2007. I turned 34 on March 20. By next year, I'll be 35 and that means that based on the current mortality rate of 60-65, I have only 25 to 30 years remaining before I pass on. But it all depends on a lot of factors still. I could go earlier or probably (which I hope I won't) later. Who wants to live forever? Or who wants to outlive one's loved ones? people might find it repugnant that when I reached 30 years ago, I started counting back. Yes. back to the future. I am counting back to the future. The countdown was my own idea. And I have never felt so satisfied than being prepared to face my own demise- natural or man-made. And that thought alone pushes me to the limits. It's like I want to do more with less. More things to do with very little and continuously dwindling time. Who's afraid to die anyway? You? Well, I always thought living was more cruel than dying. Life maybe fun. Life maybe exciting. Life maybe precious. But have you ever accepted that all these would die out? Eventually they will. But no matter how happy or sad one's life was, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER FOR AS LONG AS YOU ENJOYED THE RIDE. Life's a journey remember? And journeys have endings. Happy or sad.
As for me, I have done enough. and if my Creator would call me anytime, I would gladly go with Him. As I have said before, Life Must Go On. And I know deep inside me that there is life after this life and hence.
Oh No! THis is not a farewell message ok. But it's somehow fulfilling to conquer the fear of death. By being NOT afraid of death, nothing can scare you, right?
And so, have you asked yourself what your greatest fear is? Find out and try counting back to the future.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR (and that's next week!)
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
I'm Proud of My NPC
Despite the wrong accusations hurled at us by those Angono fools, the National Press Club has risen up and answered the call of duty to protect its brethren some of whom were unduly detained in the aftermath of the Peninsula Manila siege. I was supposed to be there. My friend and kumpare Atty Argee Guevarra called me up that day and asked me to join them at the PEN. I yielded, thinking that being with the core group would allow me to access the freshest of news that I could deliver to the people. I sought the permission of my president Roy Mabasa who warned me against making political statements once there. As he said, sedition is not a journalist's "province." And I assured him yes, I will join the group not as a participant but as a mere observer. But before I left my computer, Argee asked me to clarify to all people that the movement was spontaneous. It was never prepared (and look at what happened after!). So I pounded my keyboard and started writing a statement for Argee. It wasn't me who was talking but him. As a friend, he dictated to me everything and I just wrote it and sent it to other people.
But I didn't condone their acts. As a journalist, I should not. However, who would not be drawn into such an interesting opportunity? REAL journalists know how and when to get relevant stories. Stories that are BOLD. Stories that happens once in a blue moon.
To me, the Manila Pen incident was among those rarest of moments. I regret that I failed to arrive sooner there. I was late because of the statement of Argee which I had to write for him.
On the way, I heard on radio that the place had been cordoned off. I called Argee up and said I was sorry. That story was not for me.
On Monday we filed a case against officials who arrested our colleagues. I posted the story that I submitted to my newspaper that day below. Please refer to it.
But I didn't condone their acts. As a journalist, I should not. However, who would not be drawn into such an interesting opportunity? REAL journalists know how and when to get relevant stories. Stories that are BOLD. Stories that happens once in a blue moon.
To me, the Manila Pen incident was among those rarest of moments. I regret that I failed to arrive sooner there. I was late because of the statement of Argee which I had to write for him.
On the way, I heard on radio that the place had been cordoned off. I called Argee up and said I was sorry. That story was not for me.
On Monday we filed a case against officials who arrested our colleagues. I posted the story that I submitted to my newspaper that day below. Please refer to it.
Media Arrests
Before I make my own points about the arrests f my fellow journalists, I would like to share the story that I submitted to the Manila Standard on Monday. Just after we filed the case against Puno, Razon etc. before the Commission on Human Rights.
MST
By joel m. sy egco
Dec. 3, 2007 for Tuesday
#1
The Commission on Human Rights (NPC) will hear en banc on Thursday the
case filed by the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) against
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Ronaldo Puno
and top Philippine National Police (PNP) officials who allegedly
ordered the "arrest" and "detention" of journalists who covered the
Manila Peninsula siege on November 29.
Acting on the complaint filed by the NPC through its president, Roy
Mabasa, a group of three CHR commissioners- Wilhelm Soriano, Dominador
Clamba and Eligio Mallare- said they will summon Puno, PNP chief
Avelino Razon and National Capital Region POLice Office (NCRPO) chief
Dir. Geary Barias and "those who effected the handcuffing of mediamen"
before bringing them to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.
Mabasa, assisted by NPC Vice pres. Benny Antiporda and Dirs. Joel Sy
Egco and Samuel Julian trooped to the CHR main office yesterday to
formally file the Club's three-page complaint.
"This complaint is filed on behalf of the 50 or so print and broadcast
reporters and cameramen/photographers who were handcuffed, tied,
loaded into a bus and detained for no legal and valid reason at the
(NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on the evening of the date
aforementioned," the complaint which Mabasa signed said.
The NPC cited six glaring violations committed by the police, namely:
arbitrary arrest and detention; abusive and inhumane manner in which
the arrests were carried out; violation of Republic Act 7438
concernign the Miranda rights; violation of press freedom under
Article 32 of the Civil Code and Sec. 4 of Article II, or the bills of
rights, of the Constitution: illegal confiscation of videotapes and
cameras in violation of the right against unreasonable searches and
seizures; and grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority and
discretion.
A team of lawyers provided by the NPC headed by its legal counsel
Berteni Causing were expected to meet with the "victims" to secure
their affidavits.
Commissioners Soriano, Calamba and Mallare welcomed the filing of the
charges and vowed to act promptly on it. They said they will wait for
the submission of the affidavits from the so-called Manila Pen media.
"We just hope that they can identify the policemen who tied them up
and hauled them onto the bus. That will make our job easier. All they
have to do is to remember the nameplates of the policemen," Calamba
told newsmen.
Even CHR chairman Purificacion Quisimbing, who is abroad, agreed that
the incident was "embarrassing" for the journalists.
Mabasa and the other NPC officers likewise assured that no political
color will be added to the move, stressing that the Club's only
concern is that "such thing should not happen again."
"It is the hope of the NPC that the resolution of this matter shall
help avoid similar incidents in the future and protect not only
journalists but all citizens against abuse and violation of their
rights," the complaint added.
The CHR officials said they would recommend the filing of charges
against those who would be found to have committed abuse.
"If they would be found to have violated human rights, these policemen
will have a hard time dealing with their promotion or retirement
because they will have to secure clearance from us. If they have a
pending case, how can they be cleared?" one of the CHR commissioners
explained.
END
MST
By joel m. sy egco
Dec. 3, 2007 for Tuesday
#1
The Commission on Human Rights (NPC) will hear en banc on Thursday the
case filed by the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) against
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Ronaldo Puno
and top Philippine National Police (PNP) officials who allegedly
ordered the "arrest" and "detention" of journalists who covered the
Manila Peninsula siege on November 29.
Acting on the complaint filed by the NPC through its president, Roy
Mabasa, a group of three CHR commissioners- Wilhelm Soriano, Dominador
Clamba and Eligio Mallare- said they will summon Puno, PNP chief
Avelino Razon and National Capital Region POLice Office (NCRPO) chief
Dir. Geary Barias and "those who effected the handcuffing of mediamen"
before bringing them to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.
Mabasa, assisted by NPC Vice pres. Benny Antiporda and Dirs. Joel Sy
Egco and Samuel Julian trooped to the CHR main office yesterday to
formally file the Club's three-page complaint.
"This complaint is filed on behalf of the 50 or so print and broadcast
reporters and cameramen/photographers who were handcuffed, tied,
loaded into a bus and detained for no legal and valid reason at the
(NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on the evening of the date
aforementioned," the complaint which Mabasa signed said.
The NPC cited six glaring violations committed by the police, namely:
arbitrary arrest and detention; abusive and inhumane manner in which
the arrests were carried out; violation of Republic Act 7438
concernign the Miranda rights; violation of press freedom under
Article 32 of the Civil Code and Sec. 4 of Article II, or the bills of
rights, of the Constitution: illegal confiscation of videotapes and
cameras in violation of the right against unreasonable searches and
seizures; and grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority and
discretion.
A team of lawyers provided by the NPC headed by its legal counsel
Berteni Causing were expected to meet with the "victims" to secure
their affidavits.
Commissioners Soriano, Calamba and Mallare welcomed the filing of the
charges and vowed to act promptly on it. They said they will wait for
the submission of the affidavits from the so-called Manila Pen media.
"We just hope that they can identify the policemen who tied them up
and hauled them onto the bus. That will make our job easier. All they
have to do is to remember the nameplates of the policemen," Calamba
told newsmen.
Even CHR chairman Purificacion Quisimbing, who is abroad, agreed that
the incident was "embarrassing" for the journalists.
Mabasa and the other NPC officers likewise assured that no political
color will be added to the move, stressing that the Club's only
concern is that "such thing should not happen again."
"It is the hope of the NPC that the resolution of this matter shall
help avoid similar incidents in the future and protect not only
journalists but all citizens against abuse and violation of their
rights," the complaint added.
The CHR officials said they would recommend the filing of charges
against those who would be found to have committed abuse.
"If they would be found to have violated human rights, these policemen
will have a hard time dealing with their promotion or retirement
because they will have to secure clearance from us. If they have a
pending case, how can they be cleared?" one of the CHR commissioners
explained.
END
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