The passing of an era

At 6 tonight, at the new building of the Rollings Hills Memorial Chapel, the Negros Press Club will pay its tribute to an early pillar of the press in Negros Occidental.

The passing of lawyer Angel F. Lobaton, Sr. indicated the passing of an era. We ask fellow media friends, particularly the old friends of Angel, to join us in paying this tribute.

In his heyday as a media man, Angel had both friends and foes. But, he was one of the best writers in Negros I knew: hard-hitting, witty, and with a good literary flourish and a sprinkling of his poetic prose.

He fathered 15 children, all living and only one died last year in a car accident in the U.S. With his wife, the former Honey Parreño, he sent all these children to school while he was a policeman and together with his children, studied too and became a lawyer.

Angel authored two books "Bacolod, I Love You" and "The Beautiful American." His "The Negros Clarion" was already 15 years when Martial Law was declared. He voluntarily closed it and never reopened. He could not stand press censorship.

Angel was fearless and witty. He once described a close friend of his, Cesar Borromeo, a fellow newspaperman. Cesar was bald. Angel wrote that behind one could mistake Cesar as Clark Gable. In front he could be like Clark Field.

Cesar and the others he hit did not know whether to laugh or to cry.

***

I recall when we attended the Philippine Press Institute seminar in Baguio on the topic of population control, he represented "The Clarion" while I represented Gerry Locsin's "The Country Post."

A Manila newspaperman, reporter of The Philippines Herald, bragged he had 13 children but admitted he had two wives. I stood up and said, Angel Lobaton had 15 children all alive and with one married wife only.

He enjoyed it because he became an instant hero. Everybody chorused, "How many outside?" Angel also played the game and smilingly but impishly answered, "That I prefer not to answer."

He was surrounded by almost all the boys who asked a foolish question, "How did you do it?" The newsmen stopped asking questions when he told one newsman, "Give me your wife and I will show it how." Then he turned to me, a foolish question deserved a foolish answer, he said.

***

I can claim to be one of the closest friends of Angel Lobaton. That's what he said.

But it was because we once fought. Ask elder newsmen, at that time, not so many would dare cross his path.

In 1969, I ran for the presidency of the Negros Press Club. I was a young man then but I was commerce dean at La Salle, correspondent of the powerful Manila Times and editing The Country Post.

Angel who was already NPC president years earlier in 1956-57 called up. He said, no one wanted to fight me. So he said, he decided to run against me.

I thought of withdrawing because it was difficult fighting a well known newspapermen, respected and feared by many. But many friends, some of them Angel's enemies, told me to fight. One of these was incumbent Congressman Inocencio V. Ferrer, a past NPC president himself and one of Angel's nemesis.

***

It was an interesting hotly contested election. I won convincingly. How could I not win with Puwaki Ferrer, a be-medalled parliamentarian in Congress handling the floor debate and maneuver.

Puwaki's advice to me was not to say anything but just "sit down there and smile to everyone" which I followed.

Because he could not out argue Congressman Ferrer, Angel was mad and angrily took out the posters he had on the walls and tore them. It was a wrong strategy because, Puwaki told me later, he just wanted Angel to get mad. That would make him lose, Puwaki said.

After the election, while partaking of the food Bert Drilon had a brilliant idea.

He suggested that we should have a Muse and he suggested Angel's beautiful and favorite daughter Aquilina whom we all call, "Bucay."

The induction was very successful. The Lobaton family did all the preparation and decoration. It was more the show of the Muse than the president. But I didn't mind. After all, I was already the president.

That was how I became close to Bucay. These last few days, she called me up twice. And it was then I knew, both Angel and Honey stayed long with her in the U.S.

One thing I am grateful for all those fights, never did Angel hit me because I also kidded him, I was capable of taking him on. He said, he respected me too.

***

Those were the years. But from 1969 until now, we have maintained the tradition in the Press Club that no matter how hotly contested the election has been, after the election, all those fights must be forgotten. We always have unity in diversity.

These are recollections. If only Angel can contribute to these recollections, I know he had plenty.

Angel Lobaton was very strong in English literature in high school. I know he will enjoy this dedication because he could memorize this too. I recall a number of times he recited this. This is from "Thanatopsis" of William Cullen Bryant:

"So live, that when thy summons comes to join the innumerable caravan, which moves to that mysterious realm, where each shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death.

"Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night, scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

Good night, angel of the press. May a host of your fellow angels sing you to your rest.

***

What are the issues on the Bacolod-Bredco controversy? I am working hard to bring to you both sides to the question tomorrow night.

I'm not wondering if there is a conflict between the Bishops and the President. The President said and quoted by the headline of Inquirer yesterday, "It's God's plan I'm here."

Who is on the side of God? That is the meat of the issue.*

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