Celebrating the press

September has always carried with it a deeper meaning beyond the changing of seasons. In Cebu, it is remembered as Press Freedom Month. It is a time to reflect not just on the profession, but on the price of truth-telling and the struggle to keep the public informed. The month brings us back to 1972, when the dark shadow of martial law silenced the media, forcing many to go underground or risk their lives to continue telling the people’s stories. Decades later, the press remains standing, but never without challenges.

This year, the reopening of Museo Sugbo in Cebu adds both poignancy and promise to the commemoration. Once a provincial jail, the museum now houses stories of the past and in its newest chapter, a gallery that pays tribute to Cebuano media. The space is more than an exhibition of photos and memorabilia; it is a living reminder that journalism is part of the region’s collective identity and history.

Inside the gallery, visitors are greeted with the faces and voices that have long shaped Cebu’s airwaves and newsrooms. Among them, the late Bobby Nalzaro, whose voice guided generations through the day’s issues with both wit and grit. His absence is deeply felt, but his legacy is etched in the gallery and in the hearts of those he inspired. Alongside him is Leo Lastimosa, a veteran broadcaster who continues to embody fearless journalism. His sharp commentary and fearless questioning of power remind us that a journalist’s duty is not to please, but to probe. For young communicators, seeing these figures honored is a testament that the profession, despite its trials, is worth pursuing.

But even as we celebrate these milestones, reality intrudes. Just recently, actor and politician Richard Gomez publicly shamed members of the media for doing their job. Instead of engaging with questions fairly and responsibly, he turned to insult and ridicule. This act, though perhaps dismissed by some as “mere words”, chips away at the respect and dignity that media practitioners deserve. It is a sobering reminder that even in a democratic society, the press continues to be vulnerable to hostility, especially when those in power are uncomfortable with scrutiny.

The juxtaposition is striking: on one hand, we have institutions like Museo Sugbo recognizing the press as part of our cultural fabric; on the other, we face continued acts of intimidation and attempts to silence

Genuine press freedom is not about uncritical praise of journalists, nor is it about shielding them from accountability. It is about ensuring that reporters can pursue stories without fear of harassment, censorship, or retaliation.

As we move through September, let us take inspiration from the gallery at Museo Sugbo. Let us remember figures like Cerge Remonde and Vicente Sotto, who remind us that journalism is service, not spectacle. Let us continue to demand a society where the press can do its job without shame, fear, or compromise. Only then can we truly say that freedom of the press is alive.