What's in a press card that makes it "desirable"?

CCMC SALE. The much-talked-about sale of the Cebu City Medical Center appears to be in the making. A big investment corporation has shown serious interest in buying the hospital. Observers are saying that there seems to be an indication that the city hospital would be sold ahead of any piece of land in the South Road Properties.

WHAT’S IN A PRESS CARD? A man of about 40 visited this newspaper’s publisher recently to apply for “staff reporter” or “maybe as columnist.” He said he was financially hard up. He got a wife and two kids to feed. When told that this paper doesn’t have a budget for additional “staff reporter,” let alone for a “columnist,” the man said: “Ok ra nako way suweldo. Isyuhi lang kog press card.” The publisher said to himself: “Can a press card feed a family?”

SECOND TIME. That was the second time this paper’s publisher encountered a job applicant who was willing to work as reporter for free as long as he is issued a press card.