Culture
-
Paradise Lost and Found: The Complex History and Transformation of Mindoro Island
The name “Mindoro” echoes with a tantalizing promise of riches, derived from the Spanish phrase “Mina de Oro” — literally “gold mine.” This etymological origin speaks to the island’s complex history of colonization, resistance, and…
-
Panutsa, Pansiteria, and Mindoro’s Forgotten Buses
By Romel “Direl” F. Bernardo(First of two parts) Long before massive and speeding Chinese-made passenger buses began passing through our island from Manila to Visayas and vice versa, or the fancy air-conditioned white tourist coaches…
Founder’S Profile
Romel “Direk” Ferriol Bernardo
Bernardo Creative Ventures, Inc., the company behind Direk Fuels, Oriental Mindoro’s homegrown gas station chain, and Direk Builders, which rents out heavy equipment, is expanding its portfolio by venturing into online media and content production.
The company’s entry into news media is not surprising, as its founder and CEO, Romel “Direk” Bernardo, was a television writer, producer, and director for over 15 years. From 2002 to 2007, he served as a researcher, writer, and producer for GMA-7’s top-rating show Imbestigador before becoming the executive producer for ABS-CBN’s award-winning documentary program, The Correspondents.
