The BCBC

THE candidates’ forum held on Tuesday for the BCBC elections was an eye opener for all members of the media club who are seriously concerned on what direction the BCBC must take. It was sirs Ramon Dacawi and David March Fianza who thought of the activity in a bid to secure the commitment of the aspirants to really work for the benefit of the club and its members.

The Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) is basically a social organization. But listening to the contenders for the presidency – Z Radio’s Edong Carta and Sun Star’s Roderick Osis – gave us the hope that there are tasks the club can accomplish beyond its being a social club for reporters. The club has its own corporate social responsibility other than the daily grind of its members of trying to beat the deadline.

I huddled with Mondax after the forum. We agreed on something. Both Edong and Roderick are sincere. Only that they both fell short on coming up with a strong statement on media men who have become “solicitor generals” or those members of the club that make use of their press identification cards to unduly solicit for causes left and right. Of course, we do not assail the legitimate ones. But admittedly, it has now become difficult to distinguish.

The elections will be held on February 26, Monday, at the PIA-CAR. Outgoing president Harley Palangchao did his job well and we do expect the sportswriter Rod and broadcaster Edong to do the same whoever will succeed Midland boy Harley.

Both candidates made sense. Edong wants every BCBC member insured with the Red Cross and Phil Health. He urged all reporters to be active in bloodletting projects and be donors themselves. Rod, meanwhile, bats for the club’s financial stability. He said the club must also go after its members who took some club money in the past to pay. He will also revive the P200,000 financial assistance program the DOLE granted the club during Liza Galao’s term.

Both are mass communication graduates of the University of the Cordilleras. Edong hit the air waves since 1997. He later became the station manager of Bombo Radyo. Now, he heads the Edong Carta Media Productions that has a block time on Z Radio. Rod started his career with the Northern Phil. Times (NPT) of publisher Alfred Dizon. He is a correspondent of Mania Standard. From NPT, he moved to Sun Star and became the paper’s top sports writer.

Edong, 37, is aggressive and surefire. Rod, 32, is cool and calculating. I could guess the vote of Jonathan Llanes, former BCBC president. I will nail him if his candidate will not deliver as promised.

I can’t reveal my vote. I am a member of the BCBC Commission on Elections. Just like Nonnette Bennett, Domci Cimatu, March Fianza and chair Ramon Dacawi. Meanwhile, we welcome Harley to the council of elders.