That’s enough, boys!

Wednesday at 1 p.m. with Ed de la Fuente we were invited by our friend Edmund Aspero to his television program “Imbestigador sang Banwa.” We were to discuss journalistic ethics.

It turned out Edmund entertained us, and his audience, to his reading a litany of 16 criminal cases ranging from rape to libel and violation of bouncing checks law against another broadcaster on television Franklin Villanueva.

Edmund hammered at Franklin for what, he said, Franklin calling him a “fake imbestigador.” He didn’t like it because his sponsors were questioning him, he said.

I said, it was now going out of bounds and asked Ed de la Fuente if an arrangement, a reconciliation could be made. It was getting nowhere said it would only destroy both of them.

Edmund wanted to disprove to Franklin that he is a fake investigator that he researched well and even said, he is filing a libel case. I don’t know what’s Franklin’s thinking is, but Edmund is also no ordinary warrior like Franklin.

I know though quarrels among media men are ordinary. If we have no one to fight with, we fight among ourselves. And warning to bystanders, keep off. You will gain nothing. Eventually they will be friends again and where will you be?

If I poke my nose into it, I feel as an elder in the profession, I have to.

* * *

I told Edmund, if you feel you are aggrieved and there is no settlement, go on. But, I am not in favor of telling Franklin to stop also. We believe in the Voltairian thinking that “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.”        

Voltaire should have added, “But if you go to jail for the consequences of what you said, it’s no longer my problem.”

Edmund told us he has friends who texted him to have Franklin out of media work. No, let him be there. He is performing a good job making exposés, we call it his search for truth. Many said, they were amazed by his documents. And  that he is paid for doing it. That’s for him to answer.

* * *

I assured Edmund when he asked where did I stand, that I will stand for him. But there should be a stop to the personal tirades from both sides. And he is amenable. The problem is now with Franklin. If he says just a single word to Edmund, “Sorry,” that’s enough.

I will ask friends to host a lunch or dinner for the two and other friends who may want to join.

In the military there is a term called snafu. This is just a snafu, a kind of a chaotic situation. Snafu is the acronym of a term, “Situation normal, all fouled up.”

Then we will tell the world, all’s well that ends well. You can wait for another episode later.

* * *

That Wednesday was a memorable day. In the morning I brought a copy of the television interview with former Speaker Jose de Venecia, his son Joey, his wife Gina to Mrs. Nena de Leon at Bacolod Pavillion.

Gina de Venecia is Nena’s niece. At the Bacolod Pavillion Hotel I met Bredco’s Sammy Palanca who toured me in his 87-room hotel. I was impressed by Sammy’s strength. We took up the many flights of stairs and walked around. He can outwalk a young man.

His condominium is under construction. And has many more projects in mind. Amazing really this friend of whom media call “Old Man By The Sea.” He is not an old man.

He told me his hotel will host 3,000 international convention of Masons for a week on April 22. Of course, he cannot accommodate all those and they will spill out to other hotels.

His rooms are airy, spacious, and well furnished.

* * *

From there we went to the Negros Press Club where Acting Gov. Isidro Zayco inducted the new set of officers of NPC headed by Cyrus Garde.

Then at 1 p.m. we were at Edmund Aspero’s TV show, at 2:30 at UNO-R for an open forum with journalism and MassCom students. We were with Rolly Espina, Lyndon Caña, and Edgar Cadagat to discuss the topic on opinion writing.       

It was very interesting. The only problem was the lack of time. We had to leave ahead for another appointment.

I am happy with the interest of the young in journalism. I hope they strive to be opinion writers later.

The students asked good questions. Most of them centered on the question of how can an opinion writer be fair. The answer is in the honesty and sincerity of the opinion writer. Some may call him fair. Others may not. His final measure is still his conscience.

The four of us, especially Rolly and myself, have been in it for years. If we were not fair and honest and sincere we could have not lasted this long.

Who will read you if you are not believed in your opinion?*

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