Pawid: The Media in 'What Now Baguio?'

Saturday, February 12, 2011

THE results of the recent BCBC election of officers gave reassurance to the leadership of the youth. A member of the fourth generation won over one from the second.

This brings to mind how a handful of newspapermen formed an outfit that would support them in the exercise of their profession in the so-called fourth estate.

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For years, active Baguio media personalities met Friday nights with special guests in round-table discussions on issues affecting the city and the old Mountain Province.

This was held at the Session Café, a popular hub of local and visiting newspapermen, businessmen and politicians all. But the venue was later moved to a radio station, the first in the city located along Harrison Road. Vic Agcaoili, then station manager, had the idea of airing live those discussions for the benefit of radio listeners and dubbed the one-hour session as "What Now Baguio?"

With the regularity of cabinet members coming to the city for weekend rests, Tito Carballo who was writing for the defunct Evening News, thought of having these national officials as guests too. They were good sources of front page stories for the weekend in the national and local newspapers.

This gave added prominence to the "What Now Baguio?" radio forum. It drew crowds from various sectors of the community and government officials who, when time allowed, raised their own questions and opinions.

Scheduling guests and panel discussants became a concern triggering the need of organization. It was at this point when the Baguio Correspondents Club (BCC) was born in l964 with Tito Carballo as first president. Its membership was limited to the print media.

The original roster of membership included: Vina Masadao, Ben Andaya and Nars Padilla of the Manila Chronicle; Francisco "Kiko" Tanglao and Augustus U. Saboy of the Philippine News Service; Gem Mamuyac of Manila Times; Geronimo Evangelista Sr. and Carballo of the Evening News; Atty. Lucio Dixon of The Mountaineer; and Hilarion Pawid of the Baguio Midland Courier. A year later, Gabriel Pawid Keith of the Manila Bulletin and Baguio Midland Courier, and Nick Angel of the Philippines Herald joined the club.

Towards the end of the l960s, talented young writers increased the roster to a little more than 30. They called themselves the second BCBC generation. Out of courtesy, they supported the elders in leading the press corps.

Not all of the original members opted to head the organization. Those who became presidents were Carballo, Tanglao, Andaya, Angel, Evangelista, Pawid and Padilla.

How did the BCC convert into BCBC?

Manny Salenga, the Baguio boy who made good in radio news reporting in Manila, came home to manage DZHB but found himself an outsider in the intellectual and exclusive print media BCC. Polishing his PR talents and free flow of beer to boot, Salenga wooed club elders for months to accommodate the broadcast media. A general meeting followed which granted limited membership only to station managers and news reporters. Thus, BCC became the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, Inc. or BCBC for short.

Then President Marcos spoiled the routine of newspapering by declaring Martial Law. Newspapers and radio stations were closed and "What Now Baguio?" was off the air.

In the next 15 years or so the second generation took over the helm of the club holding high traditional work ethics and the towering standards of journalism. Despite the dark clouds of Martial Law hovering in the country, the crusade for press freedom was silent and hidden in the heart of every true blooded newspaperman.

Fresh and independent talents did not find journalism a strong calling in a field of muzzled and suppressed media. This opened the gates for government information officers to join the club. How they walk the line in the fourth estate is a gray area. Only they can place themselves.

After 47 years, BCBC members continue with their liberal stance in pursuing their profession. Calm and responsible, they have contributed their respective pieces as members of the fourth estate to what the city and now the Cordillera Region is today.

The BCBC has had its shortcomings giving her black eyes. Perhaps the weakness lies in the area of recruitment of members.

Like any other organization, the BCBC is not free and emancipated from shenanigans. The "how-shaos," a term given to bogus media practitioners, have found their way into the corridors of the club. They are the kinds who give a bad name to the noble profession of journalism. They cannot talk nor write grammatically correct English. And worst of all, they pretend to have high IQ however, with the ability to see financial opportunities and gain in a profession that pays the honest mediaman pittance and psychic income.

The most reprehensible practice in their trade is what is called "ACDC". It means "Attack and Collect, Defend and Collect". Editors and veteran newsmen worth their salt could easily detect articles of the ACDC category.

The BCBC has a fourth generation of members in the print, radio and television networks. Her roster has reached beyond the 200 mark and serves as an umbrella organization to several media groups in the city and region.

Three of the six original surviving club members, although sporting gray hairs, has maintained sharpened pens with ink covering topics of interest that fancy their still lucid minds. Notwithstanding, they still draw high readership. They are Geronimo Evangelista Sr., Nars Padilla, and yours truly, Hilarion Pawid.