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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009

This correspondent prefers to remain ‘at large’

By Arlyn dela Cruz The reactions I got from a by- will remain at large so that ev- after the headline, suggesting or a note from Mrs. Magsanoc thousand and five hundred pe-
Correspondent-at-Large line designation in the INQUIRER ery task before her, she shall re- that I am an organic reporter for thanking me for the story. Once, sos monthly talent fee in the
made me reflect on what it actu- main committed to question, in- INQUIRER, thanks to a forgetful she sent me this message: early 1990s was certainly not
CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE: ally meant to my career as a vestigate, dig, unearth and ex- copy editor. “Thank you for trusting us with enough to pay for two beds at a
The title given me as a journal- journalist now that I am just a pose so the public may know. It was editor in chief Letty your exclusive stories.” boarding house in Kamias, Que-
ist reporting and writing for the few months shy of my 20th year I have been contributing re- Jimenez-Magsanoc who opened Which reminds me that when I zon City, for education, trans-
country’s largest and widely cir- in the industry. ports and articles for the INQUIRER the doors for me to write for the was a young reporter I learned portation and food expenses for
culated newspaper caught the Then it hit me, at large—that’s for nearly 10 years now. In that paper. It started as an invitation some of the basic lessons any my sister and I. When I found
attention of many when it was it! That’s the perfect way to de- period, I have become fully for one special report she had in journalist ought to know from out that Ate Luds was looking
first attached to an article with scribe my career moves and aware of the internal struggle mind that she thought, was a per- Mrs. Magsanoc’s sister, Ate Luds for an additional writer, I imme-
my byline. choices as a journalist. A career among editors as to who I really fect assignment for me, an article or Inday Badiday, Lourdes diately presented myself.
Early this year, I didn’t actual- that is not confined, not boxed, was, despite my length of ser- on the Abu Sayyaf Group. From Jimenez in real life, who an- Ate Luds refused to conform
ly realize the impact of the title off-beat, odd and complex in a vice. the first story that I contributed chored a radio show and a TV simply because she was in a class
until I got several calls mostly way. One that finds excitement There was a time that I felt for INQUIRER, there was never a show for dzBB and GMA 7 in the all her own, free and indepen-
from colleagues who pointed and fulfillment in enterprising, that while they wanted so much moment where she made me feel 1990s. dent, someone at large, fearless
out to me that it was the first dynamic and exclusive pursuits. to have the scoop and the exclu- insecure and unappreciated. While I was working as a ra- but balanced by the knowledge
time the title was used in a One colleague described me sive that I was submitting to the When your editor in chief be- dio talent, reporting and writ- and wisdom of the real reason
Philippine newspaper. once in an article as a scoop- newspaper, they agonized as to lieves and trusts in your mettle ing for dzBB, to support my and motivation why she became
It was, surprisingly, a big deal hungry reporter. whether I was doing them a fa- and nose to dig, search and gath- studies and that of my sister who she was in the media indus-
for many, judging from the num- At large, someone on the run, vor, or was it the other way er news, it’s easy to be inspired who lived with me while she try: Someone who stood for the
ber of messages sent to my mo- someone who is not confined, around. That’s why sometimes, and deliver a story that is worth a finished her high school educa- truth and nothing but.
bile phone’s inbox that day. free and independent, a fugitive my byline has a qualifier below banner headline. Modesty aside, tion, I worked as a production With all my heart, I will strive
One colleague called me to in a sense—that’s restless me all it, “Contributor;” sometimes, it I delivered many and in every in- assistant and writer for Inday’s to be true to that meaning of at-
say it was a milestone of sorts. right. Yes, this correspondent is printed by its lonesome right stance I would get a text message TV show, “Eye TO Eye.” Two large.

What they’re saying about us: The good, the bad and the ugly
From page G7
makes many people uncomfort-
able. Reporting facts makes only
those who want to suppress facts
uncomfortable. But publishing
opinions, either in the editorials
or interwoven into news report-
ing, unsettles many more read-
ers, and it unsettles me.
“I honestly subscribe to the be-
lief that news reporting, even that
which is faithful to the truth, can-
not be delivered without reveal- truth as it is fearless of the writer’s
ing even a sliver of the news re- own opinion forces me to read be-
porter’s sentiments. Reporters are yond the facts. It unsettles me be-
not tape recorders. Every event cause it forces me to invoke val-
has a human aspect, with people ues, orientation, bias, sentiment
either involved in the event, af- and emotion. It forces me to agree
fected by it or are witnesses to it. or disagree. Either way, it makes
For reporters, this aspect cannot me look past the number of fatali-
be lost in news reporting by pre- ties and think thoroughly beyond
tending to be bereft of their own factual events as they unfold. In
humanity, no matter how subtly the end, by the time the newspa-
they conceal it. per is unfurled at the breakfast
“News that is as fearless to the table, even I, as a reader, cannot
reject my own humanity.
“Even news with serious impor-
tance to human rights cannot be
reported or read without at least
that ounce of human emotion. In
typical items, such as extralegal
killings, enforced disappearances,
forced evictions or demolitions,
we do not simply look at numbers.
“The importance of the report
is not the number of people killed,
or have disappeared, or were
evicted. These are people who
have a right to be alive, people
JOAN BONDOC
The INQUIRER never undermined
its own creed and loyalty to fair-
ness and balance.
“The Commission on Human
Rights reports were part of the
job. It would have been bad had
INQUIRER not reported and high-
lighted these since these were of
public interest.
“I understand INQUIRER very
well, being the epitome of free
journalism. Hindi ako bibilib kung
wala itong ginawa.
“Over the years, it showed that
it has been fair in its reporting,
not only on matters about me but
also on Davao City.
“We are in public service. We
bind ourselves to what we do in
this world and INQUIRER is just re-
porting what is happening in the
world. The paper is reporting
what must be reported. It speaks
the truth. It’s fair.
“And it helps democracy.
“Democracy is one of the gifts
of INQUIRER to the country. It has
ion. It stands tall as a monument
to democracy.”—PROSPERO
NOGRALES, Speaker of the House
of Representatives
***
‘It has a tendency to be unfair
to my father.’
“The INQUIRER stands out as the
only newspaper that comes out
with attention-grabbing head-
lines every day.
“It is worth reading because of
its daily dose of quality and inter-
esting stories processed by some
of the best editors, columnists
and reporters in the field of jour-
nalism.
“However, some of the stories
are only 95-percent true.
“What I don’t like about it is its
tendency to be unfair to my fa-
ther, former President Joseph
Estrada. In the past, some of the
news reports about him were er-
roneous, but they were made to
appear as true.
“The stories with an anti-Erap
of their work that INQUIRER is the
kind of paper I like.—GRACE
PADACA, Isabela governor
***
“There’s a need for more
pages, more space for more
meaningful coverage. But still,
despite the lack of space, INQUIRER
always makes the grade. It has es-
tablished itself to be a credible
and dependable source of infor-
mation and opinion.
“The INQUIRER has also been
supportive of our efforts in TAPE
Inc. and APT Entertainment,
along with other media institu-
tions that attempt to make break-
throughs and struggle with the es-
tablished system in the industry.
“The INQUIRER has helped us a
lot in our pioneering projects like
‘Urduja’—the first full-length
Pinoy musical animation project,
the ‘Sine Direk’ project, and our
humble bid for this year’s Oscar
Awards with ‘Ded na si Lolo.’
“With the INQUIRER, even the

who have a right to know what remained faithful to the Filipino (Estrada) slant started to come not-so-commercial, the alterna-
REM ZAMORA

happened to their loved ones,
people who have the right to a de-
ART VALDEZ cent standard of living, and peo-
PROSPERO NOGRALES ple who are now deprived of
House Speaker Expedition leader, Mt. Everest
and Balangay Voyage these things. These are the things
that, while unsettling, must stir a
reader. The INQUIRER does just
that!”—LEILA DE LIMA, Com-
mission on Human Rights chair
***
“The INQUIRER has interesting
news, sometimes too transparent
and sometimes sensationalized,
especially news that is negative.
BING GONZALES/INQUIRER MINDANAO
people, despite the odds that con-
front it.
“The INQUIRER is a major con-
tributor to the vibrant democracy
that we have now. It has kept the
Filipinos informed and helped
them decide for their future. The
INQUIRER is, with no doubt, doing
its job perfectly in keeping the
people informed so they can
make informed decisions.
“I also admire the way it
showed its unwavering stand
against the evils in government,
out even before my father be-
came president in 1998. Remem-
ber the ‘Nobody but Erap’ banner
story that came out before the
1998 elections?
“Of course, INQUIRER can rectify
this by simply being fair to my fa-
ther. That’s my only concern.
“However, the paper has a lot
of redeeming value, such as the
quality of its news reports. The
headlines are always very attrac-
tive. Even the stories in the inside
pages are worth-reading. My fa-
tive, and emergent efforts—as
long as they are noble, exemplary
and have a positive impact on the
Filipino way of life, can be
brought to fore and be featured
and celebrated.
“May you have many more
years of excellent, fearless and un-
tainted service to our peo-
ple.”—ANTONIO P. TUVIERA,
producer, “Ded na si Lolo,” the coun-
try’s entry to the Best Foreign Lan-
guage Film category of the Oscars
***

This, at times, affects the image such that it has fearlessly report- vorite sections are the front page “On rare occasions during our
of our country.”—TESSIE SY CO- ed about the alleged excesses of and sports. expeditions that I could get a
SON, Banco de Oro chair public officials like President “I like INQUIRER columnist Neal copy of INQUIRER or access to the
*** Macapagal-Arroyo. Cruz because of his objectivity. Internet, I really enjoyed reading
“I do not like it when INQUIRER “It is really adversarial. You The newspaper has a lot of credi- updates of current events from
ERNIE U. SARMIENTO

quotes ‘reliable sources’ or cannot expect good journalism to ble columnists and editors. the paper.
‘sources who refuse to be kowtow or protect somebody up “On the other hand, INQUIRER “As an avid fan and faithful
named.’ there. If you’re working to protect reporters are patient and good reader, I am pleased that you tru-
“I like (editor-in-chief) Letty evil and what people perceive to writers, and they are passionate ly tried to be a recorder and, at
Magsanoc for her deep sense of be oppressive or an act of injus- in uncovering stories and follow- times because of your opinion
GRACE PADACA RODRIGO DUTERTE
professionalism in journalism. I tice, you better stop practicing ing up leads. writers, an interpreter of events.
Isabela Governor Davao City Mayor
like the Prietos for their deep journalism. “I believe in reporters, but “While I root for you in your
sense of social responsibility and “There is nothing about INQUIR- sometimes some editors, al- role as consistent fiscalizer and
patriotism. I bow to the courage ER that I do not like.” —RODRI- though they are very respectable, critic of the powerful, especially
of INQUIRER news and GO DUTERTE, Davao City mayor if they don’t like the subject of the those who abuse their powers
columns!”—SOC B. VILLEGAS, *** interviews, this could result in a with impunity, I also prefer to
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, ‘It’s a wake-up call paper.’ negative slant.”—JINGGOY read more positive news and arti-
Pangasinan province “While the PDI has the tenden- ESTRADA, Senate president pro- cles about ‘winners’ and ‘best
*** cy at times to be anti-establish- tempore practices’ from our people in or-
‘It is protective of public interest.’ ment in its opinion section, I real- *** der to inspire other Filipinos, and
“As a citizen, I like what INQUIR- ly think the news is basically bal- “What I don’t like about INQUIR- not the typical propensity of
ER is doing because it is protective anced. The news reports are well- ER is it has no Filipino or tabloid Philippine media, you included,
of public interest. If the paper be- researched and rich with facts. version that reaches Isabela that to hype the negative because
came critical of me, I perfectly un- This makes the PDI a must-read can more effectively inform and negative news sells.
derstand it because that’s the newspaper, especially among educate our masses. “In short, I am looking forward
REM ZAMORA

mandate of journalism. Public of- policymakers and government “What I like about INQUIRER are to seeing a more balanced report-
ficials are not supposed to be executives. Eggie Apostol, Letty Magsanoc, ing of ‘the good, the bad and the
piqued by criticisms. Instead, they “It’s been a wake-up call paper Isagani Yambot, Rina David, Pa- ugly’ to allow the readers a
AFP

LEILA DE LIMA must appreciate these criticisms. through the years. The INQUIRER tricia Evangelista, Belinda broader understanding of events.
SR. MARY JOHN MANANZAN
Chair, “The reports about me were has always been and will always Aquino, Randy David, Ceres “I can only wish you the best as
Co-chair, Association of Major Reli-
Commission on Human Rights matters that drew public opinion. be a prime molder of public opin- Doyo and John Nery. It is because you may have joined the ranks of
gious Superiors in the Philippines
endangered species recently, but I
am really glad that you are un-
daunted in continuously practic-
ing your craft in what some say as
the most dangerous place on
earth today.”—ART VALDEZ, ex-
pedition leader, the Philippine Mt.
Everest Expedition (2004-2008)
and The Voyage of the Balangay
(2008-2013).

(Those who did not send in

their answers were interviewed
by Doris Dumlao (Pascual Gar-
ROMY HOMILLADA

cia), by Beverly T. Natividad

RODEL ROTONI

RAFFY LERMA

RAFFY LERMA

(Shalani Soledad), by Jeffrey M.

PDI PHOTO

Tupas of the Mindanao Bureau

(Rodrigo Duterte) and by
Michael Lim Ubac, (Jinggoy
TONY TUVIERA SHALANI SOLEDAD RAUL GONZALEZ PASCUAL GARCIA JINGGOY ESTRADA
Estrada)
TV/Film producer Valenzuela Councilor Presidential legal counsel PSBank, Chamber of Thrift Banks president Senate president pro-tempore