Interviewers: Kristine de Ocampo, Wincess Lee

Q: Sir, in what newspaper did you work for right after you graduated?

A: Hindi pa, hindi pa yung after graduation. Wala pa ako, actually I was jobless. I started as a singer nung 1949. 1949. But I became a radio announcer in 1953. Then, I engaged in newspapering in about 63 to about 66 or 65. Dun sa Manila Chronicle, the defunct Manila Chronicle. Ang beat ko nun ay police at tsaka sports.

Q: Ay sir, could you describe yung sa newspaper office niyo, in the physical aspect?

A: Our office then was located along Aduana street noh, yung Chronicle building. It is, it's own building. Editorial offices were at the third and fourth floors, yung printing press namin nandun sa ground floor, including the basement. The Manila Chronicle was the first one who introduced the so-called Roto-Gravure newspapering printing. Eh, tuluy-tuloy lang yun, dere-deretso ang color noh. Actually, it's a 4-floor building adjacent to the ABS-CBN building, right in front of the Manila Cathedral. Nandun yung, well, anyway, the Manila Chronicle was then a broadsheet newspaper, it was a big paper during that time.

Q: Sir, how about the ventilation of the people? Who were the publishers, editors and colleagues?

A: Actually the publishers, the owners then were the Lopezes, Don Eugenio Lopez, Sr. Ah, you're talking about ventilation? Of course air-coned, even downstairs, even below. All air-cond.

Q: Sir, how about the lightings

A: The lightings are okay. There are no problemo because you know, in a newsroom, it's gotta be lighted eh. Even the offices are well-lighted. It is well-kept. I think the office is very presentable. But, downstairs, you know like any other newsroom, you can see the hustle and bustle and clicking of typewriters, wala pang masyadong ano nun, computers noh. So, the usual noises in all newsrooms worldwide, you'll be hearing the same thing. Yung ingay, yung mga kalat ng mga papel, carbon paper, the clutter of the teleprinters and teletype machines, nagfi-feed yan mula sa abroad, mga wire services. Can you imagine, you know, halo-halo ang noises ng teleprinters, UPIAP, CBS, Reuters, John France Press, mga Task Radio Moscow and all. Sama-sama yung ingay ng clutter ng mga teleprinter machines. Plus, the writers themselves. How they were able to concentrate and write their stories is fantastic. These are the journalists.

Q: Regarding the working conditions naman, paano yung salaries?

A: The salary was then even higher than the minimum wage. If the minimum wage was, I just don't remember how much, But I can assure you the smallest pay of the smallest employee is more than double the minimum wage is.

Q: How many hours do you work?

A: In the number of hours, because sinabay ko nung araw sa broadcasting ito, I was also appearing on television, mga dramas ganoon, soap operas and comedy shows noh, bit player. But I was a full-time writer of scripts, kaming dalawa ni Ading Fernando during Dolphy-Panchito days in the 60s noh, when television was not as much as it is today. So, I was then writing two 1-hour shows on radio, DZXL ito, this is part of ABS- CBN. I was writing a 1-hour comedy and I was writing a 1-hour heavy drama aside from a daily soap opera, script eh. That's one of my work. Nag aannounce pa ako. I was a disk jockey. During that time, I play music, top 10, top 20, you know the hullabaloo of broadcasting, the noises. And also, doing job as a reporter.

Q: Sir, do you work on holidays?

A: We do work on holidays. This is one kind of work, one kind of job, that holidays has no place at all in our calendar. Mas lalong nagtatrabaho kami pag holiday or pag mayroong disaster or calamities, the more reason we have to be out. Can you imagine you know, when the government announces that all should leave their schools, their offices and all, the more we go to the disaster areas, because we are journalists. As if walang halaga yung buhay namin. Mamamayan lang ang mahalaga, parang ganoon.

Q: Sir, how about the deadlines? What time is you deadline?

A: I don't remember the deadline. But mostly the deadline is at 5 o'clock in the afternoon for a broadsheet, for tomorrow's paper. 5 o'clock. However, ah, nagpapalit ito. For instance, mayroong mga pumutok na big news or a big items that would merit a headliner. We all go back to the office and write the story, ganoon.

Q: 2nd edition?

A: No, 1st edition. So, we stay overnight. Everybody works. Kasi hahabol yung headline. For instance, something happens at midnight, edi kawawa ang dyaryo mo noh, you don't get the headlines. Ang headline mo may sakit, namatay na pala.

Q: Sir, were you ever a cub reporter?

A: Were I ever a?

Q: Cub reporter, sir.

A: I, I really don't know. Dun sa Manila Chronicle, when I was taken as a reporter in the Manila Chronicle, I was already broadcasting. I was already a field reporter for radio. And I was just told kung ano yung sinasabi mo sa radio, yung sinusulat mo sa script, just do it in newspaper. But I was told by my editor-in-chief then, pinakamagandang advice when my editor-in-chief then was an institution himself. I'm talking about Celso Cabrera. I don't know if maybe he's familiar to you. But he was one of the most respected in the industry. In the print industry. Celso Cabrera. Nung pinatawag niya ako, one-liner lang ang tinuro niya sakin. I learned a lot from him. Alam mo sabi sakin, are you the one writing the police and sports? Sabi ko yes sir. Are you Barr Samson? Yes, sir. You need some more schooling. Sabi sakin ganoon. It's a good thing that your editors are rewriting your stories, your story came out good. Sabi ko, what do I do sir? Rule of the thumb, this is the most I can tell you. Write as you talk. What else, what else, sir? No more, you can leave. Yun ang sabi sakin. Write as you talk daw when you write a story in newspapers. Celso Cabrera.

Q: Eh, sir, how was your relation with your editor?

A: My relation with the editor? Knowing that I was basically a broadcaster, and I admit, I'm not a print man. He taught me a lot of things. There was a time when my story has to be rewritten, bloody, kasi red pencil ang pang-edit eh. There are times when my stories written 3 times or 4 times until irritated na ang aking desk editor, si Jorge Afable. Sabi sakin, Barr, maganda ang istorya mo, ako ng bahala, iwan mo na sakin. The following day, I get phone calls from my friends because of a very well-written story. Hindi ko lang masabi sa kanila, that's not my story. My editor wrote it pero ang pangalan ko ang nakalagay dun. Headline ng dyaryo Manila Chronicle, by Barr Samson. Pero actually, if you will read my original composition nung story, malayung malayo dun sa front-page story. But, I got my credit because of my desk editor. And that's how I learned from it.

Q: How were they when it comes to accuracy, ethics, the grammar aspects of newspaper?

A: Come again? Please repeat the question.

Q: How were they when it comes to accuracy, ethics, the grammar aspects of newspaper?

A: Oh, we were writing our stories in consonance with the rules of libel. The rules on libel. We were aware of that because we have been attending seminars and workshops. We are being briefed by our editors in periodic meetings, telling us the elements on libel. And the ethics, the credo of newspapering. We were aware of that. Because this is supposed to be a very responsible, respectable newspaper. Because that's the Manila Chronicle, the broadsheet. So, we cannot afford to commit mistakes. We try to avoid errata, nakakahiya yun eh kasi mag eexcuse ka because you committed a mistake, you'll write an errata on the front pages noh, if only to apologize for something else which is bad. I don't remember having an erratum or errata during my newspapering work.

Q: Sir, in addition to the editors, how were the editors attitude, how was their attitude towards deadlines?

A: Well, different peoples have different colors, different sizes, different shapes and different mentalities. Editors come in different all those different things that I've said. And so you have to play it you know, by feel. Pakikisamahan mo talaga kung sino, whether you like it or not noh. Can you change your editor? No. But one thing is you are learning in the process. Take the good things that he can tell you but cast off the bad things that's coming from him. But, ah, it leaves you no choice, but to stay with him. So to speak, you dance with the snakes. But you learn in the process.

Q: How did they communicate this attitude to their reporters?

A: Well, there's no need of communicating it because their actuations, their movements, their behavior is reflecting their personalities. Mayroon ngang mga mayayabang eh. But, you know, you learn from them. I salute them, these guys. Siguro kaya nagyayabang kasi may ipagyayabang. Marunong sila. They look up to us as cubs, or as rookies or green horns. Pero, we learn from them. Kasi naman pag malambot ang editor noh, if an editor is very soft, aba'y aabusuhin ka diba. But you know when you have leadership, you have that command power. Siyempre susunod ka. And that's how they discipline people. And I like it. Mayroong dictatorial mayroong liberal. I would rather have a dictatorial style in managing not just newspapering, but in almost all aspects. But, considering the human touch. Kasi, that's one important factor. No matter how devil you may be, no matter how bad you may be in the face of your writers or your broadcasters. The radio broadcasting manager, or the newspaper editor must have and must not eat his words. Pag sinabi, gawin mo. And that's discipline. That's one brand of management.

Q: Sir, do you have any memorable colleagues?

A: memorable what?

Q: Colleagues, sir.

A: Colleagues. Well, if I remember right, I remember a few names. Because when I was covering sports and the police, of course I was a part of a press core, yung tinatawag nilang press groups noh? We have the police press core or health press core. I remember names who are now editors, who are now publishers. Some of them already died but let me tell you some names. Antonio Sidayao, a big name in the print industry. Gus Villanueva, G-U-S. Bert Cuevas, noh? Adrianne Cristobal, Rick dela Cruz, Tony Romero, Benjie Defensor, these are big names in the industry. Vic Milan. Uh.. Ewan ko kung sino pa yung iba.. Pardon me if I don't remember their names, they are stil in the industries. Big names. These were members of our press groups during that time.

Q: Sir, What made them unforgettable?

A: Unforgettable in news papering? Both in broadcast and print, that risk cant be eliminated. There are several times in a journalists life would be put to risk. That's the industry's radio I mean broadcasting and printing I could not remember some but they were plenty. I could not just say it in detail. Its got to be there eh. The risk has to be there.

Q: What were your best memories as a young reporter?

A: As a young reporter? As an old reporter? Interviewing personalities.. on television at the same time I print them. My interviews were the name, name personalities. I remember there was one who won miss universe yata or miss international held in Columbia or a Latin American country. Si Araneta? What's her name again? Gemma Cruz, when she won Miss World or Miss International. We were on the air and I was the first one. My program, our station was the first one who interviewed her and the entire country simulcast on 17 stations were glued on the radio station hearing Gemma Cruz Araneta, Gemma Cruz, at dalaga pa siya noon, when she won of course. She was crying like a child because of happiness. And then interviews like, when I interviewed Dr. Christiaan Barnard, noh. Christiaan Barnard of South Africa. If you will recall, Dr. Barnard of GruteSchuur Hospital of Capetown, South Africa was the pioneer in heart transplant. And the first patient, I remember the name was, a guy named Washkansky. I think he lived for six days and a few hours performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnaard. We were able to talk with him. I singled him out by a long distance when he was in Africa and when he made a return, because he went to the Philippines, twice. We were able to talk with him again. I remember also, in 1969, I think it was July, when 3 astronauts aboard, when they went to the moon, I remember. The names of Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and I don't remember the third noh. Immediately after landing in a Hawaii bay, they were talking to Richard Nixon, American president. They were being congratulated by the American president. And immediately after that because I was waiting on the phone, I identified myself, and I said this is the Philippines, an English-speaking country and you are simulcast now on 21 radio stations. And I said I can wait. So immediately after Nixon talked to the 3, congratulated the 3, it was Barr Samson talking to Neil Armstrong and saying his hellos to the Phils. And that's when I learned, si Neil Armstrong pala, Neil Armstrong stayed in the country before he became an astronaut, he was a ground maintenance mechanic at Clark Air Base. And sabi niya sakin, Mr. Samson I was in the Philippines for two years and nag gu-good time sila sa ano, we were having a good time in Pasay City. Pasay pa daw noh. He was here for 2 years. It was quite a day for us. And it was simulcast. I remember. I cannot forget that. So there are many things, I cannot forget the catastrophes, the calamities, the deaths, the bloods, the pains, the sicknesses. Hundreds and thousands of people. So many things that, one book I think is not enough to relate experiences, not just my experiences, but experiences of journalists. Very colorful, very risky, but you know, in the exercise of profession, a big honor.

Q: Sir, I'd just like to ask, did you also print the one, the story about Mr. Neil Armstrong?

A: Yes, I did. I have written several stories about it. Makulit si Barr Samson noh. I remember, I think I have written it not during those days, but when I was already a columnist. Everytime the anniversary of the moon landing comes, you know, I'll always write in the column and recall it.

Q: Sir, in what newspaper?

A: This is on Nation's Coverage, a weekly. The other one is Metro Monitor, the other one is Bagong Bansa. I have written it in NOW News Weekly, it's coming. And Trade Winds. These are all tabloids. All these years, you know, I always write the very memorable, unforgettable experience.

Q: Sir, could you give us more background on those papers because we are not so aware.

A: They are not so popular papers, however, they are nationwide in the sense that these are distributed via LBC, via airlines on specific areas in the country. For instance the Bureau of Customs. There are about 21 or 22 Customs Areas in our country and we send copies there, dun na nagkakalat yan noh.

Q: Are they for free or people pay for it?

A: No, subscriptions lamang ito. This are only for subscriptions.

Q: Sir, all those newspapers?

A: All those newspapers are exclusive newspapers.

Q: Sir what significant events did you cover? What were tour memories as a world war ii or martial law or any of the EDSA?

A: Well, the Magsaysay election on 1953 or 1954 I guess. November 11, we were shot up at Cavite that was very memorable to us during the election of Ramon Magsaysay Sr. now a national hero noh? It's very memorable. Another was the typhoons and earthquakes, ang dami niyan eh. Plus mostly elections like we talk to the candidates like Marcos, Fidel Valdez Ramos, Ferdinand Marcos, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, I covered him during the elections. All of them and the experiences with Ninoy Aquino. These are all memorable. It would take books to write the experiences.

A: Thank you sir that's all.

A: I would like to thank you, you know, not everybody is given that blessing, I use to say, not everybody is given the blessing to be interviewed. At least I can put to uses my two sensors. And you know I hope I came out with your expectations.

A: Yes sir. Thank you sir.