How Siloys touch lives: Chasing stories and mama duties

Doris Bongcac’s story on the Cebu Zoo for the much-talked about “Snake Massage.” Published December. 22, 2013.

LITTLE MISS EDITOR. Iona (right) joins a story conference with her mom, Doris.

JUGGLING journalism and single motherhood is not an easy task.

Attending to maternal duties  sometimes gets in the way of  a reporter’s routine  but I’m grateful that my news sources don’t  seem

to mind.
Several times I’ve had to bring  along my 3-year-old daughter, Iona Sophia, while I go interview officials or attend press briefings.

My purse would be bursting at the seams because  my tablet computer, notebook, pens and some reference materials would share space with packs of Iona’s favorite chocolate drink and cookies whenever I had to bring her with me.

At times, Iona would ask for a pen and notebook and pretend to be part of the press conference. Iona on several occasions sat with the editors in a story conference, “murag korek!”
My colleagues in the City Hall press office have gotten  used to seeing me cuddling Iona as I jot down notes.

Once during a press conference called by Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, Iona  blurted out in a  loud voice: “What is he doing?!”   TV cameras stopped rolling and everyone, including the mayor, started to laugh.

When I went to the Cebu City zoo to find out about  a how “snake massage” was being offered as a new attraction, our photographer, Junjie Mendoza, and driver, Tero, took turns keeping watch over my little girl as I interviewed zoo manager Giovani Romarate.

Demanding

My interview with Romarate had to pause  when Iona came rushing back asking for  her chocolate drink.
Just like my other news sources, Romarate didn’t mind getting interrupted.

They understand how demanding parenthood – and the job of being a journalist – is.