Sharing the gifts of communication

By Rene Bartolo

I write a daily column for the Mindanao TIMES, based in Davao City – the heart of communication and commerce of the beautiful but troubled island of Mindanao, Philippines. I am also bureau chief for Mindanao of the New York-based Filipino Reporter.

You know guys, I may sound like a romantic but I believe that communication is a "sharing of gifts" (from the Latin, 'cum' and 'munus') between people and societies. This is a basic human gesture that, despite differences and occasional disagreements, has helped civilisation to grow and survive.

In my view, even if it’s only that our group of journalists from different parts of the world get to meet, interact, and share our "gifts" of communication with our respective audiences, WSIS will have been well worth the trouble and cost to the convenors and the world at large.

See you all in Tunis! Rene