On to 106

This week is special for The FREEMAN newspaper as it celebrates 106 years of existence. That’s more than a century of delivering fair and fearless journalism. However, like every other institution, this feat of longevity did not come easy. It went through multiple challenges, such as losing key individuals along the way, facing budgetary constraints, and grappling with relevance to its audience in today’s modern world.

We remember the time when newspapers were the “thing”. Back in my college days (and when I was just starting out this column) my classmates and I would scramble to the library for the day’s issue just to see if our works had been published. You see, former Communication students who were taking Journalism courses were scampering to have their articles featured in the dailies, in a time when online news sites were not yet the norm. The FREEMAN was one of those that supported work done by aspiring writers, as long as it met their standards.

Today, the times have changed and so has The FREEMAN. It’s no longer about waiting for the paper to arrive the next day. Reporters are now told and tasked to break news as it happens, online. Writers can now be photographers, and photographers can be writers. The audience is now within arm’s reach, with the comment section becoming a bag full of reactions. The paper has stood the test of time, including the evolution of technology. It is, and will always be, a part of Cebu’s history, including its present.

These changes include this writer, too. I consider it a privilege to be able to share my thoughts on various issues surrounding our society. My perspectives have also evolved over the 12 years this space has granted me. The scope of how I see things has grown, and so has my sense of maturity. Sometimes I laugh when I look back at old columns, when I was young and idealistic, perhaps even naïve, but always passionate and feisty. It is still unbelievable that they took a chance upon a once young aspiring writer whose ideals were too imaginary but practical.

I’m proud to be part of The FREEMAN, weathering the different challenges that have tried to tumble this solid pillar of Cebuano journalism. It continues to offer the people a brand that is unlike any other. This paper is not just fair and fearless but compassionate as well. When push comes to shove, it cradles its own. It lifts people up and helps puts them back on their feet, until the writer is ready to serve again.

My biggest congratulations to The FREEMAN for reaching 106 years. Here’s to more decades of truth-telling, of capturing Cebu’s heartbeat, of reflecting the times and the people that make this island the vibrant community that it is. Thank you for the space, the lessons, and the home. As long I am permitted, I will continue to ride on that brand of truth and objectivity without compromising the credibility it has built over the years.