Hats off to our women leaders in media

OUR life's chances in this increasingly skewed world of ours is a lot better with women at the helm of leadership, except perhaps for a few 'isolated' cases.

I can say this with certainty because I have observed not only on few occasions but several times the kind of strong leadership qualities, the kind of grit, determination and firmness that women possess when it comes to carrying responsibilities.

Most of the time, however, these things are taken for granted and unrecognized. Perhaps one reason could be that we are so used to seeing the opposite sex taking the lead as dictated by our norms and practices in society, while women does the 'dirty work', the menial job.

The patriarchal system has been so deeply rooted in our psyche such that we automatically 'assume' as normal every little thing without giving it much thought.

That is why in my own little way, I make it a point to highlight in my small class community, without making much fuss or elaboration, the great things that women do in their own unique ways.

One example of this, which is not openly recognized by many Dabawenyos, is the fact that there are many great women behind the dynamism of our mass media. Intelligent and sensitive to the needs of Davao community, not a handful among members of the press and the broadcast media have certainly contributed much in giving the right kind of information that is relevant and befitting Davao community.

It's no wonder then that Davao citizens have always been up to date not only with the happenings in the local scene but also outside our immediate sphere. The women in the media in our midst are not only working for the betterment of the people in our community, but likewise pursue for what mass media stands for and serves.

While it is true that journalists must observe objectivity in treating the issues at hand, it is a fact that they cannot idly watch while some wicked mind threatens to stifle our fundamental right to free expression. We cannot simply pretend to be unaffected in the face of an imminent danger to our very own survival as purveyors of truth.

When it comes to ferreting out the truth, there simply is no middle ground.

There is no way that a journalist will compromise the truth even if, like what they say, that there is no story worth dying for.

Even if a reporter's pay is even called "starvation" pay for all the efforts just to write the story, still, there's no denying that it is still 'noble' and worth doing.

The kind of satisfaction that one gets when a story is told, is incomparable to any hefty-paying job one may find. While it is true as the song goes that you can buy just anything your heart desires with money, you simply can't buy happiness with it.

Okay, so the word 'happiness' is relative, granted, but then it is not something that matters most.

Still, I'm sure glad to know these great women journalist-friends that make living in Davao City a sure hit.