At lunch time today a black Honda Civic with plate number TNM-865 exploded at the driveway of Fully Booked, Serendra 2 at the Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City. Speculations about a bomb has been ruled out by the police. According to ABS-CBN News, one person, the car’s driver, was killed.

The first images from the scene were taken by one Judd Sta. Maria, a blogger who also works in the area. Even before the news truck arrived and the real journalists began interviewing the policemen, Sta. Maria’s exclusive shots were already being spread through the web. It’s times like this that make me think, “Damn, citizen journalism is awesome.”

Posting this just minutes after we heard a loud explosion from our office at Bonifacio High Street; within seconds, sirens we sounding off and security guards downstairs were rushing towards Serendra. We were curious, but were a little afraid, too; I quickly grabbed my camera and sprinted to that direction and behold, a car entering the Serendra basement parking was there up in smoke.

Read his full account and view other photos here.

According to Sheila Coronel, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism founder, there is great potential for alternative or small media (like citizen journalism) to challenge those which are corporate controlled, like popular radio and TV stations. She sees these channels are much more democratic than those of corporate media because information is disseminated without the benefit from media gatekeepers (editors, station managers, etc.) and free from the pressure of media owners and the government. In addition, there is also the important role that alternative media plays in shaping public opinion.

While traditional or mainstream journalism has been regarded as the fourth estate, citizen journalism is touted as the fifth estate. As British Journalist John Pilger says, “The answer (to corporate media) is simple: we have to create a new estate, a Fifth Estate, that will let us put a civic force against this new coalition of (media) rulers.” It’s like saying, “Up yours, big media networks with your over-the-top OBBs and dramatic John Williams music. I’m my own reporter.”

It’s perhaps important to note that local TV stations GMA-7 and ABS-CBN ran Sta. Maria’s photos and even interviewed him. What reporter?