Journalist Juanito Jabat writes 30

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu journalism lost one of its pillars yesterday with the passing of Banat News publisher and former The FREEMAN publisher and editor-in-chief Juanito Jabat. He was 83.

Jabat succumbed to cardiac arrest at a hospital in Cebu City.

The Freeman President Miguel Belmonte said Jabat is a great loss to The FREEMAN and Philippine journalism.

“Mr. Jabat was the easiest publisher and editor-in-chief to work with. Despite his over 50 years of experience as a journalist, Mr. Jabat was always willing to listen to suggestions and open to try new ideas. A true team player and highly respected colleague, Mr. Jabat’s passing is a great loss to The FREEMAN and to Philippine journalism. He will be missed,” Belmonte said.

The paper’s chairman, Jose “Dodong” Gullas, recalled it was only in June when he and his wife Nena visited Jabat at the latter’s house for his birthday. Gullas said he purposely visited Jabat on that day also celebrate with him the 50th year of The Freeman’s revival.

“It seemed only yesterday when I, together with Mr. Jabat and Mr. Balt Quinain, the Three Musketeers, planned to revive The Freeman (in 1965). Mr. Jabat was instrumental in the revival. Without him, I would not be able to revive the newspaper of my uncle. Mr. Jabat will be missed. My family and I, as well as The Freeman and Banat staff, will pray for your safe journey into the hands of our Lord,” Gullas said.

The FREEMAN first saw print in 1919 but stopped publication after its founder, Gullas’ uncle Don Paulino Gullas, entered politics in 1934. In 1965, Quinain whom Gullas tapped to help revive the paper brought Jabat into the group. At that time, Jabat was working as correspondent for an international news agency.   The FREEMAN Publisher Jerry Tundag who worked under Jabat as reporter when the latter was editor-in-chief said Jabat was like a father to him.

“Even in the profession of journalism which we both cherish, being the only type of work we have ever known, he was always the father who knows the strengths and weaknesses of a son. He never assigns anything he feels you cannot do. He does the ‘impossible’ things himself, but when he expects something from you, that is his way of acknowledging your capabilities. It gives you the determination not only to meet such expectations but to excel in them before his eyes. At least in this, I know I have never disappointed him. It is also on account of this that I will sorely miss him,” Tundag said.

The FREEMAN Editor-in-chief Quennie Bronce said she learned “to value your work” from the old man.

“Even when he was already sickly, Mr. Jabat still closed some pages of Banat. When I started to lighten his load by not sending him stories to edit, he sent me a note saying, ‘Day Quen, padad-i intawn ko og trabaho kay mauwaw ko nga sige ko og sweldo unya wa na ko’y gitrabaho.’ Mr. Jabat wanted to contribute to the newspaper even if his body was already complaining. That is dedication in its truest form. He will be greatly missed,” Bronce said.

Pachico Seares, former editor-in-chief of both The FREEMAN and Sun Star Daily, said, “We’ve lost a very long-time colleague, a friend, and a deeply-committed journalist.”

Career

Jabat started his career in journalism 1952 as a copy boy for Manila Times while he studied Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

He then went on to work as correspondent for different newspapers and trade magazines based in the United States, Australia, and England. He also became the Asia-Pacific correspondent for the Gemini News Service of London and the international news agency Scripps-Howard Co. of New York.   When he joined The FREEMAN in 1965, he worked as reporter and later on as associate editor, editor-in-chief, and eventually as publisher.

He was a multi-awarded journalist in his time. He was given the Grand Perlas Award for his dedication and humility in his chosen career and received the Most Outstanding Newspaper Editor award from the Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation and the Top Asian Trade Journalist award from the American Trade Journalists Association, among others. — /JMO (FREEMAN)