MENDOZA. Before we talk about your work as a journalist, I would first like to ask if you really intended of becoming a journalist?
REYES. I actually wanted to go into advertising. But at the time when I graduated in 1972, there were only few newspapers. And so wala ring advertising masyado. So I got into one of these few newspapers which was at Business weekly, formerly called the Economic Monitor.

Q. When you were still studying, did you have experiences as a writer?
A. I was a campus journalist and I used to be the news editor of UST's campus paper. Before that, I was doing some correspondent work for some newspapers.

Q. What were the other organizations were you involved in? Or you were basically a writer?
A. I was active in social work particularly in a group with Joey Lina, who is now the governor of Laguna. I was one of the mass organizers in Tondo where we helped form the Zone One Tondo Organization in which Trining Herrera was the President.

Q. What was the name of the first newspaper you first worked for?
A. It was the Economic Monitor.

Q. Could you describe the circumstances leading to your employment with that newspaper?
A. Just like what I said wala akong choice noon I wanted to go in advertising pero maraming mga advertising agencies that time ang nagsasara. And there were few newspapers noon. Wala akong choice. There was an opening, I grabbed that opening. Otherwise, I would be unemployed.

Q. When you were working at that newspaper, how would you describe the working place?
A. Compared today, I think it was very primitive. But I would say that even our working place here ( referring to Manila Standard) is also primitive compared to other countries like Korea , Hongkong and of course, the United States. I guess for somebody who was starting out that was okay because that gave me some time to grow up with my work. As a beginner, that was okay to me because I was able to adjust to my work.

Q. What about the facilities?
A. Again like what I said primitive but even the facilities here like the computers are primitive compared to other countries. Like in Seoul, Korea, which I recently visited, I saw the workplace of their fifth largest paper. And talagang primitive dito compared there. However, compared to other newspapers here, okay na rin kami dito

Q. In that newspaper what was your first position?
A. I was a field reporter. I was assigned to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Natural Resources, Bureau of Mines and the private sector. It was hard work but for somebody who needed a job I had to bear it. Nag- survive naman tayo.

Q. In terms of your salary do you think that was enough for you at that time?
A. Well, mahirap noon. Would you believe I was only getting about P 400. Unlike when I was in UST as the news editor, they were paying me P200. I think UST paid better considering that I was only a student that time. If you still remember, could you relate to me what was your first beat all about?
A. My first story was about the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Q. Regarding that first beat, what were the important lessons you have learned from it?
A. I was actually pitted with some of the better economic journalists. With that, matindi talaga ang coverage, yung paghahanap ng balita. That is why I learned to really be more diligent and be a fighter. Aside from that, you also have to be street smart. What you learned in books may not be enough and so you have to do better than that.

Q. Were there any other people on that beat?
A. I was alone on that beat. But the competition was strict even though there were only few newspapers that time.

Q. Let us talk about deadlines. What was your attitude towards deadline?
A. Well, deadlines are necessary . Talagang fact of life namin sa pagdidiyaryo yan. You will get used to it although I know of some journalists who still cannot cope with deadlines. I know somebody, who now owns a newspaper, who still cracks up everytime there's a deadline. Talagang makikita mo na nanginginig yung katawan niya in times like this. There really are people like that and would you believe, these are supposed to be veterans. In my case, I got used to it. I did not have much problems with that like when I was working as the Business Editor in The Daily Globe, I had good crew and reporters. Most of the time we do advance stories. Working with Tony Lopez also helped me learn in terms of anticipating the stories.

Q. Could you describe to me who was your first editor and what was he/she like?
A. Leo Ignacio was my first editor in Economic Monitor, the first newspaper I have worked for. Well, isa talaga siya sa mga magagaling at pioneer sa business journalism. He was kind and not really strict. Mabait siya and that is why editors like him were rare that time especially the pre- Martial Law Manila Times where editors are very strict. I was lucky that he became one of my editors.

Q. Aside from him, who would you consider as one of your memorable editors?
A. Tony Lopez became my editor at the Times Journal, now the Bureau Manager of Asia Week. I have been with him at the business section of Times Journal. Magaling na magaling talaga si Tony and one of the things I learned from him was news planning. Actually, he was strict and masungit as an editor. But that was just fine for me. I think that is his way of doing things.

Q. How were editors like when it came to accuracy,ethics and the grammar aspects of writing?
A. Well, paiba-iba. Like Julie Yap Daza, as an editor she is very good. Her grammar is almost impeccable. Wala talaga akong masabi. She is really strict about the grammar and the accuracy of data. I know of a reporter before who was afraid of her everytime she checks the paper and now he is the managing editor of one of the top three newspapers . I have also worked with Joe Luna Castro who was the editor of the old Times Journal. Isagani Yambot who was our news editor was great in copy and in accuracy. Sad to say there are editors today who are not so good anymore. Before, the initiation was difficult before you get to be the editor. Unlike now, sa dami ng newspapers, palipat-lipat ka na lang.

Q. So are you trying to say that the number of operating newspapers also affects the quality of the editors ?
A. Hindi lang ng editors but also the reporters. During my time there were only few newspapers. You cannot easily transfer as one does these days unless you are pirated. Ngayon,bale wala na lang. Again, sad to say there are many things to improve with many of today's newspapers like the accuracy and interpretation of data.

Q. Any memorable colleagues? what made them memorable?
A. Again the same people Tony Lopez, Jullie Yap Daza and Gani Yambot. I really learned a lot from these people.

Q. After working with that newspaper, you moved on to where?
A. Bumalik uli ako. Nag-"string" ako including Japanese and other foreign publications. I became a correspondent for the United Pass International.I entered the field of radio and ran GMA's DZBB, which became top three in ratings.

Q. Why did you leave?
A. A friend of mine named Bobby Guanzon asked me to join him. He was really my friend and kumpare and so despite the good offer of GMA, I joined him.

Q. What made you work for Manila Standard?
A. I wanted to go back and work for a newspaper again. I wanted a newspaper that I could fit in not only financially but also psychologically. There were other newspapers in fact, who were interested in me but I think that Manila Standard has a promise. We are different in treatment compared to others. Some say that the newspaper is feminine ang approach. Ibang-iba talaga ang news treatment and so I think this is my kind of newspaper.

Q. For how many years have you been working for the Manila Standard?
A. I have been working here for barely a year although I have been in journalism for more than two decades. I enjoy working for the newspaper although I foresee that we might not have a newspaper in 20 years as we know it today. Electronics media in the present as well in the future has an edge. That is why I entered radio broadcasting to have a feel on that so I would be ready when that time comes.

Q. How do you find working for this newspaper?
A. Of course marami. There are also adjustments I have to make. But otherwise, I'm okay working here. I just accept the fact that people have different people have different style.

Q. Currently you are the assignments editor. What is your responsibility?
A. I am the one giving the assignments. Usually in the mornings I deploy people to work on their assignments. I am also into news planning.

Q. Did you ever had bad experience/s with your work as a journalist?
A. At first I was patanga-tanga. With my work in the Economic Monitor, I was not that ready for that kind of work that time. Even though I had several economic units in UST, still I was not prepared to be a business reporter. That is why I like the curriculum in journalism to be changed so that students after graduation would be prepared for work. And then there were people who did not live up to my expectations.

Q. Any memorable assignment?
A. Ang dami na kasi eh. Pero one of my biggest stories would be the collapse of General Bank. It was one of my biggest stories as a business reporter before.

Q. What were the usual difficulties faced by a journalist?
A. You have to work and learn to cooperate with people. And you have to keep that in mind. And also, there is the problem about journalism being different from the ones taught in the universities. It can be different from the real thing.

Q. As a journalist you have been a witness to significant events. What were the significant events that you covered?
A. It would be the EDSA Revolution. At the time I was doing some stringing work like the UPI and the Japanese agencies while working for the government.

Q. What is the best thing about being a journalist?
A. That would be able to do your thing. We have freedom and do practically what we really want despite the what we call threats to press freedom.

Q. Do you get satisfaction out of this work?
A. Yes. Like being able to do your own work as you should and most importantly, I can express myself well in this work. And the satisfaction I'm pointing out is not about bragging my position.

Q. But you can be proud of your work?
A. At times yes. But there are also times when I'm not satisfied with what I have done.

Q. Aside from good writing skill, what good traits would you consider that a good journalist should possess?
A. Actually marami iyan. About the writing skill....

Q. Is that the number one thing?
A. I guess so. But let me put it in proper perspective. For example, when you decide to work for a newspaper, it is assumed skill already. Otherwise, you do not have the right to work for a newspaper. But we should not solely base on qualifications that books usually say. It is also all about attitude like being street smart, diligent, and dedicated to your work.

Q. What for you is good or ideal journalism?
A. It's simple. Good journalism means not only getting the facts but also interpreting these data precisely and writing it right. This sounds simple but it is difficult to make it right. I hate to admit that errors can be seen in the daily occurrence of newspapers. And even in the famous papers.

Q. What are your future plans? Do you plan to stay in Manila Standard for good?
A. Well hangga't hindi nila ako pinapalayas, hindi ako aalis (jokes). Seriously, until now I still have tempting offer from another newspaper. There is also a commercial bank which offers me to be the head of its Communications dept. The offers, financially, are okay but I still love it here. If ever I'm going to make a different career move, it would be in the electronics media or in broadcast journalism. I think that the newspapers would be gone soon as we now know it.

Q. Is that your prediction?
A. Yes. Magiging paperless na yan in the future. Newspaper becomes too expensive in the first place considering that we get the materials from trees. Almost everyone too has computers these days, like transistor radio before was common. Information would tend to be specialized and there would be outfits to service this kind of a need. Unlike the newspaper, it has its limitations like the updating of news. Newspapers will become obsolete in the future.

Q. What is the rating of Manila Standard ?
A. Very poor but we are happy to be in no.4. We are happy because we hit our target like, by making in difference. We have advertisements, color ads, full page ads. We hit the critical mass which I think is one of the reasons why advertisers love us.

Q. For the final question, how would you describe your life in general as a journalist?
A. Mahirap pero masarap. Parang pag-aasawa na ang hirap hiwalayan. You'll get a divorce and then you'll decide mag-aasawa ka uli. But I might as well just go through with it. And also, I am here as a journalist, a plain journalist. I do not want to categorize myself as a journalist in a specific field because I feel that in the future I may have to move on towards electronics media.