YOU do not make the truth, you are only witnesses of the truth as it unfolds.
This was the reminder Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo gave to local media workers in a mass that opened the 26th Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration on Sunday, September 16.
“Truth alone can transform belief into power. This is the reason, why, you, my dear friends in the media, are powerful. People believe in what you say. You have credibility, you are trustworthy but do not let this power get into your head,” he said.
When the truth is made to appear false, Villarojo called on members of the media not to cower in fear or suffer in silence.
“This is the essence of press freedom, to do what is right, even when everybody thinks it wrong. To tell the truth, even if nobody believes. To say it properly and respectfully, even if it may sound banal and trite. To keep the truth in memory, even if everybody has forgotten,” he added.
Members of Cebu media from Cebu’s five newspapers and radio and television stations gathered at the Cebu Provincial Capitol social hall for the celebration.
After the mass, the opening fellowship followed, which was highlighted by the Bruno Mars-themed dance contest and raffle draws.
The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) shimmied their way to the top and was hailed as this year’s dancing champions.
Second place went to The Freeman, Cebu Daily News (CDN) won third place, while SunStar Cebu ranked fourth.
The week-long press freedom celebration kicked off with the Mr. and Miss Press Freedom coronation night held last Saturday night at the Bayfront Hotel.
CDN and The Freeman both were able to win back-to-back victories.
Last year’s Mr. Press Freedom Christian Orellano turned over his crown to fellow Siloy Raul Constantine Tabanao, while 2017 Miss Press Freedom Dezza Rubio passed on her crown to The Freeman reporter Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad.
The Freeman’s Julius Oliver Lape and CDN’s Immae Lachica both finished as first runners-up, while SunStar Cebu’s bets Joshua Solano and Joyce Villaflor won as second runners-up. They were followed by KBP’s representatives John Vincent Suyat and Michelle Dialogo.
Series of activities will also be held within the week to foster camaraderie and healthy competition among local media outlets.
This is further strengthened with the Senate’s recent approval on third hearing of the proposal to declare the 21st of September every year as Cebu Press Freedom Day.
House Bill 5688, which was authored by Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) also seeks to declare Sept. 21 of every year as a special working holiday in Cebu City and Cebu Province.
The day has always been the “focal point” of Cebu Press Freedom Week, a moveable annual celebration that falls on the week that includes Sept. 21, when martial law was declared.
In separate resolutions in 2015, the Cebu City Council and the Provincial Board declared Sept. 21 of each year as Cebu Press Freedom Day.
Now that HB 5688 is approved on the third reading, the measure will be endorsed to the bicameral committee.
After, it will be submitted to the Office of the President for President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.
For almost three decades now, members of the Cebu press have celebrated Press Freedom Week every third week of September.
The activity serves as a reminder of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines and recognizes the role of community media as watchdog of the government.