De la Cruz extols local journalists at Press Club induction

De la Cruz extols local journalists at Press Club induction

TORONTO-Paul de la Cruz, president of Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPCO), paid tribute to local journalists and extolled the sacrifices they have to make to serve the community.
De la Cruz, speaking at the Induction Ball of the PPCO held Aug. 21, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel before about 250 guests, said that for over three decades these journalists have covered community events without as much courtesy and recognition.

These men and women “jump from one event to another, most of the time after finishing their daytime jobs, tired and battered, to cover community events… sometimes reduced as your photographer, at times fed from a different plate with a different dish in the dressing room while the main banquet and the dancing go on, at times treated as your propaganda crew to trumpet around your activities; expected only to write about the good and the beautiful and not what is true for truth most of the time is ugly,” de la Cruz said.

De la Cruz, who is serving his second term as PPCO president, also took pot shots at some advertisers: … ” (community) journalists work for free, newspapers are distributed free, and sometimes advertising is free – that is when some advertisers do not pay.”

But de la Cruz acknowledged that Toronto journalists don’t get killed for what they write about, “unlike in the Philippines where the number of journalists murdered has already risen to 54 since 1986.” (See full text of Paul de la Cruz’s speech on page 26.)

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Francisco Benedicto, who inducted the PPCO officers, emphasized the role of journalists in society: “Timely and accurate news has given us better perspectives that broaden our knowledge and influence our decisions. For this reason, journalists play an extremely important role for the progress and development of our society. On their shoulders lies the responsibility to keep people abreast of the most accurate and timely information.”

Guest speaker Consul General Alejandro Mosquera pointed out the vibrancy of the Filipino media in Ontario and reaffirmed the Consulate’s support to the PPCO.

Benedicto and Mosquera were accompanied by Consul Julius Torres, Philippine Embassy’s Cultural and Information Attache Angel Espiritu.

With De la Cruz, other officers of the PPCO inducted were Jess Cabrias, vice president; Rose Tijam, secretary; Nelson Galvez, treasurer; Hermie Garcia, Rogie Wong and Karen Pascual, members of the Board of Directors.

There are forty-six members of the PPCO listed in the souvenir program. Among the publications they write or work for are Balita, The Philippine Reporter, Filipino Bulletin, Atin Ito, Manila Media Monitor, iFilipino, Likha, Artista, Kislap, Taliba, and Front Page. (HG)