First Posted 13:34:00 04/26/2011
A former segment producer for ABS-CBN News has turned into one of CNN iReport’s most prolific contributors, spreading positive news from the point of view of the regular Filipino.
Bien Dacalanio was one of five CNN’s iReport Spirit Honorees for “exceptional” contributions to the citizen journalism community.
Dacalanio said he had always dreamt of becoming a journalist, and was a regular viewer of ABS-CBN current affairs shows.
He said he used to watch The Inside Story, Assignment, and Magandang Gabi Bayan (MGB), and this influenced him greatly.
He then got a job in ABS-CBN News, working as a segment producer for Rated K.
As a freelance journalist, he became engrossed with submitting reports to CNN iReport.
As of April 20, he has contributed a total of 640 iReports. Out of this number, 123 have been selected by the network for airing on its programs.
CNN described his as “like he had been shot out of a canon” when he joined the site.
“He travels all over the Philippines, chasing down interesting stories. Sherbien is very eager to learn and is always asking for advice on how he can improve as an iReporter. He says he’s so crazy about doing iReports that when he had surgery recently, he chose the hospital with the best view for shooting a time-lapse video during his recovery,” the site said.
His advice for other young people – pursue one’s interests and work hard to achieve one’s dreams.