In brief, our basic policy is authentic journalism. Authentic journalism can be achieved only through the attentive, intelligent, reasonable and responsible reporting of our reporters and the responsible supervision of our editors and publishers.
You wield a lot of influence, locally and nationally, especially in helping shape public opinion. How have you used that influence for public good?
Our publications by their very nature influence and promote the public good. In that sense, our editorial department, as the entity daily involved in that activity, has a greater influence than I personally have.
Aside from expressing our editorial position on important local issues, we also manifest our editorial views on vital national issues by speaking as one national network.
For example, locally, we reject the split Cebu move as nothing but gross gerrymandering. We stand against vigilante killings because we believe that life is a precious gift, due process an inalienable human right, and the murder of innocent lives by vengeful vigilantes the shame of each and every Cebuano.
Nationally, we had opposed the reimposition of capital punishment, and I’m glad Congress is now taking steps to repeal that law. However, I fear that the abolition of capital punishment will not end vigilante executions. And we continue to distort the values of our young by making them believe that persons who have erred cannot and should not be allowed to reform their lives, that human life is trivial, and that the only way to control crime is to commit more crimes.
Seen from the political viewpoint, I would say that my perceived influence would arise from my government service, which reached its acme when I became a Cabinet secretary of the Ramos administration. However, I think that with respect to public officials, their influence diminishes over time unless they transcend partisan politics and become some kind of a moral symbol of their communities. By this suggested criterion, I don’t think I have had the opportunity to use my “political influence” for the public good.
Of my stint as a public official, I can only claim using my influence for the public good in the successful deregulation of the transportation and communications industries.
What do you see as the strengths of Cebu and its people? What are their weaknesses?
The Cebuano’s strengths are his pride and optimism. The Cebuano is proud of Cebu. This pride motivates him to work hard for Cebu’s progress. His optimism sustains him in his work and endows it with the motivation of love.
The Cebuano’s weaknesses are his pride and optimism. His pride may blind him to the fact that Cebu is an integral part of the Philippines and that Cebuanos, too, have certain obligations to their motherland. His pride may lead him to adopt an insular and isolated perspective oblivious of and detrimental to national progress.
His optimism, faced with a country in economic and political decline, may turn to pessimism and eventually to despair. And that would be disastrous not only for the Cebuano but also to all Filipinos who still love their one and only country.
How do you view the entry of out-of-Cebu capital and expertise into Sun.Star’s rival newspapers? How will it affect Sun.Star’s readership and advertising dominance?
I have always viewed positively the entry of out-of-Cebu capital and expertise into the Cebu market for three reasons.
First, the new entrants will help develop the local newspaper readership and advertising market. As the market grows, the new entrants will have their share of the expanded market. But then we will also get our own fair, if not greater, share of the market because of our current dominance.
Second, the new entrants will stimulate competition in journalistic excellence and make newspaper readers more critical of the quality of local papers. I believe that for as long as our basic policy, which I mentioned earlier, continues to be competently carried out, our dominance will remain.
Third, with a bigger readership and a bigger advertising market, there will be a greater demand for competent journalists, editors and reporters, with better compensation; then more people will join the newspaper industry.
The fact that we are the only 100 percent owned Cebuano newspaper is also not lost on the Cebuano. If doubts exist about Sun.Star’s editorial excellence, our continued growth has shown that Cebuanos have favored us, a fellow Cebuano, with the benefit of the doubt.
What was your most memorable moment in your career in government and the private sector?
My most unforgettable moment in government was when I left government, when former President Ramos thanked me verbally and in writing for completing the deregulation of the transport and communications industries, which was a cornerstone of his administration.
My most unforgettable moment in the private sector is the coming out of the maiden issue of Sun.Star Daily on Nov. 25, 1982. The night before was anxiously sleepless; the day itself was joyfully exhausting.
Your most personally gratifying achievement?
Prescinding from family, it’s definitely the successful deregulation of the transportation and the communications industries.
Despite monopolists’ personal attacks against me, since they could not personally attack the President, deregulation was successfully implemented. The fruits of that labor are evident in the new airlines, shipping lines and telephone companies which today are taken for granted.
What brings you most joy nowadays?
With the management of Sun.Star’s business side now transitioning to the next generation of managers, I have more time with and for the family, more time for reading and, perhaps, some time for cultural contributions to the Cebuano cultural scene.
I have just finished my translation into Cebuano of Kahlil Gibran’s classic, “The Prophet.” I look forward to reviving my column and to making other cultural contributions.
