'It's a calling': GMA reporter Bernadette Reyes fires back at basher
MANILA, Philippines — GMA-7 news reporter Bernadette Reyes clapped back at social media users who hurled expletives at her after she posted about the struggles of covering typhoons.
The reporter posted about the travails of typhoon coverages on her Facebook page.
She narrated how her day starts early, leaving behind her kid still asleep as she goes out to the field to begin reporting on duty. Reyes said her profession is more than just a job; it is a calling.
"Tuwing may bagyo, habang marami ang nasa loob ng bahay, nanonood ng TV, kumakain o nagtutulog, kami heto lubog sa baha. Tulog pa ang anak ko ng umalis ako sa bahay ala sais ng umaga. Gusto ko sanang yakapin pero hindi na muna, baka magising. May halong lungkot nang sinara ang pinto kasi hindi ko na naman alam kung anong oras ako uuwi.
"'Pag labas pa lang ng bahay, bumuhos na agad ang napakalakas ulan. Sabi ko pa naman, hindi ako papaulan kasi kagagaling ko lang sa sakit. Pero sabi nga ng boss ko, itong trabaho namin, calling ang tawag dito. 'Yun bang kahit minsan dinadapuan ka ng lungkot, nahihirapan ka na, pero hindi mo magawang iwan," the reporter said.
It might be tempting to just Netflix and chill or eat the favorite Filipino sweetened chocolate rice porridge called Champorado, she said, but she chooses to do her part as a media personnel.
She also wonders how she is still doing the same job — drenched in rain, wading through floodwaters on typhoon coverages — for more than 20 years. But her desire to serve the public and her fellow Filipinos in times of distress prevails.
"Kaya kahit na gusto ko rin huwag lumabas ng bahay, manood ng Netlfix maghapon, kumain ng champorado at matulog pagkatapos heto, lublob sa baha para maghatid ng balita. Mahigit dalampung taon na ang lumipas, hindi ko pa rin maipaliwanag kung bakit alam kong delikado pero patuloy na naghahatid ng balita.
"Yung basang-basa na ang damit, nanginginig na sa lamig pero tuloy lang sa trabaho. 'Yung gutom ka na pero nagpalipas ka na ng gutom, 'yung pagod ka na pero may nahuhugot ka pa rin na lakas dahil kailangan may mag balita. Mahirap ipaliwanag kung bakit pero hindi na kailangan pang ipaliwanag kung para saan... para sa bayan, uulit-ulitin para sa bayan," Reyes said.
A Facebook user, however, left hurtful words and expletives, on Reyes' post.
“Pu…ina dami mo arte. Buti ka nga may trabaho. Kami kya nandito sa loob ng bahay walang trabaho. Yan pinili mo trabaho. Palit tayo. Kami jan sa labas, ikaw sa bahay. Wala naman sahod. Pa-relax relax kami, walang income. Ikaw nasa baha, laki ng sahod mo bobo ka. Dami mong satsat eh di mag-resign ka hanap ka ibang trabaho drama mo,” the Facebook user wrote.
Bernadette fired back at the social media user by calmly saying: “Kung hindi n'yo po ma-appreciate ang ginagawa namin, huwag n'yo na lang akong murahin."
She revealed that she was offered jobs double her current salary and ones that do not require her to report for work when there is typhoon but she declined the offers.
In another Facebook post, Bernadette again reiterated about the said offers but chose her calling instead.
“You cannot please everyone kaya naman tanggap ko na may mga taong hindi ako kailanman magugustuhan. Subalit nakalulungkot na sa kabila ng malinis na hangarin na tumulong sa bayan, heto mura pa ang inaabot," she said.
“Sa kabila nito, hangad ko pa rin po na nasa ligtas kayong kalagayan lalo na ngayong sinusubok na naman tayo ng kalikasan. Ilang beses n'yo man akong murahin o kutyain, patuloy akong magsi-silbi sa bayan, uilit-ulitin para sa bayan,” she added.
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