Interviewer: Full name? Roy Mabasa: Roy Carag Mabasa.

Q: C-A-R-A-G?

A: Oo.

Q: Kailan po napanganak?

A: September 13, 1962. Confidential yan a... Yung edad... (laughs)

Q: Umm, saan po napanganak?

A: Quezon City.

Q: Bali sa Metro Manila?

A: Yes.

Q: May asawa po?

A: Meron na.

Q: Ilan po?

A: Isa lang.

Q: May anak na?

A: Tatlo.

Q: Tapos, saan po kayo nag-aral noong elementary?

A: Elementary? Sa F. Bonifacio Elementary School. It's a public school.

Q: Sa high school po?

A: New Era Educational Institute.

Q: College po?

A: New Era College. Ngayon university na yon.

Q: Ano pong degree?

A: Journalism

Q: Tapos kailan po nag-graduate?

A: '83

Q: Bali four years po yun?

A: (nods)

Q: Nag-aral pa po sila after?

A: I took some special sessions. Kumuka ako ng music... conservatory, pero one year lang, major in piano.

Q: So marunong po kayo...

A: Oo. Then I also studied in Japan. Language naman, Japanese language. For a year also.

Q: Bali, kailan po talaga kayo natapos mag-aral? As in yun sa Japan?

A: Mga late 80's, mga '87. Kasi putul-putol naman.

Q: Pero 'yon nakapasok kayo dito sa Manila Bulletin?

A: I-narrate ko na sa iyo. I started sa radio as a correspondent, nag-vo-volunteer ako to report, kasi wala ako ginagawa e, so I might as well practice it para pagdating ko sa mainstream, I'd be more comfortable. At that time, my father, has a radio program, during the Marcos time ito, then sometimes, nagvovolunteer ako to report incidents outside, that's where I started actually, that's where I honed my career. Then in the late 80's, I started working in the newspaper, at that time, there was this tabloid, called Headline, it's a mainstream tabloid at that time. It's owned by now Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua. I was then assigned as a reporter covering diplomatic and airport beats, meaning, the foreign affairs and airport beats. I was lucky because that was the time that the Philippines was tackling the issue of the U.S. bases. It was very controversial until it led to the removal and abrogation of the U.S.-R.P. agreement on the bases. So it was very historical, I think it was in 1990 or 1991, when the Senate abrogated the agreement. I worked with the Headline for at least three years. Then, after that, because the newspaper closed down, so I had to move to another work, I engaged in TV and movie filming production. I only accepted projects that are coming from Japan, because I can speak the language, so most of the TV and filming crew, who come here from Japan, coordinated everything with me. I do the research, I do all the requirements they need to be able to shoot here.

Q: Sir, you mentioned that you handled the Visiting Forces?

A: The diplomatic beat.

Q: Gaano po kayo katagal sa beat na iyon?

A: Siguro, more than a year din. Then most of the time, I spent my time sa Foreign Affairs tsaka sa airport, where you meet all the dignitaries, in the V.I.P.s coming in and out of the country. Maraming storya sa airport, specifically if you're enterprising, even yung mga returning O.F.W.s, even the travails. Those are the types of stories that I wrote during those days.

Q: Bali, meron po ba sila yun mga hindi makakalimutang mga beat?

A: There are so many incidents atsaka mga cases, I was already with the Bulletin at that time, when the Vizconde Massacre happened, I think that was in 95 or 96, if I'm not mistaken. So, I started as a police reporter, it's very memorable for me because that case became a very big story in the Philippines. If you remember that, it was tried in Paranaque, which is where I was assigned. I was assigned in the Southern part of Manila, composed of Paranaque, Pasay, Makati, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Taguig and Pateros. So when we were covering it with other reporters from other newspapers, of course we were dealing with lawyers of both sides to be able to extract good stories. Sometimes we have to go out with them, from the lawyers of the defense, and the following day, we will go out with the lawyers of the prosecutors, to be able to acquaint yourselves with them, kung hindi mo gagawin iyon, you will not be able to gain more insights about the story, that's what we call, sources building, you have to strengthen your relations with your sources, or else, you will get nothing, that's very basic in journalism. You must remember that, how to build sources, strengthen your relations with them, not necessarily being close with them, but at least nagkakaroon kayo ng malinaw na linya, atsaka yun rapport ninyo, yun confidence is very important. You're like a lawyer na, yun client mo should be confident in talking to you. Specifically, on issues that are sensitive. Pwede ka niyang sabihan na, "Pare, this one is off the record." Meron kayong confidentiality atsaka trust, and you have to build that, when you're a reporter.

Q: Since nabanggit niyo po yung off-the-record?

A: Oo.

Q: Ano po yung general rule niyo po kapag may nagsasabi sa inyo na off-the-record na information?

A: Well, ang pinakaimportante sa off-the-records to be able to get good sources, you should have to respect kung ano sasabihin ng source mo. Halimbawa, you are talking to a police officer and you stumbled upon a case na medyo sensitive, now yung ibang mga diyaryo they're having a hard time getting all the facts of the case. Since kaibigan mo yung isang police officer, and you want to get all the insights about it, you talk him, then darating yung time na sasabihin niya sa'yo, "Pare, this one is confidential. I will tell you all the story, pero huwag mong isulat." Now, in your profession, to be able to succeed, you have to respect also the right of yung mga sources. Or else, you will mangle everything. Nobody will trust you anymore. You build credibility through trust. You must gain their respect.

Q: So meron po ba kayong mga experience kung saan alam niyo po na it was an important story pero di niyo po...

A: Marami. Nung after my police beat, I also engaged in the reportage of the local governments, specifically one very exciting moment in my life was the life of Mayor Pablo Cuneta. I became close to him. At that time, the old man was already in the boundery of the insanity. Because of his age, he was then pass 80, I think 84 or 85, it was during that time when I became close to him. So nung time na yun, di mo naman pupwedeng isulat yung mga nangyari sa buhay niya in the past - kung sino mga naging babae niya, diba? So although kinekwento niya sa'yo, hindi mo pupwedeng isulat yun. And it was through confidentiality. That's how you build it. Pero, nung namatay naman siya, I think I wrote one of best stories. Kasi marami nang mga insights sa buhay niya na alam ko na pwede mo nang i-disclose, eh.

Q: Ah, so...

A: That's one pero marami na rin yung iba. Most of the stories, mga crimes, mga ganun. But that one is more personal because I developed a personal attachment with the family, pati yung mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. And I was amazed with how his life has been for the past, because he adjudged as the longest serving elected mayor, probably in the world. He served for about 47 years as mayor. Isang beses lang nainterrupt yun nung pumasok si Cory Aquino because tinanggal lahat ng elected mayors. But after naglapse yung one or two years, nagkaroon tayo ng election, he was elected again.

Q: Kalian po kayo pumasok sa Bulletin?

A: I started here late '94 as correspondent. Then I worked here until I think '98. Then from there, nagtayo ako ng isang foreign magazine. It's a Japanese-English bilingual magazine. It's a business magazine which I handled for about two years. After that, I had an opportunity to work in Malacañang as a close-in writer for the president Erap Estrada. Then when Erap was removed, I rejoined the group of Arroyo as again, as a close-in writer. Now, our job there as close-in writers is to cover the day-to-day events of the president and write a story about it. We are the source of all the activities of the president which you read in the papers. Then, mino-modify ng diyaryo kung ano yung gusto nilang i-slant dun sa story. But basically, we are the sources of presidential stories. So I worked then for almost about 5 years. Until the time came when there was a vacancy here for a regular position, which is the Chief of Reporters. So I applied for the position.

Q: Ahh.. So, sir, yung before yung close-in writer po kayo ni President Arroyo, you were not connected with Manila Bulletin?

A: No. But still involves journalism because it's basically news writing and news gathering, news coverage.

Q: So anung year po yun nung nagstart na kayong maging permanent dito?

A: I think that was more than two years ago.

Q: So pagpasok niyo po sa Bulletin as the Chief-of-Reporters?

A: Reporters, yeah.

Q: Ano po yung tingin niyong kaibahan sa pagiging coorespondent?

A: Well, Malayo e, kasi there are classifications, to let you know, yung correspondents dito sa Bulletin, or in other newspapers, are being paid in a per story basis, now the regular reporters, are those in the plantilya who receive monthly salaries tsaka other benefits. Now, there are two different worlds, between being a correspondent reporter and my work right now. You cannot enjoy anymore covering outside, because yung trabaho mo, is concentrated sa desk, monitoring all the stories, the movement of your reporters, the assignment of reporters. Basically, it's more of management rather than covering the beat itself. So I miss all the actions. The action is outside, not here. Pagdating dito, finished product na e, i-rerefine nalang ng mga editors namin.

Q: Ano po yun, kayo po nag-aassign ng mga I-cocover?

A: Yes.

Q: Pano niyo po alam kung...

A: The important thing here, if you are a chief of reporter is you must be abreast with all the stories that are happening around you, day in day out. So sometimes, if I'm not in the office, I stay in the car, I listen. I cannot even listen to FM radios anymore I have to switch my radio to AM, kasi baka may biglang mangyari, baka may biglang pumutok dun, so atleast you're aware. Pagnatutulug ako buaks ang TV ko, I'm making sure my TV is on ANC, para alam ko, paggising ko, anong news ang nangyari, or I will switch to CNN. Pagdating mo rito, you have to read all the papers para alam mo kung anong wala kayo, at meron kayo na wala yun iba. So, yun tinatanung mo kanina kung papano ko nalalaman, there are so many ways to do it. One, yun mga mismong affected, mga concerned agencies, persons, nagpapadala sila ng media advisory dito, letting us know that there will be a rally tomorrow, a meeting tomorrow, a press conference here, or launching there, it's being sent here in advance. After seeing that, I will see to it that the reporter nearest that area, or the reporter covering the particular issue will be there. That's how we do the assignment of reporters. Pero, what is more important here is that, you should know what is happening around you, or else, you will be outscooped by all the other papers, you will slip on your job. So yung presence mo about all these, tsaka you also have the ability na malaman mo kung ano mangyayari bukas. Let's say, right now, while we're talking, there's an ongoing preliminary investigation of the Subic rape case. So there are so many things that you have to expect. One is probably because of the gravity of the case. You know, there will be pleadings here, pleadings from the other side, meaning there will be delays from this scenario. You have to expect those things, and you have to expect what photos do you need tomorrow, things like that.

Q: So, diba kanina po, nabanggit niyo po yung deadlines?

A: Uh-hmmm.

Q: Deadlines, how strict are you as the chief of reporters sa mga deadline, and pano niyo po nasset yun deadlines?

A: Within the office, we have a standing policy here that all stories or at least summaries of the stories, should be in by four o'clock, because by that time, nagkakaroon kami ng editorial meeting. That editorial meeting is everyday. It is during that time when the editors chooses the stories na gagamitin nila for tomorrow, for a particular section. I-sesegregate na yun sections for the front page, for provincial, for Metro, etc. and I-iidentify na nila kung ano yun biggest stories, kung ano yun major and minor stories.

Q: So Sir,

A: Four o'clock is our deadline. We have to be very strict about it, but sometimes there are big stories that we really have to wait for. Like sa Senate, merong ongoing hearing about jueteng let's say. Now, alam niyo naman continuous yan, so, it might end up at 6:00 PM, we have to wait for that, but we are telling our reporters to advise us kung ano yun in-eexpect din nilang mangyayari sa hearing, who will be the speakers, the panelists, we want to know that, so, we would also expect kung ano yun ma sasabihin nito. We expect something like a bombshell here or there.

Q: E pano po yun kay Gloria po, yung nag-vote vote pa po, diba umabot po yun nang madaling araw?

A: We have reporters there, on a 24/7 basis.

Q: So release na po yun ng?

A: In newspapering, we have that so-called remat. Meron kaming, provincial edition. Yung provincial edition yun yung maagang rinerelease. Let's say dito sa imprenta ng Bulletin nagrerelease yun ng 10 o'clock, printed na yun, so dinidisperse na yan sa provinces. Let's say I-hahabol sa eroplano, sinasakay sa truck, dinedeliver sa Bicol, mga ganon. Now, yun remat niyan, ang tawag namin doon yung city edition, yun yung next print edition niyon. The same content, but somhow yun mga latest na events, isinisingit na roon, so nauupdate yun issues, and stories.

Q: Meron ho ba kayong naexperience as yun talagang non-stop po talga yung, nag-iintay po kayo?

A: Actually pag meron yun mga special events like, nung may kudeta, talagang wala na kayong tulugan niyan, kahit ako e, halimabawa naka-day off ako rito, I'll make sure that I'll be tuning into the radio 24 hours a day. Kahit inaantok nako, kailangan alam ko kung anong nangyayari paggising ko.

Q: Doon po sa Oakwood mutiny?

A: Oo. Halimbawa kung may lindol na malaki diba, you have to be on a 24 hour basis diyan, kasi developing yung story na yan.

Q: Diba Sir malaki po yung adjustment ng pagiging reporter sa pagwowork niyo dito sa office, so sa mga early months na bago kayo, anu po yun mga adjustments?

A: Well, you can just imagine Manila Bulletin, is an institution. It has been in the newspapering business for a hundred years, so you can expect na yung mga tao rito, kung ano yun nakagawian nila before, di mo naman pupwedeng pasunorin sa gusto mong mangyari diba, you have to develop also, what you want in your own terms, yung may time table ka rin. Halimabawa, for the first six months ganito gawin natin sa mga reporters, to be able to be competitive with the other papers like Inquirer and Philippine Star. Basically yun big three lang naman dito sa industry, namely, Bulletin, Inquirer and Star, whoever is number one there, I'm not telling you anymore, but of course, Bulletin is there, it's always on top. Now yun sinasabi mo, you have to develop it not overnight, but by schedule. Kaya yun ginagawa namin ngayon even yung sinasabi niyong deadline kanina, binago namin yun, several times, para maadapt ng mga reporters. Hindi mo pupwedeng biglain. Hindi mo pupwedeng i-reverse kung ano yung nakagawian na nila before. Little by little, they're coping up with the new systems being provided.

Q: Ang sinasabi niyo po, lahat po kayo dito nag-aadjust?

A: Oo, not just me, pati yung mga people under me, the reporters and correspondents, and you have to do that slowly, hindi mo pwedeng biglain, baka magkaroon ng culture shock e, pati naman ako din, ayoko naman biglain, or you will be inviting trouble. And of course, in a company like this, you don't want to do that. You want, what is important in the newspaper, this is like a basketball team. You have to have a teamwork, para maganda yun labas ng mga storya ninyo, atsaka walang nagdodoble.

Q: Pagdating niyo po ba dito nagbigla po ba kayo or hindi na?

A: Actually hindi na e, because meron nakong experience dito before. I was a correspondent here before so, yung mga kalokohan ko nung correspondent ako noon, more or less, I-eexpect-in mo na meron paring ganon, but, you have to be very frank with them too, "Oy oy oy, alam ko yun ginagawa mo." Halimbawa, you assigned somebody there to cover this, then the reporter will go to you, "Sir, wala naman palang istorya dito, ganito lang ganito e, you can, you can tell him bluntly na, "Tumigil ka nga sa akin, baka hindi ka nagcover." O kaya tatawagan mo sila, may pumutok na radyo na istorya, 'tas magdadahilan sila about that story, pero you have to let them know na alam mo yun ginagawa mo. What is important there, kailangan yun position ng Chief of Reporters, talagang naging reporter siya. Hindi lang yun, he came from nowhere, tapos hindi niya alam yun mangyayari sa grounds. You must have the feel of the grounds. Parang gera.

Q: Aside from the professional relationship na meron po kayo sa reporters ninyo, close rin naman po kayo?

A: Oo. You have to develop that

Q: What if pag walang work?

A: Magkakabarkada kayo. Sometimes, lalo na yun mga lalaki, I will invite them to drink, 1-2-3-4 bottles, them let's go home, pero yun din yung time na maririnig mo kung ano yun problema nila. Magrereklamo yan, kasi that is the only time also na pupwede nilang ibulong sayo kung ano reklamo nila. Sasabihin nila sayo, "Sir bat yun storya ko hindi ginagamit, and you have to tell them frankly also why their story is not being used. "E masama pagkasulat e, you can tell them straight in their face, para alam nila kung papano sila mag-iimprove, or else, you will be stagnant althrough out. Kailanan I-develop mo rin sila, pag maganda naman ang istorya nila, medyo tapikin mo rin ng balikat, "Uy, ganda ng storya mo a, naka I-scoop tayo a." Lalo ako when I was a correspondent, pag alam kong ako lang ang may istoryang ganon, tuwang tuwa ako. Pagkagising ko sa umaga, yung adrenalin mo, talagang nag-shshoot up. Lalo kung banner story, front page story, the more na nagkakaroon, the adrenalin is natural. Pagnakaramdam ka ng "Sikat ako, ako lang naka scoop nito" makikita mo yan the whole day, masayang-masaya ka.

Q: So yung time niyo po as a correspondent for the Bulletin din po diba?

A: (nods)

Q: Ano po yung mga skills niyo po na feeling niyo, it helped you in your job as a chief-of-reporters?

A: Yung pagiging chismoso, palagay ko. That is very important. Yung nosy. Yung kapag may nag-uumpukan doon, gusto mong amoyin. Ano ba yung pinag-uusapan nitong mga loko-lokong ito? Or nakakita ka ng isang papel. I'll tell you something. This is a very good experience. Yung Michael Jackson. When Michael Jackson was coming, andun ako. Nagkataon, I was sitting at the office of Mayor Cuneta. Walang tao. Kasi si Cuneta off and on sa ospital. Nakaupo akong sa labas. Eh yung fax katabi ko. So may lumalabas na papel dun sa fax, so kinuha ko. Binasa ko. Proposal yun to hold the Michael Jackson concert in Pasay City. In exchange, they will donate 1 million pesos to Pasay City General Hospital. Tingnan mo kung ano ginawa ko. Kinuha ko yung papel. Nakita ko walang nakatingin. Tinakbo ko yung papel. Gumawa ako ng istorya. Bumaba ako sa press office. May press office kami where all the news reporters and correspondents gather together everyday. Dun ang working area namin. Ginawa ko yung istorya. Ang anggulo ko straight news. "Michael Jackson will hold a concert in the Philippines and they have chosen Pasay City as their venue, in exchange for 1 million pesos donation blah blah blah." Walang malice, diba? Kinakantyawan ako ng mga reporters. "Ay si Roy o! Showbiz," sabing ganun. Sabi ko, "Anong showbiz? Sige, mag-antay kayo bukas. Lumabas sa Bulletin lang. Banner sa National section namin. Banner dun. Siyempre at that time, Michael Jackson talagang superstar. Everywhere he goes, talagang hinahabol yan. 'Di lumabas sa Bulletin. This is very funny. Hawak-hawak ko pa yung papel. Di ko pa dini-disclose lahat yung conditions ng papel. Yun lang muna. Pakagat lang. 'Di... yung Inquirer hinahabol na ko kinabukasan. Yung Star... "Uy, "sabi niya. "Anong basehan mo dun? Diba may binabasa kang papel?" "Ay hindi," sabi ko. "Sumunod kayo sa 'kin," sabi ko. Piniecemeal (piecemeal) ko yung istorya. Hanggang binabanatan ko na si Michael Jackson. Because, I still believe that 1 million pesos is not enough... for the magnitude of a Michael Jackson concert. Why? Because he'll be earning not less than 2 million dollars. And yet you will be donating 1 million pesos? Masyado naman ata malaki yung discrepancy nun. It's not that you will put the Philippines in the map of international concerts. No, it's not that. We also need money. You have to give us what is due to us. Like for example, if you are Gary Valenciano you will hold a concert in the States. Do you think you can some donate some a very measly amount? Siyempre sisingilin ka rin ng taxes niyan. Yun ang pinupunto ko. Until such time na yung City Council, the Vice Mayor, sila na yung nagtatanong sa akin. "Magkano ba sisingilin natin, Roy.. para, para maayos na lang ito. ?" Ako na nagdidictate ng tempo. Kasi winithhold (withhold) ko yung facts, nandun yung offers eh. Piniecemeal (piecemeal) ko yung release. That's very exciting. If you are a reporter, you are able to control divulging, if you know how to handle it.

Q: Yung piecemeal po, yun po yung?

A: Inuunti-unti mo yung paglabas nung content.

Q: Parang iniisa-isa?

A: (nods) That's very exciting. Alam mo, mararamdaman mo na hinahabol ka nga mga reporters. Hinahabol ka ng mga city officials. Because they do not know the content of the paper. Ikaw lang may hawak ng ganon. Nagtataka sila saan kaya nakukuha nito yun? Yun yung sinasabi ko sa 'yo. The reporter must be very nosy, very enterprising, and you should know how do develop the story. Patatakbuhin mo. Icocontrol mo. Inquirer is doing that very good right now. Ang galing ng Inquirer ng ganyan.

Q: Yung cinover niyo po yung Michael Jackson, that time, ano po yung beat niyo?

A: Kasi Pasay yan, diba? So everything that happens within my turf, I'm covering the Southern part of Metro Manila.

Q: Regardless po?

A: Regardless if it is entertainment or sports. Pero, basically meron kaming mga sports. Kaya lang ito, yung sa kin is scoop ko ito eh. Do you know what happened? Umalis sila sa Pasay. They went to Manila. Dito sila nag-apply. Hinabol ko pa yun dito sa Manila. Inupakan ko pa rin nang inupakan. Until si Mayor Lim at that time, declared na hindi niya papapasukin si Michael Jackson dito sa Manila because he is a child molester. Yun ang issue naman niya. Tumakbo yan sa Parañaque kay Joey Marquez. Dun sila nag-apply. Si Joey was a media savvy. Talagang hungry for publicity si Joey. Artista eh. Tinawagan ako ni Joey. Kaibigan ko kasi siya eh. Sabi niya, "Pare, pwede bang wag mo ng sundan dito 'to? Sasakalin kita," sabi sa king. Inexplain niya, "Pagbigyan mo naman kami. Ngayon lang kami malalgyan ng ganito." On the same conditions, na magdodonate yung Michael Jackson productions dun sa Parañaque Public Hospital. Di ko na hinabol. Out of respect kay Joey. Kasi alam mo kung bakit? Kasi si Joey nagiging sources ko din in the past, at tsaka yung mga darating pa. So I reserved yung friendship namin.

Q: So parang kung naglalaro po kayo, parang marunong po kayong i-ano yung baraha?

A: Napakiusapan niya ako. Ito ngayon yung nakakatawa. On the day itself, nung concert na, dun ginawa yun sa may Coastal eh. Nalulungkot ako kasi lahat ng mga reporters, pinadalhan ni Joey ng ticket. Ako lang ang hindi. Sabi ko babanatan ko 'to. Parang na-isolate ako eh. Nagpunta ako. I was walking. Malayo yung lalakarin mo before you reach the gate. Nagpunta ako. Si Joey from siguro mga 500 meters nakita. Mataas si Joey, diba? Nakita na niya ako. Paglapit ko, sinakal niya ko. Sabi niya, "Bat andito ka?" "Wala," sabi ko. "Baka magkaron ng stampede diyan, eh di babanatan ko. Sabi niya, "Loko-loko! Manonood ka 'no?" Sabi sa king ganon. "Hindi," sabi ko. "Wala ng ticket," sabi niya. "Hindi ka na makakanood. Niloloko niya 'ko. But eventually, nung naglalakad kami sakal-sakal niya kong ganun, "'Wag ka nang aalis ah," sabi niya. "Ipapasok kita roon sa loob. Wag ka nang lalabas kasi ang daming nanghihingi ng ticket. Sold out na." "Basta ikaw ipapasok kita," sabi niya. Pinasok niya ako doon sa harapan. Siyempre wala namang haharang sa amin. Mayor yan eh. So, it was a very funny story. Ang lesson dun, for a reporter to be able to develop good stories, kailangan matalas ang pang-amoy mo. Malinaw ang mata mo sa mga nangyayari sa paligid mo. Isipin mo yun, it just came from a fax. Ano bang malay ko dun. Malikot lang ang kamay ko so tiningnan ko. "Uy, Michael Jackson to ah, " sabi ko. Tinakbo ko na. Marami pang peripherals yung istorya na yun. Do you know that yung Michael Jackson production, ang abogado nila is Francis Pangilinan, na asawa ni Sharon Cuneta. Eh di kung nilabas ko pa yun, eh di lalong nagkagkaleche-leche yung istorya na yun. You know why? Asawa ng anak mo yun, tapos nagla-lobby na ganun lang ang ibibigay sa siyudad? Dapat siya pa nga ang mag-encourage na, "magpasok naman kayo ng konting taxes sa city para kumita naman, tsaka yung donation na yan, diba?

Q: Diba yung very first beat niyo po yung sa diplomatic agreement?

A: You know, I was not comfortable at that time. Unang-una, bagong-bago akong reporter, and I was covering a highly sensitive beat. Highly sensitive yang DFA eh. Next to Malacañang, palagay ko, the second highest, the second most sensitive beat will be yung diplomatic. Kasi you are talking about international laws there. You're talking about ambassadors there. You're talking about policies of other countries vis-à-vis with the Philippines. Medyo ano siya eh.. yung standards niya medyo mataas. I was the youngest reporter covering the beat, kasama ko puro matatanda na. Yung talagang dun na tumanda sa beat na yon. How can I compare myself? So para akong langaw dun na gumagawa ng straight news lang. Hindi in-depth yung paggawa mo ng istorya. And sa mga ganong klaseng beat, halimbawa Malacañang, senate, congress, diplomatic, ang kailangang pinapadala diyan dapat yung mga senior reporters. Kasi yung experience nila will be needed pagdating sa mga discussion ng issues.

Q: Nabanggit niyo po kanina na bata pa po kayo nung pumasok po kayo sa Bulletin, naging cub reporter po ba kayo noon?

A: Almost. Pero hindi naman, kasi masuwerte ako pagpasok ko rito, there was immediately an open beat. Yun nga yung Southern Metro Manila eh. So, I almost passed through that. Pero before, nung Headline days, yung before the diplomatic, sinubukan muna ako sa police for a while, mga one or two months. Parang cub reporting nga. Pero it was negligible kasi one or two months tapos nilagay na ko sa diplomatic beat.

Q: So, ano naman po yung masasabi niyo po dito sa Bulletin po, as in itong place, mga working conditions, ok po ba?

A: Palagay ko ang Bulletin isa sa pinakamagandang work conditions dito sa lahat ng diyaryo, considering that this is an institution already. Palagay ko magsasara na lahat ng diyaryo, Bulletin hindi pa eh, because masyadong matatag ang foundation nito. So you can expect na yung work condition is okay. Siyempre we don't want to compare ourselves with Inquirer or sa Star kasi itong Bulletin nag-exist na ito for so long na ganito lang. Iniimprove na lang naming yung craftsmanship ng mga reporters, ng desk. Pero yung style mismo ng diyaryo sa palagay ko will stay as it is for as long as tinatangkilik ng tao.

Q: How about the people you are working with in bulletin.

A: Okay naman. Basically, dito sa desk kasi right now I'm concentrating more sa mga reporters namin sa Metro Manila, reporters and correspondents. Dun ang concentration namin ngayon kasi we wanted to strengthen yung area na yan. Kasi andito young competition ng mga diyaryo. Yung sa probinsya, medyo negligible na yan eh. Alam mo naman kapag perception dito malakas ang bulletin, malakas na yan all-through out. So that's what we're trying to do right now. Concentrating on our reporting sa Metro Manila, kung pwede magbeat up kami ng tao, photos, we want good photos.

Q: Paano naman po yung physical facilities ng Bulletin?

A: Okay naman, kumpleto kami. Except I understand the other two papers in-equip nila ang mga reporters nila to be able to cope up with the new technologies. In-equip nila ng mas magagandang equipment which is wala pa kami ngayon. Pero I know that the management has plans na i-equip din namin ng mas magagagandang naming equipment ang mga tao natin. Pero basically, in terms of equipment, parang medyo ahead yata yung dalawa. Nagpursige sila to produce that. Kami palagay ko we'll be able to do that also soon, kasi nasa planning stage na yan.

Q: Eh paano naman po yung working conditions in terms po of compensation niyo po as employees?

A: Alam mo ang problema sa journalism, there is a semblance of public service here, especially when you are a reporter. 'Di bale yung mga desk editors. Pero you will know this when you will become reporters in the future. Parang sa 'yo, parang kang meron kang moral obligation to be a public servant. Kapag nakita mo yung istorya na kahit na late na sa oras mo, di mo papabayaang maiscoopan (scoop) ka. Hindi lang yung because of the competition. Pero if you are a real journalist, parang masama sa loob mo kapag hindi mo isinulat ito.

Q: Parang may dedication ka?

A: Oo, mai-imbibe mo yan later on. Especially kung sa police beat ka. Kasi that's where the crimes and everything happens. Parang nagkakaroon ka ng moral obligation na, "Kailangan isulat ko 'to." O kaya kung may inapi ng ganun, diba? "Kailangan isulat ko 'to ah." Nagkakaroon ka ng obligation. Well, pwede mo naman di rin isulat, kaya lang ang magiging mga repercussion, baka maiscoopan ka. Pero somehow yung sinasabi ko sa inyo na maiimbibe mo later on, yung moral obligation mo to write something that you feel is worth writing for.

Q: Nagiging issue po pa yung mga, kunwari, yung mga ano nga po, yung mga binabayad sa inyo?

A: Ang alin?

Q: Yung compensation niyo po, benefits?

A: Hindi. Bulletin is paying okay in terms of yung mga benefits or anything. Palagay ko sa industry, yung top three pa rin ah, hindi kami mahuhuli doon sa dalawa. Baka at par.

Q: So bale yung first beat niyo po sa Bulletin, yun nga po, yung police beat.

A: Oo, police.

Q: Meron po ba kayong mga specific na police beats na hindi niyo po makakalimutan?

A: Masyadong madami eh. Although I cannot vividly recall everything, pero masyadong marami. Alam mo, yung pagcocover ng police din kasi minsan, especially sa babae, palagay ko, medyo kailangan matibay ang dibdib mo, especially when you're covering crimes dahil diyan mo makikita yung dugo. Ako, mahina ako sa ganun. But makaka-adjust ka na rin later on. Kapag nakakakita ako ng patay nasusuka ako. Oo, yun nasagasaan, nasaksak, nabaril. Pero later on, nai-immune ka na eh. Pati yung parlance mo, pag police na mga kausap mo, tsaka mga hoodlums na, parang pare-pareho na kayo ng sinasabi.

Q: So ano po yung first beat niyo po sa Bulletin?

A: Yung police. Ang ginagawa ko noon, yung mga maliliit na istorya, yung mga simple crimes, halimbawa yung saksakan, para masigurado kong lumabas, kasi kung irereport mo lang siya, sa Bulletin kasi conservative ang Bulletin. Di kagaya sa tabloid, halimbawa nagsaksakan si Pedro tsaka si Maria, nasa tabloid na yun. So ito kailangan lagyan mo ng color. Ibig sabihin kailangan lagyan mo ng background, bakit nagsaksakan. Sino yung mga involved na tao diyan? Baka naman mabubuting tao 'to. Bakit nagsaksakan 'to, diba?

Q: Pero yung time na yun, medyo cub reporter pa po kayo nun?

A: Oo.

Q: Tapos yung naging talagang employed na po talaga kayo, dun na po kayo pumasok sa diplomatic?

A: Yung sa Headline yon. After one to two months nung cub ako, inelevate agad ako sa as a reporter. Nagkataon na nabakante yung diplomatic beat na yun, nalagay ako doon. Akala ko temporary lang in nature. Tapos nung okay naman, kasi gumawa ako ng sariling mundo kong doon. I didn't attempt na sumabay doon sa mainstream media kasi ang gagaling. Magagaling! Biro mo, mga lolo ko na eh.

Q: Sinu-sino po ba yung mga yun?

A: Ngayon, most of them... Sila Julius Fortuna, who is now a columnist of Manila Times, Si Lito Malinao, professor sa Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila sa journalism, Si Atty. Bert Castro, and some of them kundi sa Business World nasa Press Attache natin sa Washington. Ganun kasi-senior yung mga kasabay ko dun. Ako yung pinakabata at that time. So I cannot compete with them. What I did is naghanap ako ng yung alam kong magiging hari ako. Pumunta ako doon sa ibang section ng DFA. Halimbawa yung mga OFW section. Doon ako naghalungkat ng istorya. Mas magaganda pala ang istorya doon. Kasi doon mo makikita yung hindi natin alam may nakulong na pala. May napugutan na pala ng ulo roon. Doon ko nakikita yung mga report na galing sa embassy. Hinahalungkat ko yon. So doon ako nagdevelop. Pini-piecemeal ko rin. Halimbawa nakakuha ako ng tatlong kasi ngayon, hindi ko muna ilalabas lahat yan. Isa-isa ko yan. Ngayon, isa ito. Bukas, ito. Nagtataka sila, "San nanggaling 'to?" Ang tawag namin sa ganun enterprising.

Q: Diba po marami po kayong taong nakatrabaho nung mga past years, meron po ba kayong macoconsider yung mga mermorable pong mga tao na hindi niyo po talaga makakalimutan?

A: Sa diyaryo?

Q: Opo.

A: Meron. Patay na siya eh. Yung... Dati bilib na bilib ako sa editor na ito. Police... Tabloid editor siya eh. Si Max Buan. Actually nung pumasok ako sa tabloid noon sa Headline, he was the editor-in-chief at that time. And he was criticizing our stories. Eh bago ka, siyempre parang pakiramdam mo na 'pag kini-criticize ka lalo kang nadudurog ang puso mo. But sa kanya hindi. Ang manner of criticism niya is iki-criticize ka pero he will be constructive enough na natututo ka. Sasabihin sa'yo, "Alam mo masama yung istorya mo eh. Pero ganito gawin mo para maganda." Iga-guide ka pa niya. Hindi niya sasabihin kung papano mo isusulat, but sasabihin niya sa'yo yung direksyon mo. "Ganito gawin mo para maganda. Siguro mas maganda lalabas niyan." True enough. Sa kanya marami akong natutunan. Kasi critic siya eh. Kapag nakita niya istorya mo, "Ano ba 'tong istorya mo? Parang komiks." Gaganyanin niya yan. "Ang ano mo... ganitong takbo ng istorya... tapos bumaba ka dito." So matututo ka sa kanya. Hindi siya yung salbahe na sisigawan ka, ganun. May mga editors kasi na ganun eh. Naninigaw.

Q: So sa palagay niyo po, how long do you see yourself in this kind of business or in this kind of profession?

A: Palagay ko kung dito sa opisina, siguro sa edad ko, I don't think gusto kong tumagal dito sa opisna, hinahanap kasi ng katawan ko action sa labas e, na tatakbo ka rito, o pupuntahan mo si ganito dito sa taas, yung naghahabul ka ng deadline, nawala na sa akin yun. So pagnakikita ko yun mga reporters, naiinggit ako. Sana in the future, makabalik din ako sa labas. Although we have to, sabi nila, ma-demote, andyan ka na nga sa opisina. Ako, I still love being a reporter. That's where the action is.

Q: Pag kunwari reporter po kayo, nabibigyan po ba kayo ng allowance for transportation?

A: Dito sa Bulletin, meron.

Q: Kasama na po yun?

A: Oo, meron kami sa Bulletin, pati yun pang-cellphone mo.

Q: Sir sa direct editors po, yung hindi po yun sa ibang diyaryo, yung naging editor niyo po?

A: Dito?

Q: Kahit saan po.

A: Oo.

Q: Sa experience niyo po, meron po ba kayong mga hindi makakalimutan?

A: Ayun, si Max Buwan, one. Dito sa Bulletin si Tony Antonio siguro, yung aming provincial editor, not just because na he was the one who tapped me na pumasok dito, but basically because nung, nag-iistart nako dito, I was writing several stories na medyo may political angle. Although sinasabihan niya ako na wag kang magsusulat ng mga ganyan kasi, medyo controversial, pero he still accommodates mga storya. Kasi nakikita niya yun line of reasoning mo as a reporter, gusto mong sumikat, gusto mong makilala sa lugar n iyon, kaya you have to write something na kapag binasa nila, medyo magugulat sila, salbahe tong reporter na ito a. Although hindi mo sila ni-lilibel, kaya lang yun thinking mo, mababasa nila, that you're trying to impute something, not libelous, but intelligently, kung ano yun gusto mong iparating.

Q: So talking about libel, meron po ba kayong mga na-encounter na?

A: Meron na. Twice. It was filed by the same person. Pero dalawang kaso. Ultimately, it was dismissed. Doon palang sa level na prosecutor's office, pero I realized that meron talagang malice yun pagsusulat ko at that time, kasi galit ako , nagalit ako sa tao dahil nakitako hindi tama ginagawa. So I had to write the story. Pero alam ko naman yung mga protective measures, to be able to skip libel. Although libelous yung itsura ng storya, but medyo kung eksperyensado ka nang reporter, you will know kung papaano mo pro-protektahan yun sarili mo run sa storya.

Q: Nabanggit niyo po yung provincial editor niyo po na siya yun nagtawag sa inyo to go to journalism?

A: To apply here for correspondent, oo.

Q: So paano po nangyari 'yon?

A: Diba galing ako sa headline noon, then pumunta ako sa movie and TV filming, yung mga foreign movie and TV filming. At that time shempre, may mga lull yan, so may mga sideline ako noon, mga corporate account, I'm doing public relations, pero part time lang yan, mga pipitsugin lang, para makatawid ka ng panggastos mo for this week. So one time, nagdala ako ng release dito, kaibigan ko na siya matagal na because my father was a newspaperman also, kaya lang provincial, pero magkakakilala sila. So nagdala ako sa kanya, binasa niya, sabi niya: "Ano ba ginagawa mo?" sabi sakin. Sabi ko "Wala nga Sir, nag-sideline lang." Sabi niya, :Bat hindi ka nalang mag-apply dito, cover mo yun beat na iyon." Kasi at that time, he was the editor of the correspondents of Manila Bulletin, so sabi ko sige, I'll give it a try. Noong naktia niya na okay naman, "Sige, cover mo narin itong mga ibang lugar na ito, dinagdagan niya na.

Q: Asan po niya kayo unang sinabak?

A: Yun South. Una ang beat ko nun is only Las Piñas, kasi tinanung niya ako, "Where do you live?" Sabi ko, "Sa Las Piñas Sir." So sabi niya, "I-cover mo na ang Las Piñas." So cinover ko, 'tas nakita niya na okay naman yung stories ko, although very small town, at that time, pero I was generating good stories, na hindi lumalabas sa iba. Binuhay ko yun politika dun, kaya nag-away-away mga tao roon.

Q: So paano naman po yung family influence?

A: Of course may malaking influence yun, kasi, at that time, natatandaan ko nung bata pa ako, during the Martial Law, before and after the declaration of Martial Law, my father was a radio commentator. So before the Martial Law, shempre sinasama kami sa mga radio stations DZRH, yang ABS-CBN, DZXL, dun sila nagbrobroadcast everyday. Ako, what do you know about politics at that time, kaya lang noong lumaki na kami, when we experienced Martial Law, my father then was jobless, 'tas lahat ng mga newspaperman at mga media noon, tinaggalan ng trabaho, until dumating na yung 80s, nakuha siyang, negosyante siya, pero kung may libre siyang oras, kukuha siya ng programa parin sa radyo, minsan sinasama kami roon, sinasalang ako. Nagvovolunteer ako magreport outside, merong nagbarilan dito, just to be able to have a feel of what really newspreporting is all about.

Q: So paano po kayo nagshift from reporting to newspaper?

A: Actually, love ko ang newspapering, kaya lang, at that time, what do you expect from pagkagraduate mo, alam mo naman dito as atin, napakahirap humanap ng trabaho ditto. Kasi yng other papers like Inquirer, meron na silang quadra nila, na pinaggagalingan ng mga reporters, so hindi na naghahanap sa iba yan.

Q: Noong bata pa po kayo, alam niyo na po na dito kayo?

A: Palagay ko. May inclination ka na. Pagkausap ko yun daddy ko may assignment ako, social studies, involves politics, governance, may mga tinatanung ako sa kanya, ang advice ng father ko sa akin, at that time, sabi niya: "Alam mo, para hindi ka nahihirapan sa ganyan, you have to read the newspapers everyday." Because lahat ng edukasyon, lahat ng mangyayari sa buhay mo, you can get it from the newspaper. 'Tas make it a habit na kung may hindi ka naiintindihan na word, get the word, and look for it in the dictionary, then that's how you gain education by yourself. So doon, nagkaroon nako ng inclination nung sinabi niya yon. Which is ako, even sa ma anak ko ganun din sinasabi ko, kahit maliliit pa, I have to ask them to read newspapers, kahit hindi nila naintindihan, watch news on TV everyday. Para alam nila kung ano yung mangyayari, sa diyaryo, para natututo sila yung word na nakukuha nila everyday pinakikinabangan yan e.

Q: Sir, meron po ba kayong mga iba pang kapatid na nasa media rin?

A: Meron akong kapatid, na nasa tabloid ngayon. But, he only writes a column thrice a week.

Q: Other than that, wala na?

A: Wala na. Hinde. Meron isa yata, nasa Philippine star, reporer siya.

Q: Para pong final words niyo po, ano po yung masasabi niyo sa lahat ng students na possibly mag-enter into journalism?

A: Yeah..

Q: What will be your word of advice?

A: Well, number one, journalism is not as lucrative as other professions. Sa journalism, kailangan dito talaga yung lukso ng dugo mo, "This is what I really want." Kasi hindi nga ganun ka-lucrative, dedication ang importate rito. Number two, as soon as you get in, doon sa profession, ang i-practice niyo, yung mga yn sinasabi ko sa inyo, yun building up of credibility. How to be able to do it, you have to protect your name, pag nagsulat ka, just make sure that you have, fair and square, na totoo yun mga sinasabi mo. Those are very basic na kailangan mo. And later on, mararamdaman mo once na yung storya mo nagagamit na sa front page, you're building up credibility already, reputation. Kaya yung mga sources, if you have sources, you have to protect them, and you have to make sure na may distance yun relasyon niyo. Minsan kasi, may mga sources na ginagamit ka nalang din, and you must be aware of it also. So credibility is very important, perseverance, shempre yung corruption, yung inyong resistnce sa corruption should be, that's how you build credibility. You should be able to resist that.

Q: Sir, meron pong phabol na tanung, sa historical events po, tulad ng Martial Law, EDSA I, EDSA II, Abu Sayaf po, NPA, MNLF, meron po ba kayong mga na-cover na tungkol doon?

A: Maswerte ako, wala. Kasi napunta ako doon sa ibang assignments. Actually para sa mga reporter, parang medalya yung nagcover ka ng gera, it's like a medal and honor for us. Kasi, sa Amerika, you will never be a star reporter kung hindi ka dumaan sa war coverages. Palagay ko, the same thing with the Filipinos. Pero there are so many ways to be, how to be great in journalism, hindi lang naman sa war, parang medalya lang yan, na, "O, gumaraduate ka sa gera, ito medalya mo." Pero I would love to, if I would be assigned, even now, I would love to.

Q: Sige po.

A: Sige.

Q: Thank you very much.

A: Pag may kaialngan kayo, tumawag lang kayo, bigyan ko kayo ng calling card. 12 Yahoo! Shopping Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping INPRINT A51 ORAL HISTORY TRANSCRIPT Interviewer: Full name? Roy Mabasa: Roy Carag Mabasa.

Q: C-A-R-A-G?

A: Oo.

Q: Kailan po napanganak?

A: September 13, 1962. Confidential yung edad ha. (laughs)

Q: Saan po napanganak?

A: Quezon City.

Q: Sa Metro Manila?

A: Yes.

Q: May asawa po?

A: Meron na.

Q: Ilan po?

A: Isa lang. (smiles)

Q: May anak na?

A: Tatlo.

Q: Saan po kayo nag-aral noong elementary?

A: Elementary? Sa F. Bonifacio Elementary School. It's a public school.

Q: Sa high school po?

A: New Era Educational Institute.

Q: College po?

A: New Era College. Ngayon university na yun.

Q: Ano pong degree?

A: Journalism

Q: Kailan po nag-graduate?

A: '83

Q: Four years po yun?

A: (nods)

Q: Nag-aral pa po sila after?

A: I took some special sessions. Kumuka ako ng music sa conservatory, pero one year lang, major in piano.

Q: So marunong po kayo. . .

A: Oo. Then I also studied in Japan. Japanese language naman, for a year also.

Q: Kailan po talaga kayo natapos mag-aral?

A: Mga late 80's. Mga '87, kasi putul-putol naman.

Q: Pero yun nakapasok kayo dito sa Manila Bulletin. . .

A: No. Ina-narrate ko na sa iyo. I started sa radio as a correspondent . Nagvovolunteer ako to report kasi wala ako ginagawa. So, I might as well practice it para pagdating ko sa mainstream, I'd be more comfortable. So, at that time, my father has a radio program. During the Marcos time ito. Then sometimes, nagvovolunteer ako to report incidents outside. That was where I started. That was where I honed my career. Then in the late 80's, I started working in the newspaper. At that time, there was this tabloid called Headline. It was a mainstream tabloid at that time. It was owned by Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua. I was then assigned as a reporter covering diplomatic and airport beats, including foreign affairs. At that time, I was lucky because that was the time when the Philippines was tackling the issue of the U.S. bases. It was very controversial until it led to the removal and abrogation of the U.S.-R.P. agreement on the bases. It was very historical. I think it was in 1990 or 1991 when the Senate abrogated the agreement. Now, I had worked with the Headline for at least three years. Then, after that, because the newspaper closed down, I had to move to another work. I engaged in TV and movie filming production. I only accepted projects that were coming from Japan, because I can speak the language. I'm the one coordinating everything for most of the TV and filming crew from Japan. I do the all the research and the requirements they need to be able to shoot here.

Q: Sir, you mentioned that you handled the Visiting Forces. . .

A: The diplomatic beat. . .

Q: Yes, the diplomatic beat. Gaano po kayo katagal sa beat na iyon?

A: Siguro, more than a year din. I spent most of my time sa Foreign Affairs tsaka sa airport where you meet all the dignitaries, and the VIPs coming in and out of the country. Maraming istorya sa airport, specifically if you're enterprising. For example, the travails of the OFWs. Those are the types of stories that I wrote during those days.

Q: Meron po ba sila yun mga hindi makakalimutang mga beat?

A: There are so many incidents at tsaka mga cases, specifically yung Vizconde Massacre. I was already with the Bulletin at that time. I think that was in '95 or '96, if I'm not mistaken. I started as a police reporter, so it was very memorable for me because that case became a very big story in the Philippines. If you remember that, that was the massacre of the Vizconde family. It was tried in Paranaque, which was where I was assigned. I was assigned in the Southern part of Manila, composed of Paranaque, Pasay, Makati, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, and Pateros. So, when we were covering it with other reporters, we were, of course, dealing with lawyers of both sides to be able to extract good stories. Sometimes we have to go out with the lawyers of the defense. The following day, we will go out with the lawyers of the other side. You have to be able to acquaint yourselves with them. Kung hindi mo gagawin iyon, you will not be able to gain more insights about the story. That's what we call sources building. We have to build up sources. You have to strengthen your relations with your sources, or else, you will get nothing. That's very basic in journalism. You must remember that. Build sources and strengthen your relationship with them, but not necessarily being close with them. At least magkakaroon lang kayo ng malinaw na linya at rapport. Confidence is very important. You're like a lawyer and yung client mo should be confident in talking to you, specifically, about issues that are sensitive. Pwede ka niyang sabihan na, "Pare, this one is off the record." Meron kayong confidentiality at tsaka trust. You have to build that when you're a reporter.

Q: Since nabanggit niyo po yung off-the-record. . .

A: Oo.

Q: Ano po yung general rule niyo kapag may nagsasabi sa inyo ng off-the-record na information?

A: Well, to be able to get good sources, ang pinakaimportante sa off-the-record is you should respect kung anong sasabihin ng source mo. Halimbawa, you are talking to a police officer and you stumbled upon a case na medyo sensitive. Now yung ibang mga diyaryo they're having a hard time getting all the facts of the case. Now, since kaibigan mo yung isang police officer, you want to get all the insights about it. When you talk him, darating yung time na sasabihin niya sa'yo, "Pare, this one is confidential. I will tell you all the story, pero huwag mong isulat." Now, you also have to respect the right ng mga sources mo. Or else, you will mangle everything. Nobody will trust you anymore. In journalism, the most important things here is trust. You build credibility through trust. You must gain their respect, or else nobody will give you stories anymore.

Q: Meron po ba kayong mga experience kung saan alam niyo po na it was an important story pero di niyo po. . .

A: Marami. After my police beat, I engaged in the reportage of the local governments. One very exciting moment was about the life of Mayor Pablo Cuneta. I became close to him. At that time, that the old man was already in the boundery of the insanity because of his age, he was then pass 80. I think 84 or 85. So nung time na yun, di mo naman pupwedeng isulat yung mga nangyari sa buhay niya in the past, like kung sino mga naging babae niya, diba? So, although kinukwento niya sa'yo, hindi mo pupwedeng isulat yun. And it was confidential, diba? Pero, nung namatay naman siya, I think I wrote one of best stories. Kasi maraming mga insights sa buhay niya na alam ko na pwede mo nang i-disclose.

Q: Ah, so. . .

A: That's one, pero marami na rin yung iba, like mga crimes. But that one is more personal because I developed a personal attachment with the family, pati yung mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. And I was amazed with how his life had been, because he adjudged as the longest serving elected mayor probably in the world because he served for about 47 years as mayor. Isang beses lang nainterrupt yun nung pumasok si Cory Aquino because tinanggal lahat ng elected mayors, diba? But after naglapse yung one or two years, nagkaroon tayo ng election. He was elected again.

Q: Kailan po kayo pumasok sa Bulletin?

A: I started here in late '94 as a correspondent. Then I worked here until '98, I think. Then from there, nagtayo ako ng isang parang foreign magazine. It was a Japanese-English bilingual magazine. It was a business magazine which I handled for about two years. But then, after that, I had an opportunity to work in Malacañang as a close-in writer for then president Erap Estrada. Then when Erap was removed, I rejoined the group of Arroyo again as a close-in writer. Now, our job there as close-in writers is to cover the day-to-day events of the president and write a story about them. We are the source of all the activities of the president which you read in the papers. Kami yung gumawa nun, then, mino-modify ng diyaryo. Kung ano yung gusto nilang i-slant doon sa story. But basically, we are the source of those presidential stories. Ang tawag sa amin doon is Presidential Close-in Writer. I worked there for almost 5 years until the time came when there was a vacancy here for a regular position, which is the Chief-of-Reporters, and I applied for the position.

Q: Noong close-in writer po kayo ni President Arroyo, you were not connected with Manila Bulletin?

A: No. But still involves journalism because it was news writing. It was basically news writing, news gathering, and news coverage.

Q: Anong year po yun noong nagstart na kayong maging permanent dito?

A: I think that was more than two years ago.

Q: So pagpasok niyo po sa Bulletin as the Chief-of-Reporters. . .

A: Reporters, yeah.

Q: Ano po yung tingin niyong kaibahan sa pagiging coorespondent?

A: Well, malayo. Kasi there are classifications. Yung correspondents dito sa Bulletin or in other newspapers are being paid in a per-story basis. Now the regular reporters are those in the plantilya who receive monthly salaries tsaka yung other benefits. Now, there are two different worlds between an correspondent reporter and a chief-of-reporters. You cannot enjoy covering outside anymore because yung trabaho mo is concentrated sa desk, monitoring all the stories and movement and assignment of your reporters. Basically, it's more of management rather than covering the beat itself. I miss all the actions. The action is outside, not here. Pagdating dito, finished product na. I-rerefine mo na lang ng mga editors namin.

Q: Kayo po nag-aassign ng mga i-cocover. . .

A: Yes.

Q: Paano niyo po alam kung. . .

A: If you are a chief-of-reporters, the important thing here is you must be abreast with all the stories that are happening around you, day in and day out. So, sometimes, if I'm not in he office, I stay in the car and I listen. I cannot even listen to FM radios anymore. I have to switch my radio to AM, kasi baka may biglang mangyari, diba? Baka may biglang pumutok dun, so at least I'm aware. Kapag natutulog ako, bukas ang TV ko. I make sure my TV is on ANC, para paggising ko alam ko pa rin kung anong nangyari. Pagdating mo rito, you have to read all the papers para alam mo kung anong wala kayo, at kung anong meron kayo na wala yun iba. So, now, yun tinatanung mo kanina kung papaano ko nalalaman, there are so many ways to do it. One, yun mismong mga affected or concerned agencies or persons ang nagpapadala ng media advisory dito. They are letting us know that there will be a rally or meeting tomorrow tomorrow, a press conference here or launching there. So, I will see to it that the reporter nearest that area or the reporter covering the particular issue will be there. That's how we do the assignment of reporters. Pero, what is more important here is that you should know what is happening around you, day in and day out, or else you will be outscooped by all the other papers. You will slip on your job. yung presence mo about all of these gives you the ability na malaman kung ano ang mangyayari bukas. Let's say, right now, while we're talking, there's an ongoing preliminary investigation of the Subic rape case. So what do I expect from there. There are so many things that you have to expect. One is, probably because of the gravity of the case, there will be pleadings here and pleadings from the other side. This means that there will be delays. So you have to expect those things, and you have to expect what photos you need tomorrow, and things like that.

Q: Diba kanina po nabanggit niyo po yung deadlines po?

A: uh-hmm. . .

Q: How strict are you with deadlines, and paano niyo po naseset yung deadlines?

A: Within the office, we have a standing policy here that all stories or summaries, should be in by four o'clock, because by that time, nagmi-meeting na. Nagkakaroon kami ng editorial meeting everyday. It is during this time when the editors choose the stories na gagamitin nila for tomorrow for a particular sections. I-sesegregate na yung sections for the front page, for provincial, or for Metro. I-iidentify na nila kung ano yung biggest stories and kung ano yung major and minor stories. Four o'clock is our deadline. We have to be very strict about it. But sometimes there are big stories that we really have to wait for. Like sa Senate, let's say merong ongoing hearing about jueteng. Now, alam niyo naman continuous yan, so, it might end at 6:00 PM. We have to wait for that. But we are telling our reporters to advise us kung ano yung in-eexpect din nilang mangyayari sa hearing. Who will be the speakers? Who will be the panelists? We want to know that so we would also expect kung ano yung sasabihin nito. We expect something like a bombshell here or there.

Q: yung kay Gloria po, diba umabot po yun ng madaling araw?

A: Oo. We have reporters there on a 24/7 basis.

Q: So release na po yun ng. . .

A: In newspapering, we have this so-called rematte. Meron kaming provincial edition. "Yong provincial edition yung maagang rinerelease. Let's say dito sa imprenta ng Bulletin nagrerelease yun ng 10 o'clock. Printed na yun so dinidisperse na 'yan sa provinces. Let's say ihahabol sa eroplano, sinasakay sa truck, or dinedeliver sa Bicol. Now, ang tawag namin sa rematte ay city edition. yung next, print edition niyon. The same content, but somhow yung mga latest events, isinisingit na roon. So, nauupdate yung issues and stories.

Q: So meron ho ba kayong na-experience na talagang non-stop po?

A: Actually 'pag merong mga special events, like noong may kudeta, diba? Talagang wala na kayong tulugan niyan. Halimabawa naka-day off ako rito, pero basta kung nagkaroon ng kudeta, I'll make sure that I'll be tuning into the radio 24 hours a day. Kahit inaantok na 'ko, kailangan alam ko kung anong nangyayari paggising ko.

Q: Doon po sa Oakwood mutiny...

A: Oo, yung mga ganoon. Halimbawa kung may lindol na malaki, you have to be on a 24 hour basis kasi developing yung story na 'yan.

Q: Sir malaki po yung adjustment ng pagiging reporter sa pagwowork niyo dito sa office. So sa mga early months, anu po yung mga adjustments?

A: Well, Manila Bulletin is an institution. It has been in the newspapering business for a hundred years, so you can expect na yung mga tao rito, kung ano yung nakagawian nila before, di mo naman pupwedeng pasunorin sa gusto mong mangyari, diba? But you also have to develop what you want in your own terms. May time table ka rin. Halimabawa, for the first six months ganito gawin natin sa mga reporters to be able to be competitive with the other papers like Inquirer and Philippine Star. Basically yun big three lang naman dito sa industry are namely, Bulletin, Inquirer and Star. Whoever is number one there, I'm not telling you anymore. But of course, Bulletin is there. It's always on top. You have to develop it not overnight, but by schedule. Kaya yung ginagawa namin ngayon, even yung sinasabi niyong deadline kanina, binago namin yun several times para ma-adapt ng mga reporters. Hindi mo pupwedeng biglain because like I told you, it's an institution. Hindi mo pupwedeng i-reverse kung ano yung nakagawian na nila. But, little by little, they're coping up with the new systems being provided.

Q: So, ang sinasabi niyo po, lahat po kayo dito nag-aadjust.

A: Oo, not just me. Pati yung people under me. They're also adjusting, and you have to do that slowly. Hindi mo pwedeng biglain. Baka magkaroon ng culture shock. Pati naman ako, ayoko naman biglain, or you will be inviting trouble. And of course, in a company like this, you don't want to do that. This is like a basketball team. You have to have teamwork para maganda yung labas ng mga storya ninyo, at tsaka walang nagdodoble.

Q: Pagdating niyo po ba dito nagbigla po ba kayo or hindi na?

A: Actually hindi na because meron na 'kong experience dito before. I was a correspondent here before so yung mga kalokohan ko nung correspondent ako noon, more or less, I-eexpect mo na meron pa ring ganoon, diba? But, you have to be very frank with them, too, diba? "Oy oy oy, alam ko yung ginagawa mo." Halimbawa, you assigned somebody there to cover this, then the reporter will go to you, "Sir, wala naman palang istorya dito." You can tell him bluntly, "Tumigil ka nga sa akin. Baka hindi ka nagcover." O kaya tatawagan mo sila kasi may pumutok sa radyo na istorya. Tapos magdadahilan sila about that story, diba? Pero you have to let them know na alam mo yung ginagawa mo. Kailangan yung position ng Chief-of-Reporters, talagang naging reporter siya. Hindi lang yung he just came from nowhere, tapos hindi niya alam yung mangyayari sa grounds. You must have the feel of the grounds. Parang gera.

Q: Aside from the professional relationship na meron po kayo sa reporters ninyo, close rin naman po kayo?

A: Oo. You have to develop that.

Q: 'Pag walang work...

A: Magkakabarkada kayo. Sometimes, lalo na yung mga lalaki, I will invite them to drink 1, 2, 3, 4 bottles, then, let's go home. Yun din yung time na maririnig mo sa kanya kung ano yung problema nila, diba? Kasi that is the only time also na pupwede nilang ibulong sayo kung anong mga reklamo nila. Sasabihin nila sayo, "Sir, bakit yung storya ko hindi ginagamit," and you have to tell them frankly also why their story is not being used. "Eh masama pagkasulat e." You can tell them straight to their faces para alam nila kung papaano sila mag-iimprove, diba? Or else, you will be stagnant all throughout. Kailangan i-develop mo rin sila. 'Pag maganda naman ang istorya nila, medyo tapikin mo rin ang balikat, diba? "Uy, ganda ng istorya mo ah. Naka-iscoop tayo ah." 'Pag alam kong ako lang ang may istoryang ganoon, tuwang-tuwa ako. Pagkagising ko sa umaga, yung adrenalin mo talagang nagshu-shoot up, diba? Lalo kung banner story or front page story, the more na nagkakaroon ng the adrenalin. 'Pag nakaramdam ka ng, "Sikat ako. Ako lang naka-scoop nito." Makikita mo 'yan, the whole day masayang-masaya ka.

Q: So yung time niyo po as a correspondent, for the Bulletin din po diba?

A: (nods)

Q: Ano po yung mga skills niyo that helped you in your job as a chief-of-reporters?

A: Yung pagiging chismoso, palagay ko. That is very important. Yun yung tinatawag na nosy. Yung kapag may nag-uumpukan doon, gusto mong amoyin. Ano ba yung pinag-uusapan nitong mga loko-lokong ito? Or nakakita ka ng isang papel. I'll tell you something. This is a very good experience with the Michael Jackson concert. Yung mga promoters niya are British eh. Nagkataon, I was sitting at the office of Mayor Cuneta. Walang tao kasi si Cuneta, off and on sa ospital. Nakaupo akong ganun sa labas. Yung fax katabi ko. So, may lumalabas na papel dun sa fax. Walang tao, so kinuha ko at binasa ko. Proposal yun to hold the Michael Jackson concert in Pasay City. In exchange, they will donate 1 million pesos to Pasay City General Hospital. Tingnan mo kung ano ginawa 'ko. Kinuha ko yung papel. Nakita ko walang nakatingin kaya tinakbo ko yung papel. Gumawa ako ng istorya. Bumaba ako sa press office. May press office kami where all the news reporters and correspondents gathers together everyday. Dun ang working area namin. Ginawa ko yung istorya. Ang anggulo ko straight news. "Michael Jackson will hold a concert in the Philippines and they have chosen Pasay City as their venue, in exchange for 1 million pesos donation blah blah blah." Walang malice, diba? Kinakantyawan ako ng mga reporters. "Ay si Roy o! Showbiz," sabing ganun. Sabi ko, "Anong showbiz? Sige, mag-antay kayo bukas." Lumabas sa Bulletin lang. Banner sa isang ng National section namin. Siyempre, at that time, Michael Jackson is talagang superstar. Everywhere he goes, talangang hinahabol yan. This is very funny. Hawak-hawak ko pa yung papel. Di ko pa dini-disclose lahat yung conditions ng papel. Yun lang muna. Pakagat lang. Yung Inquirer hinahabol na ko kinabukasan. Yung Star naman, "Uy," sabi niya. "Anong basehan mo dun? Diba may binabasa kang papel?" "Ay hindi," sabi ko. "Sumunod kayo sa 'kin.". Piniecemeal (piecemeal) ko yung istorya, hanggang binabanatan ko na si Michael Jackson because I still believe that 1 million pesos is not enough for the magnitude of a Michael Jackson concert. Why? Because he'll be earning not less than 2 million dollars and yet you will be donating 1 million pesos? Masyado naman ata yung discrepancy nun, diba? It's not that you will put the Philippines in the map of international concerts. No, it's not that. We also need money, diba? You have to give us what is due to us. Like for example, if you are Gary Valenciano and you will hold a concert in the States, do you think you can donate a very measly amount? Siyempre sisingilin ka rin ng taxes niyan, diba? Yun ang pinupunto ko. Until such time, yung City Council and Vice Mayor na yung nagtatanong sa akin. "Magkano ba sisingilin natin, Roy? Para maayos na lang ito." Ako na nagdidictate ng tempo. Kasi winithhold (withhold) ko yung facts. That's very exciting. If you are a reporter, you are able to control divulging if you know how to handle it.

Q: Yung piecemeal po, yun po yung...

A: Inuunti-unti mo yung paglabas nung content.

Q: Parang iniisa-isa...

A: (nods) That's very exciting. Alam mo, mararamdaman mo na hinahabol ka ng mga reporters ang ng mga city officials because they do not know the content of the paper. Ikaw lang may hawak ng ganoon, diba? Nagtataka sila. "Saan kaya nakuha nito yun?" Yun yung sinasabi ko sa 'yo. The reporter must be very nosy, very enterprising, and you should know how do develop the story. Patatakbuhin mo. Icocontrol mo. Inquirer is doing that very well right now. Ang galing ng Inquirer sa ganyan.

Q: Yung kino-cover niyo po yung Michael Jackson, ano po yung beat niyo? Bakit po kayo...

A: Kasi Pasay yan, diba? I'm covering the Southern part of Metro Manila. Everything that happens within your turf, it's yours.

Q: Regardless po kung...

A: Regardless if it is entertainment or sports. Pero, basically meron kaming mga sports reporters. Kaya lang, scoop ko ito eh. Do you know what happened? Umalis sila sa Pasay. They went to Manila. Dito sila nag-apply. Hinabol ko pa yun dito sa Manila. Inupakan ko pa rin nang inupakan, until si Mayor Lim at that time, declared na hindi niya papapasukin si Michael Jackson dito sa Manila because he is a child molester. Yun ang issue naman niya. Tumakbo yan kay Joey Marquez sa Paranaque. Media savvy 'yang si Joey. Talagang hungry for publicity si Joey kasi artista. Tinawagan ako ni Joey. Kaibigan ko kasi siya. Sabi niya, "Pare, pwede bang wag mo ng sundan dito 'to? Sasakalin kita," sabi sa 'king ganun. Inexplain niya, "Pagbigyan mo naman kami. Ngayon lang kami malalagay sa ganito." On the same conditions na magdodonate yung Michael Jackson productions doon sa Parañaque Public Hospital. Di ko na hinabol out of respect kay Joey. Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi si Joey nagiging source ko din in so many sources in the past, at tsaka yung mga darating pa. So, I reserved yung friendship namin.

Q: So parang kung naglalaro po kayo, marunong po kayong i-ano yung baraha...

A: Napakiusapan niya ako. Ito ngayon yung nakakatawa. On the day of the concert na ginawa sa Coastal, nalulungkot ako kasi lahat ng mga reporters, pinadalhan ni Joey ng ticket. Ako lang ang hindi. Sabi ko, "babanatan ko 'to." Parang na-isolate ako eh. Nagpunta ako. Si Joey, from siguro mga 500 meters, nakita na niya ako. Mataas si Joey, diba? Paglapit ko, sinakal niya ko. Sabi niya, "Bat andito ka?" "Wala," sabi ko. "Baka magkaroon ng stampede diyan, eh di babanatan ko to." Sabi niya, "Loko-loko! Manonood ka 'no?" Sabi sa 'king ganon. "Hindi," sabi ko. "Wala ng ticket," sabi niya. "Hindi ka na makakanood." Niloloko niya 'ko. But eventually, nung naglalakad kami at sakal-sakal niya kong ganun, "Wag ka nang aalis ah," sabi niya. "Ipapasok kita roon sa loob. Wag ka nang lalabas kasi ang daming nanghihingi ng ticket. Sold out na." "Basta ikaw ipapasok kita," sabi niya. Pinasok niya ako doon sa harapan. Siyempre wala namang haharang sa amin. Mayor yan eh. Sabi niya, "Wag ka nang aalis diyan, ah." So, it was a funny story. Ang lesson doon is for a reporter to be able to develop good stories, kailangan matalas ang pang-amoy mo. Malinaw ang mata mo sa mga nangyayari sa paligid mo. Isipin mo yun, it just came from a fax. Ano bang malay ko dun, diba? Malikot lang ang kamay ko so tiningnan ko. "Uy, Michael Jackson to ah," sabi ko. Tinakbo ko na. Marami pang peripherals yung istorya na yun. Do you know that ang abogado ng Michael Jackson productions na yun is Francis Pangilinan na asawa ni Sharon Cuneta. Kung nilabas ko pa yun, lalong nagkaleche-leche yung istorya. You know why? Asawa ng anak mo yun, diba? Tapos nagla-lobby na ganoon lang ang ibibigay sa siyudad? Dapat siya pa nga ang mag-encourage na, "magpasok naman kayo ng konting taxes sa city para kumita naman."

Q: Diba yung very first beat niyo po yung sa diplomatic agreement. So...

A: You know, I was not comfortable at that time. Unang-una, bagong-bago akong reporter, and I was covering a highly sensitive beat. Next to Malacañang, palagay ko, the second most sensitive beat will be diplomatic kasi you are talking about international laws there. You're talking about ambassadors there. You're talking about policies of other countries vis-à-vis with the Philippines. Yung standards niya medyo mataas. So, at that time, I was the youngest reporter covering the beat. Kasama ko puro matatanda na. Yung talagang doon na tumanda sa beat na 'yon. Eh how can I compare myself, diba? Para akong langaw dun. Parang straight news lang. Hindi in-depth yung paggawa mo ng istorya. And sa mga ganoong klaseng beat, halimbawa Malacañang, senate, congress, or diplomatic, ang kailangang pinapadala diyan ay yung mga senior reporters. Kasi yung experience nila will be needed pagdating sa discussion ng mga issues.

Q: Ah.... Nabanggit niyo po kanina na bata pa po kayo nung pumasok po kayo sa Bulletin, naging cub reporter po ba kayo noon?

A: Ah. . . Almost. Pero hindi naman, kasi 'pag. . . Masuwerte ako pagpasok ko rito, there was... there was immediately an open ano eh... open beat. Yun nga yung Southern Metro Manila eh. So, ah... I almost passed through that ano... Kaya lang na-overcome na nung... dahil nga nagkaroon na ng open na position so di na ko dumaan from a cub reporter. Pero nung before... nung Headline days... yung before the diplomatic, sinubukan muna ako sa police for a while, mga one or two months. Parang cub reporting nga. Pero it was ano eh... negligible kasi one or two months tapos nilagay na ko sa diplomatic beat.

Q: So, ano naman po yung masasabi niyo po dito sa Bulletin po, as in itong place, mga working conditions, ok po ba?

A: Palagay ko ang Bulletin isa sa pinakamagandang work conditions dito... sa lahat ng diyaryo, considering that this is an institution already. Ahh... Palagay ko magsasara na lahat ng diyaryo, Bulletin hindi pa eh. Because masyadong matatag ang foundation nito eh. So you can expect na yung work condition is okay. Yun lang, ahhh... siyempre we cannot... we don't want to compare ourselves with Inquirer or sa Star kasi itong Bulletin nag-exist na ito for so long na ganito lang eh, diba? Iniimprove na lang naming yung craftsmanship ng mga reporters, ng desk. Pero yung style mismo ng diyaryo sa palagay ko will stay as it is eh... for as long as tinatangkilik ng tao.

Q: Eh... yung sa ano naman po, ahh... how about the people you are working with in bulletin.

A: Ahh.. okay naman. Basically, dito sa desk kasi...ayun..si Robert... right now I'm concentrating more sa mga reporters naming sa Metro Manila. Metro Manila reporters and correspondents. Dun ang concentration namin ngayon bacause kasi we wanted to strengthen yung area na yan. Kasi andito young competition ng mga diyaryo. Yung sa probinsya, medyo negligible na yan eh. Alam mo naman kapag perception dito malakas ang bulletin, malakas na yan all-through out. So, dito ma... that's what we're trying to do right now. Concentrating on our reporting sa Metro Manila, kung pwede magbeat up kami ng tao, photos, we want good photos.

Q: Paano naman po yung physical facilities ng Bulletin?

A: Ahh.. Okay naman, kumpleto kami. In terms of... except I understand the other two papers in-equip nila ang mga reporters nila to be able to cope up with the new technologies, diba. In-equip nila ng mas magagandang equipment which is wala pa kami ngayon. Pero with ah... I know that the management has plans to... na i-equip din namin ng mas magagagandang naming equipment ang mga tao natin. Pero basically, in terms of equipment, parang medyo ahead yata yung dalawa. Sila yung... nag-ano... Nagpursige sila to produce that... in-equip nila yung mga tao nila. Kami palagay ko we will do... we'll be able to do that also soon, kasi nasa planning stage na yan eh.

Q: Eh paano naman po yung working conditions in terms po of compensation niyo po as employees?

A: Alam mo ang problema sa journalism, meron kasing ano ito eh... there is a semblance of public service here eh, especially when you are a reporter. Di bale yung mga desk editors. Pero you will know this when you will become reporters in the future. Parang sa'yo, parang kang meron kang moral obligation to be a public servant. Kapag nakita mo yung istorya na kahit na late na sa oras mo, di mo papabayaang maiscoopan (scoop) ka eh. Parang meron kang moral obligation to write that. Kasi... Hindi lang yung because of the competition. Pero if you are a real journalist, parang masama sa loob mo kapag hindi mo isinulat ito eh.

Q: Parang may dedication ka...

A: Oo, marami... mai-imbibe mo yan later on. Especially, ayan, lalo kung sa police beat ka, diba? Kasi that's where the crimes and everything happens. Parang nagkakaroon ka ng moral obligation na, "Kailangan isulat ko 'to." O kaya kung may inapi ng ganun, diba? "Kailangan isulat ko 'to ah." Nagkakaroon ka ng obligation. Well, pwede mo naman di rin isulat, kaya lang ang magiging mga repercussion, baka maiscoopan ka, yung mga ganun. Pero somehow yung sinasabi ko sa inyo na maiimbibe mo later on, yung moral obligation mo to write something that you feel is worth writing for.

Q: Nagiging issue po pa yung mga, kunwari, yung mga ano nga po, yung mga binabayad sa inyo? May mga times po ba na nagiging issue siya sa inyo?

A: Ang alin?

Q: Yung compensation niyo po, benefits?

A: Hindi. Bulletin is paying okay in terms of yung mga benefits or anything. Palagay ko sa industry, yung top three pa rin ah... we're talking about the top three, sa industry hindi kami mahuhuli doon sa dalawa. Baka at par or hindi kami mahuhuli.

Q: So bale yung first beat niyo po sa Bulletin, yun nga po, yung police beat.

A: Oo, police.

Q: Meron po ba kayong mga specific na police beats na hindi niyo po makakalimutan?

A: Masyadong madami eh. Although I cannot vividly recall everything, pero masyadong marami. Alam mo, yung pagcocover ng police din kasi minsan, especially sa babae, palagay ko, medyo kailangan matibay ang dibdib mo, especially when you're covering crimes dahil diyan mo makikita yung dugo. Eh ako, mahina ako sa ganun eh. But maaano mo eh... makaka-adjust ka na rin later on. Kapag nakakakita ako ng patay nasusuka ako eh. Oo, yung halimbawa nasagasaan, nasaksak, nabaril. Bastanakakita na ako ng dugo masusuka na ako eh. Pero later on, naa-acquire mo na yung ano eh... parang nai-immune ka na eh. Pati yung parlance mo... even your parlance, pag police na mga kausap mo, tsaka mga hoodlums na, parang pare-pareho na kayo ng sinasabi.

Q: So ano po yung first na first na first beat niyo pos a Bulletin.

A: Uhmmm...police nga... yung police. Ang ginagawa ko noon, yung mga maliliit na istorya, yung mga simple crimes, halimbawa yung saksakan, para masigurado kong lumabas, kasi kung irereport mo lang siya, sa Bulletin kasi conservative ang Bulletin eh. Di kagaya sa tabloid, halimbawa nagsaksakan si Pedro tsaka si Maria, nasa tabloid na yun, diba? So ito kailangan lagyan mo ng color eh. Ibig sabihin kailangan lagyan mo ng background, bakit nagsaksakan, diba? Ahhh... lagyan mo ng background ng konti. Sino ba yung... ano ba... yung mga involved na tao diyan? Sino ba yan? Baka naman mabubuting tao 'to. Bakit nagsaksakan 'to, diba? Lagyan mo ng konting colors, diba?

Q: Pero yung time na yun, medyo cub reporter pa po kayo nun.

A: Oo, oo.

Q: Tapos yung naging talagang employed na po talaga kayo, dun na po kayo pumasok sa diplomatic.

A: Yung sa Headline yon. We're talking... we're talking about Headline. After one to two months nung cub ako, inelevate agad ako sa as a reporter. Nagkataon na nabakante yung diplomatic beat na yun, nalagay ako doon. Akala ko temporary lang in nature. Tapos nung okay naman, kasi gumawa ako ng sariling mundo kong doon eh. I didn't attempt... I didn't attempt na sumabay doon sa mainstream media kasi ang gagaling. Magagaling! Biro mo, mga lolo ko na eh.

Q: Sinu-sino po ba yung mga yun?

A: Ngayon, most of them... Sila Julius Fortuna, who is now a columnist of Manila Times, Si Lito Molina, professor sa Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila sa journalism, Si Atty. Bert Castro, and some of them kundi sa Business World nasa ano na... parang Press Attache natin sa Washington. Ganun kasi-senior yung mga kasabay ko dun. Ako yung pinakabata at that time. So I cannot compete with them. What I did is naghanap ako ng sarili kong ano... yung alam kong magiging hari ako. Pumunta ako doon sa ibang section ng DFA. Halimbawa yung mga... yung mga OFW section. Doon ako naghalungkat ng istorya. Mas magaganda pala ang istorya doon. Kasi doon mo makikita yung hindi natin alam may nakulong na pala. May napugutan na pala ng ulo roon. Doon ko nakikita yung mga report na galing sa embassy. Hinahalungkat ko yon. So doon ako nagdevelop. Kaya everyday... may mga... pini-piecemeal ko rin. Halimbawa nakakuha ako ng tatlong kasi ngayon, db? Hindi ko muna ilalabas lahat yan. Isa-isa ko yan. Ngayon, isa ito. Bukas, ito. Nagtataka sila, "San nanggaling 'to?" That, yung... ang tawag namin sa ganun enterprising. Ibig sabihin enterprising yon.

Q: Diba po marami po kayong taong nakatrabaho nung mga past years? Meron po ba kayong macoconsider yung mga mermorable pong mga tao na hindi niyo po talaga makakalimutan?

A: Sa diyaryo?

Q: Opo.

A: Meron. Patay na siya eh. Yung... Dati bilib na bilib ako sa editor na ito. Police... Tabloid editor siya eh. Si Max Buwan. Actually nung pumasok ako sa tabloid noon... sa Headline, he was the editor-in-chief at that time. And he was criticizing our stories. Eh bago ka, siyempre parang pakiramdam mo na 'pag kini-criticize ka... lalo kang... nadudurog ang puso mo eh, diba? But sa kanya hindi eh. Ang manner of criticism niya is parang... iki-criticize ka pero he will be constructive enough na natututo ka. Sasabihin sa'yo, "Alam mo masama yung istorya mo eh. Pero ganito gawin mo para maganda." Iga-guide ka pa niya. Hindi niya sasabihin kung papano mo isusulat, but sasabihin niya sa'yo yung direksyon mo. "Ganito gawin mo para maganda. Siguro mas maganda lalabas niyan." True enough. Sa kanya marami akong natutunan. Kasi critic siya eh. Kapag nakita niya istorya mo, "Ano ba 'tong istorya mo? Parang komiks." Gaganyanin niya yan. "Ang ano mo... ganitong takbo ng istorya... tapos bumaba ka dito." So matututo ka sa kanya. Hindi siya yung salbahe na sisigawan ka, ganun. May mga editors kasi na ganun eh. Naninigaw.

Q: So sa palagay niyo po, gaano po kayo katagal. . . Ahhh. . . How long do you see yourself in this kind of business or in this kind of profession?

A: Ahhh. . . Ummm. . . Palagy ko kung ditto sa opisina, siguro sa edad ko, I don't think na gusto kong tumagal ditto sa opisna e, parang hinahanap kasi ng katawan ko action sa labas e. Na tatakbo ka rito, diba, o pupuntahan mo si ganito ditto sa taas, yung naghahabul ka ng deadline, parang nawala na sa akin yun. So pagnakikita ko yun mga reporters, naiinggit ako. E ang inaano ko nalang sana in the future, makabalik din ako sa labas. Although we have to, sabi nila, gusto mo ma-demote, andyan ka na nga sa opisina, mag. . . Ako I still love being a reporter. That's where the action, I told you, that's where the action is.

Q: Bali, pag kunwari reporter po kayo, nabibigyan po ba kayo ng allowance for transportation?

A: Meron, meron kami. Dito sa Bulletin meron.

Q: Kasama na po yun?

A: Yeah, meron kami sa Bulletin. Pati yun pang-cellphone mo.

Q: E Sir s direct editors po, yung hindi po yun sa ibang diyaryo, yung naging editor niyo po. . .

A: Dito?

Q: Kahit saan po.

A: Oo.

Q: Sa experience niyo po, meron po ba kayong mga hindi makkalimutan?

A: Ayun, si Max Buwan, one. Ditto sa Bulletin si Tony Antonio siguro, yung aming provincial editor, because, ahhh. . . not just because na he was the one who tapped me, na pumasok ditto, but basically because nung, nag-iistart nako ditto, I was writing. . . ahhh. . . several stories na medyo may political angle. Although sinasabihan niya ako na wag kang magsusulat ng mga ganyan kasi, medyo controversial, pero he still accommodates mga storya. Kasi nakikita niya yun line of reasoning mo as a reporter e, gusto mong sumikat yung ganon, gusto mong makilala sa lugar n iyon, kaya you have to write something na kapag binasa nila, medyo magugulat sila, salbahe tong reporter na ito a. Although hindi mo sila ni-lilibel, kaya lang yun thinking mo, mababasa nila yun thinking mo that you're trying to impute something, not libelous, but you're trying to impute intelligently, kung ano yun gusto mong iparating.

Q: So talking about libel, meron po ba kayong mga na-encounter na mga ano. . .

A: Meron na, ako meron na. Twice. It was filed by the same person. Pero twice, dalawang kaso. Ultimately, it was dismissed. Dun palang sa level na prosecutor's office, pero ngayon, I realized that I really ano, I really, meron talagang malice yun pagsusulat ko at that time, kasi galit ako e, nagalit ako sa tao dahil nakitako hindi tama ginagawa e. So I had to write the story. Pero alam ko naman yun mga protective measures, to be able to skip libel e. Although libelous yun itsura ng storya, but medyo kung eksperyensado ka nang reporter, you will know kung papaano mo pro-protektahan yun sarili mo run sa storya.

Q: Nabanggit niyo po yun provincial editor niyo po na siya yun nagtawag sa inyo to go to. . . Ahhh. . . to journalism. . .

A: To. . . to. . . de, to apply here for correspondent, oo.

Q: So pano po nangyari yon?

A: Diba galing ako sa headline nun, then pumunta ako sa movie and TV filming, yun mg aforeign movie and TV filming. At that time shempre, may mga lull yan, so may mga sideline ako non, mga corporate, mga corporate account, I'm doing public relations, pero ano lang yan, part time, mga pipitsugin lang na part, ano, para lang makatawid ka ng paggastos mo for this week, mga ganon. So one time, nagdala ako ng release ditto, kaibgan ko na siya matagal na because my father was a newspaperman also, kaya lang provincial nga lang, pero amgkakakilala sila. So nagdala ako sa kanya, binasa niya, sabi niya: "Ano ba ginagawa mo?" sabi sakin. Sabi ko "Wala nga Sir e, nag-aano, sideline lang." Sabi niya, :Bat hindi ka nalang mag-apply ditto, cover mo yun beat na iyon." Kasi at that time, he was the ed of the correspondents of Manila Bulletin, so sabi ko sige, I'll give it a try. Nung naktia niya na okay naman, "Sige, cover mo narin itong mga ibang lugar na ito, dinagdagan niya na.

Q: Asan po niya kayo unang sinabak?

A: Yun na nga, yun South. Una ang beat ko nun is only Las Piñas, kasi tinanung niya ako, "Where do you live?" Sabi ko, "Sa Las Piñas Sir." So sabi niya, "I-cover mo na ang Las Piñas." Mga ganun. So cinover ko, tas nakita niya na okay naman yung stories ko, although very small town, at that time, town lang yun at that time, pero I was generating good stories, na hindi lumalabas sa iba, pati, yun mga. . . Doon siya nag-ano sa akin yn political, binuhay ko yun politika dun, kaya nag-away-away mga tao run.

Q: So pano naman po yn ano, yung family influence, sabi niyo po yun daddy. . .

A: Of course may malaking interest, ahhh. . . influence yun, kasi, at that time, natatandaan ko nung bata pa ako, during the Martial Law, before and after the declaration of Martial Law, my father was a radio commentator. So before the Martial Law, shempre sinasama kami niyan sa mga radio stations DZRH, yang ABS-CBN, DZXL, dun sila nagbrobroadcast everyday. E ako, what do you know about politics at that time diba, kaya lang nung lumaki na kami, when we experienced Martial Law, tapos, my father then was jobless, tas lahat ng mga newspaperman at mga media non, tinaggalan ng trabaho, so until dumating na yung 80s, nakuha siyang, negosyante siya, but kung may libre siyang oras, kukuha siya ng programa parin sa radyo, minsan sinasama kami roon, sinasalang ako, yun nga e, nagvovolunteer ako magreport, magreport outside, merong nagbarilan ditto, mga ganun na ano, just to be able to have a feel of what really newspreporting is all about.

Q: So pano po kayo nagshift from reporting to newspaper?

A: Actually love ko ang newspapering, kaya lang, at that time wala namang, what, what, what do you expect from pagkagraduate mo, alam mo naman ditto as atin diba, napakahirap humanap ng trabaho ditto, unless. . . Kasi yng other papers like Inquirer, meron na silang quadra nila e, na pinaggagalingan ng mga reporters, so wala nang, hindi na naghahanap sa iba yan, hindi na naghahanap sa iba.

Q: So feel niyo po ba na born kayo for yun, ummm. . . Parang yung parang, nung bata pa po kayo, parang, alam niyo na po na ditto kayo. . .

A: Palagay ko, palagay ko. May inclination ka na e. May inclination ka na e. Pagkausap mo yun ano, halimbawa, kausap ko yun daddy ko may assignment ako, ang assignment namin, social studies, and kun social studies diba involves politics, governance, mga ganyan ganyan, may mga tinatanung ako sa kanya, ang advice ng father ko sa akin, at that time, during my younger days, sabi niya: "Alam mo, para hindi ka nahihirapan sa ganyan, you have to read the newspapers everyday. Sabi niya, you have to read newspapers everyday because lahat ng edukasyon, lahat ng mangyayari sa buhay mo, you can get it from the newspaper. Tas make it a habit na kahit may hindi ka naiintindihan na word, get the word, and look for it in the dictionary, then that's how you gain education too, sabi niya, by yourself. So dun, nagkaroon nako ng inclination nung sinabi niya yon. Whch is ako talagang, even sa ma anak ko ganun din sinasabi ko e, kahit maliliit pa yan, I hae to ask them to read newspapers, kahit hindi nila naintindihan, watch news on TV everyday. Para alam nila kung ano yung mangyayari, diba, sa diyaryo, para natututo sila yung word na nakukuha nila everyday pinakikinabangan mo yan e.

Q: Sir, meron po ba kayong mga iba pang kapatid na nasa media rin?

A: Meron akong kapatid, na nasa tabloid ngayon. But, he only writes a column thrice a week, thrice a week.

Q: Other than that, wala na?

A: Wala na. Ahhh hinde. Meron isa yata, nasa Philippine star, reporter ng Philippine Star.

Q: Ahhh so. . . so. . . Para pong final words niyo po, ano po yung masasabi niyo sa lath ng students na possibly mag-enter journalism?

A: Yeah. . .

Q: What will be your word of advice?

A: Well, number one, ahhh. . . Journalism is not as lucrative as other professions. Ito medyo, sa journalism, kailangan ditto talaga yung, gusto ng, yung lukso ng dugo mo, "This is what I really want." Kasi hindi ng ganun ka-lucrative e, dedication ang importate rito. Number, number two, as soon as you get in, dun sa profession, ang i-practice niyo, yung mga yn sinasabi ko sa inyo, yun building up of credibility. How to be able to do it, you know, you have, ahhh. . . to protect your name, pag nagsulat ka, just make sure that you have, you have, na fair and square, na totoo yun mga sinasabi mo diba. Ahhh. . . those are very basics na kailangan mo for. . . And later on, mararamdaman mo once na yung storya mo nagagamit na sa front page, you're building up credibility already, reputation. Kaya yung ma sources, if you have sources, you have to protect them, and yun lang, you have to maek sure na may distance yun relasyon niyo diba. Minsan kasi, may mga sources na ginagamit ka nalang din, and you must be aware of it also. So credibility is very important, ahhh. . . perseverance, ahhh. . . shempre yung corruption, yung, yung, yung inyong resistnce sa corruption should be, that's how you build credibility. You should be able to resist that. Masyadong malawak ang corruption.

Q: Sir, meron pong phabol na tanung, dun po sa, ummm. . . mga historical events po, tulad ng Martial Law, EDSA I, EDSA II, Abu Sayaf po, NPA, MNLF, ahhh. . . Meron po ba kayong mga na-cover na tungkol doon?

A: Maswerte ako, wala. Kasi napunta ako doon sa medyo mga assignments na. . . Actually para sa mga reporter, parang medalya yng nagcover ka ng gera e, it's like a medal and honor for us, pag nagcover ka ng gera, kasi, sa Amerika, you will never be a star reporter kung hindi ka dumaan sa war coverages. Ahhh, palagay ko, the same thing with the Filipinos too, pag hindi ka nagcover ng Abu Sayaf, ay. . . Pero there are so many ways to be, how to be great in journalism diba, hindi lang naman sa war, parang medalya lang yan e, na, "O, gumaraduate ka sa gera, ito medalya mo." Pero I would love to, if I would be assign, even now, I would love to.

Q: Sige po. . . Ummm. . .

A: Sige,

Q: Thank you very much.

A: Pag may kailangan kayo, tumawag lang kayo, bigyan ko kayo ng calling card.