SOME SELF-INTRODUCTION

SOME SELF-INTRODUCTION

The Filipino Scribe (TFS) is managed by Mark Pere Madrona, a multi-awarded writer and licensed professional teacher and owner of the award-winning news website The Filipino Scribe (www.FilipinoScribe.com).

Mr. Madrona is currently taking PhD in History at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism cum laude in 2010 as well as his master’s degree in history in 2020. His area of interests includes Philippine journalism, history, and politics as well as social media.

His research articles have been published in De La Salle University’s Malay journal and the Philippine Normal University’s The Normal Lights: Journal on Teacher Education. Meanwhile, the chapter titled “At the edge of the metaverse in teaching and learning: An interdisciplinary conversation” which he co-authored was published in Springer Nature’s 2024 book Smart Computing and Intelligence. Mr. Madrona was accepted as associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) last June 2024.

He previously had teaching stints for the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines Diliman, and Department of Education – Quezon City.

malay research journal 2024
(Personal photo)

He has contributed feature and opinion articles for various news outlets including ABS-CBN News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the Philippine Star. Last May 2022, he wrote an opinion piece for Sun Star Philippines about the crisis of historical ignorance in the Philippines.

He has also been invited to talk about journalism and other social media issues in various schools nationwide and in numerous television and radio shows, including GMA 7’s Investigative Documentaries, TV5’s Reaksyon, and as part of DZAR’s 2019 Election Day news coverage.

Mr. Madrona has earned various recognitions over the years for his writings – the first one of which is the best blog award from the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development in 2011. Last September 2020, he won first prize in the International Women’s Month essay writing contest – teachers category organized by the Quezon City local government and Department of Education – Quezon City.

the filipino scribe book
In 2021, I self-published with Book of Life Publications an anthology of my articles in the book “RIGHT ON THE MARK: Selected articles from The Filipino Scribe.”

Last December 2021, his first book titled “RIGHT ON THE MARK: Selected articles from The Filipino Scribe” has been released by Book of Life Publications.

He has been blogging intermittently since 2007, primarily in Multiply.com, where he made more than 200 posts. He wrote mainly about UP Diliman campus politics. He was part of the Philippine Collegian during his days as a journalism undergraduate at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He then interned for The Philippine Star from April to June, 2009.

NRCP - associate membership
Photo credits: National Research Council of the Philippines Facebook page

Apart from being a passionate writer, he is also innately competitive. He has joined a wide array of contests since his elementary days (quiz bees, spelling contests, and essay writing tilts, to name a few).

So, what can readers expect from The Filipino Scribe? Unlike others, he almost certainly won’t write about the latest techie stuff out there or what he wears or eats.

Even though this blog mostly features news, political commentary and other informative stuff, readers can expect not-so-serious items (humor and entertainment) every now and then, too.

PS: I know this corner sounds more like self-gratification than self-introduction (LOL!). By the way, “scribe” is the more informal term used to refer to journalists and writers.

80 thoughts on “SOME SELF-INTRODUCTION

  1. Hi Mark,
    I just came across your blog entry ‘Running for Congress was a gross miscalculation made by Gloria Arroyo’ today, and I like what you wrote. I agree with your thoughts on the matter, although what looks plain and simple now probably wasn’t that crystal clear back then when GMA thought she was still queen of the nation. I jumped immediately to this page (Some self-introduction) and I am impressed. My personal congratulations to you and I hope you keep blogging and anything, and everything. I’m sure there are those who benefit from your insights. I am one.

    1. Sir Rafael, thank you very much po for reading. As a writer, such comments makes me feel great. I appreciate din po your compliment. Looking forward to more visits from you in the future.

      Regards,
      Mark

  2. Walang anuman. I’m just happy for meeting another Filipino Blogger on WordPress. I browsed over your blog and learned that, so far, most of what interests you are about politics. To be honest, I’m the opposite. Having said that, I admire you for being such a BIG voice here through your posts. It goes without saying dito na lang ako magbabasa (sa blog mo) ng current events ika nga.

    1. Alam nyo po, blogging gives me the opportunity to meet new people, albeit virtually. I am really humbled when people read and appreciate my work. Salamat po muli. Ilalagay ko na po kayo sa blogroll ko so we can have more interaction in the future.

      1. I share the same sentiment towards blogging. Meeting new people, especially highbrowed ones, is priceless for me. Thank you very much for adding me to your blogroll. Let’s keep promoting our beautiful country. Based on the title of your blog (and on some of what I read from it), we are heading the same way.

        Mabuhay and mga Pinoy!

      2. You can add me po in your blogroll, too – though hindi ko lang po alam kung saang category nyo ako ilalagay doon. Haha. Anyway, bago pa lang po ako sa blogging – having started only last March, so having been viewed thousands of times already makes me feel great. 🙂

  3. Your posts definitely speak for current events. Hence, your category name is CURRENT EVENTS.

    Yeah, that’s one of the first things I noticed when I viewed your blog. Lucky you! You’re nearing 40,000 views and that’s undoubtedly an accomplishment for someone who just started this year.

    1. Nakakatuwa nga po. Well, perhaps, readers find my posts informative. Yun naman po ang goal ko. Personal blog po ito in a sense because I own this, although I seldom write about myself. 🙂

  4. Hey there! Thank you for visiting and liking “i-unFacebook: Real Reasons Why You Have Facebook And Why You Can Quit”.

    May I ask for your email? I wish to leave you a private message.

  5. Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by my page.. and after seeing your blog and your posts, I’d like to say that I am very much honored. Congratulations and more power to your blog! 🙂

  6. great job..it’s my first time to take time and read a blog like this and i like it….worth reading…hope to read some more in the future…

  7. Hi Mark Madrona!

    I came across your blog and found your entry on Student leaders to solon: Decide on the RH Bill before 2013 polls very relevant and insightful. With your permission, we would like to publish it on P3.

    P3 or Progressive Pinoy Perspectives (www.p-3.ph) is a crowd-sourced and curated online news magazine that publishes blog entries featuring perspectives on modern Filipino culture. All articles are written and/or submitted by bloggers and freelance writers in different fields. Our goal is to provide a platform for Filipinos of different walks of life to be able to reach significant awareness and encourage social responsibility among our readers.

    May we please feature your blog post? If you grant us permission, we promise to cite you as source and to link back to your blog.

    Thank you and have a great day!

  8. 1. We are monthly wage earner.
    2. Aug 7 was suspended by the President of the Phils through especial presidential proclamation.
    3. The company asked employees who didn’t work to file for VL on the premise of no work no pay.
    4. Employees don’t agree, on the premises:
    a. The no work no pay applies to daily wage earner and not on monthly wage earner.
    b. Filing VL on a day that is non-working is illogical
    c. “be covered by a favorable company policy and practice”
    c.1. Company pays holidays without deducting VL of employees

    Can you please make a write up regarding this? Many thanks.

      1. Hi, Marlon. First of all, let’s be clear: August 7 is a non-working day by virtue of Memorandum Circular 33 (http://www.gov.ph/2012/08/07/memorandum-circular-no-33-s-2012/). During special non-working holidays, employees who do not report for work are not entitled to receive any pay, unless there’s a company policy that says otherwise (http://www.dole.gov.ph/list_of_holidays.php). You may have to check your employee handbook/contract regarding this.
        I agree with you that filing for a VL on a non-working day is absurd. However, if they are insisting on that as a precondition for you to get paid, I don’t think you have any other choice.

        PS: Please check this announcement from DOLE -> http://www.gov.ph/2012/08/07/dole-explains-pay-rules-for-private-sector-workers-pursuant-to-op-announcement-august-7-2012/

  9. Hi, Mark! I love your writing style and the angles of your stories. It is also my dream to become a journalist, a good one in the near future. But I can’t seem to write the way I want to. I need my writing skills to be polished. Si I was thinking of taking up a Master’s degree in Journalism at UP Diliman. Can you at least be my mentor and help me out with the basics in News writing? Thanks a lot =)

  10. Hello, Kathleen. I find that extremely flattering. Thank you so much for the compliment. I’m willing to help you in whatever way I can. I’ve handled several writing courses before and my modules may be of help to you. Keep in touch!

      1. Hi Mark! I badly want to enhance my news writing skills. Journ or Marketing Comm. Hoe you can help me. Thanks a lot =)

  11. Awesome blog, I wondered where all the amazing Filipino writers were. I now realise I’ve been too *lazy* to find them (and shouldn’t use the WP Reader too late at night when so few are publishing). Kudos on all your achievements. Keep scribing 🙂

    Warmly,
    Mary

  12. Hi. I’m doing a research and it kind of concerns gender and mass media. The paper (analysis) you submitted for your ‘gender sensitivity in the mass media class’ would be really helpful if included in the related literature part of my research. Hope it’s okay with you if I include it. Of course, due credit and proper citation would be used. 🙂

      1. it’s actually a part of my undergraduate thesis 😀 a copy of the whole thing or the one with your paper? 🙂

      2. oops. accidentally posted outside this thread :))
        If I’m lazy, most probably. haha but I intend to finish it before the year ends. haha 🙂

      3. That’s really how it goes. Even in UPD, there are also two speech communication orgs that also accepts non-Speech majors. Hope we can work on something for the coming sem. 🙂

    1. I knew it. Haha. You have seven months to go nonetheless. In any case, if you need my insights for your thesis, you may send me questions. 🙂

      And if you are part of any organization there, you might want to organize events I can be part of. haha 😛

      1. that would be great 🙂 thank you.

        awesome. I would gladly tell my organization about that awesome idea 😀

      2. The Rhetoricians: The UPLB Speech Communication Organization. but not all members are speech comm majors, some are writing, some are theater (i think) :p

  13. My name is Michael Brown, an American living in the Philippines. I would like to ask you to post an article about my situation.

    In 2006, I started a training company in the Philippines, with my business partner (and also my best friend). In the end, my “friend” stole the company from me.

    Please read and sign my petition on change.org here http://www.change.org/petitions/mylene-morillo-buijs-return-the-company-that-rightfully-belongs-to-me. And please post a link to the petion on your website. Finally, please encourage others to sign it and post about it.

    You don’t have any reason to believe my story, but I’m asking you to post the link so that you and others can look at it and decide for themselves.

    Thank you very much for any help.

    Respectfully, Mike Brown.

  14. I just want to say I’m very new to blogging and seriously loved you’re web-site. Likely I’m going to bookmark your website . You amazingly have fantastic article content. Thanks a bunch for sharing with us your webpage.

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