CBC’s Marivel Taruc: ‘Journalists are giving a voice to those who have none’
CBC’s Marivel Taruc: ‘Journalists are giving a voice to those who have none’
By Rachelle Cruz
No stranger to covering catastrophic events, one of her career highlights was Manitoba’s “Flood of the Century” where she spent weeks reporting on the rising waters across Winnipeg and the United States. This time, as Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc across the Philippines, the scheduled keynote speaker for the Philippine Press Club of Ontario’s series “Filipinos in the Canadian Mainstream Media” was gracious enough to allow the impromptu press conference on Typhoon Haiyan unfold before she began her talk. After all, these are the kinds of stories that journalists have to tell; critical stories of natural disasters and calamities that need to be told. And CBC’s Marivel Taruc understands too well.
CBC’s Marivel Taruc
The PPCO held a Typhoon Haiyan press conference on November 16 in the OISE Nexus Lounge at the University of Toronto. Invited Filipino members appealed to the public and informed them of the upcoming events and fundraising activities in their communities. The Philippine Vice-Consul General of Toronto, Bolivar Bao was also in attendance, and announced the $126 million in pledges for the cause. To date, with the Canadian government matching funds program, the Philippine fund relief effort spikes near $40 million.
Though more stories of grief and suffering trickle in, many communities across the board, including organizations and businesses swiftly cobbled efforts to give their help and support. Edgar Gonzales, from Gateway Centre for New Canadians spoke about the GTA multi-site Yolanda/Haiyan Fundraising Event. Frank Villanueva from The Filipino Centre Toronto appealed for support in the Operation Saklolo Now.
“Sometimes the stories are hard to hear. But it’s vitally important that they’re told. This is when I am most proud to be a journalist – when our stories make a difference,” Taruc shared with the audience on Saturday.
“But most importantly… journalists are giving a voice to those who have none,” she continued.
And she voiced out what made her successful in the industry.
From L: Vice Consul Bolivar Bao, PPCO VP Rose Tijam and President Hermie Garcia at press conference for fundraisers.
Her parents, the “Original News Junkies” groomed her for a career in news reporting, not only because she grew up on news, but seeing their sacrifice, of leaving everything they had back home in the Philippines and starting anew for a better life, meant opportunities. Marivel saw early on a ‘sense of unlimited possibility’.
“This is a building block of journalism. The belief that anything is possible,” she said.
Another key to journalism is hard work. She contends, that if you choose this career, you sink or you swim. She chose to swim,
“I was constantly aware that people may think I was just hired because I was a visible minority. It always motivated me to work harder – to show that I earned my position. What I’m grateful for is that the people who hired me saw a young, aspiring journalist. And I like to think that I didn’t let them down,” she said.
So for five years of reporting in business news, and now transitioned to local news, her newest endeavor is “Our Toronto”, a weekend news magazine that features stories and issues that is happening in the city during the week.
“It is hectic and filled with stress. But, most days, I love it. Because I get to meet people and go to parts of the city I normally wouldn’t have a chance to if it wasn’t for my job,” she explained.
Twenty years and counting, and people are still watching. No storm can knock her down.
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