The paper of record in the post-Edsa years is the one “best equipped” to correct the attempt at martial law revisionism, especially in the run-up to the presidential election next year, President Benigno Aquino III said.
This belief of the President, spoken at the 30th anniversary of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Thursday night, was made more poignant with the presence of Inquirer founding chair, Eugenia Duran Apostol.
Noting the courage of Apostol and Inquirer editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, pushing ahead with their principled journalism in the dark days of martial law, Mr. Aquino gave tribute to the Inquirer’s contribution to informing the Filipino people.
“I have previously spoken of—and I am sure you are aware of—the alternate versions of martial law circulating today, which have led younger generations to believe history has treated the dictatorship unfairly. This is another complication that you are asked to contend with and overcome… With your pages and very history as a record of the dangers of dictatorial rule, the Inquirer is best equipped to overcome this,” the President said in his speech.
He warned of the “brashness of those who are unrepentant of their crimes—those who believe they can ride a wave of manufactured nostalgia to revise history.”
Apologize to nation
Taking a swipe at the dictator’s son, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. but without naming him, Mr. Aquino said the Inquirer’s stories were enough to make him remember what exactly he had to apologize to the nation for before he could seek the vice presidency.
But it was likely, the President said, that the “candidate associated with that regime” was not reading the Inquirer.
P-NOY AT INQUIRER’S 30THPresident Aquino delivers a speech during the 30th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Daily Inquirer at Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday. The President said the Inquirer was “best equipped to correct martial law revisionism today.” Seen with Mr. Aquino on the stage is Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. ALEC CORPUZ
Pen mightier than sword’
“Indeed, the context and depth you have provided in your reportage can enlighten younger generations to the full significance of what we said back in 1986, which was, ‘Never again.’ You have already validated the old truism that the pen is mightier than the sword, and I hope the future sees you doing this many more times,” the President said.
Obviously, he was concerned that some quarters’ attempt at martial law revisionism had reached young Filipinos, “the new generation of readers who are too young to remember what it was like to live with the government scrutinizing your every move.”
Mr. Aquino graced the Inquirer’s anniversary celebration briefly, giving a speech. But it gave him the opportunity to see and greet Apostol again.
“True news was like water in the desert,” Mr. Aquino recalled, stressing:
“If it was bad for the readers—just imagine how it was for those who wrote for and produced the mosquito press. Imagine the principle of Mrs. Eggie Apostol, Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc and all the other true journalists during that period.”
Birth of Inquirer
Apostol, the revered veteran journalist who defied Marcos even at the most dangerous times of martial law, put up the Inquirer a few months before the Edsa People Power Revolution.
Where Apostol was, Magsanoc was not far behind.
The President recognized the two women’s courage to stand up to the abuses of the dictatorship, particularly the censorship of mass media.
It was the mosquito press, of which Apostol and Magsanoc were among the prolific journalists, which dared to write about the abuses of the dictatorship.
Mr. & Ms. Apostol also led Mr. & Ms. magazine, with Magsanoc on her staff.
The two journalists again published and wrote about the funeral of the President’s father, the assassinated Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and the Agrava Fact-Finding Board investigation into his death, even if Marcos had banned these stories.
“I cannot tell you how much that meant to our family. Dad always believed that he did not stand alone and you proved that through your brave coverage. Many Filipinos who believed the same learned through your publications that they, too, were not alone in the desire to stand up to the dictator. It is no exaggeration, I believe, to say that you informed millions of our countrymen, whose unity made the peaceful revolution of Edsa possible,” the President said.
Era of people power
“It would be impossible for us to take stock of one, without involving the other, because the Philippine Daily Inquirer traces its roots to the era of people power,” he said.
Mr. Aquino emphasized that next year’s presidential election would be “every bit as crucial as the one we faced in 1986.”
“Back then, we were asked if we, as a people, would be able to reclaim democracy by the ways of democracy, as my mother put it. And in 2016, we will be asked: ‘Will we allow the past few years to be a temporary blip on the radar?’ ‘Will we allow the old and broken status quo to return?’ Or will we say, ‘Never again to transactional politics, corruption and greed.’ ‘Will we demonstrate to the world and to each other that we are a people now more mature, more focused and more determined to build on the gains we have made?’” he said.
As President with some 204 days left in office, Mr. Aquino still finds himself in a thorny relationship with the media, who found its freedom anew following the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.
INQUIRER IN GOOD HANDS Inquirer chair Marixi Rufino-Prieto (right) greets Inquirer founding chair Eugenia “Eggie” Apostol during the 30th anniversary bash of the paper on Wednesday, while Inquirer President and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and Inquirer board member Charlie Rufino look on. ELOISA LOPEZ
Constructive criticism
At the Inquirer anniversary, the President seized the opportunity to say that he was after constructive criticism by the media.
“When you write your stories, may I suggest that you put yourselves in my position: See what we have, what can be done and at the end of the day, what is being done. If all of that is still lacking and you believe there are ways to do more, then please criticize us. This will undoubtedly help us fulfill our duties. If, on the other hand, you believe that everything that can be done is already being done, then perhaps you can also write about that,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the media ask themselves how their stories would “advance the common good,” as much as he asks himself this question when he seeks to strike a balance in making decisions.
“Is it not reasonable to request that the media also constantly ask this question of themselves? When you report on what is wrong, it provides all of us the wherewithal to correct the mistakes and missteps. There is a difference, however, between fair reporting and sensationalist repetition,” he said.
As an example, media tend “to commemorate tragedies by highlighting and rekindling all the negatives,” he said.
“During such times, I have to confess, I am hard-pressed to find any mention of corrective or remedial actions taken, whether by government or by hardworking private sector partners. Does this not reinforce hopelessness?” the President said.
“On the flip side, when media report on what is good, you exemplify that as a model: You show the Filipino people that good will prevail; that good is not just possible, but is already happening; and that we can do so much more good in this country,” he said.