MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor in chief
City press members revived the local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) by submitting themselves to a half-day orientation, elected their new set of officers and held an induction ceremony to firm up their resurgence.
NUJP is the countrywide organization of journalists who committed themselves to securing their own interests and their colleagues in the profession, binding themselves to a covenant of ethical conduct and commitment to the public trust.
Held at Café Ilang-Ilang, July 3, community journalists, mostly members of the Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club Inc. (ZPPI), attended the orientation facilitated by NUJP-Ozamiz Chapter President Jovencio Godoy Jr.
Lending their support to the activity are the officers and members of NUJP from Ozamiz and Iligan cities.
It can be recalled that NUJP-Pagadian became dormant after its former head, Michael Sarcaoga, left his practice in 2006 to search for greener pastures.
The idea to perk up the stationary chapter was thought upon by Hirohito “Jong” Cadion when he attended a seminar that tackled on poverty and facilitated by the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Tubod, Lanao del Norte where the speaker was Rowena Paraan, NUJP secretary-general.
During that seminar, attended also by journalists from Iligan and Ozamiz cities, an orientation about NUJP was likewise given where it was mentioned that NUJP-Pagadian Chapter already existed but needs to be revitalized.
With constant communications and go-betweens, Cadion earned the agreement of other local press members to revive the chapter.
In an election that took place, Cadion was elected president; Ann Lou as vice president; Flaviana Alex Sanchez as secretary; Charnyl Albarracin as treasurer, Manny Maulana as auditor and Joseph Arnel Deleverio as PIO.
The board of directors is composed of this paper’s publisher, Eduardo Clavero, ex-board member Dinah Marasigan, lawyer Adolf Leo Boncavil, Boy Deleverio, James Tremedal, Vic del Pilar, Leo Santillan, Elmer Maghanoy, Ramil Bangues, Julius Breva and Remai Alejado.
The induction of officers followed in the evening at Hotel Alindahaw with Rep. Antonio Cerilles and Mayor Samuel Co as guest speakers and RTC executive Judge Aniceto Galon as inducting officer.
In his welcome message, Co told journalists: “It is an honor to me to be with you. Personally I am happy to extend my warmest felicitation to all our local media practitioners who are the ones responsible in bridging and bringing together the significant events that took place in our city, the neighboring cities, in the country and the world”
“I ask, therefore, to give honor and respect to your certified and hard work. We are aware of the extensive research and painstaking work you exert to come up with the latest news and we truly appreciate the dedication to the pursuit of the most relevant and up-to-date information for the public,” he added.
“With this, the road is critical to the success of any nation or any city, to include our city. It is due then that we uphold you in your commitment to promote cooperation among journalists, to bring your economic interest and social well being of the working press, upgrade professional skills, bring the standards of journalistic ethics and uphold press freedom and the dignity of journalists, as you continue to contribute immensely to the growth of the media profession.”
Co then exhorted the media to further promote ethics and professionalism As he recognized media’s valuable contribution to the city’s development.
“Akong hangyo, tabangi pod ko ug baligya sa atong siyudad. Kung naa man gani bad news, gamay-gamaya lang, ubos-ubos, kilid-kilid. Dako-dakoa ninyo ang mga good news sa atong city,” he urged.
In a text message, Cadion told MINDANAO MONITOR: “I am happy that the media in Pagadian have secured our interest through the revitalization of NUJP-Pagadian Chapter. Through NUJP, we hope to bind ourselves to ethical conduct and commitment to public trust. We will stand on these three legs—unity, integrity and dignity—for the working press.”