’s Office before his stint at the City Mayor’s Office. 

Married to the former Dr. Myla Nieves with four kids (Gilchrist Yahweh, Gian Benedict, Giana Krisha and Gayle Simoune), he holds MPA and Bachelor of Laws degrees at the University of Nueva Caceres and AB Philosophy degree at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary.