PECOJON’s Peace and Conflict Journalism Training in Cagayan De Oro last weekend turned out to be the most magic training the network ever conducted in the Philippines.

 Reporter Henjie Ali from Radio NDBC DXMS-AM, Cotabato, amazed the gathered journalists with insights on how magic journalists can be, if just equipped with the minimum of necessary tools – in his case a handkerchief, a cigarette and a hundred peso bill...

 
Burning inspiration.

 Allowing the handkerchief to turn from black to green and disappearing and re-appearing the burning cigarette seemed to be no challenge for the magician with the whimsical smile. Just the re-appearance of the one hundred Peso bill made some difficulties. After searching for a while the magician finally found it behind the ear of one of the participants.

“Magic can be very helpful if you have nervous and stiff interview partners,” Ali shared with his colleagues while disappearing another handkerchief. After giving a little show the people he interviews are much more relaxed and open to talk than before, he explained. 

Aside from allowing things to disappear, Ali further demonstrated his talent of copying voices. After a chat with Joseph Estrada’s voice, the group had the pleasure to listen to some other prominences. “I do that on the radio,” Ali smiled.

PECOJON Philippines’ Chief of Operations Ledrolen Manriquez turned out to be a talented student of the art of magic. After handing over the certificates she used the rest of the evening to make room keys stick to her hand and conjure coins into her elbows.

For his show magician Ali earned a loud applause from the colleagues but also a warning: you can conjure handkerchiefs and cigarettes and even hundred Peso bills but don’t you dare to touch the facts.