Oral History of Rey Requejo

August 15, 2008
Interviewers: Angeli Laparan and Nadine Leoncio

Nadine: What exactly does a reporter do?

Rey Requejo: Basically, you gather news, write it and submit it for publication, well there are various technique styles in writing stories but basically to gather stories for public consumption.

Nadine: So what was your job before being a reporter? Or first niyo pa talaga yun?

Rey Requejo: Actually I joined Abante in the 1900's, initially as a radio man. When a slot was available for a deskman, I applied for that position and I was accepted, then worked as a deskman in Abante. So after that, when I left Abante, I joined Smart File, which published investigative articles, basically attacking politician who were believed to be cronies of Marcos, the so called Titans of the economies and other personalities perceived corrupt in Government.

Angeli: Why did you choose to move to Manila Standard?

Rey Requejo: Well, it was when Manila Chronicle folded up because of Labor Union dispute. Initially I joined the Media Bureau of Lakas, a new civic party then after the election in 1998, I joined the Manila standard so I started by experience in Manila standard in 1998. I was assigned initially as a reporter for Manila Standard covering the Department of Justice, Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, sometimes, events and press- conferences are called related to the legal issues or cases pending in various in the Justice dept court of appeals and the Supreme Court.

Angeli: How many years have you been working?

Rey Requejo: In Manila standard? 10 years.

Nadine: Do you have any plans of transferring or are you stable in Standard?

Rey Requejo: The Company’s stable and I intend to stay in the company. I love working with the editors and the publishers managing or supervising the company.

Angeli: So you're satisfied already?

Rey Requejo: Yes.

Nadine: Where is the current office of Manila Standard?

Rey Requejo: Manila Standard is located at 21st street, Port Area Manila.

Nadine: During your early years in Manila Standard, was it already located in the Port area?

Rey Requejo: Dun na yun.

Nadine: So is the office conducive of the needs of the employees?

Rey Requejo: I think it’s conducive of the needs, since it's in Manila, the office is strategically located. So far on my part, I used to cover beats near the office, Say DOJ, Senate, Malacañang, so masyadong malapit, so di mahirap para samin.

Angeli: So what are the physical facilities of Manila Standard? Do you share the building with other publication?

Rey Requejo: This time I think we shared with Malaya, Malaya just transferred its office near our office.

Angeli: So yung office po ba sa printing press, advertising, etc nandun narin?

Rey Requejo: Nandun narin. Oo. Kasama na yun.

Nadine: Yung Printing office po?

Rey Requejo: Nandun narin. May sarili kaming printing press.

Angeli: Paano niyo po madedescribe yung ligthing, ventilation and place?

Rey Requejo: I work outside of the office so I'm not used to what kind of atmosphere they have in the office. I usually cover my beat in the Judiciary, the court, so I just send my story through fax, emails, sometimes through the phone.

Nadine: How often do you report in the office?

Rey Requejo: As far as I know, Once every three months. You know, at this point kasi iba na yung coverage natin, dati, yung coverage nagrereply pa sa mga fax, so hindi pa maganda yung communication dati. Reporters are used to be called in the office for consultation for meeting. Ngayon with the advent of technology, less na yung pagpunta nila sa offices kasi they can be called up through phone, email, mga text lang okay na. So madali mas accessible yung desk sa reporters with the advent of technology.

Nadine: Hindi niyo na po naabutan yung time na kailangan pang pumunta to send?

Rey Requejo: Hindi na. Dati, nung fax palang medyo madalas pa yung ano, kasi nung mga 90's fax palang yung prevalent na technology transferring news from reporter to desk, or by phone. They call it phoning, you tell the story through phone and somebody gets it, say an editorial staff. Ngayon iba na, just email it, kung nagmamadali, itext mo nalang. Through text pede narin yun. Minsan kasi ilang paragraphs pwede na eh. Halimbawa yung office mo may mga malapit na internet cafe na madali puntahan, dito naman, sa mga kaibigan ko nahihiram ko yung computer nila, dun ko na sinesend. Sometimes, sa cellphone na ganito, eto nalang, atleast meron narin siya. Okay text nalang. Eto naman parang computer narin to eh.

Angeli: May Internet na yan?

Rey Requejo: Oo may internet narin to. Napakaaccessible na ng reporter sa desk. Anytime they can call us to clarify issues or matters regarding the stories, so hindi na mahirap

Nadine: So it's really more convenient for the reporter?

Rey Requejo: Convenient, tsaka komportable.

Angeli: May significance po ba bakit yung Manila Standard nakalocate sa Manila? Kasi diba halos lahat ng publications nasa Manila?

Rey Requejo: Yeah, actually Manila became the center of mass communication so far for print Media because nandyan yung port at karamihan nandyan yung mga major beats. Halimbawa Malacañang, Supreme court, DOJ so talagang nandito yung center of political government. Although nandyan yung Batasang Pamabasa sa Quezon city, nagiisa lang naman yun. Pero Business wise, strategic yung offices ng mga publications dito dahil sa circulation.. So from here mas mabilis yung circulation nila, parang mas convenient sila at ang distribution nila from various areas.

Angeli: During your early years, sino yung publisher ng Manila Standard? Nung bago palang po kayo?

Rey Requejo: When I joined Manila Standard, my publisher was Andy Del Rosario. He's now an ambassador to one of the Eastern Europe countries.

Angeli: Pero ngayon po sino po yung publisher?

Rey Requejo: Sa ngayon, actually nawala na yung pangalan na publisher. Pinalitan na yung pinakamataas na position ngayon to Chief of Editorial board. Pero wala na kaming Editor-in-Chief. Now it is Vic Agustin who is calling the shots in the editorial but of course the publishing name in 'Kamahalan' publishing corporation.

Angeli: Yung editor niyo po dati? And Colleagues?

Rey Requejo: So after Andy Del Rosario, the editorial management was taken over by Jullie Yap Daza. After Jullie Yap Daza, Jojo Robles, and after its Vic Agustin, that is now calling the shots in the editorial.

Angeli: Yung colleagues po?

Rey Requejo: Marami. Halimbawa we have Fel Maragay, out veteran reporter who is now covering the Senate, we have Christine Herrera, who is covering the Senate also, Roy Trilobelio, covering Malacanang, Joel Egco covering QC, but the most Senior reporters of Manila Stadard are Fel Maragay, Tony Macapagal and me.

Nadine: Are you in good terms with the editor?

Rey Requejo: Yes, I used to. I never go against their instruction. As much as possible give your editor respect. For that, they will also give you respect.

Nadine: How about with your colleagues?

Rey Requejo: Of course, a mutual respect should be accorded since they also are working just like me and are under pressure by the editors.

Angeli: How are your working conditions, like the number of hours, yung dati pa po?

Rey Requejo: Not long, except with the help of technology, medyo ang tingin ko lang na problema yung communication in so far as transmitting the stories, kasi nagaagawan kayo pag nasa beat ka. Iisa lang yung fax. May computer naman pero kasi ipprint out mo pa yun. At that time kasi nung mga 1990's iilan ilang lang yung mga computers. Di tulad ngayon marami na. Kung wala mang computer sa beat mo, pumunta ka ng Internet Cafe hindi mahirap.

Nadine: Sir how about holidays?

Rey Requejo: Nagttrabho parin maski Holidays. Except ngayon kasi yung working hours namin pag nasa beat ka, depende sa events. Pag marami minsan umaabot ka ng gabi. Dito sa beat ng judiciary, once there is an oral argument being held sometimes umaabot yung nga mga gabi. Magsisimula yan, lets say 1 in the afternoon, umaabot yan hanggang gabi. Just like when we covered the oral argument of Charter change yung people's initiative, tumagal yun almost midnight. Meron naman umaabot hanggang madaling araw kaya lang aside from that meron ding sunod sunod na events not necessarily Oral arguments, sometimes the Supreme Court will issue a decision, mga 1oclock, e kung maraming laman yung decisions na yun tapos magagada, makakapal pa, kailangan mo ididigest yun para maging story form. So it's not easy to make a story out of 50 pages decision. Kasi meron ding mga lumalabas na decision dito sa Court of Appeals. At the same time nagsabay- sabay yun, so aabutin ka ng maraming oras. Ang problema most of the time decisions come out in the afternoon sometimes near the almost near the deadline. Kasi usually sa print deadline 3 o'clock dapat pumasok na stroya mo. Most of the time dun pumapasok mga decision. So imagine digesting say a 30-page decision of the Supreme court or 40- page decision the court of Appeals.

Nadine: In mga 2 hours?

Rey Requejo: 1 hour lang. Kung di ka pa particular sa case lalo kang mahihirapan. Tapos di ka naman lawyer, hindi naman ako lawyer. Kahit nga daw yan mahirap.

Nadine: Salaries naman po?

Rey Requejo: Okay naman siya. Sakin naman okay.

Angeli: Nagincrease naman siya from sa dati to ngayon?

Rey Requejo: Sa akin naman kasi I'm no longer a part of the so- called Rank and File. I was hired in a very special way, I mean, before in 2000 I was asked to join another publication, but when I asked my Boss, "Sir another publication is asking me to join and I want you to know that I'm considering it" So my boss told me, "I want you here. I don't want others leaving us but I want you here.” So after that tinapatan niya yung offer nung kabila with additional perks. So I stayed. So iba na yung plano so wala na ko sa usual na requirement na hina-hire nila, nasa confidential plantiliya na

Nadine: How about yung deadlines?

Rey Requejo: Well the deadline is usually, by 3 o'clock, all the summaries are in. And stories should as much as possible submitted by 4 or at least by 5 o'clock so the editors have time to edit your articles or stories. Kaya lang may mga time halimbawa ngayon may oral argument anong oras na natapos that’s why you have to update your stories. Isubmit mo yung story after the oral argument.

Angeli: Naging cub reporter po ba kayo dati?
Rey Requejo: Sa akin kasi hindi na. Dahil before I joined, naging deskman kaagad ako. So noong lumabas ako ng editorial, I worked to another company which is Smart File. Sa loob parin ng editorial. Production editorial ng Smart File. So when I joined the Manila Chronicle, I was no longer considered as a cub reporter because I already know how to cover the beat. When you say a cub reporter, medyo talagang parang provisionary ka lang.
Nadine: What was your first beat?
Rey Requejo: In what?
Nadine: In Manila Standard.
Rey Requejo: I was first assigned in the Senate. I was tasked to be a backup reporter of a senior reporter at that time, Joel Macaspa. After that I was assigned to other beats. Senate, judiciary, Malacañang, Office of the Vice President then go back again to the House of Representatives. Then in 2001, I went back to cover the Senate and two years ago, I was re-assigned to cover the Justice beat up to now.

Angeli: Yung pinaka-first talaga? Yung dati?

Rey Requejo: Yung Senate.

Angeli: Kahit pa before Manila Standard?

Rey Requejo: Ay before in Manila Standard. When I joined in Manila Chronicle, my first beat was the judiciary. Justice Dept.

Nadine: Who were the other people on that beat? In Manila Standard.

Rey Requejo: Who?

Nadine: Who were the other people?

Angeli: Yung mga nag-cover din doon?

Rey Requejo: Who among the reporters from Manila Standard who covered my beat? Or who were the other reporters from other publication?

Angeli: Sa ibang location

Nadine: Sa ibang newspaper po.

Rey Requejo: At that time when I was in Manila Chronicle and was assigned at the court to cover the justice beat, I worked with Rey Panaligan of the Manila Bulletin, Ness Barameda of Manila Times, Don Acueto of Philippine Inquirer, Dylond Fortania of a Philippine Star and Rowena Aquino of People’s Journal and some others I cannot remember.

Nadine: What were the lessons you’ve learned from your first beat?

Rey Requejo: It’s really how to cover the Judiciary. Meaning, it’s very hard to cover the judiciary because you are not a lawyer. Unlike other beats, it’s very much easy because somehow you are exposed to it. Immediately you’re in the training. On that part if you are a graduate of Journalism, it’s that easy. But Journalism graduates are not exposed to covering the writing stories relating to Judiciary. So on my part, it’s really quite a challenging experience kasi being a lack of knowledge of the Judiciary and the laws. Somehow I’ve survived to cover the news of that beat. Imagine digesting more than a less than 50 page decision.

Angeli: Any memorable editors? Positive and negative? Reactions?

Rey Requejo: Hirap naman yata nun. As much as possible, I don’t want to comment on their ethics because everybody has their own kind of attitude in their work so we cannot just compare with their attitude to another. Sometimes they have different kinds of attitude but their output is satisfactory.

Angeli: Pinaka memorable niyong editor? Sir, yung pinakamabaet?
Rey Requejo: You know I deal with my editors professionally. So I respect them just to respect me when it comes to my work. Now, there are editors who wanted to just test you. Sometimes ganun ginagawa nila. Testingin ka nila kung alam mo yung issue. Minsan merong mga editors na nagmamagaling. So I don’t mention the name but there are who are, who have that kind of attitude towards the reporter. So sakin, pagbigyan mo nalang, wala naming mawawala sayo. Ganun nalang yun, pagbigyan mo nalang. Anyway pag nagsawa narin siya, pk narin yun. Mahirap naman kung alam mong ganun lang siya, pinagtritripan ka lang. Wag mo nalang intindihin. Mawawala nalang yan. Then after that, magkikita parin naman kyao, magsasama parin kayo. Hayaan mo nalang, mga ganung attitude ng editors. Sometimes some of them act as if they know how to cover the beat. In fact, they’re not kasi wala silang exposure sa beat coverage. They know how to write. They know the dynamics of editing. Probably the whole publications but there are some of them who did not cover the beat at all. So walang background but they’re good in editing.

Nadine: so how are they in terms of you accuracy, ethics and grammar?

Rey Requejo: When I joined Manila Standard, I found the editor, medyo di ko masyado tinitignan editing nila. Anyway nasa labas naman ako. When my stories came out the following day, there were some lapses, there were some errors but you know they have their own style and you cannot impose your style on them. And its up to them what kind of style when they edit your stories. So nasa kanila yun. Discretion nila yun. As a reporter, your responsibility is to submit your story as accurate as possible. So pag inedit nila, kumpleto na. They will not bother to ask you what are these, anong kailangan. Kung pun na yung story mo, mas maganda. Pero kung maganda copy mo, kung maganda pagkaksulat mo, I don’t think your editor will ask more questions.

Angeli: Were they strict or were they loose in terms of editing your work?

Rey Requejo: Editors usually call the reporters attention once they know they are lacking in the stories. So they will ask you for clarificatory questions. Kung strict man sila, because they need that information. In terms of on the part of the reporter if there are errors, the editor will tell you. Pero pag matagal ka na, kaunti nalang yunh grammatical error or akala mo naisulat mo na pero hindi pa. Minsan mas mabilis ung isip mo sa pagtype mo. Sometimes we use computer in writing stories. Sometimes pag minove mo ung paragraph na ito. Before you pass your articles you have to find out kung may errors. Spellcheck mo nalang. So doon mapapabilis na. May grammar check na. Madedetermine ng computer kung grammatically correct yung composition mo. Yung construction ng sentences or pargraphing. Pero may construction ng sentences na totally corrected na.

Nadine: were they prompt in terms of deadlines.

Rey Requejo: I think so hey have deadlines to meet in editing their stories. They have to meet the so-called press deadline. May deadline sila for sending the plate to the printing press. Halimbawa kailangan ng 7pm dapat ganitong mga pahina tapos na.
Nadine: how did they communicate with the reporters regarding deadlines?

Rey Requejo: Once they enter the publication, once you’re hired as a reporter you will be told about the deadline about the summaries, the stories based on the summaries then what are the deadlines for stories that were not part of the summaries that you send to them. Halimbawa tatlong summary na natapos mo sometimes may nagccrop pa na storya, minsan kailangan six o’clock natapos un. Pagkatapos ng sox o’clock di na pwede i-accommodate.

Angeli: Sa colleagues naman. Any significant? Any memorable?

Rey Requejo: As far sa beat na to, eto si Rey Panaligan, Arman Noco. Ang maganda sa beat namen, we have traditions. Once you land in the banner story. Once your story landed in the banner story, you have to treat the group. That’s penalty. That’s why when Mr. Panaligan has a banner story today, kailangan nya iblowout ung grupo. So it’s very costly for us pag nagbabanner ung grupo.

Angeli: Sir significant events na na-cover? Like EDSA?

Rey Requejo: The impeachment trial of pres. Estrada. Then the various leadership changes in the senate, he so-called backstabbing maneuvering in the senate between Neptali Gonzales and Sen. Angara. Then here nacover ko yung coverage nung oral arguments sa 3064, 1018 at mga controversial issuances of Pres. Macapagal Arroyo.

Angeli: pero sir nakacover kayo ng edsa?

Rey Requejo: Ah hindi. kasi 1986 yun.

Nadine: sir best memories as a reporter? both positive and negative.

Rey Requejo: Marami pero I think yung ano covering the impeachment trial of Pres. Estrada.

Nadine: What advice can you give to aspiring journalists?

Rey Requejo: Financially being a journalist is not that rewarding. But if it is really your vocation, then go for it and if you really enjoy doing it, go for it. Because sometimes its better kung nasasatisfy tayo or maligaya. Diba ga sabi kung san ka maligaya, suportahan ta ka, anyway, if you aspire to be a journalist, magtiyaga ka lng tsaka mag aral ka ng mabuti. at maging sharp . Maging observant ka sa what is happening to your environment. Graduating as a journalist is not enough. Kasi ako, im not a graduate of a journalism course, initially engineering course ko then nag shift ako sa polsci. Ika nga, wala talaga background pero pagnaramdaan mo na gusto mo talaga magsulat, sige lang. kasi dun ka Masaya or dun ka nasasatisfy, sige lang. un nga lang kun practical ka, hindi ito para sayo kc hindi financially rewarding to. Kasi ngayon sa Philippine media, masyado ng crowded. I mean madameng graduates ng journlism. Hindi lahat ma-accommodate. Napakaliit ng industriya para i-accommodate. napakastiff ng competition. Pwera nalang kung pagpasok mo nga, magtitiyaga ka nga kahit maliit yung salary mo. Pagtitiyagaan mo nalang kasi gusto mo ng experience. Dun natutuwa pa kaya lang yun nga, iba yung panhon ngayon masyadong matindi yung competition para ikaw ay mag standout. I think kaliangan mo ng ano.. masyadong masalimuhot ung journalism dito sa Pilipinas. Well ang problema kasi, commercialized na yung dyaryo. Although yung ideas, yung pagiging activism nandyan pa pero sometimes they have to balance the public interest at yung interest na masasagasaaan. They still advocate for investigative journalism pero sana mapapatangawan nila yung storya kasi sometimes pag nandon na sa duo sometimes kawawa yung journalists naiiwan. I mean nakasuhan na ng libel yun pala ung repotrer lang nalilibel ung publication di sinasama. Pero kung being a reporter. Very exciting job kung un ang inclination mo. Pero if you want it as a job, its not that rewarding. Thank you.
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Rey Requejo was born on April 12, 1968 in Camarines Norte. He majored in political science at the University of the East. At the time of the interview he was a senior reporter for the Manila Standard Today.