By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO (jGLi) – The Chicago Journalists Association (CJA) is extending its annual offer of $1,000 scholarship overseas for the first time – to one of the children of journalists massacred in Maguindanao nearly eight months ago.

During the last many years, the CJA Charitable Fund awards grants only to  Chicago area high school seniors accepted to college programs or to those enrolled as undergraduate college students. Awards may be used as scholarships for tuition and fees, or be applied to student loans already incurred. Applicants will be evaluated on financial need, professional potential and/or commitment to the field of journalism.

Awards are given to selected students aspiring to careers in journalism and communications. In addition to journalism schools, students majoring in such areas as political science and economics will be considered if their interest in journalism is strong.

Allen Rafalson, the CJA president, said applicants for the scholarship have until August 10, 2010, to accomplish the form and mail the form to Chicago Journalists Association Charitable Fund, Attn.: Scholarship Chairman, 1800 Nations Dr., Suite 117, Gurnee, IL 60031, U.S.A.

Ma. Carmen “Menchu” Aquino Sarmiento, executive director of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Foundation, announced that PAL is going to co-sponsor the round-trip ticket of the scholar and possibly the accompanying parent or an adult closest relative coming from either General Santos City or Cotabato City in the Philippines to San Francisco, California.

Renafe Momay Castillo, daughter of one of the missing media men in the Maguindanao Massacre, told this reporter in an e-mail that she is going to distribute the scholarship forms to other children of the journalist massacre victims when the survivors meet at the eighth-month anniversary of massacre on July 23rd.

Ms. Castillo said the surviving family victims of the massacre have formed an organization called “JUSTICE NOW” that speaks as one voice for the families. The group’s officers include Rick Cachuela, chair; Myrna Reblando, vice chair; Noemi Parcon, treasurer; and Ms. Castillo, auditor.

CJA SOUGHT HELP OF NPC Phil.-U.S.A.

T he CJA sought the help of the Chicago-based National Press Club of the Philippines in the United States (NPC Phil.-U.S.A.) through this reporter to connect to the Massacre survivors.

This reporter, in turn, sought out the help of the National Press Club of the Philippines, the Manila Overseas Press Club, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO), the Filipino Press Group of Sydney (FPGS), the Mayor’s office of General Santos City, and the Bong Reblando family to establish contact with the survivors.

The NPC Phil.-U.S.A., the CJA, the FPGS and the PPCO had earlier sent out their donations to family survivors as an expression of solidarity and sympathy.

E ditor’s Notes: Please read again the following related articles:

Filipino Press Clubs from Chicago, Sydney and Toronto Donate to Massacre Victims

Filipino-Australian Press Group Gives Another Donation to Massacre Journalists Victims

Filipino-Australian Press Group Turns In A$1,330 For Maguindanao Journalist-Victims’ Families

Fil-Australian Press Group Raises Funds for Journalist Massacre Victims' Surviving Kin

NPC Phil.-U.S.A. Raises Funds for Slain Manila Bulletin Reporter

Press Groups in US Launch Fund-Raising Drives for Slain Journalists’ Families

A llen Rafalson said the scholarship will be given away to the recipient when CJA holds its 71st annual Awards dinner ceremonies on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at the Chicago Mart Plaza Holiday Inn at 350 North Orleans in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The $90 per person dinner is open to the public.

Almost every year during the last many years, Mr. Rafalson would highlight in his report the statistics of journalists killed all over the world. He never fails to mention the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries for practicing journalists. This year will not be an exception either.

Aside from the scholarship, CJA will also be giving away Daniel Pearl Award (this year the recipients are Asian-American journalists Laura Leng and Euna Lee), the Chicago Journalist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and other Special Awards. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at:  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)