Telling stories and forging connections: Two speech communication alumni journeys in the broadcast industry

The arrival of Pope Francis in 2015 was a welcome sight for the Filipino people, especially for those who were in despair and loss. Just two years earlier, Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged through the city of Tacloban, killing thousands of residents. Those who remained had dealt with unimaginable grief, but the pontiff’s visit would inspire hope, and Janvic Mateo was there to tell the world about it.

Janvic’s journey began upon watching Gamu-gamo sa Dilim (2002), a compelling documentary by Kara David about how children would gather around a gas lamp at night to study for school. He recalled how jarring it was to see what these kids were going through. Months later, a follow-up feature reported that Filipinos, moved by the documentary, had helped provide electricity for the children. Janvic realized then that telling stories was a way of opening doors for empathy and change. This inspired him to tell the stories of other people as well,

“Baka kapag nagkwento rin ako ng storya ng ibang tao, may matulungan din ako. [At kahit] hindi man ako yung makatulong, someone else might realize that they are in a capacity to help,” he said.

Though discouraged by his parents from getting a journalism degree, Janvic was not to be deterred. He enrolled in BA Speech Communication to learn more about people and was pleasantly surprised that he could take journalism electives along the way. He joined the student publication, KALasag, which gave him a sense of purpose knowing that his interests and skills had meaningful contributions to the College. During his stay in the DSCTA, he enjoyed research-oriented subjects like Speech 130, which acquainted him with rhetorical criticism. He eventually used a variant of the approach in his undergraduate thesis which centered on Twitter as a form of new media.

Admittedly, Janvic had some doubts about penetrating the journalism scene as a Speech Communication graduate. Nonetheless, he found a writing job at the Philippine Online Chronicles right after graduation. A few months later, Business World, DZMM, and The Philippine Star were reaching out to him for further opportunities. He eventually chose The Philippine Star where he was hired to handle digital operations. Serendipitously, reporters were lacking at the time, so he was made a reporter instead.

Everything else was history.

“It was surreal,” he recounted, “at 21 I was going to do what I always wanted to do.”

Early on, he was assigned to the Quezon City local government, covering education and human rights. Three years into his job, he was still looking for his first banner story and it was weighing heavily on him. He finally got his chance in 2015.

The coverage of the Pope’s visit was incredibly challenging. Large crowds of people gathered at every turn, and Janvic had to walk with and through them. To make matters worse, there was a storm brewing overhead, which seemed emblematic of the chaos Janvic was already braving. But brave the storms he did, and he got the story done.

The Yolanda tragedy of 2013 was devastating for the people of Tacloban. Yet he saw the same people full of hope in the face of a Pope who said, “I have always wanted to be with you.”

“I rarely get emotional while covering a story because I detach myself so I can write them properly. But there are instances that you feel the emotions and you just get affected by it,” said Janvic.

He was very thankful to get his first headline story in that manner. Though he had doubts about his readiness for the task, in the end he felt that he was meant to tell that story.

Janvic has since been expanding his horizons to serve others better. He became a founding member of the Caloocan Young Leaders Initiative, a lecturer at the College of Mass Communication, an editor for One News Ph, and recently, the lead reporter for the Office of the Vice President. He had also written about other issues, including the Maguindanao Massacre trial, a grueling assignment he had stayed with from 2012 until the landmark conviction of key suspects in 2019.

“I owe it to those people who died, that the public should never forget what really happened. I made it my responsibility. Kailangan hindi makalimutan iyon,” said Janvic.

When asked about his next steps, he expressed the desire to continue teaching in the academe while also making more time for the stories he really wants to write. He also encouraged students in the Department to make the most out of university life — to choose subjects that will open opportunities for the future, and use Speech Communication to learn about the self and others.

What began as a childhood dream is now a full-fledged reality for Janvic. Despite the dangers of his field, he remains at peace with his claim, “If you tell the stories of these people — if you highlight the challenges they are facing — there is a possibility that someone will see that story, and that someone would step up and help them.”

Barnaby Lo’s dream was always to be a reporter in the broadcast industry and, now, as a foreign media correspondent for the esteemed international news organization Al Jazeera, he is living out his childhood ambitions. While he could’ve shifted into programs such as Journalism or Broadcast Communication, Barnaby recalls that he ultimately felt the need to stay in the Speech Communication program as it provided an environment that allowed him to grow as a conscious communicator and gave him the space to make the most out of his college years inside and outside the classroom.

When asked about his memorable experiences as part of the Speech Communication program, Barnaby credits his professors for constantly challenging him by finding ways for students to balance theory and praxis. These experiences readied Barnaby as a reporter by helping him work better with production teams, grow confidence in how he engages with varied audiences, and develop leadership skills.

After graduating from UP and working at a local news network, Barnaby pursued a master's degree in Journalism at New York University (NYU) which then became pivotal to his notable career as a reporter and foreign correspondent covering Asia and the Philippines. Part of his work was the creation of award-winning documentaries such as “Children of the War” about children affected by the Philippine government’s war on drugs and “Lolas” about Filipina wartime sex slaves. His work reflects the passion he has for his country as well as his determination to inspire others through the revelation of these social issues.

Even with all these achievements, Barnaby’s most valuable moments as a reporter go beyond receiving awards. Instead, when asked, he remembers how he survived covering stories such as the catastrophic storm Yolanda in Leyte and the siege in Marawi. These are what he considers the milestones that really stood out to him as he lives out his passion. 

​Barnaby’s own power of creating connections and making waves through his storytelling and truth-telling as a reporter was developed in a program he knows to produce well-rounded and value-driven students. It is no wonder that Barnaby’s only advice for DSCTA students is to “savor your experiences” and “have fun” because then, love and passion in your career will naturally follow along the way.