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Cebu Press Freedom Week 28 Sept. 2007 |
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The 13th Cebu Press
Freedom Week from 15 to 22 September 2007, was an unqualified success, a
tribute no doubt to the stature and drawing power of this year’s
convenor, my mentor and editor-in-chief at Sun Star, Cheking Seares. It was on his personal invitation that I cut through a hectic weekend schedule, to make sure that I would be there on closing night, aptly called End-of-the-Week (Front Page) Party at CICC, the Cebu International Convention Center. In between picking Miss Press Freedom and holding the Freedom Parade at the start of the week and the CICC party, a series of lectures and forums on the hottest topics were held. Here’s a sampler: Anti-Terrorism Law, Must it Scare Us?, with Sec. Bert Gonzales as Resource Person; Sex and the Journalists, with Dr. Margie Holmes as Lead Panelist; Reaching Out to News Sources and Reaching Out to Future Journalists, underscoring the theme this year, which is Reaching Out! A most filling and fulfilling sidelight was a Cooking Demo, or How to Feed Journalists Without Killing Them. The closing night, which I could not miss, was by itself a killer: In entertainment, fun, food, and preparation. Again a testimonial to the inclusive skills of the convenor and his dynamic assistant, Sun Star Managing Editor Michelle So, the principal hosts for the night were San Miguel Corp. and Pepsi Cola, whose business rivalry is legend. Still, they came to please without having to tear each other out. Among the highlights for the night were the production numbers presented by the different beats, which were creative, some risqué, but totally entertaining. Cebu media is organized pretty much along the same lines as national media, in terms of beat and coverage. In a contest dubbed the "Battle of the Band Aides," the major beats tried to outdo each other in mounting major productions that mimicked the best bands, pretty much in "band aid" fashion. The Defense and PNP Press Corps, living up to the macho image of the personalities they cover, had a beer bath and beer bash, to the beat of The Maskulados’ Nakakakilig. The Cebu Economic Journalists Association were at their hippest and swingiest, as they did a Sex Bomb Girls number, to the music of Bakit Papa. Photographers, under LENS, did an adaptation of The Village People in YMCA, complete with leather vests and Indian feathers. The Alliance of Reporters in Mandaue came as the Pussycat Dolls, doing Beep for the media crowd primed to roaring by unlimited kegs of premium beer. Romping away with the major prize, however, were the Capitol Association of Reporters in Trimedia, with their well-choreographed rendition of Stop by The Spice Girls, a number that had the crowd on its feet most of the time. The preparation in choreography, costumes, even the props — reflect the competitive spirit among the beats, at work or in play. Freedom of expression, in the most creative terms, was very much in the air. A stunning revelation for the night, however, was the lead host and emcee, Cherry Ann T. Lim, Managing Editor of Sun Star, whose task it was to keep the party roaring until shortly before midnight, when the major winners in the competition were announced and the raffle prizes given out. I shall not be surprised if she should soon move to Channel V. It was fun being home with Cebu media. It was amazing to see how reporters are looking younger. But also inspiring, to see the unmistakable idealism in their eyes and in their demeanor. Thank you, Cheking, for asking me home. |
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