by Athena Altiche

Carlo Manalansan, 38, has been working in non-government organizations since he graduated in BS Geography from the University of the Philippines Diliman. It was also his NGO work that sparked his interest in joining the alternative media.

Manalansan recalled that it was never his plan to join the media industry, as he had been focused on NGO work. “Hindi siya parang I planned to be in the industry, hindi siya ganon. When I was in my previous organization, they asked me to document the activity. Doon ko na-realize na I enjoyed those tasks,” he shared. (It's not like I planned to be in the industry it wasn't like that. When I was in my previous organization, they asked me to document the activity. That's when I realized that I enjoyed those tasks).

Bulatlat later noticed his work and asked if they could use his photos for their stories. Since then, Manalansan said his engagement with Bulatlat continued, contributing photos, photo essays, documentaries, and articles.

He began contributing to Bulatlat in 2016, and now, he holds the responsibility of Photo Editor in the newsroom. It is his first official job in the media.

Notable Coverages

Manalansan said he has two notable coverages from his nearly decade-long stay at Bulatlat. The first was before the pandemic, when they went to the ground zero of the Kaliwa Dam and documented opposition to the construction of three mega dams under the New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWSP). It was the first video documentary he produced for Bulatlat.

The second was a photo documentary he created in 2022, when they visited an Aeta community in Tarlac. They documented the struggles of the Aeta people against the government’s multi-million peso projects under the Build, Build, Build program.

Photos by Carlo Manalansan (Published in Bulatlat)

Safety and Security Preparations

In covering communities, a lot of preparation takes place in the newsroom before journalists are deployed to the field. Manalansan said, “Collective siyang ginagawa ng newsroom. Inaalam ang mga potential risk, paano siya ma-mitigate, ano yung preparations na kailangang gawin, ano ang mga bagay na kailangan namin dalhin, pero central sa preparation namin… iyong coordination ng newsroom sa communities.” (It’s something the newsroom does collectively. We assess the potential risks, how they can be mitigated, what preparations need to be made, and what things we need to bring but central to our preparation is the newsroom’s coordination with the communities).

Coordination with communities is Bulatlat’s top priority, as they believe the communities are the true experts on the ground. Manalansan shared, “Magrerely talaga kami ng malala sa sasabihin ng community. Kapag sinabi ng community na hindi kami pwede pumunta, hindi kami pupunta or kapag ni-request namin kaya ba natin makausap sa ganitong lugar at sinabi nilang delikado, hindi namin i-insist ‘yon kasi naniniwala kaming mas may alam sila sa security kaysa sa amin na outsider.” (We heavily rely on what the community says. If they tell us we can’t go, we won’t go. Or if we ask whether we can speak to someone in a certain place and they say it’s dangerous, we won’t insist—because we believe they know more about the security situation than we do as outsiders).

He said he has not experienced any threats while covering communities, as they always prepare a plan B. However, in other coverages such as protests, threats are more present especially when there is heightened tension between authorities and activists.

He only became fully aware of such threats after attending the holistic safety training program of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). He emphasized that this kind of training is important, as is learning directly from communities and personal experiences.

Edge of Alternative Media over Mainstream Media

Working with the alternative media for nine years, Manalansan said that one of the key differences between alternative and mainstream media is the freedom they have in telling their stories.

Alternative media is more rooted in grassroots communities, and their sources are often the community-based organizations themselves. Manalansan said, “Ang kagandahan sa altermidya ay malaya naming kinukwento ang mga subject namin na hindi siya nace-censor because of corporate interest.” (What’s good about alternative media is that we can freely tell the stories of our subjects without being censored because of corporate interests).

In terms of the beat system, the two media types are entirely different. “Sa mainstream media, ang beat system nila nasa Congress, police, Senate. Kami hindi, ang beat system namin ay sectoral—indigenous people, health, labor, peasants, women. Doon kami naka-ground kaya ang mga stories na pinoproduce ng Bulatlat ay lahat mula sa lived experiences ng grassroots communities na hindi normally cinocover ng mainstream media,” he said. (In mainstream media, their beat system is based in Congress, the police, the Senate. Ours is different—our beat system is sectoral: indigenous people, health, labor, peasants, women. That’s where we are grounded, which is why the stories produced by Bulatlat all come from the lived experiences of grassroots communities that are not normally covered by mainstream media).

He also shared that they do not follow a quota system, unlike in mainstream media where journalists are often required to meet daily targets. Manalansan said, “Although ngayon mayroon kaming mabilisan na releases, pero ang bread and butter talaga ng Bulatlat is ‘yung mga slow-journ, in-depth, and human rights stories.” (Although we now have quick releases, the bread and butter of Bulatlat are slow journalism, in-depth, and human rights stories).

Operating on a limited budget, alternative media like Bulatlat relies on donations, small grants, and other forms of income-generating projects.

Manalansan said he continues to work with Bulatlat because the lens through which they view their work aligns with his background in NGOs and his personal values. It comes naturally to him to do such tasks. The work culture in their newsroom is also healthy, grounded in learning from one another.

He hopes that young people will consider joining alternative media. “Marami pang stories ang kailangang ikwento… kailangang pagtulungang palakasin. Hamon siya sa lahat ng estudyante na papasok sa labor force na ma-try ma-experience ang buhay sa alternative media.” (There are still so many stories that need to be told… needs to be strengthened through collective effort. It’s a challenge to all students entering the labor force to try and experience life in alternative media).

Currently, Manalansan works part-time with Bulatlat while working full-time at an international NGO. He sees himself contributing to alternative media until the day he retires.

Editor's note:

This article is part of the spotlight interview of members of the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines. Celebrating the life, work and contribution to the photojournalism industry of the PCP members.

NGO worker finds his place in alternative media