Umalohokan

In the times of our ancestors, centuries before broadcast journalism, there exist a career that is so lucrative that they carry the honor and respect as to the law makers themselves - they were called the town criers, or in our native language - umalohokan.  They went about every nook and cranny of village or barangay, reciting laws, proclamations, and announcements vital to the everyday life of the commoners.  They were as good as their pronouncements, and their presence commanded attention and order.

Communities all over the world have similar stories of persons or group of persons responsible for spreading news and information.  Needless to say, information has become as essential to life as a source of livelihood.

Being a campus journalist as early as grade school (I competed and won in one of the events in National Young Writers Conference), I can recall writing news, features, and helping out our advisers in layouting, up to distributing the papers to my school mates.  As a young journalist, I experienced being praised and scolded sometimes at the same time for the same article, imagine that.  It was one of the reasons why during high school I did not pay much attention to journalistic writing, although I still managed to join the Editorial Board.  That time, I wrote short stories and poems, I remember writing one novel  - but it was too cheesy I burned it.

In College, I pioneered the College Paper of my school - from freshman 'til I graduated, I was the editor in chief.  I started it with stapled mimeographed copies and elevated to broadsheet before I left.  Aside from journalistic writing I was still into poetry, writing occasionally (once every heartbreak) and I was able to publish two romance pocketbooks (the titles of which I will never divulge as long as I know shame) but paid handsomely during those times.  I remember in one issue, I was "summoned" to the Directress office for a supposedly "disgraceful" depiction of some people in our community.  The allegations were immediately dismissed as I was (according to my paper adviser) clever enough to express my thoughts in interrogative form, so IT WAS NOT A STATEMENT OF FACT.  Little did they know that it was a great stroke of luck; I never knew then that expressing in question forms will result to a "get out of jail free" card.  That's when I became best friends with the question mark.

THIS ARTICLE, MY FRIENDS, RAINS WITH QUESTION MARKS TO PROTECT MY CUTE, FLUFFY A*S.

Now as an educator, my background as well as my capacity to be the adviser of the College paper is being questioned just because of what the editors have chosen to publish.  I never doubted for one second the chosen line up of the editors specially with the articles in question.  Do these people know what BLIND ITEMS are, and what are they for?

I mean, why would you claim that it was you being described in a blind item, the fact that the identity was deliberately hidden to somehow protect not just the person in question but the writer as well?  Isn't that a clear admission of guilt?  Then you rally your troops, I mean, supporters to an advocacy that they cannot even comprehend just to "fight" for you?  What do you aim to accomplish in the end?  Are you not just digging your own grave?

What's more interesting is this challenge that we got from one of the respectable persons in the University.  We are being asked to name all the persons we described in that controversial article about gerontology. Do you want us to pretend we are stupid or what? Why would we risk LIBEL??  Then this #GatongQueen fans the flames with her majestic questions of procedures and rights of students (now I wait who would claim that title).  Next, they asked who are the persons behind the nom de plume.  Do they even remember the concept why nom de plume is used in the first place?  They are so intelligent, with minds full of so much lessons to teach the students that they seemingly forget that even Rizal and Bonifacio, considered bravest of this land, used nom de plume, and they call the editors COWARDS for not publishing their names?  What do they need the students' real identities for? So they could bully them some more?

How can you claim that you were defamed or disgraced by an article that does not bear your name? Yes it describes some characters which even if we conduct a survey tomorrow can be proven to exist in the academe, but why do you claim it's you?  Is it because you realize that you have been found wanting?

We never intend to disrespect any particular person (hey, we even stressed how "papunta pa lang kami at pabalik na kayo" works towards the end of the article - have you finished reading it by the way??) we simply wanted to let others know that there are, among you respectable seasoned citizens who seemed to have forgotten what they have sworn as their Hippocratic oath for teachers.  We have grandparents too; we love and respect them as much as how we want to love and respect all of you (yes even those claiming to be thunders #1-9).

What's this bull we heard that since students pay only less than a thousand for tuition, they should not complain as to what they get inside the classroom?  Is that for real?  OMG! (credit to #Diego) So they shouldn't complain when professors give them crap, loop from chapter one to chapter one, or sleep the entire period, or allow the students to report and discuss among themselves?  Since they pay less, they cannot receive more?  I heard that the Univ. President is pushing for ZERO TUITION FEE in the future.  If that will come true, then what happens to the rights of students? Do the logic.  Students, and specially the editors, are not UNGRATEFUL bast*rds and bi*ches as you depict them to be.  They are from poor families where every peso is equalled by blood, sweat and tears of their parents.  Doesn't this institution claim to be "where quality education need not be expensive?"  Kindly explain how using tons of manila papers and practicing cursive writing can be quality education IN A WORLD GREATLY CHARACTERIZED BY TECHNOLOGY? Do you think, when our students graduate and apply for jobs, their interviewer would ask them for a resume written in cursive?  Will our students, when they become professionals, be applauded when they present their mind blowing ideas to their CEOs and investors IN MANILA PAPERS and paper cut outs? OMG! (#Diego, thanks again) Wake up, smell the roses, and watch out for the signs of the times!

EDUCATORS SHOULD WATCH WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS. No matter how high or low your blood pressure and sugars may be.

I know, I know... I remember what I said earlier to my staff (not that old yet to forget, at least not yet, I will get there, but hey, no rush) that I will shut up, take their sentiments in one ear and let it out the other.  But what is one supposed to do when you see them "organizing" themselves and talking ill about you?  We take arms! WE GRAB A KEYBOARD! WE BLOG! MABUHAY ANG MALAYANG PAMAMAHAYAG!!!