PASCUAL. Good Afternoon! This is Melissa Pascual from De La Salle University and I?m here in Wok Inn, Manila, to interview Ms. Sol Jose Vanzi for my requirement in Introduction to Print or Inprint. Please describe the press in the 1960s?
VANZI. In the 1960s, the press was more competitive, there was a feeling of genuine, it?s almost a scholastic competition among journalist, among newspapers. Even if you were on the scene of the event. All of you, mahuli lang nga 2 minutes of 15 minutes ang isa parang malaking kantsawan na at parang, you lost a lot of pride na. Unlike today, were journalism, especially by the young, the new graduates, yung hindi ko kabatch, ang tingin nila glamour career. It?s considered one of the most glamorous careers. Journalism. Mass Com

Q. On the field mismo?
A. Miski on camera. Basta nasabing Journ? or Mass Com or CA. Ang tingin ko akala ng mga bata masyadong sosyal na course. Noong araw, you became a journalist because you were serious. As a matter of fact, yung mga ka-batch we don?t like socials, we don?t go out. We don?t attend social functions. It?s almost deliberate from us na hindi mahilig sa mga long gown, parang protest. Ngayon ang gimmik and journalism go hand in hand. Noong araw hindi compatible.

Q. Bakit sya considered as a gimmik ngayon?
A. Kasi parang ang tingin ko, tingin ng bata sa journalism ngayon, parang gimmik. It?s an attitude shared by Filipinos and foreign journalism graduates alike. Nawala na halos yung distinction between entertainment and journalism, even in what is so-called public affairs. Public affairs, karamihan mga, dramatizations of news events, yung mga bawal sa amin yun noong araw. So, pati yung artista atsaka journalist hindi na magkaiba pati na rin yung journalist atskaka politiko di narin magka-iba. Nag cro-cross over na silang lahat. Noong araw, napaka purist namin, kung journalist ka lang, journalist ka lang. Pag journalist ka tapos tumakbo ka sa pagka politiko, ang baba na ng tingin sayo ng ibang mong kasamahan na journalist, parang itatakwil ka na.

Q. You finished college in UP Diliman and took up Chemical Engineeing? Why so?
A. Well, good ako sa math and physics. I grew up in Cavite, tapos mayroon akong foreign government scholarship, atska noong araw, you were not allowed to do what you wanted to do, no matter how strong willed and strong-minded you are, like I am noh. I have always been strong-minded pero nung 60?s walang hard news na babae, puro society page and desk job and magazine magazine. Ngayon, I wanted to be a hard news journalist, kasi na-inspire ako ni Rod Reyes. Si Rod Reyes nababasa ko when I was in High School na nagpadrug addik talaga sa para ma- infiltrate nya yung mga drug lords atska nahuli nya lahat yung mga drug syndicate, sa Manila Times, si Rod Reyes. Siya yung press secretary ngayon. So inspired na inspired ako. Pag graduate ko ng High School, sabi ko, "gusto ko maging reporter!" My grandparents were against it. I grew up with my grandparents and my mother said: ?Naku, para ka naring dyan nag politiko!? Mababa ang tingin nyun sa journalist eh. Tska yung babae ayaw payagan maging journalist noong araw.

Q. Was it really hard for you to break in to the society dahil babae ka, ang hirap-hirap maging journalist?
A. Hindi. While I was in UP, inutusan lang ako. Para akong inutusang bumili ng suka eh. Kasi, member ako ng UP mobile theater group, tapos mayoon lumabas na storya about us, may ritrato, so sabi ni Wilfredo Ma. Guererro. ?Ay kailangan nayin yan. Magpabili ka, maghanap kayo ng kopya!? tapos sabi ko, ?Alam ko ho kung saan mayroon". Kasi doon ako sumasakay, yung Cavite bound bus, doon naka- istanby sa may Sta. Cruz, sa Manila, doon ako lumilipat papuntang UP. Sabi ko, ?Ako na lang ho ang bibili!? I went there. Andun na ako sa loob ng building ng Manila Times. Sabi ko, ?Naku! Nandito narin lang ako, chansya ko nato!? so sabi ko doon sa guard, ?Saan who dito ang office ng Women?s Magazine?? Tinuro sakin tapos punta ako doon. Sabi ko doon sa aleng nagbukas ng pinto, ?Good afternoon, I want to ask if you can give me an assignment tonight.? sabi nya ?Why? Are you a journalist? ?No.? ?Are you a journalism student?? ?No.? ?Then why?? ?Kasi ho, I would always want to be a journalist.? Tinanong nyako kung, if I?m not a journalism student, what make me think na I can write. So sabi ko, ?I got pretty good grades in English and composition, sa literature, and I have written essays and poems. I just wanna know whether I can write or not. Kaya sinuggest ko to give me a news assignment na iaasign rin nya sa iba. Para pag submit ko, pag ok yung sinubmit ko, then she will tell me na ok at kung hindi naman ok, then she didn?t lose anything, and all I lost was some time. So sabi nya, ?O sige sige?, sabi nya. And the lady was so nice, and I did not know who she was. Editor-in-chief pala ng Women?s Magazine. Si Luisa Linsangan. Legendary yun. Yun ang pinaka-pinaka talaga. Siya yung nag imbento ng Women?s Magazine. Noong araw iisa lang ang Women?s Magazine nyun, Womens. Sabi nya, ?Come back.? Pag balik ko kinaukasan, binigyan nya ako ng assignment, sabi nya sakin, "ano course mo?" Sabi ko, ?Engineering?, inassign nyako sa sculpter exhibit ni Guerrero. Nakapunta kaba ba sa UP? Papasok ka, both sides maroon sculptur ng mga adobe? Yung bato?

Q. Opo.
A. Yun! Exactly that! Yung series nayun. That was in 1963, in April. Di ko naman alam na madidisplay yun for posterity, basta andun lang yun sa isang vacant lot, maraming maraming mga sculptur. Modern pa! Di naman alam ni Ms. Linsanagan na kasi interested talaga ako sa art although I was in Chemical Engineering, naka- cross enrolled ako. I was taking additional loads. Fine arts and architecture.

Q. Interest rin nyo po pala talaga kayo sa arts atska sa journalism mo?
A. Uhuh. Classmate ko sina Bentab. You know, yung famous painter? Ben Cabrera, classmate ko sa art atska si Ophie, Ophie Halvason. Yung Ophie Albason ticky? Yung, parish based? Mahilig talaga ako sa writing. When I was a kid, grade 2, grade 3 palang ako, nabasa ko na lahat yung encyclopaedia, from A-Z. It was in a public school. I had no gang. I did not go out to play with the group of kids. Basa lang ako ng basa.

Q. Ano po nagawa nyo sa Daily Mirror?
A. Art critic ako ng Women?s Magazine. After that, I had to run away from home. My parents would not let me write. Sabi nila , ?Sige tapusin mo muna yung Chemical Engineering mo, tapos mag take ka ng board, pagkatapos kung gusto mo pa, mag-aral ka na ng journalism.? Nag mamadali nako kasi imagine nakapag publish nako. So, I ran away from home. Inencourage naman ako ni Estrella Alfon.. Noted din yan. Writer, poet.

Q. Paano nyo ho sya nakilala?
A. Manila Times canteen tsaka sa National Press Club

Q. And that was your first assignment in Manila Times?
A. Oo. Women?s Magazine of the Manila Times.

Q. How old were you then?
A. 19. My first article was published in May of 1963 about the art sculpter.

Q. And you stayed there for how many years?
A. I did not stopped. Walang stop stop sa ganyan. Babayaran ka ng threnta pesos, bayaran ka ng P30 per RP call.

Q. Was it considered as a big amount?
A. Big amount but you will not survive. For the glory na nakapublish ka sa biggest magazine in the Philippines.

Q. What about your parents? Di ba nila sinabing ?ang galing naman ng anak ko dahil??
A. Oo, pero matigas parin sila na traditional parin sila. This magazine was located in the same building. The Manila Times, owned the Women?s Magazine, the Taliba, Philippines Newspaper and the Daily Mirror, which is an afternoon newspaper. So, nagpunta ako sa Manila Times Newsdesk, tapos kinausap ko si Mr. Joe Luna Castro, sabi ko, ?Pwede ho kayang bigyan nyo naman ako ng news assignment. Masyadong pangbabae babae and art critic. Hindi challenging enough for me.? Tapos, sabi nya, ?Sige! Gusto mo bang kumover ng ano, ng hard news? Sige, koberan mo yung elections sa Ilocos Sur.? Tuwang tuwa naman ako. Imagine Ilocos Sur? Doon lang ako makaka out of town. I mean naka out of town ko yung araw, yung excursion excursion to Bagiou, pero yung pupunta ka sa Ilocos Sur. Di ko naman alam na palang walang tumatanggap ng assignment ng Ilocos Sur elections. Patayan! Barilan! Ala-singko palang ng hapon nakasirado na lahat ng bahay. So, I went. Pinanindigan ko na, I had to learn how to speak Ilokano in one week.

Q. By yourself lang ho?
A. Oo, by talking to people, otherwise wala kang istorya.

Q. Going back to the Daily Mirror? San po yung location ng Daily Mirror?
A. Doon din. Florentino Torres Street, Sta Cruz, near Corner Soler.

Q. So di pa po nagbabago till now?
A. Andun parin yung building. Pero nagkabenta benta na yung Manila Times diba? Ngayon ang may ari na si Mark Jimenez.

Q. Paano po yung working conditions dun? Pano yung facilities nila? Up to date ba sila?
A. That was the best facilities nung araw. Manila Times was the number one newspaper. Yung mga action ng mga lalaki noong araw, pag inaction nila ngayon, madedemanda sila ng sexual harassment. Pero, noong araw wala pang malice, dun sa pag naglalakad ka bigla kang kukuritun sa pwet. Pag ngayon mo ginawa yun, sexual harassment yun.

Q. Are they all dedicated?
A. Lahat dedicated. Lahat ng nagtratrabaho sa dyario dedicated.

Q. Paano po yung mga editors ninyo? Sino po sila?
A. Sila Eric, sa Saturday Mirror Magazine ako sumunod eh. Sila Eric Hiron, tska si Tirso Rodriguez, na naging President ng National Press Club. Kasabay ko na feature writer doon, si Bibsi Calbaryo, yung talent manager ngayon? Sya yung naging talent manager nina Dawn Zulueta, Gretchen Bareeto tska si Margot Baterina na editor ngayon ng Inquirer. Sa Daily Mirror naman newspaper, kasi dalawa yun eh, yung isa sa Saturday Mirror Magazine na sina Eric Hiron. Sa Daily Mirror newspaper, every Wednesday there was a fashion page, male fashion, ang editor nyun si Max Buwan. That was the first ever male fashion page in the Philippines.

Q. Bakit hindi ho kayo sa female fashion? Bat hindi ho sa male fashion pa?
A. Hindi na kasi challenging yung female fashion kasi yung talagang traditional lugar ng female writers sa diaryo.

Q. Inassign lang po kayo dun o kayo mismo nagvovolunteer?
A. Ako ang nag-volunteer. Kokonti lang nag-vovolunteer. Lahat nagsasaksakan dun sa Society page. Kasi yung Society page yun yung what we call now the Lifestyle section. Lahat nandun. Nandun ang artista, nandun ang fashion, andun ang sosyalan.

Q. What are the basic do?s and don?ts on the job?
A. Noong araw, bawal manigarilyo ang babae.

Q. Kahit of age na kayo, kahit writer kayo o journalist?
A. Maraming bawal nung araw, pero kasi journalist ka, atska napaka-liberal. Mas maraming bawal ngayon kaysa nung araw. Mas permissive. As a matter of fact, pag-dalaga ka, liligawan ka ng editor na may asawa, indi nila sasabihin sa?yo na may asawa. Tapos, marami akong nakasabay na na-anakan ng mga editor. Well, it?s nothing. Di naging taint sa kanila. It did not stop them from succeeding.

Q. Was it actually a game for them dahil nangyari yun?
A. Sa mga lalaki it was a game. Mas-serious kaysa nung araw. talagang plaything ang babae.

Q. So is it ok for the girls to be treated as such with their editor back then?
A. Hinde, groupie yon. Hindi yon play. Groupie yon.

Q. Ano po yong magagandang facilities na wala sa Manila Times.
A. Share sila. Pareho sila. Same building. Florentino Torres. As a matter of fact, dadaan ka ng office ng Manila Times bago ka makapasok sa opisina ng Daily Mirror.

Q. So, you were an all- around reporter then?
A. It?s a big family. Tawag nila don sa Manila Times, family? everybody knew each other.

Q. How was it being a cub reporter? How were you treated?
A. Encouraged. Always encouraged. We took our craft very very seriously. Pagdating ng pagbubukas ng dyaryo sa umaga, compare-an na yan ng lahat ng dyaryo. Ngayon, yung mga peryodista, they don?t read the papers. They don?t know what the other newspaper hold. So yung version ko, titingnan ko yung version ng isa. Kung may grammatical error, kantsawan yan! Di mauubos ang kantsawan. Ngayon, the writing these days is very, very bad. Ang Ingles ngayon baluktot na baluktot, kulang-kulang ang mga istorya. Kasi mga editors pabata ng pabata, tskaka pabaya ng pabaya.

Q. Any unforgettable experience during your time with the Manila Times?
A. Nabaril ako.

Q. Saan po?
A. Sa Ilocos. Muntikan ng maputol paa ko.

Q. Ano po yung ginagawa niyo sa Ilocos?
A. Kumo-cover ako ng election.

Q. Ano date ng election? Presidential election?
A. Local. Congressman and Governors.

Q. This was during?
A. During 1963. Because the assignment was such a dangerous place, pinapunta ako sa NBI, binigyan ako ng baril at tinuruan ako gamitin yung baril before I left. It was a nickel-plated Magnum .357. And they showed me how to clean it, take it apart, put it back together again and how to shoot. And they taught me judo and karate.

Q. In a span of weeks? Months?
A. One week. Intensive.

Q. Pag pasok niyo, binigyan kagad kayo?
A. Hindi, I-aasign ako don. Hindi Manila Times ang nagbigay nga baril, NBI. Nung nandun ako Ilocos, kasi nga napaka idealistic ko at napaka pure. Nakita ko itong isang mayor, on election day. Ayaw niyang ipaboto ang mga hindi niya botante. This was in Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur. Sabi ko, ?News ito! I took my camera out of my bag and started taking pictures of him. Suot pa naman siyang uniform ng Constabulary. Tawag nila Don Rangers? kulay itim, ngayon wala na yon eh. PC Rangers. Meron siyang baril tsaka ang dami niyang bodyguard, naka-itim silang lahat. Tinututukan nila yung mga di nila kakampi at di pinapaboto. Saka ako nagkukuha ng pictures. He told me to stop, and I did not stop. I said, ?Hindi pwede, press freedom! It?s my right? the public has to know?? binaril ako! Buti na lang nagtago ako sa likod ng momumento, it was in a public plaza, sa may iskwelahan. Between him and me, may plaza. Binaril ako, but he was not intending to kill me. We were friends by then dahil nakita niya ako at naguusap na kami. Binaril ako, tinamaan ako sa tuhod, dito sa left knee at sa right thigh. Dalawang bala.

Q. Ano po ginawa niyo?
A. Wala. Stop. Tapos walk away. Di ko pa nafe-feel yung pain, ganun pala yun. Tago ka muna. Nakita ko na hindi na niya ako pinansin. Maya-maya hindi na ako makatindig. Para ng bali ang paa ko. Dinala nila ako sa clinic at sti-nitch ako. I had to go back to Manila. Di na ako makalakad eh.

Q. You weren?t able to finish your assignment there?
A. My last assignment in Manila was the last working day, that election day.

Q. Were you traumatized at that time?
A. No, no. It was all part of the job. As a matter of fact. It wasn?t even ?Wow pare nabaril ako.? Nothing yun eh.

Q. Was it the reason you moved to TV rather than print journalism?
A. Print pa rin ako ng print. May boyfriend ako sa Television of Channel 5. Kasi, Channel 5 was owned by the Manila Times. One day, the news director of Channel 5, Antonio Tecson, yung news director ni Ninoy Aquino, sabi niya, ?Uy election na!? Election of 1967. ?Kakapusin kami ng tao. Baka gusto mo mag part time sa amin, even for just the election coverage. Kulang kami ng tao.? Sabi ko O, sige. Ang binigay na assignment sa akin, ang election coverage ako ang, on the spot reporter sa Comelec.

Q. How were you able to work with Marita Manuel?
A. Channel 5. Dun kami nagmeet. Marita Manuel was the news writer and the news producer of Channel 5. She was the very very first television newscast-writer in the Philippines. Ewan ko naman kung ano ang personality problem niya at that point in her life, madamot siya. But changed later. Hindi niya shinare ang kanyang knowledge, hindi niya tinuro sa mga tao na, ?This is how to write a newscast.? So, after the election coverage, nagkaron ng UNESCO, International Conference on Excavated Chinese Pottery in the Philippines. Ang title ng conference. ?Ten Thousand Years of Chinese Pottery and Excavations in the Philippines?. Sabi uli ni Mr. Tecson, kailangan niya ng extra tao na gagawa non kasi enough lang ang tao niya for the newscast. So kinuha ko. I did not know how to type. In the Women?s Magazine, nagsa-submit ako ng istorya long hand, tinatanggap. So, na-ispoil ako. I did not learn how to type, hanggang pagdating ko sa television, I had to do that documentary and I did not even know what a documentary was. Sa Women?s Magazine, the first assignment sa akin ni Ms. Linsangan, after I submitted my story in long hand, sabi niya, ?O sige, okay na tong istorya mo kahit long hand. Pumunta ka ngayon dun sa photo section, yung kasama mong photographer si Mr. Ben Santos. Hingin mo yung dummy, at tsaka mayroon mga nakalay-out na yung cuts. Lagyan mo ng caption. Pagpunta ko don, sabi ko, ?Mang Ben, ano po ba yung dummy, ano po ba yung caption?? I did not know anything.

Q. Do you think it was a disadvantage because you were not a Mass Com student?
A. No, no. Because it took me ten minutes to learn, so why go through five years of college just to learn that? If I had a newspaper, I would not let a journalism degree or a CA degree be the basis for my hiring a reporter or a writer. I would rather hire a Political Scientist, an English Major, an Art critic, an Economics major, for the specific pages because what do you learn in Communication Arts? The history of journalism in the world and in the Philippines, Mcluhan et cetera, et cetera. You don?t need that! Di mo kailangan yon para maging peryodista. Kailangan mo lang kung English yung dyaryo, eh kailangan marunong ka mag-Ingles. That?s what editors are for. Kailangan ang editor magaling mag-Ingles.

Q. Do they correct the grammar?
A. Yah, pero kung di ka talaga marunong ng grammar, hanggang reporter ka na lang. Hindi ka na magiging editor.

Q. How would you rate yourself as a cub reporter? 1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest.
A. 10. I tried very hard. Kasi hanggang ngayon ganon ako eh. I won?t do anything unless I?ll give 100%.

Q. Can you say you?re a perfectionist by heart? Do you feel you have something to prove to your co-editors, to your co-workers at that time? Dahil baguhan ka?
A. It?s up to me. To myself. Not to anybody.

Q. Wala bang compare-an yan. Siyempre sa news, compare-an ng notes. ?Yan mas magaling kaysa isa?. Meron po bang ganon sa inyo?
A. Noong araw, nung batch namin. Ako, si Teresa Tunay, si Margot Baterino, Bibsi Carballo. Si Elinda Bolido. Kasi Sabay-sabay kaming nagdatingan parang pinagko-compare kami, hanggaing pati personal lives namin halos ipinag-compare. Pero ako kasi, nasanay akong walang pakelam.

Q. How were you able to discipline yourself with your work?
A. By liking my work very much.

Q. Going back to Channel 5, were there any significant stories you did with Marita Manuel, or anything you learned during your stay?
A. Yeah, Marita did not shared her expertise. Siya lang marunong gumawa ng newscast. Nung wala pang CCMM, tawag non CAT Award, Citizen?s Award for Television. Siya lang lagi nanalo ng journalism award, news caster, news writer award kasi siya lang ang pioneer tsaka dalawa lang ang newscast niyon- ABS CBN at Channel 5. Ngayon, alam na ng Channel 5 na magtatayo ng news department ang ABS-CBN because they pirated Rod Reyes to become the news director of ABS-CBN. The first news department on television was Channel 5, the second news department was ABS-CBN. So gaya-gaya ang ABS sa Channel 5. Ang Lopez ganon. Pagnagtayo ng something, buhos pera. Money is not a problem. Magpa-pirate yan kaliwa?t kanan. So, alam na namin na pagkatapos ng CAT Awards, hihirit si Marita at si Bong Lapira na hihingi ng dagdag na sweldo, tapos hindi ibibigay ng Channel 5, lilipat sila sa ABS. Sabi sa akin ni Tecson na nung may-ari, Magnitos Roces, ?Are you ready to take over? We feel that Marita?s leaving.? Sabi ko, ? Yah, Why not? Madali lang naman ginagawa nila. Kaya ko yon.? Yung pa ang isa, Don?t ever be daunted, don?t ever be scared. But at the same time, be ready. Di naman yung, di ka takot pero di mo rin alam kung anong gagawin mo. So when she left, hindi huminto yung newscast. Ako naiwan ako sa Channel 5, ako nag-take over. Lahat ng bagong pasok, tinuturuan ko. Nandun na siya sa ABS, after 2 CAT Awards, tinawagan na ako ng news director, si Manny Benitez, dating editor sa Manila Times. Dahil nagretire ako for 6 months dahil nag-away kami ng may-ari ng Channel 5, tinanong niya ako kung gusto kong bumalik sa television. Sabi ko, ?Bakit??. Sabi niya, ?Kasi magca-CAT Awards na naman at siguro hihirit na naman sila ni Marita at hindi na namin ika-call. Total, wala na silang mapupuntahan pagnag-resign sila sa amin.?, sabi ng ABS. Sabi ko ?Sige.? Nag umpisa ako as Tagalog news writer kasi I can write in both. Tagalog news writer, plus kumo-cover ako sa beat. True enough, pagkatapos ng CAT Awards, humirit si Marita at si Bong Lapira, package deal lagi silang dalawa. Tumanggi ang ABS-CBN, ako na naman pumalit sa kanya. Kaya kami, alam mo, ang tagal tagal for many many years, di nagbabati ni Marita. Now, we?re very, very good friends. So, ako ngayon ang pumalit sa kanya. Ang mga bagong pasok sa akin non, bagong graduate from college, tinuruan ko, sina Orly Mercado, si Tony Seva, si Danny Hernandez, yung namatay na taga-Journal, si Elmo Valera, sila mga tiga-Lyceum yan. Si Orly taga-UP. From UP, si Butch Chanco, bagong pasok yon.

Q. Sino po ang nag offer sa?iyo na pumunta sa ABS?
A. Manny Benitez and Rod Reyes.

Q. How was your stay in Channel 2?
A. When I moved to Channel 2, they had moved to Bohol Avenue and they had the best television facilities in whole of Asia. Yung present location nila ngayon.

Q. Paano yung salary? Did they gave you more than ABC?
A. Yeah. P500 a month.

Q. What year was this?
A. 1969.

Q. How did they treat you? Did they treat you as a veteran at that time?
A. Medyo. Because when I took over from Marita, I was again the only one who could teach them how to write a newscast. Parang akong the understudy. Kasamahan namin noon sila Sylvia Mayuga, si Krip Huson, yung literary author ngayon, si Gorge Arago, yung nasa movies ngayon? Intense pa rin ang competition non. Kung intense a competition sa print, mas intense ang competition sa television. sa print, pero mas intense sa intense.

Q. Bakit ho mas intense sa television?
A. Ganun talaga ang attitude ng tao about journalism noong araw- pagalingan. While I was there, si Henry Helazon was the Malacanang reporter. He went someplace, para magbakasyon. Nagtake-over ako sa kanya temporarily. Habang, I was still doing my job sa station. But during the day I covered Marcos. Nung late November 1969? ABS- CBN was owned by The Chronicle pala. The Chronicle owned the ABS CBN, the Manila Times owned Channel 5. Yun ang tawag nilang ?tri-media ?, radio, television, and newspaper. So, ABS CBN was trying hard. Number one nga ang Manila Times. Ang ABS CBN, dinadaan nila sa pera. Itong si Ernie Granada, he was the number one columnist and journalist noong panahon na yun and he was covering Malacanang. Medyo pagka-leftist yon at magaling ang international connections. Kaibigan niya sina Arafat, sina Bomidiem sa North Africa, yung mga rebels noong araw na naging heads of state. So, isang araw, sabi ng news director, ?The Chronicle is sending somebody to the Middle East to interview Arab leaders.? Eh ayaw nyun. Napaka pro-Israel tayo non. Talagang wala tayong kakamping Arab kasi under tayo sa U.S. Kung ano ang utak ng US, yun din utak natin. So, sabi ng ABS, ?Sayang yung opportunity, makaka-interview siya ng heads of state. Para tri-media talaga, kailangan magpadala ng isang television team.? Prinesume ko na traditional, gera yung pupuntahan, lalake ang ipadadala. Sinabihan ko sina Tony Seva, sina Butch Chanco na maghanda na ang mga passport niyo para tingnan kung sinong pipiliin. Then the next night, tinawagan ako sa bahay ni Rod Reyes, ?Do you have a passport?? ?Why?? ?You?re going to Egypt.? ?Okey.? And so I went.

Q. What year was this when you went to Egypt?
A. November of 1969. Mag-isa ako. Pagpunta ko kasi nandun na sa Egypt sina Ernie Granada. So I proceeded to his hotel. Ininterview namin si President Abner at tumira kami sa kampo ng terrorists. Ang tawag pa nila non Al Fatah. Wala nun yung PLO, Palestinian Liberation Organization, ang mother organization nila nung araw. Pumunta kami sa Rabat, Morocco. Um-attend kami ng summit ng Arab leaders. Nakisakay kami kami sa eroplano ni King Hussein ng Jordan. Pinaka-security na nagbabantay sa akin nun mga nom de guerre. Mga pangalan nila mga Abu Iyad, Abu Zuel? Sila yung mga naghi-jack ng eroplano later. Sila yun, yung mga Palestinians. Kasi I left them in January. By September, nagpasog na sila ng jumbo jets sa Jordan, yun ang tinatawag non na Black September. Yun ang mga magagandang experience ko. Pag balik ko, Kit Tatad offered me a job sa Malacanang. He was the Press Secretary at that time. Sabi sa akin, ?Sol, baka gusto mong mag-trabaho sa amin.? 1970. Sabi ko, ?kababalik ko lang eh.? Kakatapos lang ng attack, nung first quarter storm, yung sinugod ang Malacanang, January 20, 1970. So pagbakik ko, inofferan niya ako ng job, kasi ako lang ang babaeng kumo-cover sa Presidente. Tapos si Mrs. Marcos noong araw, pagka nagbiya-biyahe kami, tiga-ABS pa ako non, nasa presidential yacht kami. Talagang, maliit pako 3 o?clock ng umaga gising nako, 4?o clock. Nandun ako nanonood ng langit tapos nakita ko may tao don. Si Mam. Tapos, makikipagkwentuhan sya sa akin tsaka tawag niya sa akin Lone Ranger.

Q. Bakit?
A. Kasi ako lang ang babae. At tsaka hindi ako nagbra-bra, hindi ako nagkakamison. Imagine 1960s. Sabi niya, ?Hindi ka pala nagkakamison no?? ?Eh Mam ang init eh.? ?Eh bra?? ?Eh ang sikip eh.? Tawag niya sa akin Lone Ranger. So Inofferan ako ng job ni Kit, tapos ia-assign daw nya ako kay maam. Pero nung lumipat na ako sa kanila, inassign din ako kay sir. Nagtayo sila ng office, tawag dun, Radio News and Editorial Services. Hindi ko nilagay yon sa biodata ko sa internet dahil ayaw kong sabihin ng mga tao na biased ang mga report eh. Parang kang chief ng radio, TV, sa Malacanang. Kasi wala pa don yung RTVM; Radio, television, movies.

Q. Directly under the Malacanang po ba to?
A. Directly under the Press Secretary. Ang tawag non MPO, Malacanang Press Office.

Q. Nagstop po tayo sa 1970-1973. Malacanang, 1973. When you stayed in Malacanang.
A. 1973. Yon, ang pinakamemorable sa akin. Parang nahulaan ko na magkaka-martial law kasi nakita kong may binabasa si Marcos na libro, yung Kudeta by Lutwak. One day, meron kaming coverage sa Clark. At sa isang bookstore, sa loob ng Clark, yung Stars and Stripes Bookstore, nakita ko yung libro na yun. Binili ko. Nung malaman ko bakit binabasa ni Marcos tska si Marcos usually hindi nagdadala ng libro don sa opisina. Nandun pa yon sa loob nya, hindi don sa may mga tao. Sabi ko, bakit kaya. So binasa ko. Nandun ngayon yung, ?How to Take Cver the Government.? Sinabi ko, paano yon, when he is already in control of the government. Coup d?etat is overthrow of the government. After that, nagkaron na ng unti-unting runor-rumor ng martial law. ?Martial will be declared, martial law will be declared.? On the evening of September 21, 1972, inutusan ako na pumunta sa Davao to interview the mayor, Mayor Elias Lopez, and bring some relief goods kasi may dumaan na bagyo doon. Ang mga makakasabay ko sa eroplano was Assistant Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora. Nagbabalot ako ng damit ng mga 7:00 or 8 o?clock in the evening, biglang nakarinig ako ng mga helicopters diyan yun apartment ko sa Mabini. Sabi ko, Philippine military helicopters are not equipped to fly at night. The only helicopters that could do that at that time were American military helicopters. Sinabi ko anong ginagawa ninyo? Sinilip ko. Ang dami. Bakit kaya? Tapos nakarinig ako ng sirens. Bumaba ako. Nagtaxi ako paikot-ikot. Nakita ko yung mga truck na militar na nagbababa ng sundalo sa bawat kanto. Bumalik ako sa bahay, nagbalot at pumunta ako sa airport. Punong puno ang airport, parang ang daming delayed flight. Sabi ko dun sa babae, ?On time ba ang lahat ng flights?? ?Hindi ho, delayed ho lahat,? sabi sa akin. Kinabahan ako kasi naaalala ko ang lahat ng nakita ko don sa libro. Pinakakita ko sa kanya ang ID ko na Malacanang. Sabi ko, ?It?s ok. You can tell me.? ?Hindi makatake-off ang mga eroplano dahil nakaharang ang mga military trucks dun sa runway.? Pa-OK lang ako. Sabi ko, ?OO, talagang ganon. Wag mong sasabihin sa iba yan ha.? Then, I went out. Naghanap ako ng government vehicle dun sa may runway, sa may airport. Pinakita ko ID ko, sabi ko, ?Ah, pinache-check lang sa akin yung runway kung okey yung pagkaharang. Dalhin mo ako don.? So, dinala naman nya ako don! Pagkakita ako, bumalik na ako sa airport. Dumating naman itong si Ronnie Zamora. Sabi ko, ?Uy Ronnie.? ?Baket?? ?Pare, palagay ko, martial law na.? ?Ha?? ?Oo!?. Tapos sinabi ko sa kanya ang lahat ng observations ko non. Lagi talaga akong may dalang tape recored at radio. In-on ko yung radio. Walang istasyon. Isa lang istasyon. Isa lang, patay lahat nung iba. Sabi ko, ?Sige, tumawag ka sa lahat ng dyaryo, sundalo ang sasagot.? Wala pang cellphone non. Ayan telephono. ?Pwede bang makitawag?? Tumawag ako sa Manila Times. Pagkatawag sa Manila Times, sasabihin ng sasagot: ?!!@#$!%#%$$%$^ Sergeant !@#$#%^$ SIR!?. ??Tang ina! That bastard!?, sabi niya. Sabi ko, ?Halika na! Halika na! Balik na tayo.? Balik kami sa Malacanang in the middle of the night. Dami na ng checkpoints.

Q. Buti na lang nakapasok ho kayo.
A. Yung ID. Special yung ID ko eh. May top clearance. Nakakapasok nga ako sa kwarto ni Marcos. Ang Malacanang ID, noong araw, iba ang empleyado ID. Tapos ang empleyado ID mo, mayroon dun legend, may kodigo, na mga letters or whatever. Alam kong patagalan na yon so papuntang Malacanang, huminto muna ako sa bahay, nagbaon ako ng mga damit, dumaan ako sa palengke, tsaka namili ako ng mga pagkain. Dinala ko sa Malacanang, kasi alam kong patagalan.

Q. Paano ho kayo nakakakuha ng high clearance sa Malacanang?
A. Kasi naka-assign ako don.

Q. Sa kanya mismo, as in personally kayo kay Marcos?
A. Naka-assign ako kay Marcos at tsaka kay Imelda. Ibig sabihin, yung iba hanggang dyan lang sa outside the building, yung iba nandun lang sa guard, ako hanggang dun sa loob. Sayang di ko dala ID ko ngayon, buhay pa eh. Lagi kong dala yon. May nakalagay Triple X. X-X-X. Ito pa. Martial law na. Alam na namin pero di pa alam ng bansa. September 22 na yon, di pa alam ng mga bansa. In-announce yun September 23. 23, Nandun ako sa office ni Kit Tatad. May binigay sa akin si Kit. Typewritten tapos maraming sulat ni Marcos. Maraming mga pinapalitan, maraming sinisingit. Sabi niya, ?Type-in mo yan dun sa igaganun.?. Sabi ko, ?Ah sa Teleprompter. Meron tayo non, hindi pa nagagamit kahit kelan.? Ang Teleprompter nung araw typewriter na ubod sa laki ang mga letra. Ang pinakabond paper mo, roll of paper na parang Manila paper. Meron ditong blinds, mayroon roll dito at mayroon roll dito. Ganun noong araw, 1972. Dun siya nakatingin, sa tabi ng camera. Habang ginaganon, binabasa niya yon. Kunwari, ?Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen.? Kunyari meron dito, pero di niya tinitingnan. Kala mo naman di siya nagbabasa. Ngayon, sabi ko ?Sige meron tayo non, di pa nagagamit. Brand new na brand new panga eh.? ?Sige, sige, type-in mo yan.? Wow, important! Ako ang unang- unang nakahipo ng proclamation ng martial law. Hindi pa nila alam. Umaga yon, binigay sa akin. ?Dalian mo, hinahanap ka ni Mam.? Sabi daw ni Mrs. Marcos, ?Oh, nasan si Lone Ranger? Kailangan nandito siya, mahilig sa history yon.? Hinanap ko yung typewriter, andun sa photo section nakatambak kasi wala namang gumagamit. Kasi si Sir, mahilig magmemorize. Memorize niya ang lahat ng sinasabi niya. Pero ito gusto niya wala palpak. Tuloy-tuloy-tuloy-tuloy. So, nahanap ko yung typewriter: ganyan kalaki at ganyan kalalaki ang sulat. Walang ribbon! Kasi walang gumamit, hindi pa nase-setup kahit kailan. Hanap kami ng ribbon. Wala yung may hawak ng ribbon dahil nag-martial law, hindi pumasok. Naghanap ako ng palakol, ng axe. Nag-destroy ako ng mga lockers don hanggang mahanap ko yung ribbon. Tapos gabi na namin na type. Kaya dapat yung martial law proclamation nabasa sa umaga; gabi na nabasa. Dahil lang sa ribbon.

Q. Kailangan gawin mo lahat ng makakaya mo?
A. Oo. Kahit sa news coverage ganon. Merong isang news coverage dapat nakulong ako. ABC news ako nyun. 1978. 1979. Noong hinostage ang U.S. Embassy sa Iran. May dalawang Pilipino, yung mga Americans hindi pinakawalan. Dalawang empleyadong Pilipino na empleyado ng US Embassy, pinakawalan. Umuwi sa Philippines. Hanapan ng hanapan ngayon. Yun ang kauna-unahang Nightline. Kasi noong araw wala pang Nightline. Tawag non American on Hostage, America Held Hostage, yun ang pangalan ng show ni Ted Koppel. Day One, Day Two, Day Three. So, nung pinakawalang yung mga Pilipino, nag long distance sa akin ang New York. Sabi sakin, ?May dalawang Pilipinong dumating dyan kagabi.? Tumawag sila sakin in the middle of the night. ?Dumating dyan ang dalawang Pilipino. Ang pangalan ganito, ang pangalan ganito. Hanapin mo? Dadating diyan ang magi-interview sila Bill Redicker at si Ken Kashiwahara. Walang satellite sa Philippines, wala pang video tape,so kailangan ibalik ang film sa Hong Kong at doon I-sasatellite. Last flight coming in, at last flight in going out. There was no time in between to interview. Hahanapin ko pa ang mga tao. Nagcharter ako ng helicopter. Alam mo, nahanap ko ang isang bahay sa Rosario, Batangas nung isang hostage, pero wala siya doon. Umuwi tapos umulis na uli. Tapos, nahanap ko uli yung isa sa Bulacan. In the space of a few hours dahil tinawagan ko yung tiga-airport na mga reporter, tinanong ko kung ano binago sa inyo, tiga saan ba ang mga to. Nahanap ko! Yung isa nadala ko sa Maynila, chineck-in ko sa Philippine Village Hotel kasi katabi ng airport para pagnagmamadali ang mga boss ko. Pagdating na pagkadating ni boss, kinuha ko ticket nila, chineck-in ko kagad sila. There was only about 30 minutes in between. Mag magi-interview pa sila, magse-setup pa sila ng ilaw, et cetera et cetera. Alam mo ano ginawa ko, nagbayad ako sa sampung tao sa iba?t ibang lugar. Tumawag sila ng bomb threat. In-unload ang lahat ng bagahe ng flight. Pinababa lahat ng tao. Isa-isang binuksan ang mga maleta. Nadelay ng three hours. Tapos, tawag ng tawag ang ABC news ngayon, tawag ng tawag si Ted Koppel, sabi ko, ?Don?t worry. They?re gonna make it. They?ll be on that plane.? ?But that plane should have left.? ?It has not yet left. It will leave when we?re ready. Don?t ask. Just don?t ask, you don?t want to know.? sabi ko dun sa mga magi-interview at sa cameraman, ?Just do your job and, when you?re ready run back. That plane will be there for you.? Sakay sila. Isa pang magandang scoop yung my very first assignment for ABC. Ted Koppel actually wanted to hire me when I was with ABS in 1969, but I told Ted I felt I wasn?t ready for an American network yet. Sinabi ko, ?I needed to know more about television, more about the government, I needed more experience and contacts.? Pinakilala ko si Ted Koppel sa mga kaibigan ko. Sabi ko, ?I know a couple. They have they?re own camera. The cameraman has his own camera, and the girl is a very good writer and journalist.? Si Bibsi Carballo and at si Romy Vitug, pinakilala ko sa ABC News. For six years, from 1969 to 1976, sila ang ABC news. One day, 1976, meron akong boutique dito sa Mabini, my phone rang. Si Ted Koppel. Sabi niya, ?Sol, this is Ted.? ?Ted who?? ?Ted Koppel.? ?Oh, hi!?, sabi ko. ?Are you ready to go for us? ?Yeah. What?? ?There?s been an earthquake. The Hawaii instruments are recording a very, very big earthquake and a tidal wave. We suspect thousands have died.? ?We don?t know about it in Manila yet.? Kasi dati wala namang remote-remote. ?Well, you soon will.?, sabi niya. Tumawag yon sa akin mga umagang-umaga, mga 9 AM. Sabi ko, ?OK. I can do it.? Tumawag ako sa eroplano, nagcharter ako sa eroplano. Tumakbo ako don na office building na lahat don mga foreign press. Total bayad na ng ABC news ang eroplano, ang laki-laki, good for eleven. Ako lang tsaka ang cameraman ang sakay. Nagkakatok ako sa mga pinto ng United Press International, Kyoto?. Sabi ko, ?I have the only airplane that can go to the earthquake and the tidal wave and come back on the same day Because all the airports are closed.? Tapos siningil ko sila ng tremendous.

Q. Gaano ka tremendous?
A. Siguro, $300 each or something. Di ko alam kung magkano, basta libo, so malaking malaki. Puno ang eroplano ko! Pero, bayad na yon. Wag mo sulatin ha- hinde pwede mo naring sulatin yon because it will teach entrepreneurship. Hindi naman nasira coverage mo. Pag-alis namin dito, sabi sa?kin ng eroplano, ?Hindi kayo makaka-takeoff kasi pagnag non-stop papuntang Cotabato City, ubos na ang gasolino niyo. Hindi na kayo makakabalik.? Sabi ko, ?Hindi, di bale. May military airport don. May gasolina don ang military, ako ang bahala don.? Pagdating namin, nandon si General Villanueva. Nagulat siya kasi chartered plane. Tapos nilabas ko yung old Malacanang ID ko kasi si Marcos pa rin Presidente and si Tatad pa rin ang Press Secretary. Sabi ko, ?Sir, ie-escort ko itong mga foreign press, kasi mananawagan si Presidente sa buong mundo na sabihin madaming damage. Mas kapani-paniwala ho kung may mapapakita syang film ng actual damage. Nagmamadali po tayo kasi kailangan ho makabalik kami before sunset. Dapat nandun na ako sa Maynila ng mga 8 p.m. dahil isa-satellite ang mensahe ni Presidente.? ?Oo, oo.? ?Tsaka sir, bilin ho ni Secretary Tatad kung pwede kasama kayo sa chopper para nakikita kayo ni Presidente nandun kayo doing your job.? ?Of course, of course!? Tapos sabi ko, ?Problem ho, sir.? ?Ano?? ?Wala ho kaming gas pauwi.? ?No problem. Gas-an yan.? Hinelicopter niya kami mula dun sa airport mula don sa downtown. Nakakakuha kami ng aerial shots dahil hinelicopter niya kami. Hanggang dun sa downtown, tinuro niya lahat nung sira. Pabalik na kami sa airport, ?Teka muna sir, landing uli.? ?Bakit?? ?Wala po akong shot na cracked na kalye.? ?Eh madilim na.? ?Di bale sir, gagawa tayo ng paraan.? Alam mo, that?s why it?s important. Kailangan may technical knowledge ka ng equipment mo. Wala kaming ilaw. Sunset na. Nagharang kami ng jeep tsaka mga truck tapos yung isang jeep pinagandar kong sa may cracked na kalye. Dahan-dahan siyang ganon, sabi ko, ?Dahan-dahan ha.? dahil ni-lower ko yung speed ng film camera at lahat ng headlights nakatutok don sa kalye. Yun lagi kong kinekwento kasi mga journalists in broadcasts. Hindi nila alam how a microfilm works, hindi nila alam why lights are needed, hindi nila alam kailangan walang butas sa likod. Important lahat ng technical, dapat alam mo kasi advantage mo yon over everybody else.

Q. Papaano mo natutunan ang mga technical stuff? Dahil sa Chemical Engineering? Or apply lang everything.
A. Hinde. Ganon lang talaga ako. I learn everything I need to learn about whatever it is I?m doing. Lahat. Nakabalik kami sa Maynila, nakapagsatellite ako. 48 hours ahead of NBC and CBS. Tapos mga sakay ko na mga Filipino photographers nagkaron ng mga award-award dahil fantastic yung mga kuha nila. Tsaka nandun sa eroplano nagdidictate ako, ?O, iganon mo konti, ikot, lipat kayo dito sa kabilang bintana, may shots dito sa kanan. O, paling sa kaliwa. Left.? Kailangan nagdidictate ka, hindi lang nagcocover.

Q. Ano yung restrictions during Marcos time, total ikaw ang pinakamalapit kay Marcos? Ano yung mga di niyo pwede gawin?
A. Well, we only did what we were told. Ngayon, sabihin mo, ?Eh, asan ang press freedom??. Wala kang press freedom, empleyado ka ng gobyerno, wala kang press freedom. Sulatan mo ang lahat ng pwede mong sulatan sa mga nangyayari, isa-submit mo sa Press Secretary. Si Press Secretary ang pipili kung alin ang maganda press release, tapos kung anong gusto niyang tanggalin, tatanggalin yon. Wag sasama ang loob mo. You should know what your job is. Propagandist ka, papel mo yon ganon.

Q. Were you able to interview Marcos himself?
A. Oo. Lagi.

Q. What did you talk about? What were the highlights?
A. Marami. Everything. Pinaka-highlight niyun. I was the one who arranged the live interview via satellite with David Brinkley when Marcos was forced by the State Department to announce that Snap Elections will be held. Dun ko nalaman na it was not Marcos who announced it. The State Department people had called him in the afternoon and told him that he would be ousted if he did not announce snap elections.

Q. You were also producing and writing a daily TV newscast at this time?
A. Hindi na, Malacanang employee na ako nun eh.

Q. Ano ho yung TV newscast nyong ginawa?
A. Channel 5 nagkaron ako ng newscast and after Marita left, ako nagtake-over so I was writing newscast everyday. When I went to ABS CBN, I was writing Tagalog and English newscasts everyday. When I joined Malacanang in 1969, wala na ako sa TV, government writer na ako.

Q. How were you able to balance your schedule?
A. Wala. There was no such thing. There was no balancing. You were a slave to your job. There was no such thing as a working mother in the kind of job I did. I would have not been able to raise my five adopted kids if I continued doing what I was doing. Nung nasa ABC news na ako, dahil may adopted kids ako na lima, kasi malaki naman ang income, lalo na nung namatay si Ninoy. I moved all my kids to the Manila Hotel. They had stayed in one room so I could see them everyday. Ganon din nangyari nung snap elections tsaka EDSA. Kailangan alam mo yung sacrifices. A-acceptin mo yon. Kung hindi mo kaya, wag mong gawin. Kaya ako nag-retire dahil sa ayoko na.

Q. Were you there during the Agrava Commission?
A. Ah, everyday nandun ako. I was at the airport when Ninoy was killed.

Q. Nakita ho ninyo ang lahat ng nangyari?
A. Hindi. I talked to Ninoy the night before he died. Boyfriend ko sya.

Q. Seryoso? sinuyo kayo as of that time?
A. Hindi, nung before I got married. Nung namatay siya, alam ko na China Airlines ang sasakyan niya. Sabi ko dun sa mga boss ko, ?O, malakas ako sa gobyerno, kahit saan ako magpwesto, pwede ako magpwesto. Gusto niyo don ako sa ilalim? Kukunan ko yung from the tarmac, yung habang dumadating yung eroplano.? I had five camera crews all over the airport at that time, the day that he arrived. Sabi nila, ?No, no, no. You stick with the Aquino family, we will take care of Ninoy. We?ll meet him inside the airplane so we can shoot all he does.? I was in the VIP room with Doy Laurel, Lupita Aquino. Noon asawa na ni Lupita yung boss kong isa, si Ken Kashiwahara. So, alam ko na nasa eroplano na yung brother-in-law ko, si Max Vanzi na bestfriend ni Ninoy at si Ken Kashiwahara, brother-in-law ni Ninoy. Alam ko kasama niya sa eroplano. Tapos, may nadinig kaming nagkakagulo na. Nag-rush kami, gusto naming pumasok; ayaw kaming papasukin pati si Doy Laurel at mommy ni Ninoy nandun at tsaka si Butch Aquino. Nobody pa si Butch Aquino, wala pang nakakakilala sa kanya. Ako lang nakakakilala kay Ken sa mga local reporters, kasi boss ko. Gumaganon kami sa salamin, tinitingnan namin yung mga pumapasok sa yung Customs zone. Nakita ko itong si Ken, parang umiiyak. Malayo pa siya dun sa glass door. Takbo ako, takbo ako. Lagi ako ang binabantayan ng mga kalaban na network kasi malikot nga ako at tsaka yung malagi akong active at tsaka lagi akong utos ng utos sa cameraman. So, sabi ko sa cameraman, sumisigaw ko, ?Pagi! Pagi! Nasan ka?? kasi nga ang daming tao. ?Ninang, ninang! Nandito ako!? ?Oh, dito, dito, dito, sunod ka sa akin! Lupita! Where are you?? ?Yes, Sol.? ?Halika halika.? I think may problema. Ken on the way out and he looked very sad. Lakad kami, punta kami sa may glass door. As a matter of fact, lumabas nga yon sa networks, sa CBS. Paglabas ni Ken, lumapit si Lupita, tapos may sinabi si Ken kay Lupita. Tapos pagkarinig ni Lupita, yumakap sa akin at umiyak ng umiyak. Sinabi niya sa kin, ?He?s dead.? Sabi niya sa akin, ?Sis? kasi alam niya kami eh, tawag niya sa akin ?Sis?. ?He?s dead, Sis, he?s dead!? Ako, basta pag may coverage, wala kang emotion, wala kang kapatid, wala kang kakilala. As a matter of fact, on that day, bagong opera ako dito. I had stitches. Two days old ang stitches ko. So ang gulo-gulo, takbo takbo takbo, tapos lumabas na daw si Jim Laurie, reporter na kasama sa eroplano. Meron na akong nakaready na crew na sasangkot sa kanya, tapos magi-istand-upper siya dun sa labas. In the meantime, yung tape na nakuha niya sa eroplano, gumagawa na kami ng tatlong duplicates sa another machine na nakatago. Lahat yun kailangan pagplanuhin mo lahat yun, dahil itatakbo niya ang isang tape, yung isang tao may dala ng isang tape, isang tape maiiwan sa akin. Back-up of back-up. Sakay na siya uli sa eroplano papuntang Amerika. Naiwan ang isang crew dito at naiwan mo pa isang reporter. Walang pang sense of ?He was my friend and now he?s dead.? Wala. We only think in terms of deadline. Where is the tape, are the lights on, do we have a microphone, naapakan ba yung kable, ganon. Yun lang iisipin mo.

Q. Kayo po ang official nagbroadcast? Sol: Tape namin yon, yung tumindig si Ninoy. Yung hinaharang, tsaka yung bumababa sa hagdanan, tape namin yon. Ako ang nagbigay sa Agrava Commission.

Q. What about the Snap Elections Campaign?
A. In my opinion, American-orchestrated yun. Kasi nagumpisa yon, na-sense ko na may malaking mangyayari. David Brinkley and ABC news made it appear na pinikon lang si Marcos para mapikon at sabihing, ?Sige, kung gusto niyo ng eleksyon eh di eleksyon.? When, actually nakasulat na yung script 2:30 pa in the afternoon, although the interview was at midnight. So, it was not an extemporaneous prompting. Sabi sa akin ni Hermie Rivera at Sip Roxas, who were the ones answering the phones in the study room of the President. That afternoon, tumawag ang State Department tapos galit na galit si Marcos pagkababa ng telepono. Nagdictate si Marcos ng press release ng snap elections but he did not want it to appear na bigla lang niya in-announce. Kailangan magkukunyari na may nang-pikon sa kanya, may nag-dare sa kanya.

Q. What about the EDSA uprising? Where you also there?
A. I was with Cory in Cebu, and I arranged their first Presidential Press Conference at the Magellan Hotel. I was actually in charge of the foreign press coverage of Cory Aquino. There were only two airplanes that left Cebu that day: Cory?s and mine. Kasi naka-chartered plane din ako nyun. During the snap elections, I was representing 17 television stations around the world. Marami akong cameras for that one. So, pag-alis namin sa Cebu, sabay kami ng eroplano. Pag-landing namin diyan sa Maynila, sabay pa rin. Magkasunod yung kotse niya, yung convoy niya tsaka kotse ko. Nasa tuktok ng bubong ng kotse ko- may rack yung bubong ng kotse ko. American car na StationWagon. Nandun yung cameraman ko nakatripod. Nandun kami, from domestic airport tapos nasa EDSA na kami diyan sa may tramo. Magcro-crossing na lang kami ng South Super Highway. Ganyan ng ganyan, pati si Cory ganyan ng ganyan sa mga tao. Tapos pagbaba namin ng Magallanes overpass, eto na puro tanks. Nakaflag na blue ang nasa taas, hindi red ang nasa taas. Marcos tanks. Biglang nasa harapan ng bintana tsaka tumitingin ngayon ang mga gunner dun sa taas ng tank, tinitingnan kung sila. Ginawa ko, umakyat ako dun sa bubong tapos nagpabusina ako sa driver ko ng ?Marcos pa rin.? Tat-tat-tarat? Tapos ako, ?Sir , sir, sir!? Ganon ako sa mga tanks para sa akin tumingin. Kasi hindi tinted ang bintana ni Cory. May mga sticker pa sila. Di sa?kin ko na pinatingin. Etong si Cory, dapat dederetso kanila Enrile, natakot don sa tangke. Pagdating dun sa Shaw, umakyat, lumiko at pumasok don sa Wack Wack instead na dumeretso kaya wala talaga siya sa EDSA. Pumunta siya sa bahay ng kapatid niya, kay doktora, kay Reyes. And I know she was not at EDSA dahil binantayan ko ang bahay, nandun kami sa harap ng bahay niya eh. Pinapapasok niya ako sa loob, pero sabi ko na hindi, dito na lang sa labas. Binantayan ko talaga yon, hindi siya pumunta sa EDSA. Umalis na siya doon, papunta na siya sa Club Filipino.

Q. Ano po ang nangyari sa Club Filipino?
A. Oath taking.

Q. Nandun po kayo sa oath taking?
A. Oo. As a matter of fact, bago siya mag oath-taking, tinatanaw niyang may malaki siyang utang ng loob sa akin kasi I was there throughout her campaign tapos nung nandun nga sila sa La Union non eh, sabi ko, ?Cory, alam mo, meron akong siguradong mafo-front page ka ng Time tsaka ng Asia week.? ?Ano?? ?Unahan, pagpunta natin ng Baguio from here, magkotse ka na lang. Daanan natin ang rebulto ni Marcos. Wag ka na lang maghelicopter. Kasi, total, pagka hapon, delikado mag helicopter kasi masyado maraming mist. Pagka-kotse, siguradong makakarating ka.? Tapos, sabi niya, ?Aah, ewan.? Sabi niya, ?O Doy.? Sabi ni Doy, ?Ano yon, Sol??. ?Dadaan kami sa rebulto ni Marcos. Magandang tingnan yon, kasi kapag kinunan kayong dalawa ni Cory sa harap, istoryang-istoryang talaga na you are the sharp contrast of the profligate dictator. Kayong dalawa nasa harap tapos si Marcos nasa likod.? Din-rawing ko pa. Ito kayong dalawa at si Marcos sa likod. Symbol of dictatorship. Tapos kayong simpleng-simple, pure na pure. ?Hindi eh, malayo ang biyahe eh. Delikado.? ?O sige, ikaw din, macocover ito ng Time Magazine.? ?Oo, oo, sige, sige!? Ayun, nagawa ko yon. Napapunta ko sila doon. Tapos sabi niya, ?Asan doon?? ?Ako ang bahala, ako ang magli-lead vehicle kasi pinuntahan ko na yan kahapon. Kahapon kopang iniisip kung dadalahin ko kayo don. Alam ko na kung saan kayo titindig, alam ko na kung saan ang araw, saan ang shadow.?

Q. Tanong lang, during the EDSA Revolution, you were with Cory? Pero you were under Marcos pa rin.
A. Wala na. ABC News na ako niyon, 1976. Since 1975, ABC News na ako niyon. Mula noong nagkalindol. ABC News. American Broadcasting. Pero nung mag-snap election, I had to quit. I had to resign from ABC News kasi all the other competitors were renting cameras from me. And my cameras were making more money than me. The cameras were renting out for $500 dollars a day, I was making only $200 dollars a day. I had ten cameras, dami kong kinita non.

Q. How were you able to get those cameras?
A. Binili ko yan mga used equipment sa Japan, unti-unti. Renting them out to Concert at the Park, Paco Park Presents, Eh kasi Babae? Tapos nagkaron nga ng snap elections. Pina-rent ko sa mga networks, mga foreign networks. Ako ang pioneer non, pati ang Vintage Television, sa akin lang nagre-rent noong araw.

Q. Nag-Manila Bureau ho rin kayo during 1986?
A. Oo, yung 1986, I had my own company, tawag don STRINGER. Yung STRINGER, Inc. stands for Services for Television, Radio, International News Gathering, Editing, and Reporting. Ganda no? STRINGER, kasi I wanted the name STRINGER for the company and I had to think and think what will fit S? T? R? I? Ganda lumabas.

Q. Ito po yung nag-iipon kayo ng cameras dahan-dahan?
A. Hinde, hinde, may cameras na ako non eh kasi nung namatay si Ninoy, meron na akong dalawang camera tsaka isang editing machine. Dun ko nakita ang potential. Kasi nagba-buy and sell ako dati ng camera. Nung magkaroon ng news, hindi ko na sine-sell, pinaparent ko na lang.

Q. Till now?
A. No. 1988 or 89, I forgot. I decided that, the business was so good. It was making us too much money. I had 18 cars, 25 employees, 6 offices. I could go wherever I wanted to go, and, very often, I did. I went overseas, kung saan-saan. My attitude towards life changed just because money was available. Pati ang mga anak ko na-iispoil kasi may naka-assign na kotse na waiting hanggang hindi sila makalabas ng iskwela. Ako naman, makikipag-inuman lang sa labas, naka-waiting din yung isang kotse ko tsaka driver. Nagbu-buhay milyonarya, and I?m not comfortable with that. So, I told my husband, ?I think I had better get out of this business.? Ginawa ko. I paid off, binayaran ko sila ng one month for every year of service, christmas bonus, et cetera, et cetera. And I closed. And I sold some of the cameras, I kept some of the lights. I gave away the cars. Ang binenta ko yung parang school bus, vans. Parang minimalist kasi ako eh. I?m always trying to prove something to myself. Now, I take jeeps and taxis.

Q. After you sold everything, you went to Manila Bureau?
A. No. Manila Bureau is just a name like Manila Bureau Chief of Something something. It?s not a place.

Q. Let?s say you have a job, What was the usual fee na hinihingi mo?
A. Depende yon, sa kale there was a PR thing with Madrigal. The Madrigal family, they had a fight with the Ayalas in Alabang. It was a PR job for me. The retainer was $2000 dollars a month. Hindi ako nag-oopisina. Sa kale ngayon, during the August 20 rally ni Cory, Finland Television used my services for eight days as a producer and researcher. I got cameras from my old empleyado, sila na ngayon ang mga may cameras na ngayon so, I rented from them. And then, nine days, kumita ako ng $4000 dollars. Nung election ng kampanya ni Erap, I worked for 60 Minutes TV Program of CBS Australia. Fifteen days, I made $9000 dollars. Depe-depende eh. Ngayon meron akong ginawa ngayon, kakatapos lang, sa Discovery Channel, di pa lumalabas. Artifacts. It?s about Imelda?s shoe museum. $2000 dollars yon, pero two days work lang yon.

Q. You didn?t acquire those salaries salaries dahil veteran na kayo or anybody can ask for it?
A. Hindi, kagaya niyan, sa 26 dadating ang L.A. Times Bureau Chief. Bago pa siya dumating, na-arrange ko na lahat. In the first place, while he is gone, I keep telling him what is happening here and I keep suggesting things that he can do. Then, one day, he?ll say, ?I can do it na.? Then I provide all the materials, all the research. I make all the arrangements for all the interviews. So that he can be here for only two days, three days and can make five stories. Ayon naman sa iba, you can make things happen na imposible. You know the name Hermie Rivera? American television personality. He was turned down for an interview by Ferdinand Marcos in 1985. It was about hidden wealth, siyempre ayaw ni Marcos magpa-interview. ABC News pa ako non so sabi ko, ?If I don?t get you that interview, I?ll quit. I?ll get you inside his office.? Nagawa ko. It was Imelda who brought us in. Nang-bola ako don, pero na-ipasok ko sila don sa kwarto. Tapos minumura-mura siya ni Marcos. Sabi ni Marcos, ?Anong ginagawa mo dito? Hindi ko ba sinabi na ayaw kong kausapin yan??

Q. Na-interview ba?
A. Na-interview. ?Mr. President, what is the?.? Tuloy-tuloy, non-stop, bago kami masisipa. Kasi sisipain na kami ng mga security. Kailangan talaga yung camera makukunan si Marcos nagsasalita, nagagalit.

Q. What are you?re attitudes regarding deadlines?
A. You have to observe that line. Sakit ng journalist yon, procrastination. Ibibitin ng ibibitin hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang sandali. Do not develop that, pag naumpisahan, ipatuloy mo na. Maraming magagaling nasisira dahil doon.

Q. Paano naman po yung mga editors niyo. Lahat sila dapat strict?
A. Hindi lang sa strict, dapat ang editor para igagalang, irerespect nung nagtatrabaho sa kanya, kailangan magaling.

Q. How are you as an editor?
A. I?m very strict. I?m terrible. I am nice, I am good, but I?m a terrible boss because I work hard. And because I work hard, I expect other people to give in as much as I do. Kasi pagpapasok ka ng ala-una ng hapon at hindi ka prepared, how can you expect other people to follow you? Sasabihin mo na dapat madaling umaga pa lang nandito na kayo.

Q. Were there any memorable editors?
A. Ayun sina Rod Reyes. Sa TV, yung mga foreigners magagaling dahil disciplined talaga dahil and deadline nila everyday. Ganon sila kagaling dahil nandun pa sila. Sa local, magaling na editor si Larry Cruz, yung sa LJC, may-ari ng Café Adriatico, dating kong boss yun. Si Kit Tatad tapos Undersecretary Larry Cruz tapos ako. He?s good, because magaling mag-English, mahusay magsulat. Si Tatad, he?s good. Si Rod Reyes, si Manny Benitez. Si Tony Tecson was good, as a cameraman, but he was not good as a news director because he could not write. Cameramen should not become news directors. They will not be respected by the journalists.

Q. Kailangan ba sa journalism, specific? Hindi ka pwede mag all-around?
A. Kailangan all-around ka, pero he was the kind na cameraman na cameraman lang. Kasi dito, ang mga cameraman hindi kagaya ng sa Amerika na pumupunta sa iskwelahan ng mga cameraman. Dito mga dating drivers at messengers na nakahawak lang ng camera, cameraman na.

Q. How are you when it comes to accuracy, ethics, and grammar aspects of writing?
A. Mahigpit lahat nung araw. Hindi ethics, hindi pwede maging mahigpit sa ethics dito sa Pilipinas dahil ang local journalists are never paid enough. Ang binabayaran ng malalaki dito ang mga nasa camera at ang mga editors. Pero yung mga working press, yung mga kumo-cover ng pulis, kumo-cover ng Senate, hindi kayang buhayin ng kanilang sweldo.

Q. Unless veteran?
A. Hindi, unless tatanggap sila sa labas ng PR jobs.

Q. Hindi pwedeng pa-banjing banjing lang?
A. Hinding-hindi pwede, pero kelangan nakikisama ka dahil paghindi ka nakisama, lalo na sa panahong ito, pagpinagkaisahan ka ng bata, patay ka. If it?s a choice between one person and six young people, the one old person might be kicked out. Because it?s cheaper to retain the six.

Q. Paano naman po of quality?
A. Mukhang ng wala silang pakelam sa quality pag nakita mo ang mga dyaryo ngayon.

Q. Any memorable colleagues?
A. Ayun sila Gorge Arabo, sila Krip Yuzon. That was the very, very best television newsroom group, ever ever and it will never again be duplicated. It was the ABS-CBN news department, before martial law. Because it had dedicated people, who were good at their jobs. Pag-i-enumerate mo ngayon ang mga pangalan nila, malalaman mo talaga kung magaling. Rod Reyes, Manny Benitez, Orly Mercado, Butz Chanco, Tony Silva, the CEO of GMA 7. Elmo Valera, the producer of Mornings at GMA. Si Butz Chanco, was the news and public affairs of ABS, and he was Information Officer of Ministry of Energy. Sylvia Mayuga is an award-winning author. Krip Yuzon, still a writer, a columnist. Gorga Arago is an award-winning playwright and moviemaker. Danny Hernando, yun ang ABS-CBN.

Q. Let?s now focus on your present work.
A. I?m now kind of retired. I?m not as active. So, I spend three hours a day writing and sending news to the internet website. It?s a hobby. It?s not a moneymaker. It?s not sponsored. We give the news free. And then, I?m constantly perfecting my craft, which is cooking. I spend a lot of time with my grandchild, at home. And my children are now grown but I still cook for them. I have a little bit more time to socialize, so I attend, Kapihan, Bulung-Bulongan, Newsmakers Forum, the forum at Holiday Inn. And I?m becoming more active at the National Press Club.

Q. Ano po meron sa National Press Club ngayon?
A. Ngayon, pinropose ko magkaron ng ?cyber pressroom?, were local journalists will have access to top-quality computer hardware and software and they can learn and they can do the research there and all the members of the press club will have email na - NPC.com. The photographers will have access to scanners, digital scanners, color negative scanners tsaka flatbed so makakakuha sila ng foreign clients. Kasi kahit magaling ka na photographer, pag wala kang sophisticated hardware, hindi ka kukunin ng mga clients. Like L.A. Times, sabihin namin ?Shoot that and shoot that and shoot that and we?ll send it to L.A. in two hours.? Kung wala kang hardware? San ka pupunta? Shoot mo tapos ngayon sabihin mo ife-Federal Express. Hindi na pwede yun ngayon. Hindi na pwedeng mail, hindi na pwedeng air shipment. Kailangan lahat ngayon digitalized ipapadala mo.

Q. Now you?re into writing about food, travel, and human interest for Today, how is it like shifting from politics to lifestyle?
A. It was very easy. I began writing, I was forced to write lifestyle by my self-imposed restriction. I imposed upon myself after I became a friend of Imelda after EDSA. Kasi nga perfectionist ako tsaka I respect the craft. I respect the art. I respect the profession. Ayoko na may-isusulat ako na nandun si Mam, may isusulat ako na may bias ako at sasabihin ?Hmm, ito naman talaga palibhasa kaibigan si ganon ang pagkakasulat ng istorya tungkol sa gold eh, iba.? Never. Maski tingnan mo ang website ko, you will not know by reading the stories na kaibigan ko pala ang mga Marcos.

Q. So, are you pro-Marcos or pro-Cory?
A. I like Imelda. As a person, I like Imelda more than I like Cory. Imelda is nice. Imelda is nice to the people around her. She doesn?t treat anybody like a servant. Kung ano lulutuin ng kusinero, kakainin ng lahat ng tao pati siya tsaka sa kanilang dalawa, mas religious si Mam tsaka mas totoo.

Q. How about Cory?
A. Si Cory? Asim daw ang ugali niyan.

Q. So what do you write about in Today, ano po yung main gist?
A. Ngayon I don?t write masyado. Wala akong sinusulat sa local, although both the Philippine Star and the Journal Publications are trying to convince me to renew my columns on consumer issues and food. Kasi kokonti lang yung writer na marunong magluto, that can write about food, at talagang namamalengke. Yung approach ko kasi, pangmasa. Siguro, I?ll write a book about the Marcos? or about Imelda. I value her friendship also, so hindi magiging interesting yung book kapag walang secrets revealed.

Q. I find it amazing that you have time for cooking and doing everything.
A. You can make time for everything. I even make all our kumots, all our pillowcases, all our curtains. I wake up at 3:00. Almost everytime, sometimes 4:00. Either I go to the Divisoria first, then I write, or I write first and then at 5, i?ll go to the Divisoria.

Q. What do you write about?
A. Minsan yung website, minsan I answer the email, minsan I write short essays, mga social observations.

Q. Now, you?re heading the Philippine Headline News Online.
A. Dinevelop namin yan two and a half years ago, because there was no news on the internet. Ngayon, you would say na meron namang diyaryo sa internet, Bulletin, mga ganun. Ours is different because the news items are shorter and more concise and the news items we featured are geared toward overseas Filipinos, not necessarily contract workers. Kaya yung mga istorya nung mga nag-away si Puno at si Santiago, hindi ko masyado kine-carry yon kasi anong pakelam ng Filipinos overseas. Yung si Lacson ba o si Wicoco, people don?t even know who Wicoco is, sa abroad. Nung na-appoint na, nilagay ko na we have a new PNP chief. Nung nakipagbarilan, may pinatay, nilagay ko yon. Nilagay ko ang background ng Kuratong Baleleng. Pero yung topic na si Miriam lilipat ng partido- walang pakelam ang mga tao don.

Q. Ikaw mismo ang nagme-maintain ng Philippine Headline News?
A. Ako ang nagdedecide kung anong istoryang ipapasok don. Tsaka ako talaga ang nagsusulat, araw-araw.

Q. So what do you do to relax, to unwind yourself?
A. I go to market. I cook, yun ang relax ko. I go to market and then cook. Kagaya kanina. Merong maraming maraming maraming maraming kamatis, so bumili ako ng isang malaking malaking bayong ng mga kamatis, so pagdating ko ng bahay, I made Italian tomato sauce, binoil ko silang lahat, binalatan kong isa-isa. Kasi nakakarelax yon, paulit-ulit na pisikal habang nanonood pa ako ng news sa TV, habang naghihiwa

Q. Do you think it?s important for journalists to be alert all the time?
A. Yah. Kanina, before I met you, inisip ko kung anong, sabi ko, siyempre meron akong i-aadvice sa?yo. The best advice is read everything, everything and everything tsaka may mga key books na ang mga nine-namedrop ng mga tao laging they talk about. Atlas Shrugged, The Counting, sina Ayn Rand. You have to know, you really have to have read those books, like Catch 22. And they say, ?Well, it sounds like a Catch 22.? You have to know what that means. You can only understand that by reading the book. Like Ayn Rand maganda dahil it teaches you. The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. It will twist your mind kasi, ano ba tinuturo don? Values of selfishness, which is baliktad sa lahat ng natutunan mo. We?re taught to be generous. Pero pag-inisip mo rin, tama rin. Tapos, nandun ang naka-inbento ng eternal motion engine, na di na kailangan ng oil. Basahin mo ang history books na mga kailangang-kailangan talagang mabasa tulad ng The Source. It will teach you all that?s about the Middle East, kung bakit magka-away ang Arabs at Israelis and yung away na, is shaping world history mula noong araw hanggang ngayon. Doon lahat ng kampi-kampihan, away-away, gera-gera, kasali don sa kaumpisa-umpisahan. Si Michener, lahat ng libro ni Michener. Keep up to date with all the technical developments, technological developments. Pagsinabi ang mga GSM roaming, SatPhone, what?s a SatPhone? What?s a wireless? Kailangang alam mo yun kasi kailangan mo rin yan sa craft mo. Hindi mo pwede sabihin na ?Later ko na lang pag-aaralan yan.? It takes ten minutes, you read about it and you?ll learn. Kung may internet ka sa bahay, magsurf ka ng magsurf. Basta read ka lang ng read. Kasi, I have time, I don?t go to movies. I watch a lot of Television. I watch a lot of tapes. Pero, I don?t go to malls. I only go to Harrison Plaza for supermarket or to Shoemart kung may kailangan. I hate shopping, pero shopaholic ako sa market, junk shops, bazaars. Always be curious, always ask why and how. Always think ?Paano kaya naging ganito ito? Bakit kaya sila may ganun??. Do not be afraid to ask yourself, maski yourself lang. Turuan mo ang sarili mo na automatically pag may nakitang ganun, sabihin mo, ?Bakit kaya? Papano kaya yon??.

Q. Do you have any future plans?
A. I want to have a farm. Alam mo ba yung Remedios Circle? Diba ang gaganda, maraming puno?

Q. Oho.
A. Noong araw, walang puno diyan. Nung mag-retire ako nung 1989, nakita ko siya. Tambakan ng basura yan eh. Naawa ako. Nilinis ko, ako mag-isa, nilinis ko?t tinaniman ko. Ako nagtanim ng mga punong yon. Tapos, araw-araw, dinidiligan ko. Alam ng lahat ng may restaurant don na ?puno ni Sol yan?. Yun ang legacy ko. Tuwing pumupunta ako don, dumadaan ako, nakikita ko na may tubo na sa ilalim ng puno ko. Wow, it?s so good. Parang ang laki-laki ng accomplishment ko. Yung ang isa sa mga pinakadvisible, na may physical manifestation na accomplishment. Yun bang, nata-touch mo, concerete. Isa ko pang dedication, pag may nakikita ako ng journalism students, kinakausap ko lahat. Sa mga coverages, may nakikita akong bata, tinatanung ko ?Sino yan, OJT??. Kinakausap ko. Meron ngang tatlong tiga-PUP, kinausap ko last week. OJT sila, pero OJT nila sinusundan lang tiga-radyo lang. Sabi ko, ?Ano matutunan niyo diyan? ang gago-gago niyan?? Sabi ko, ?Pagkatapos niyo diyan, mag-TV kayo.? So, I?ll help them, I?ll call Channel 7. Tumawag na sila sa akin, sabi nila matatapos na raw sila sa radyo, susunod nila TV. So, nagpapatulong sila sa akin. Sabi ko, ?O sige, kung hindi sa Channel 7, sa Channel 2.? Kasi kapag walang tutulong sa kanila, gra-gradweyt sila at ang natutunan lang nila yung sa radio announcer o radio reporter. Hindi mag-iimprove.

Q. I?d like to thank you again, Tita Sol for letting me interview you and for sharing your experiences with me. Thank you.