May araw rin kayong mga #@$^(*& kayo!

Hindi ako makatulog.

Nag-uumapaw ang inis, ngitngit, galit at sama nang loob ko sa kinasasadlakan kong sitwasyon sa opisina. Kung nasa Pinas lang ako, siguradong may tumimbuwang na kanina. Pero wala ako sa Pilipinas -- at may mga taong umaaasa sa aking pamamalagi dito sa disyerto -- kung kaya't idinadaan ko na lang sa pabuntu-buntong-hininga at ibayong pagpapakumbaba na tila inaabuso naman ng mga Herodes sa impiyernong ito.

Pansamantalang lumamig ang kumukulo kong dugo nang pagtripan kong balikan sa YouTube ang ka-eng-engan ni Miss Fitrum sa Wowowee na di hamak na mas magaling pang mag-Inggles sa mga nagpapanggap na manunulat dito.

Nagpatay na ako nang ilaw para tuluyan na sanang matulog subalit naroroon pa rin ang poot. Hindi ka naman makasigaw para lang mailabas kahit papaano ang kinikimkim na galit dahil tulog na ang mga tao sa paligid.

Ang hirap talaga kapag wala kang agarang mahingahan nang damdamin.

Kung nasa Pilipinas lang siguro ako, malamang kasama ko ngayon sina Louie, Larry o Dennis at sama-sama naming hinihimay at pinaghuhuntahan ang mga problema sa lipunan ng mga diyarista.

Bigla ko tuloy na-miss ang aking mga "tatay" sa industriya. Ang aking pinakakapitagang Triple J (bukod kay Jinky Joan Jorgio) na sina Joe Burgos, Joe Capadocia at Julius Fortuna.



Hahalakhak lang malamang si Tito Boy (Joe Burgos) at sasabihing "mga hindot sila kamo" sakaling isumbong ko sa kaniya ang mga hindot na ito.



Hihimasin lang siguro ni Tata Joecap ang aking likuran o kaya'y tatapik-tapikin ang aking balikat at sasabihan akong: "May araw rin sila hijo".



Ngingisi namang ala-Jack Nicholson itong si Manong Jules at malamang ay hihilahin na lang akong kumain sa pansitan sa Timog o sa isa sa kaniyang mga hang-out sa Kyusi. Tatawagan niya si "Garaps" (Eric Garafil), pasusunurin kung nasaan kami "para ma-chicharon ang problema nitong bata natin".

Since di ko nga magawang makapagmura sa mga oras na ito ... hayaan ko na lang si Mister Palengke na isigaw ang aking saloobin.....

Paghahambing kay Chip Tsao at Malu Fernandez

Hindi ko na sana papatulan ang isyu hinggil sa mapanira at nakapipikong komentaryo ng mamamahayag na si Chip Tsao subalit paggising ko kaninang umaga, nabanggit sa akin ng aking Tsinong flatmate na nag-sorry na nga raw ang kaniyang kalahi (‘di ko masabing ‘kabayan’ dahil taga-Mainland ang aking flatmate at taga-Hong Kong naman si Ginoong Tsao).

Nabulabog ang sambayanang Pilipino sa artikulong naisulat ni Chip Tsao na inilahathala sa HK Magazine kung saan kaniyang sinabing walang ‘K’ ang Pilipinas na angkinin ang isla ng Spratlys o ang Kalayaan Island Group sa South China Sea dahil sa ang ating bayan raw ay “nation of servants”.

Una kong nabasa ang naturang obra nang ipadala sa akin ni Lalaine (patnugot ng Illustrado magazine) ang link sa artikulo nang una itong lumabas noong Marso 27. Dali-dali ko namang inilagay sa Facebook ang naturang artikulong pinamagatang “The War at Home” at inalerto ang mga kabaro sa pamamahayag at ilang maiimpluwensiyang “kaibigan” sa hangaring maaksyunan ang muling pagyurak sa dangal ng aming lahi (naks!).

Mabilis ang naging pagkilos laban kay Chip Tsao. Ilang grupong kumukondena kay Tsao ang nabuo sa Facebook at nagkaniya-kaniya nang buhos nang ngitngit ang mga blogulero. Op kors, hindi nagpahuli ang mga pulitiko – lalo na ang mga may naririnig na 'boses' para sa 2010 – at naging mabilis rin ang pag-blacklist kay Tsao ng Bureau of Immigration.

Sa Hong Kong, agaran ring kumilos ang ating konsulado upang iparating sa patnugot nang pinaglathalaang magasin ang galit na naramdaman ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Bagama’t naging maagap ang paghingi ng paumanhin ng Asia City Publishing Group sa paglalathala nang nakasusulasok na artikulo, hindi pa rin nanahimik ang mga Pilipino na pilit na hinihingi ang ulo ni Tsao. “Tatalupan namin siya ng buhay,” tila nabasa kong pahayag ng isang kababayan (hindi 'kabayan') sa isang online forum.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko na inasahang lalantad pa si Tsao. Kung hihingi man ito nang paumanhin, malamang ay maglalabas lamang siya ng isang pahayag para matigil na ang alingasngas.

Subalit nagulat ako nang kamakailan lang ay personal na nagpakita si Tsao sa ating konsulado sa Hong Kong upang humingi ng dispensa. Akala ko noong una'y nakipag-usap lang si Tsao sa mga opisyales ng konsulado kung kaya't lalo akong nagulat nang malamang buong-loob niyang hinarap ang mga kinatawan ng Filipino community sa Hong Kong at inulit ang paghingi nang paumanhin. Napanood ko pa nga sa TV ang kaniyang pagyukod sa mga Pilipinong dumagsa sa konsulado. Kung ating iintindihin ang kultura ng mga Oriental, ang pagyukod ay simbolo nang pagpapakumbaba at buong-pusong pagbibigay galang.

Dahil doon, napahanga ako kay Chip Tsao.

Hindi biro para sa isang mamamahayag ang umamin nang pagkakamali lalo pa’t humarap sa mga taong sagad hanggang buto ang galit sa iyo dahil sa balita o komentaryong iyong naisulat.

Hindi ko na tatalakayin kung paano ipinaliwanag ni Chip Tsao ang dahilan kung bakit niya naisulat ang “The War at Home”. Maaaring sablay pa rin o hindi convincing ang kaniyang paliwanag subalit sa ganang akin ay kahanga-hanga ang kaniyang pagharap sa mga taong kaniyang nasagasaan.

Hindi ko naman maiwasang maihambing ang kaganapang ito sa alingasngas na nilikha ng isang Malu Fernandez na minsang sumikat nang kaniyang alipustain ang kaniyang mga kababayang OFW na kaniyang nakasabay sa flight mula sa Dubai.

Gaya ni Tsao, binastos ni Malu Fernandez ang mga Filipino sa kagustuhan niyang ipangalandakan ang kaniyang pagiging jetsetter at ipahayag na siya’y angat sa iba.

Ipinako sa krus si Fernandez. Binambo nang kaliwa’t kanan hanggang sa mapilitan umano itong mag-sorry.

Sinibak si Fernandez bilang manunulat sa People Asia magazine at nag-alok umano itong mag-resign sa Manila Standard Today.

Kailanman ay hindi humarap si Fernandez. Tumanggi siyang magbigay nang anumang direktang pahayag dahil sa sapat na raw ang kaniyang inilabas na press statement na humihingi siya ng paumanhin kung may nasaktan man sa kaniyang makulay na istilo sa panulat.

Nanahimik ang mga blogulero sa paniwalang nagwagi na sila sa kanilang kampanyang hingiin ang ulo ni Fernandez.

Dalawang taon makalipas ang kontrobersiya, biglang nabuhay sa akin ang isyu.

Nang umuwi ako sa Pilipinas noong nakaraang Kapaskuhan, nagkaharap – actually nakatabi – ko sa isang barikan sa National Press Club ang aking malapit na kaibigan na isa sa mga patnugot ng Manila Standard Today.

Nang medyo mababad na sa alcohol ang aming utak at diwa, inilabas ng aking kaibigan ang kaniyang galit bunsod nang nangyari sa isyung Malu Fernandez.

Aniya, walang karapatan ang mga OFW na hingiin ang ulo ng kanilang lifestyle writer dahil sa hindi naman daw kami bumibili ng sipi ng Manila Standard Today. Nakikibasa lang daw kami sa internet at hindi nagpapasok ng pera sa kanilang kaban.

At dahil sa nakaiinsulto umano ang tinuran ng mga OFW at maging ng mga blogulero, dito umano nagpasiya ang patnugutan ng Manila Standard Today na huwag tanggapin ang pagbibitiw ni Malu Fernandez at hayaan itong magpatuloy na ipagwasiwasan ang kaniyang “acerbic wit”.

Ngayon, kung ating babalikan ang kaganapan sa nangyaring pambabastos sa mga Pilipino ng isang Tsino at ng isang kababayang Pilipina, sino sa kanilang dalawa ang naging mas makatao sa pagharap sa isyu?

NUJP statement: Kidnapping of ABS-CBN journalists highlights need for media safety

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines greets with great relief the safe release of journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderama and university professor Octavio Dinampo.

We thank all those who helped secure their safe return, especially Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidullah and Senator Loren Legarda, the military and police, and our colleagues who offered prayers of hope and the media outlets that kept close tabs on the unfolding crisis.

But even as we welcome back our colleagues, we also urge everyone in our profession to reflect on this incident as a sober reminder of the risks we constantly face as we go about our work.

If anything, the kidnapping of Ces, Jimmy and Angelo highlights a continuing problem within the industry that adds to the external dangers and threats to press freedom, and that is the responsibility of media owners and outfits to ensure the safety and welfare of those they send into the field, even into the line of fire, to deliver the news to our audience.

We urge everyone in the industry, from correspondents to media owners, to soberly reflect on this problem and come together to address this issue. We owe it to ourselves, to our families and to our audience.

References:

Jose Torres Jr., Chairperson
Rowena Paraan, Secretary General

NUJP statement on Ces Drilon's abduction

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is deeply concerned at the reported abduction of respected broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, her crew, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and their host, peace advocate Octavio Dimampo, in Sulu by what authorities say are members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Whatever the abductors stand for, whatever their goals are, there is absolutely no justification for seizing journalists whose sole concern is to seek out the truth and present this as accurately as possible.

To them, we say, release Ces, Jimmy, Angelo and Mr. Dinampo. Seizing them cannot in any way serve your ends and can only bring down condemnation on your heads.

We call on authorities to exert all efforts to ensure the safe return of the journalists and their host. We are also urging for sobriety among our colleagues in the media in reporting about the incident so as not to aggravate the situation and endanger Drilon and her companions.

We are only too aware of the risks journalists go through in our work. Too many journalists are sent into dangerous coverage situations without adequate preparations and safety measures.

Many silently bear the scars and traumas of their coverage, with hardly any support from those who profit from their toil. It is time Philippine media owners soberly assess the situation and take steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues oftentimes caught in the line of fire just to get the news out.

To the families of Ces, Jimmy, Angelo, and Mr. Dimampo, we are one with you in praying for their safe return.

References:

Jose Torres Jr., Chairperson

Rowena Paraan, Secretary General

Presidential temper

Twiddling my thumbs after producing a page for XPRESS when I got a text from a “concerned friend.”

“Tol nangangalaiti sa galit c bentot about your blog.”

That SMS was immediately followed by another, this one from the man himself.

“Can I kol u”

So off I went out of my bunker to send my reply.

“Una, congrats sa panalo. Balita ko galit ka daw sa cnulat ko but read it thoroughly, d ko naman rin kinampihan cla romano. Nasa work ako bt I can take ur col”

In less than five minutes, my phone buzzed. El Presidente was on the line.

After exchanging our usual pleasantries, the powder keg burst.

My good, sweet friend was really mad. He was so angry that his sweet nothings were peppered with the P word.

He never expected to take flak from somebody he considers a “good friend.”

"Katulad ka rin pala nila!," the newly-elected National Press Club of the Philippines president blurted out.

I’m baffled that my insignificant blog is being read.

Benny was really hurt by what I wrote about him in my previous entry.

He said he came to know about this blog when his kid told him that he was on “Shawarma Nights.”

He started firing away by telling me that the first thing that he did when he won the NPC presidency was to try iron out my infamous libel case filed by a reporter who was embroiled in a credit card mess with a colleague and that he has endorsed my wife to get a nursing job in a government hospital in Manila

(Disclosure: I sought Benny’s help in looking for a job for Mara, knowing that he has established a wide network among hospitals due to his charity work. Mara is still unemployed and has yet to really work professionally as a registered nurse).

Allowing my good friend to let off steam, I told him to calm down and talk things over.

Benny wanted to clarify certain points – even telling me that he has told our common friend and his PASG ward, Larry Palileo, that I am the “pinakabugok na reporter dahil di niya ako tinanong bago siya nagsulat.”

Here’s his beef:

Benny wants to dispute my claim that he was never a reporter. He said he started in 1996 as a photographer and he even outscooped everyone for his snaps on the ambush-slaying of Colonel Rolando Abadilla, the former chief of the PC Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group. No one was allowed to take snaps at the funeral parlor except for Benny Antiporda. He also claimed that he was the first to crack open the controversial Pampanga Megadike issue and was instrumental in solving a celebrated murder case in northern Metro.

"Hindi mo talaga ako kilala pare," he said. "I rose from the ranks."

Benny said he doesn’t have a coterie of bodyguards. He only has two – one goes on duty in the morning, the other in the evening. He has been getting threats prompting him to take precautionary measures.

He’s not denying that he goes around town in luxury cars and SUVs, but explained that he’s into the business of buying-and-selling cars hence, his access to such types of vehicles.

"Sinabi ko yan sa documentary ni Cesar Apolinario, hindi ka siguro nanood," he said.

Benny said he’s no longer the head of the Special Operations Group of PASG, but he is still with the agency handling another task for his friend, Undersecretary Bebot Villar.

Benny quickly reasoned out that his position in the Office of the President does not constitute a conflict of interest as he is not serving a certain individual.

“I am serving the people,” he said.

He quickly added that if his being with Malacanang is really a conflict of interest, he’s willing to resign his government post and concentrate on the NPC.

Benny also gave me a run down on what he has done so far as NPC president:

To make good on his promise to weed the NPC of hao-shaos, he has appointed my former Journal editors Roy Acosta and Zip Roxas to the Membership Committee. The dynamic duo -- known in the industry as tough nuts to crack -- will be tasked to do the housecleaning.

Benny said he even had a heated argument with Louie Logarta on the "hao shao" issue, and eventually he was able to convince them (the NPC board) that the key to regaining the Club's respectability is by getting rid of the poseurs.

The NPC president said the formula that the Acosta-Roxas tandem will follow is simple. For every 10 "hao shaos" that get purged from the list, 10 legits will be lured over to join the Club.

Having known Sirs Roy and Zip as dyed-in-the-wool Club loyalists, they will surely give no quarters to people who want to put a stop to this housecleaning efforts. Good luck sirs! (Unsolicited advice: Talk to Joe Pavia, the former Membership Committee chair, and find out how the NPC board railroaded their efforts to cleanse the ranks in 2003-2004)

Benny also hosted a victory party at the NPC bar and invited Manong Roman’s slate, and there they openly welcomed the opposing forces and enjoined them to link hands in lifting up the NPC.

Benny and I discussed many other things which I will tackle in my next entries. I’m three minutes away from liberation.

Journalist Bert Castro writes "30"

Just got a call from my good friend Gilbert Felongco, Gulf News' frontman in Manila, and he broke the sad news of the passing of Atty Lamberto Castro, a revered colleague in the journalism fraternity.

When a journalist dies, headline writers would automatically flag so-and-so as having written "30". To non-journalists or even to newbies in the biz, writing "30" doesn't make sense.

Old school news writing requires journos to put the number "30" at the end of his/her copy to indicate that it's the end of his/her story. And by associating the number with something that signals "the end" has become a de rigueur for obit writers. "Writes 30" has become an acceptable phrase used to announce or refer to the passing of a newsman.

Anyway, I'm digressing. This is about Bert Castro or Tata Bert.

Tata Bert was a luminary in Philippine journalism. When I joined the editorial staff of the defunct Manila Chronicle in the early 90s, Tata Bert was on the "all-first team" of the deep Chronicle bench. He covered the justice and foreign affairs beats. Being a lawyer served him well in the justice beat as he knows the quirks and technicalities of digesting an inch-thick Supreme Court decision. He could also face news sources on equal footing as he too is an officer of the law. "Juniors" like us would sometimes get an impromptu lecture on jurisprudence especially when a story is muddled with too much legalese. A Bert Castro in the ranks would have come in handly to those covering the controversial ZTE-NBN controversy or the dawning of the writ of amparo, which was a killer bar question in the mid-90s.

If I'm not mistaken, it was during his watch when JUCRA (Justice and Court Reporters Association) was formed that would until this day, compete with the rival group JUROR.

For many years -- spanning maybe over a decade -- Tata Bert was an unbeatable officer of the National Press Club. He was a fixture at Neal Cruz's Kapihan sa Manila Hotel and several other kapihans that sprouted in Manila and a most sought-after lecturer on libel. He was all around town until a mild stroke slowed him down.

When I was still in Manila, I'd often bump into him either at the Press Club or at Robinson's Place Ermita where he'd stop over after attending the morning kapihans. Every time our paths would cross, Tata Bert would usually give me a warm handshake and a light slap on the shoulder, telling me to carry on.

Don't worry Tata Bert, we're still carrying on as you move on to the Great Newsroom.