Hi, I'm Edmar!

I am a young and passionate multimedia storyteller from the Northern Philippines who pursues narratives on the environment, climate change, Ilokano culture, youth development, and human interest. I contributed engaging feature stories to reputable media organizations, such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Philstar.com, and our university campus paper.

I am a Bachelor of Arts in Communication graduate, magna  cum laude, at Mariano Marcos State University. I am pursuing my Master of Arts in Communication major in Communication Management at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Concurrently, I work as a college instructor at MMSU.

Journalism Portfolio

Here are some of the articles I wrote and published in various national news media organizations.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

I wrote one environmental story published under the Lifestyle section and two essays for Young Blood of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Rappler

As a former Lifestyle and Entertainment intern at Rappler, I wrote articles on Ilokano culture and the arts, tourism, and food.

Thriving regional filmmaking: Ilokano short films to watch this 2022

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – Since the start of the pandemic, a number of Ilokano films have won recognition from regional and national film festivals, as well as prestigious competitions outside the country.

Here are some of the best that were produced from 2020 onwards, including documentaries, experimental films, and narratives.

Ang Mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa (The Lost Hopes and Flavors)

This documentary film, which became part of the 2021 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Official

Taste of the North: Must-try local snacks from Ilocos Norte

Have you tried pinakbet pizza or tupig?

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – Ilocos Norte is not only visited for its pristine beaches and historical churches – it also is home to famous, mouthwatering snacks that truly symbolize the history and rich culture of the Ilokanos.

Unfamiliar with Ilokano fare? Here we list down some of the province’s popular merienda picks for you try out, if you find yourself in the region!

The Ilocos empanada is popular as an afternoon snack in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur

Why is it important to tell human rights stories through art?

A photojournalist, activist, and reporter talk about the importance of truth-telling

MANILA, Philippines – Given the prevalance of disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech hurled at artists and journalists, Rappler+ conducted a live chat titled Telling Human Rights Stories – Where Art and Journalism Intersect on Wednesday, March 4.

Moderated by Happy Feraren, invited speakers shared their challenges and experiences in telling stories on human rights abuses in the country. Activist Mae Paner

True North: Great spots to visit in Ilocos Norte in 2022

From the historical to the adventurous – everything is in Ilocos Norte!

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – Thinking of where to spend your vacation this summer? You might want to consider going up north to Ilocos!

If you have no idea what Ilocos Norte offers, let me recommend some of the most visited tourist attractions.

If you want something historical

The Saint Augustine Church, also known as the Paoay Church, was considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

The earthquake-resistant Baroque

Aramid: Young Ilokano artisan blends streetwear with local textiles

'One of the brand's goals is to assist and generate jobs in the community,' says Stephen Jas Domingo, owner of Aramid clothing line

LAOAG CITY, Philippines – It is said that traditional weaving in the Philippines is on the decline, but for 20-year-old Stephen Jas Domingo, owner of local clothing brand Aramid, we can still help preserve our culture by incorporating it into our clothes.

Domingo established Aramid (the Ilokano word for creation) to promote Abel Iloco and Binakol — both local wove

Film fest on culture, human rights launched in North Luzon

The Kultura Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers to showcase their community’s stories and identity, which are not often shown in the mainstream

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The North Luzon Cinema Guild, Inc. wrapped up its very first Kultura Film Festival, a hybrid film exhibition that showcased stories in the Philippines and Southeast Asia centered on culture and human rights.

The film exhibition ran from February 5 to 20, 2022 through limited physical screenings in Cavite and Tugueg

Philstar.com

As a climate journalism fellow at Climate Tracker Asia, I wrote an in-depth climate story published on Philstar.com.

Want to know more about me?