JAVIER. Were there any specific influences that made you choose um, this career?
ROMERO. I dunno. It's just like this 'no? In grade school, I wrote for [the] school paper. Uh, maybe the-uh, and my father studied journalism, sa UST din. But nung grumaduate siya, sandali lang siya sa diaryo, for siguro 3 years lang, 2 years lang, then he ventured sa business na lang.

TUPRIO. (faintly heard) Are you happy with your married life?

A. (to Capt. Tuprio) Very much, very much. (to Julie) Now ano, nung ano… (to Capt. Turio again) Para kang si Raffe ah.

TUPRIO. Anong ano mo, Anong anting-anting mo and why? (laughs)
A. Uhh, actually it's just being a good person and uhh… not joining the military (laughs). So if I joined the military, something ahppens with your family life eh.

TUPRIO. (laughs)Pare, magkakadete yan, wag mo namang…
A. A, sorry, ah ok. Ok. Capt. Tuprio: Wag mo namang, wag mo namang bigyan ng ano…
A. Ok. No, now, going back, seriously (faces Julie then turns to Capt. Tuprio again). Pare, mukha siguro akong payaso. Taw ng tawa 'to kanina pa (elicits a big laugh from Capt. Tuprio). Kamukha siguro… Pare, kamukha ko si End of Days!*
A. Now, I… In high school, I didn't, I didn't ano, di naman ako nagsulat, but sumali ako sa mga writing contest ek-ek. Purely for ano, I don't know, siguro boredom. And then college, narekindle, I wrote for [the] school paper and after that-actually, my intention was to take up engineering. Eh ayoko naman my friends were- *

TUPRIO. Kaya lang ang pangit mga babae sa engineering!*
A. (laughs) That's one of the reasons, sa bagay alam niya (Capt. Tuprio) yan eh, pareho kaming UST eh. Now yung friends ko, lahat engineering. Ang plano ko industrial engineering, so magkikita kami don. Sabi ko, economics na lang 'cause I wanted to be… sa corporate. So when I wrote sa school paper, college, I graduate and I find myself working in a newspaper. So that's it.

Q. Umm, do you have a family of your own? Like kids or--?
A. Yeah, I have uh, a wife-A wife ha? A wife and one baby-uh, one daughter.

Q. Ok. Um, is your salary enough to support them?
A. Of course not. No, no salary ever is noh? No salary is supposed to be enough-for any kind of job, would be enough 'di ba? You know yun, you always want to be richer s'atin.

Q. Were you ever a cub reporter?
A. A rookie?

Q. Yeah
A. Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. Everybody goes through that

Q. Umm, can you say something about the experiences that you had?
A. It's just like any new experience. You feel surprised, you feel ignorant and--it's hard 'cause uh, when something-especially when that new thing is a form of responsibility or duty or a job then it will definitely be hard because may pressure yan eh. And it's not like a new game, a new friend or a new ano, but this one is a responsibility. So it's hard and you have to learn really fast *

TUPRIO. So how's the defense beat?*
A. The defense beat? Uh, lots of ano, lots of uh, people, interesting people-lots of enemies also. Lots of people interviewing you, I don't know why.

Q. (laughs) When you were new um, how did your colleagues treat like were they helpful or indifferent?
A. Uh, in my case, uh, they were actually helpful. Because una, some of them were from the same school were we ano. But I could also, I suppose I could also speak for others, the experiences of others 'no, but in other beats, uh not all your colleagues will be helpful 'no? It's a human thing 'no, a human thing when you're new in the-in any organization, they will try to assess you or, so in the process of doing so, they would not talk to you 'no? They would just look at you and you, 'cause they don't know you yet and you being new, people have a natural aversion for somebody who's green. 'di ba? I mean bago ka diyan so mahina ka pa 'di ba? And the-also, in part of that, it could be, they will be, it could also be in form of a quote, unquote, initiation ano? I don't know how you would view that kind of, uh attitude or that word I used., but that's what sometimes happen… frequently happens 'no?

Q. Um, how about your assignments then? Were they like less interesting compared to the veteran reporters?
A. No, no it's purely a matter of attitude again just like anything else. It's purely a matter of attitude. My first beat was uh traditionally the police beat and, uh it was followed by local government beat 'no, Makati. And then it was followed by the senate, it's political, a major one. Followed by Malacañang another major fact-major, uh yeah, major beat and then it was followed by the church beat, labor beat. And after that, here in defense, Camp Aguinaldo. I'd say it really boils down to ano, what kind of a person you are. If you're still what do you call this, inherently curious, or you have this child element as they say 'no? When it's not lost then everything will be interesting and personally, I view this as a learning experience when they were -there was an offer for a reshuffle in our office, meaning changing of beats. This is one of the beats I asked but I really, personally, don't want this beat but I asked for it because I want to learn. I know it will be…not a very good place to work relatively but, relatively, but uh I wanted to learn because I will not be an effective reporter journalist or even editor-hopefully, if I wouldn't cover as much umm… many beats as possible.

Q. How about your editors then, were they like more lenient on you 'cause you were knew or are they the same as now?
A. Its uh, its uh… They were lenient because uh yes uh because we were new then. But I'd say they drove us harder because they wanted us to learn fast and they gave us you know, assignments. And editors have this attitude of uh really taking care of new reporters because you know as they say, new reporters--what? Are not influenced by bad habits that go with the job

Q. Ok. Umm, do you have any memorable umm experiences with your editors, like did they ever disagree with your work?
A. Yes I had so many quarrels-- they're very conscious. They examine work but sometimes in the way they see how I do my job. Yeah, some things with---some things with colleagues.

Q. How were your, like your editors, concerning like ethics?
A. Well, uh, of course they would uh they would warn us about uh being careful, meaning being uh-and doing our job right without violating uh the code of ethics and you know, general moral principles and laws. They would uh insist that we should not accept money in change of favorable coverages or simply uh to kill a story. In my case, I would say with a clean conscience, that I have not as far as I know, violated any of that code of ethics and it has served me in good step.

Q. Ok. Um how about concerning deadlines and grammar how strict were they-
A. Yeah, yeah, they're strict 'no, in deadlines especially. Deadline is not really an issue of uh you know punctuality. It is, in the sense that it's about business. When you submit a story early then the people get lay-outs early and it's printed early then it could be shipped out early especially in provinces-then uh it would be circulated faster, then more people would buy it. So it's really a matter of business.

Q. Um so far, who among your editors has left the biggest impression on you?
A. So it's a personal thing?

Q. Yea.
A. So far, 'no, maybe it's Ms. uh, Amy Pamintungan because for some reasons I could not say, it's personal 'no, but she has really shown fairness-fairness even in um problems that were involving her friend and I and everything. She was-she never showed any favoritism or what, and her ideas on what stories I should pursue were all generally, if not always, ok 'no? And she's also one of the editors I know that-who is what I should say, quote unquote, very clean, especially when it comes to you know, what I've mentioned earlier covering stories and the tiring issue of bribery

Q. Um how about your colleagues, who is the most memorable?
A. Memorable? Uh, maybe I can't say but uh I think I admire reporters not necessarily sa newspaper namin. I admire reporters who really dig up good stories and good grammar and who are again, upright.

Q. How did you take like your first beat?
A. Oh, I was definitely apprehensive because uh I didn't know anything on what to do. Understandably, all my stories were really umm bad copies noh they were poorly written but uh, I'm proud to say I learned easily maybe because of--they think when you started, then in 4 years you are good. It starts when you really know how to communicate, that's it. Now going back again it was exciting also because you know it's a police beat so you know, you take the fires, the rapes. No, I'm not saying I enjoy those 'no(laughs). But you know its just something you don' read anymore --you're the one who is writing it already. And they will, officials, at the start…it's flattering when you're just what? 20 years old and they're already talking to you as if you're their best friend. Well of course that wears off but of course, it's something that any reporter will never forget.

Q. Umm have you so far been directly connected to a lawsuit?
A. Yes, I had 4 libel cases.

Q. Already?
A. Yeah, 4. Thankfully so far wala pa gaano.

Q. Um would you mind telling them…?
A. No problem, but, ano ba 'to? Thesis? Assignment? What?

Q. It's a project,
A. Project-

Q. For the finals.
A. Finals. So you're gonna write about this?

Q. Yes, sir. Transcribe.
A. Transcribe. Ok, I'll just mention two. One's a judge, an executive judge. He sued me because I wrote a sexual harassment case but I admit there was some lapse in my part but then it was my first beat but uh I suppose it was done with no malice in mind, I really didn't. But it was dismissed so I suppose the prosecutor had seen the merit and umm, I'm not making it as an excuse, I'm just telling the circumstances. The 2nd one, I was sued by the husband of Senator Loren Legarda but I suppose we're ok now. Over a court story that her husband-the condominium that her husband lived in, there were some tenants there that sued him because he was putting up extra rooms in common spaces-what the tenants said were illegal. And they sued me because they said I wrote the story about the charges the tenants filed, the day before the tenants filed the charges. But obviously, I wasn't able to write the story without the complaint. It was proven that again there was no malice involved.

Q. So it was dismissed also?
A. (nods) Again. It was appealed then it was dismissed again

Q. How would you describe the Philippine Star when it comes to news?
A. Yea. First of all, it's fair. It's something that's always fair and we're very careful in not ruining a person's or an institution's reputation 'no? To the point that sometimes we're seen as weak. I don't know if it's a bad view but, or it's a common view, but sometimes people see us--not having a strong punch and also, we uh, in the pursuit of fairness, sometimes people see us- Which, being an insider, I could say that it's not true. But of course there are what you call this, it's something like, if the administration appeals to us--lets say we'd put more on their side that's what we do. So… And also we got the most news-especially in front page, compared to the competition, the competitors. Anyway we only consider one as our competitor-

Q. Which is…?
A. Which is, of course, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, that's also what they say anyway: They have only one competition 'no? What else, contrary to common belief, our circulation is actually higher, thanks to the president. I don't know how he did it but thanks to the president, we've got more ad revenues now and uh what else? We've got a good line of columnists-we have Max… We have Max.

Q. How long have you been working with the Armed forces?
A. Uh, here?

Q. Yes.
A. Just almost a year.

Q. If ever there comes a case like you have, umm, or an issue concerning the military and it's bad publicity for the military, would you still write about it?
A. Yes, unless Capt. Alex Tuprio would fix me… Uh no just kidding(laughs). Of course I would, no question about it. But I remember one time I was in the senate and we were covering, and we were writing about a controversial case concerning a military personnel. Our reporter was, let's say, harassed-or being followed, tailed, by some military men. So sometimes, being human also, that would make us think twice. But I've always believed it 's all about a clear conscience eh, you can write about anything as long as your conscience is clean. So what? I mean you're just doing the right stuff.

Q. Umm what are the big events you've covered so far?
A. Big events? Mostly when I was assigned in the Palace, FVR. I still go to the Palace now, but only on weekends and as a buck stop when a reporter there seems to be loaded. And, how do you state this, it's what... and East Timor... that's about it.

Q. Um, what's the most memorable experience you've ever had concerning your career?
A. Oh many, many, many. Many. Uh, yeah, while covering the president, covering the elections. I would mention that also as experience, covering the elections. Umm, meeting people that you only see on TV and uh, what do you call this, quote unquote, obviously they only think it's dangerous but you know… Quote unquote, the so-called dangerous assignments... I don't know, that's it (nods). That's about it

Q. Would you mind explaining or giving us details or the specifics about those?
A. Oh those… I wouldn't put much or brag about or I wouldn't even say that they're really… I can't get the word… It's just going to camps 'no? Enemy camps. Interviewing rebels, that's about it 'no? Or you know, that's all, nothing much. I'd be more scared of a mugger.

Q. Yeah, than a rebel?
A. (nods)

Q. For the last question, what can you say to aspiring journalists of today?
A. If you want to be rich, do not continue-

Q. (laughs)
A. (laughs) No, really, really. But if you want you know, you're going to be fulfilled-and before I forget, one of the reasons I also joined this profession you know I-all of us have a sense of wanting to help others but maybe unless you're really a sociopath But you have this… to really help other people and you know, information. Letting people know what's happening so that they can make hopefully good decisions on basic information they need. Then that's fulfillment enough. So aspiring journalists, if you want to be rich, no. No, it's not a lucrative profession as shown by the perceived uh, what do you call this, by the bribery thing in the industry and if you want to be an influence because you can be an influence, finish it on. And ok?

Q. So that's it. Sir, thank you.
A. No problem.

***Capt. Tuprio is part of the defense security of the PIO