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TRANSCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW WITH MR. RUBEN ALABASTRO (edited) JEN SEMIRA(J): Good afternoon sir, can you please state your name and your position in your company? RUBEN ALABASTRO (R): I'm Ruben Alabastro, I'm a senior correspondent at the Manila Bureau of Reuters. Reuters is an international news organization. J: Can you please describe how you started as a journalist? R: Mahabang kuwento yun e. I suppose lahat ng people who want to take up journalism as a serious career, I suppose they start, they all started by wanting to write. E, ako noong bata ako, mahilig pa ako magbasa ng Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. Basa ka ng basa. So my mind would wander. Noong grade 4 ako, pumasok ako sa library. Natatandaan ko, talagang, I was in a room, big room full of books. I was really overwhelmed. Naisip ko, I wish I could read all those books. So I started reading, that's how it developed. And then, later on, syempre, tumatanda ako, high school ako, I wanted to become a baseball player. I joined the baseball team in my high school at saka later on, sa UP. And then I realized when I was about 16, I'm not going to spend my life playing baseball. E, wala naman journalism sa UP, so kinuha ko sya sa UST, so I studied journalism sa UST. That's how I started, I got to, some of my professors were newspaper men, and when I graduated, one of the editors, who was my professor told me to work with him in an afternoon newspaper at that time. It's called The Evening News, it's an afternoon newspaper published by Elizalde. So that was it. I graduated 1960, and immediately after college, I started as a newspaper man. J: Sir, so even way before, you decided to be a journalist? Kung baga, while you were still a teenager, you dreamt of it.. R: Uh, yeah, well, I was 16, 17 when I took up.. first I was studying Liberal Arts sa UP, and then I was playing baseball. So I said, I'm not going to spend my time playing baseball. ..I took up journalism. At 18, I graduated, I started working as a newspaperman. J: Sir, what motivated you to take up journalism? Was it your passion, or you just thought it would be a great job for your future or you really, really love writing? R: Mainly, I love writing, kasi mahilig ako sa sports dahil nga baseball player ako. When I was in high school, I would go to watch basketball games, NCAA, and I wanted Ateneo to beat La Salle at that time. I was an Ateneo fan. Everytime I'd watch a basketball game, sometimes I would watch a boxing match or a baseball game, I would go home. I have a typewriter, I would write a story. I was a teenager then, high school, and I would write the story as if I'm a sportswriter. I'd describe the games then I would print them. Kunyari, nagsusulat ako sa diyaryo, so, when I see a basketball game or a boxing match, I would type what I saw as if I'm a sports writer reporting for newspaper readers. J: Sir, can you describe your early years of work as a journalist? In terms of physical location ng office niyo po? R: Uh, yun mga.. at that time, we were occupying an old building, noisy, wala pa yung mga computer, puro typewriter, smoky building, may nakikita pa yata akong mga daga 'nun e. And then later on, after, after mga three months, nagkasakit ako. So, I took the physical exam, and so I rested in the province for about six months. And after coming back from the province, a friend of mine said, there's an opening sa advertising. So, I joined sa Advertising Marketing Agency, AMA. And then I was doing press releases of certain products. And then, yung vice president nun is, the executive vice president of AMA at that time was, Antonio de Joya. And one time he asked me to prepare something, it's an essay, I don't remember. And we quarreled about a preposition. He said it should be in, I said it should be into. I said it's into. We quarreled. I left the office and never came back. So pinapuntahan niya ako, 'Huy, pinababalik ka," I didn't come back. By that time, meron akong napakinig na opening sa isang news agency, sa Agence France-Presse, French news agency. So, I joined it. I was printing. And since then, I had come, I had been, I worked with no other news organizations, except foreign news agencies. I worked first with Agence France-Presse, French news. Because at that time, there were four major international agencies, Associated Press, Reuters, United Press Intenational and Agence France-Presse. So I joined, I worked with Agence France-Presse. When I left there, I was already 36. So, that's where I lost my youth. Kasi, yung nakikita ko, 'bakit yung mga kasama ko, tumatanda na, mapuputi na ang buhok, dati mga bata pa sila. Nadepress ako.' So, I filed my resignation and joined United Press International. I stayed there for about more than 2 years. And then later, nagkaroon ng opening sa Associated Press. So I quit UPI and worked for Associated Press, I stayed there for 6 years. And then after wards, nagkaroon ng opening sa Reuters, that was in 1987, and I joined Reuters. And I've been with Reuters ever since. J: Sir, you preferred international organizations. You didn't apply for local newspapers? R: E kasi, after my stint as, when I joined that evening newspaper out of college, and then afterwards I got into foreign news agency reporting, I sort of fell in love with it. And then, I never had a feeling of leaving international news agency reporting. Kasi, dito, there's no…as an international news reporter, there's really no routine. Bihira ang routine. Everyday, I always have to write a story. And sometimes you meet new people, you meet new situations, new events. You don't really get bored. J: Sir, what about the physical facilities before? About the offices, the print equipment, the lighting? R: Yun nga, at that time, the news offices I've worked with, well 1960, dimly lighted rooms, and wala pa yung mga computers, puro teletype, taradadatdaratdat, ganyan. And at that time, when I was with AFP, we were occupying, the second floor of an old building and it's a gloomy building. I remember at that time it was the building of Manila Chronicle newspaper. We were renting the rooms there. So, when.. may mga airconditioned rooms na rin. Pero wala yung mga carpeted floors, wala siyempre yung mga computers, wala yung mga Xerox machines. Dun, stencils ang ginagawa mo. At that time, wala pa yung mga televisions. Kami nun, wala pa rin kaming television. So, hindi katulad ngayon, at the center of a financial district of Manila, in an area where foreign embassies are located, so, hindi katulad noon na, I don't want to say primitive, pero, the conditions thern was hindi pa developed yung Philippines. At that time, nung pumasok ako sa Agence France-Press. Unlike today, wherein everyday, every minute, we can send a story. Just use a computer, write it down and then punch it. Noon, we use this small thing na tatagal ng 60 minutes. No, 15 minutes a day to transcribe stories. And we would use the Morse code, dididatdat, dididatdat, ganun. Pinapadala yun. That's how we send stories abroad. J: Now, you have e-mail, developments. Sir, you have mentioned that there were no televisions before.. R: I do not know, but I don't remember a television the first time I worked. That was 1960's. J: Sir, so you just depended on the Morse code to get information? R: No, no, that's how we send our stories. May radio naman kami, so nakikinig kami kung may balita, then we go there. And we write the story. But we cannot send them immediately. There was a transmission time when I was with Agence France Presse, at that time was between 6 and 6:15 ng gabi. So, may mangyari sa, let's say sa umaga, we write the story and send it only during that time. Ang padala nga naming yun, didididdatdat, didididitdatdat. J: Interesting. R: So puro, makinilya. And at that time, I grew to love typewriter. Sabi ko, pag dumating yang mga computer, sabi ko, mas gusto ko pa rin yung makinilya ko. But, of course, hindi na puwede yun. J; Sir, what about the people? The publishers, the editors, how were they before? R: Kasi, I worked only with one newspaper, and, uh, I had very little contact with the publishers. Yung editors, noon e, hindi naman kasama ang mga reporters sa mga conferences, sa isang tabi. May inaaplyan nga ako, no magsusubmit ako ng article, this was college, national, well-known magazine. And the publisher and editor was a well known Filipino figure. Pag dating ko, pagpasok ko, nakasimangot. In a gloomy room, hindi tulad ba ng ganito, maliwanag. J: So, before pa, sobrang established na po, na pag editor, they are the ones who, should be.. R: (nods), yeah, calls the shots. Well, of course, dito ngayon sa Reuters, you saw our Bureaus chief.. J: Yes, very warm and friendly. R: Yes, there's no distance between you and the employees. I don't know how it is now in the newspapers. It's been.. I never really worked with a newspaper. Except for 3 months. The rest is international news agencies. J: Sir, what about your working conditions? How many hours a day do you spend for work? R: Well, it hasn't really changed, kasi sa news agency, although you're supposed to work 8 hours, if something happens at night, you go.. We're not really fixed by this 8 hours system. We're not bound by that. J: So, if there's a call to get news, you.. R: Yeah, I get a call, let's say at three o'clock in the morning, o kaya may tumawag na may lumubog na barko, o kaya naramdaman ko lumilindol yung bahay namin. Ganun. J: Do you still work during holidays? R: Yeah, this office is open during Christmas, open in New Year, and open in All Saints' Day, Good Friday. J: Sir, what about your salaries? R: Noon, palagay ko, ang suweldo ko, if I remember it right, when I first worked as newspaperman, 130 pesos a month. But then at that time, cigarettes cost 20 centavos a pack, coca-cola was 3 centavos, and transportation costs 10 centavos. 120, that I think was the miniumum sa Agence France-Presse. I don't know, hindi ko matandaan. Nun sa diyaryo ata ako I was getting 60, 80 pesos, and I felt proud holding that amount of money. I immediately went to a restaurant and got drunk. J: Sir, what about your family, did they understand that you have to work during holidays? Wee hours of the morning? R: Yes.. ** Cut.. (had to check his work..) J: Sir, about the salaries, did they increase as years passed by? R: Yeah, 120 became 160, 180. Later on, it became 240, I felt highly paid. J: Sir, um, regarding the pay, is it a flat rate or does it depend on what articles you write or how many articles you make? R: No, it's.. Noon, kasi iba ang sa news agency, and if you're a regular member of a news agency, you get a fixed salary. Ngayon, kung correspondent ka, you get paid per column inches. I don't know, let's say for a column inch, how many centavos , how many pesos you get per column. So, ang ginagawa naman ng mga reporters yata noon, mga correspondents, hinahabaan nila ang mga column nila, very wordy, macolor ang detalye. Syempre, kina-cut down yun ng editor. J: Sir, um, regarding the articles. Are you assigned to write this certain article or could you turn down topics that are assigned to you? R: Well, I think there were a few times, I said na maybe I would disagree with my boss, maybe I could do something else. But generally, either I volunteer. I say, I'd like to write this story. Halimbawa, I'd like to write a story about women in prison, I'd discuss it with my editor and he'll say 'yeah, that's a good idea.' Or sometimes my editor would say, you do something different. And then we'll discuss it. There are times siguro, a couple of thigs I turned down was when I was told to got to a province in Mindanao, to write a story, I hate flying. I really hate to fly. Everytime I fly, I'm holding the rosary. Pag magka turbulence, I'm holding the rosary. Even now, I'm still afraid to fly. Pero ngayon, pag pinapa-fly ako, umaalis ako. J: Sir, so do you get to cover international events? R: Well, I've been assigned to cover abroad. Outside the Philippines. J: Sir, what about your deadlines, were you required to submit a number of articles per month? R: Walang ganon, basta, sa international news agency, basta may balita. Ang deadline ay, halimbawa sa diyaryo, kapag 6:00, you have to submit the story. Sa international news agency walang deadline. Halimbawa today, some important figure suffered a heart attack, you have to put it down. Kasi minsan sa news agency, I'm with Reuters, and sometimes, AP gets ahead with one minute. Tatanungin yun, 'why were you behind by one minute?' J: So, it's really a competition.. R: Talagang ganun, basta makuha mo, lalabas ka agad. Of course you have to get the facts first. Check. Then , write it as quickly, as accurately as you can. And then padala mo. Sa mga diyaryo ngayon, I think may deadline yun. A reporter gets a story, he doesn't have to submit it immediately. Pero sa radyo I think, basta makuha mo, flash mo agad. Walang deadline. Ganun din sa news agency. J: Sir, were you ever a "cub" reporter? R: 'Yun nga. Noong.. Anong ibig sabihin ba ng 'cub" reporter? J: Sir yung beginner.. R: E kasi, noong una kasi ako, pag first out of college, kinuha ako ng professor ko from UST. Agad ako naging Associate to the Business Editor. Parang ganun, pero wala naman ako ginagawa kung hindi magbasa ng mga press release. So, yung beginning ko as a reporter, nung nasa news agency na ako. Sa Agence France-Presse. That's when I started covering. And then sabi ko nga nun, puro, sir din ako ng sir, puro po rin ako ng po. Sama ako ng sama dun sa mga beterano. Buti naman, uh, a certain, si Kiko, Kiko de Leon of the Manila Chronicles. He was going before in the office. He let me tag along. So, buti na lang meron akong kuwan. Kaya pag mag mga bagong reporter, tinutulungan ko rin, Kasi I realized, how much.. you now, kasi parang bata niya ako, boy niya ako, 'sige, sama tayo rito, interview tayo.' 'sige, punta tayo rito.' Yun ganun. Pag merong batang reporter, tinutulungan ko if I can. Except pag bugnutin. Kasi bugnutin ako e. J: Sir, what was your first beat? R: Foreign office. Foreign affairs. J: Sir how was it? How did you interview? R: Noong una, siyempre kumakabit ako sa mga beterano. I wasn't very enterprising then, Syempre, hindi ko pa kilala. Later on, natuto na ng kuwan. Natuto ka ng.. Halimbawa, may ininterview ka, may kinakausap ka, foreign, may dokumento ka. You have to learn yun bang reading upside down. Halimbawa confidential yan. You have to learn na sa interview, kailangan bumasa ka. Baka may sinasabing something. Kasi, ayaw niya ipakita dahil confidential, so you have to learn, to read upside down. Hindi ko pa naman ito naranasan, pero yung ibang mga reporters, nagtitiyaga, kumukuha sa mga waste basket, ng mga halimbawa gumagawa sila ng mga memo, or report to the president. Pagkatapos tinatapon nila, yun bang reporter kinukuha. 'Eto pala yung report sa presidente.' J: Sir, so those were some of the important lessons you learned? R: And always pag magiinterview ka, you don't go into an interview cold, hindi mo alam kung anong itatanong mo, you have to prepare. Halimbawa, kakausapin mo si John Osmeña, you have to know his background. Sino ba ito? Ano ba ang mga bills niyan. So, in order to have a good story, you have to ask the right questions. If you don't ask right questions, you don't get the good answers. Ayun. Kasi, the story is in the questions you ask. J: Sir, when you first worked in that article, did you work solo, or did you have partners? R: I think I worked solo. J: Did you have any memorable editors during that time? R: A, oo, meron akong memorable editor.. ** (Cut.. had to work..) R: He was a French man, and he was from Agence France-Presse din. And once, he was shouting, at a fellow employee. So, pumasok ako sa kanyang kuwarto. Pagkalampas niya, pinasok ko siya sa kuwarto niya. Ako, 'you don't shout at a Filipino.' Ganun. J: That was brave of you to say that to your editor. R: Ganun kasi ako e. Hindi naman kasi ako nasyonalista no. Pero, yun bang foreigner, sinisigawan yung bansa mo, yung.. Yun yatang sinigawan niya, matanda ano, matanda na lonely employee. So, anyway, after that, ang narealize ko kasing lesson sa mga foreigner, wag ka mahihiya. You have to confront them. Pag cinonfront mo sila, they will back off. Pag nahihiya ka sa foreigner. Sometimes, nahihiya ka, pero these are human beings din. But look, I have the people I work with sa Reuters, they're open, walang ganun. Noong bata pa ako , 18, 19, wala. J: Sir, would you prefer foreign editors or fellow Filipinos? R: Wala naman. Kasi I've worked with fellow good Filipino editors, and I worked with good foreign editors. I've worked with bad Filipino editors, I've worked with bad foreign editors. It's the person that's really important. How well he knows his job, how well he relates to his people, how well he relates to his staff. J: How was your editors when it came to accuracy? R: Sa news agency, we really try to get it right the first time. Kasi, okay, let's say we have to write a story, a bus fell in a ravine, killing 46 people. Yun pala 16 lang, so we have to correct that immediately. Sa diyaryo, ok, reporter ka. And then after two hours, madaling palitan sa diyaryo. Dito pag napadala mo na. Wala na, it's as good as published. Binroadcast na yun ng radio abroad. Yun pala 16 lang. Yun ang difference ng news agency, you have to get it right the first time. Of course, nagkakamali rin. Nobody's perfect. Everybody commits mistakes. But it's important na sa foreign news agency, to always get it right the first time. Because once you write it and it's wrong, it's immediately broadcasted, sa radio, television. Around the world, and you won't have time to correct it anymore. You just have to send another story correcting it. And then you have to explain why you made a mistake. One thing I learned sa news agency, is be accurate, And speed and accuracy. And of course you have to write well. J: Sir, kasi nasa inyo ng pressure because a lot of newspapers and even broadcasting agencies depend on you. R: Yeah, halimbawa, I write a story, halimbawa, a Reuters story so and so was shot, shot dead, by communist, Guerillastre, so baka makuha ng ANC, o there was a Reuters story about someone shot and dead. Turns out he was shot and wounded only. Mali agad yon. You have to.. Minsan nga, meron isang hostage situation sa Mindanao, and maraming hostages, Australians, and yung photographer namin, sa military camp yun e. We were about a hundred or fifty meters, ginagamit lang nila telephoto kasi hindi sila makalapit. Tapos, tumawag sa akin, sabi niya, nung aking photographer, sabi niya, 'sir, patay na ito, Patay na.' 'Papaano mo nalamang patay?' 'E, sir, nakabulagta na, sir. Hindi na gumagalaw.' But who can say that the woman is dead? Babae un e. Australyano. So, the others, yung another news agency, immediately, nireport na patay. Ok, So I wanted to be sure. Because how can you be sure. 100 meters away, there's a body there not moving, the guy is dead, it turns out tama no, patay. Nahuli ako. I don't regret that. J: But you have to make sure.. R: Yeah, I have to make sure, whether the man or a woman is alive or dead. Yun, unless somebody says, 'he is dead,' If I could quote somebody, e, I could only quote my photographer who was using a telephoto camera. E, papaano, halimbawa, nireport ko na this Australian woman, Jen Smith, was killed, nabasa ng pamilya, "Oh, my daughter is dead." Yun pala naman buhay, you might be even sued for libel. Kaya mahirap yung ganun. J: Sir, speaking of libel, what about the ethics of writing, how did you and your editors deal with the ethics of writing? R: We are very careful. Katulad nitong kaso ni Mark Jimenez, and Secretary Perez. We have not written anything about it. Because it is a potentially libelous story. We have not written a story about it. But once I got sued with libel. When I was with Associated Press, this was during Martial Law, and Marcos was supposed to meet editors, uh, at a closed door, and confidential meeting. This was at the time before, this was when Mr. Aquino was assassinated, and we met all the news editors, province, Manila, then, for some reason, he did not show up. And then one of those, who was supposed to attend the meeting, a friend of min told me, 'Si presidente may sakit.' He was suffering from I don't know what illness. I was with AP, so sinulat ko, nagalit yung isang tao ni Marcos, sued me for libel. Who happened to be some senior, one of these senior people sa isang newspaper controlled by Marcos, he sued me for libel. Rumor mongering, which was punishable by death at that time. So, nagpunta ako nun sa piskal. In fact, he wants to shake my hand. I didn't shake his hand. Later on the case was thrown out. That was the only time I got sued for libel. J: Well, at least, it proved something. Kasi, po, pag journalist ka, tapos nasue ka ng libel, that means, you published something na brave. R: It's always important to be fair. J: Yes.. R: To be fair when you are reporting something that damages a person's character. J: Sir, what about the grammar aspects naman po. Going to the lighter side naman po. Yun mga editors niyo po ba were very strict with the grammar? R: Of course, kailangan. It's important sa news agency. Na your English, it doesn't have to be faultless or perfect, It has smoothly-written sentence. And walang flagrant grammatical mistakes. That's basic. J: Do you sometimes have typographical errors? R: Oh yeah, minsan nga pag nagsusulat kami dito, halimbawa today is a Friday, I come into the office and write a story, it's a holiday, I might write a story, na President Arroyo said Sunday, then I'd get a call from my editor, saying 'Today's Friday, Ben.' 'Oh, ganun ba?' I'd have time warp minsan. Minsan bagong pasok ko pa lang Monday. Tapos 'President Arroyo said Friday.' Bakit Friday? Dapat Sunday. Those are mistakes, na hindi ka lang masyado nagfofocus. J: Sir, what about their attitude towards deadlines? R: Ah, pag ganyan, dito nga walang deadlines, but they want speed. You have a story, an urgent story, Halimbawa, something urgent. You have to get it out in a minute. Pag matagal pa, 'Ben, what's happening with the story?' 'Yeah, just give me one minute more.' Ganun. J: Sir how do they communicate their attitude to the reporters? Do they scream? R: No, wala so far, I have not yet met an editor who screams. Laging 'Any problem Ben?' 'Do you need help?' Ganun lang. Wala yung mga sumisigaw, at least sa foreign news agencies. Ewan ko sa diyaryo. J: Sir, what if you had to write an article and you need to get a statement from this person tapos, wala pa siya. Hindi pa rin ninyo makuha yung statement e sobrang kailangan niya for substance sa article na yun? R: Let's say, halimbawa, assuming, halimbawa, I write a story about halimbawa lang, the case about some official, someone accused, let's sat, let's say, this politician accussed this politician of sleeping with his wife. Ok, let's say I wrote about it. But I need the comment from the other guy, so, tatawag ako sa opisina niya. 'Puwede ba makausap si Mr. Juan Dela Cruz?' 'Ah, sir wala siya.' 'Meron bang cellphone?' 'Ah, wala siya.' Pag wala pa, I just put maybe a paragraph in my story, 'So and so could net be reached for comment. His secretary said he is out for lunch, he did not return Reuters' call.' J: Sir, so you indicate that you tried to get his side.. R: Yes. You tried to get his side. Yun mga sensitive stories. J: At least not to get in trouble of writing a story without asking his side. R: One thing really that's important in writing is to be fair to both sides. And besides, we really try to avoid writing mga personality, mga libelous. There are some stories we don't touch. We don't know who's telling the truth. J: Sir, how are you now as an editor, you've mentioned that in the newcomers in the industry you try to reach out to them,.. R: I don't reach out to them. I'm not really demonstrative. But if they ask for my help.. J: You guide them. R: I help them. Hindi naman ako, 'Ay, ganito tayo, ha,' Hindi ako ganon. Hindi naman ako friendly, nakita mo naman sa mukha mo. J: Sir, so paano po kayo nakikideal? Ganon lang, pag nilapitan lang kayo? R: Generally. Pero if I notice na someone is really dedicated sa kanyang trabaho. Kasi meron diyang, nag-o-on the job training dito, daldalan lang ng daldalan. Pero pag may nago-on the job training dito na medyo seryoso and diligent, sinasabi ko 'this is how you should do it.' Depende. J: Sir do you have any memorable colleagues? What made them unforgettable? R: A, yeah, siguro,. Siguro, one guy I cannot forget is, this guy (pointing to the photo), first he was a messenger, he was with United Press International, I was still in college then. But I was going around with some people from United Press International. I would go to their office. He was a messenger, at night, he would deliver newspapers, and then, sometime during the 1960's, I don't know if you ever read yung Lapiang Malaya, this massacre. These are mga nationalist groups who challenged the government and then, I think, I don't recall the dates now. But I think, around 2:00 in the morning, parang they rushed out of their headquarters. They're armed I think with bolos mostly. And they were shot dead by police. And it became known as Lapiang Massacre yata. And the only photographer, the only one from United Press International is this guy, Willie Vicoy, he's dabbling in, even there, matapang na yun e. He started shooting (photographs), that's how he became a photographer. And later on, he went to Vietnam, he was assigned to cover the Vietnam War, was cited there for his work several times. Then he came back, after he came back in the Philippines. He was covering, they went to, Cagayan Valley, and there was a military operation against the NPA, they were covering a military operation, on their way back, they happen to ride a bus of a colonel, and they were ambushed by the NPA. He was killed. He was killed. So, Reuters set up a foundation for him. We set up a foundation for him. J: Sir, he was a photographer, so, sir, you dealt with photographers as well. Sir, during an article, kasama niyo po sila sa field diba, paano po kayo nakikipagcoordinate with sa mga photographers. R: Well, depende yan e. Kung halimbawa. Medyo baguhan yung photographer, I'll tell him, look, banyatan mo si Gloria, diyan lalabas yan. Halinbawa diyan, para, halimbawa doon siya pupunta. Sila naman, nakikicoordinate din sa amin. Halimbawa sa palasyo, photographer lang ang puwede, pag labas halimbawa ng photographer, sa isang opportunity, 'Uy halimbawa si ganun, pinagalitan si ganun.' So binibigyan niya ako. So it's a team effort, I mean a reporter will have to coordinate with his reporter, and with television. Sa television naman, hindi naman.. Minsan yung photographers, television and reporters are in different places, so, yung aming TV, pag may nakuhang magandang shot or magandang interview, sasabihin sa akin, sir, may nakuha akong ganitong shot, umpukan ng mga police at demonstrators, ganun, o itong ganito, ganito yung pinaguusapan. J: Sir, so what significant events were you able to cover? Like Martial Law? R: Well, declaration of Martial Law, assassination of Aquino.. J: What were your memories from these events? R: Ah, Martial Law, my wife kasi was working as a secretary of the Press Secretary of Marcos, it was Kit Tatad noon. And then, on the night when Martial Law was declared, a reporter called me and said, 'Ben, mukhang nag Martial Law na.' Before pala, bago pumasok ang wife ko sa Malacañang, my agreement with her was your work may come in conflict with my work. So, I don't want to know, what you're doing, don't tell me what you're doing, I'm not going to tell you what I'm doing. Kasi minsan sabi niya, 'Alam mo, meron doon red phone, minsan nag-ring, noong dinampot ko, si Presidente Marcos.' So sabi ko, 'Ba't mo sinasabi yan, diba sabi ko sayo, walang kuwentuhan.' So, noong nag Martial Law, nasa bahay ako, 'Ano bang telepono ni Tatad?' Sabi niya, 'Ayoko, huwag mo sa akin kuhanin'. Sabi ko ' Sige na..' Ayaw talaga niya ibigay sa akin. Ayaw niya ibigay sa akin. So, kung saan-saan pa ako naghanap. That's why I admire my wife. And then, Martial Law? Siguro Martial Law there must be tanks in the palace. So we took a taxi, we immediately went into the palace. It was quiet. Nobody was there. It was very dark. I went to…I said no, they'd probably closed down the newspapers. And I saw in the Manila Times, there was a sign at the door: THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE MILITARY COMMAND. Nakapirma dun si Enrile. Punta na ako ngayon doon sa…I was then working sa Agence France-Presse…punta ako sa opisina namin. Pagdating ko sa opisina namin, we worked, nasa seventh floor kami, seventh floor. Yung guardiya sa baba, putlang-putla, pinagpapawisan. "Sir, kinuha ng mga sundalo ang baril ko". Nagpunta na ako sa opisina, ang hirap maka-contact. Finally may na-contact, may nagconfirm sa akin 'yes, Martial Law na.' Wala nang tulog iyan. And of course, the next incident was yung People Power Revolt. Kanya punta agad nung nalaman na nag-defect si Enrile. We went there, so we stayed there 'til we got bored na. They might bomb Aguinaldo so sabi ng editor ko, I was with Associated Press "Why don't you get out there?" And I realized kapag nasa ganoong situation ka na, you don't care. Sabi ko, "No, I'm gonna stay here." So I called my wife, and she's now, nasa palasyo siya eh. I said, "Get out of there! There's a revolution now." Sabi niya, "Ayoko iwanan ang mga kasama ko." But she was for Ninoy, ha. She voted for Cory Aquino pala. J: Ah… R: I said, "Ano naman ang gusto mo, iwanan ko sila? Kasi noon, my wife was posting Malacañang staff for Marcos noong election, but siya quietly she was for Cory. So medyo isolated siya. Pero when I told her to get out of there now, that government is falling, ayaw pa rin niya. Kasi, she felt loyal to her friends, sa mga secretary. Finally, second or third day, they were told to go home. At saka lang siya bumalik…and of course, yung, my third experience is yung ah, well…yun pala yan. So ok so, 'di naman umatake. Then later, napaka-cover ako sa Channel 4, when ah…the rebels took over it. Nagpunta ako roon. Nagtago ako. And then finally nung nakapasok ako sa Channel 4, under control na nila Honasan, later mayroong oncoming gunfire! Bang! Takbo na naman kami. Nahulog ako dun sa fountain na walang tubig. I broke my leg…so for the rest of the third and fourth day of the People's Power Revolution, kasi four days, I was in crutches, nasa opisina lang ako. 'Di na ako nakapg-cover. J: Sobrang kakaiba yung experience ninyo. R: Yoon naming kay Ninoy Aquino, 'di naman naming nalaman, na dumarating na. Planes were coming, we don't know kung Ninoy Aquino was on board. Ang ginagawa ko noon basta may lumalabas na pasahero, "Is Senator Aquino there?" Pagkatapos nung one time, may dumaan na isang eroplano. Yung mga lumabas, namumutla. "Is Senator Aquino there?" Isang military 'di sumasagot. Finally, isang foreigner, I didn't know he was a foreign journalist accompanying Aquino, "Is Senator Aquino with you?" "Yes." "What is it?" "He was dead. He was shot, he's dead!" Takbo na agad ako sa telepono. "Hey", tinawag ko, "General Aquino was shot, he's dead according to this guy." We never see because we were, talagang we were isolated. J: So parang siguro kapag journalist ka talaga, iba yung, iba talaga kapag firsthand na nakita mo, na narinig mo. R: Yeah. J: Rewarding, rewarding po ba yung sa… R: Well, rewarding in a sense na you are able to test yourself that na kahit na minsan, noong panahon din ni Marcos madaming inaaresto, eh nagkataon na malapit naman ako noon sa mga, sa mga, sa mga, task force detainees people nasa pag-simbahan. I learned, si Father Geirlock, hinuli. Amerikano, who is critical of Marcos. So, sinundan ko. Hangga't sa sinundan ko sa airport. Hangga't sa dinala sa eroplano. Nakita ako nung mga military. "Kanina nakita kita dun sa bahay ni Geirlock ha. Tapos nakita ka din namin sa immigration. Tapos narito ka. Eh secret operation ito eh paano ka? Siguro, miyembro ka ng kaliwa." Dinala ako…dinala mga gamit ko eh may mga kanta ako roon nung kantang, kanta ba ng mga aktibista. J: Ah… R: Alam mo yung, yung magagandang tugtog na (sings) "Kay sarap mabuhay sa sariling bayan." Yung ganoon, mga ganoon. Tapos sabi sa akin, "Gaano katagal, anong ginagawa niyo sa mga sit-in ninyo?" "Naku sir, hindi ako kasama reporter lang ako. Kung gusto niyo pa tawagin niyo si Colonel so and so, yung PR." "Da-drop name ka pa diyan." Dinala ako doon sa Crame. "Pwede ba akong tumawag sa opisina?" "'Di ka pwedeng tumawag." "Eh, kahit na sa kaibigan ko para malaman…" "'Di, diyan ka lang. Kuwan, isulat mo yung biography mo." Biography ko. Pagkatapos, nang maisulat ko yung biography ko, dinala ako run sa isang colonel. Pagkatapos….Pak! Pak! (slap) "Babiyahe kita diyan eh!" 'Di ko alam babiyahe eh, yung palang babiyahe papatayin ako. 'Di ko naman naintindihan iyon ano. Tahimik lang ako, siyempre nawala ang poise natin. "Eh, sir talaga namang reporter lang ako eh." "'Di, diyan ka lang. Basta saka kita kakausapin." Umalis na yung colonel. Nahuli ako mga bandang seven eh. Mga bandang alas dos "Pakainin niyo muna nga iyan." Kumain ako sa carinderia. Sumulat ako dun sa, "Pakitawag naman sa opisina namin." Sinulat ko doon sa nagtitinda… J: Parang movie. (laughs) R: (laughs) nung kuwan. Siyempre hindi nakatingin yung guwardiya pagkabayad ko. Anyway, so basta iniwan nalang ako sa kuwarto. Wala na. Yung colonel, si Colonel Abadilla. Yun nga ang boss later ng NPA. Yung humuli sa akin sa airport, si General Beroya ngayon, na kaibigan ko ngayon. Ganyan. So anyway, so after siguro mga bandang three or four, "O sige, pakawalan na iyan." Ineksamin ako ng doktor, para hindi walang sign of maltreatment. So nakalaya ako. J: Parang, parang… R: Pero buti ako, seven, eight hours lang ako na-detain. Eh yung mga ibang journalist doon na-detain for months. J: Siguro dahil may proof din na parang, baka nga kasabwat or… R: Siguro. Pero ako naman, talaga namang reporter lang ako. J: Buti nalampasan ninyo yun…Sir, diba you started young. Parang nakita ninyo yung kumbaga, madami po kayong napagdaanan. Well, since eighteen or nineteen nagstart na kayo, sir what were your best memories as a young reporter? R: Well…ah siguro…best memories…Well siguro ang isang memory, well one memory that I have not forgotten, nang mapatay si Aquino, talagang I cannot, well…first, nung dumating si Cory from the United States, and ah, siyempre ang mga reporters puntahan sa bahay niya. Hindi pinapasok. Cory asked that the house, all the windows, be closed. And she wanted to be alone with her husband. I was deeply touched. Siguro, another, not a best memory, kundi I was there, I mean I was a young reporter, 1960 palang ako reporter so I saw everything from declaration of Martial Law, People's Power, and at the end of People's Power, yun bang we heard that Marcos has flown out of the palace, ah…alam mo, I felt sad. Para bang I missed the man. Oo nga. Yun bang, because I've grown parang…of course I didn't really miss him in the sense that I wanted him back noh. Its just that para bang..hay, new life. A part of my life was over because my life as a reporter has always been, you know, covering Marcos. I've seen him up-close, in the palasyo, mag ganoon. O, and suddenly the man is gone. It's a new country. It's a certain sadness na naramdaman ko. But people of course are jubilant noh, but hindi, I didn't feel that. I didn't feel that jubilation. Para bang I feel, nagging personal sa akin. Something in my life is over. J: Sir, so parang pinakita na nagkaroon kayo ng attachment, not only with the persons involved but I guess pati yung work niyo na… R: Hindi naman attachment with the person involved, but yung bang J: Yung part ng life niyo… R: I was, I became…yung my life ko was at that time as a journalist, was well, there was you know, you had to really, in the early years you really do have trouble getting news, and 'pag magsusulat ka there's always the danger na kuwan…and I got used to that. Yun bang just some part of your life is over. Not because I was attached to it, I certainly was not attached to Martial Law, I didn't like it, but iba na… J: Yung pag-work niyo. R: …yung atmosphere. Para bang isang linggo ulan ng ulan, tapos biglang wala na, nawala na. Parang ganun. J: Sir, last few questions nalang po. Sir, what are your advice to future journalists like us? R: Ah, siguro basic. One, you have to learn how to write. And then you have to read and read. Ah, nabasa ko nga noon sa, nung bata ako, na if you can read one hundred words in one minute, and a book averages about twenty-five thousand words, then you can finish this book in so many days. Kahit saan ako magpunta may dala akong libro. Lalo na kapag reporter. Kalimitan reporter naghihintay iyan eh. Naghihintay sa mag bar, mga ganun. Yung iba, nagchchat, ako naman basa ng basa. Kahit ano binabasa ko. And then, kapag gusto ko…and then, uh, write. Always write. Always write. Dapat iyon so ma-develop mo yun kasi kahit ka naman hindi reporter, gagamitin mo din naman ang pagsusulat eh, so write. Read and write, write and write and write. And then, be observant. So that you will know only what details to put in your story. And you have to know the background of your story. 'Di yung basta pupunta ka sa event and then hindi mo alam ang background, papaano ka nun? How will you know what questions to ask? And if you don't know what questions to ask, you won't get any answers. And if you don't get any answers, you won't have a good story. And always be fair. Of course, be accurate. And always be fair. Its difficult to be fair. J: Sir, thank you very much for your time. R: Salamat din. J: Goodluck po on your future. I know na sobrang experienced na po kayo, pero iyon. Congratulations din po for all your achievements as a… R: I don't have many achievements. I have never won any award… J: But the mere fact po na nagseservice po kayo to other people… R: At saka one thing pa pala, one thing na I would, especially that's true of people who might write for local media for the Philippines, alam mo na-realize ko na how powerful is the work of a journalist. Kasi, yung sinusulat mo binobroadcast. O, sinasabi mo sa TV nakakaapekto iyon eh. It shapes minds. So if a person, alam mo minsan, co-cover ako. Oo minsan nanood ako sa television, recent event. Nakita ko mga batang reporters analyzing things on the spot. Kako, mali naman. Pero iyon ang nag-foform sa minds ng mga readers. And I mean, why, bakit mag-aasign ng young journalist on a job that needs some analysis? So ako nung makapakinig, sabi nalang sa tabi ng ganoon, not realizing that what they're saying, what they're writing is important. They could shape people's minds and help shape this country. Yun ang people, journalists must realize that they have a powerful job so they must exercise it with responsibility. Kalimutan mo na yung sinabi ko kanina. Wag ka doon, forget those last words. J: Thank you sir. R: Salamat. (end of interview)