By Eva Visperas

 

YES, mga Marites.

The chismis is true.

I’m back to where my heart is.

Thanks again to Sir Ermin for this space in our beloved Sunday Punch.

As soon as I had my much-needed brief vacay from a short local government work stint, his timely offer to return to follow my passion right in this paper was what I needed.

It’s like returning to an old love of more than 30 years…30 years of journalism practice.

The news that I’m back in medialandia certainly spread faster than lightning especially when Mariteses and Tolits got wind of it because I received an invitation from the Philippine National Police for a ‘Meet and Greet’ with the regional director at the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) in San Fernando City, La Union.

It was a happy reunion with my media colleagues, including those from other provinces in Region 1.

I felt a bit nostalgic when we introduced ourselves individually to the PRO1 officials, led by P/BGen. John Chua.  I gave a little flashback about my last visit at the PRO1 when my old friend, then P/BGen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr as then the PR01 regional director, and now the PNP Chief, invited us for a chit-chat in his office.

Nakaka-miss si Sir Jun. So humble, soft-spoken, unassuming, down-to-earth. He told me he read my stories. He was a good friend of my former boss, the late Sec. Bebot Villar.

That ‘Meet and Greet’, I said, was my first event to cover after my seven-month absence from mainstream media work. I was thankful I was included in the short list of the invitees.

“Ang guwapo naman ni RD,” exclaimed Yoly of PDI, my perennial seatmate, as Gen. Chua approached us where we were seated and shook our hands one by one. Syempre, totoo naman na he is gwapo and yes, the ever-jolly Yoly made the mood lighter with that comment. The truth is, pinakamagulo/masaya sa ‘Meet and Greet’ na yun ang Pangasinan media. 

Bottomline of the ‘Meet and Greet’ during the discussion was how to better improve relations between the media and the PNP. We are partners, not enemies and for sure, you can very well separate the grain from the chaff, especially the pseudo-reporters. Alam nyo na yan, mga bossing, kung sino sila. Maging wais.

The ‘Meet and Greet’ is always a good starting point as it provides a freewheeling discussion, no qualms but only honest talk with the police officers and gentlemen.

I hope that this February 2023 ‘Meet and Greet’ with P/BGen. Chua will not be the first and the last, or with whoever will be the next RD.

We will not be your defenders but we will be the purveyors of truth. Openness is what we all want because we’d rather know and write the information you provide than allow us to speculate what really happened. Give us your side of the story and we will surely report it.

Sana maulit muli so that issues can be addressed ASAP or simply to strengthen the camaraderie fostered between the local media and the PNP.

We are your friends, not enemies.

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