Oral History of Tita C. Valderama

August 11, 2008
Interviewers: Rachelle Ching and Theodore Pateña

Q1: I’m Theodore Pateña

Q2: …and I’m Rachelle Ching.

Q1: We have here Ms. Tita Valderama from PCIJ as our interviewee for our oral history project.

Q1: Good afternoon, Ms. Tita, can you give us a brief background about your journalism experience? Where you started and what you’re doing now?

A: I’ve been a journalist since 1986—I started on the last few weeks of Marcos as a cub reporter for the Times Journal which was owned by the brother of Imelda Marcos. That’s where I stayed for 20 years. I retired from the Journal in December 2006. I joined the official website of GMA channel 7. It’s gmanews.tv and I stayed there until this April. Oh, I joined PCIJ just last April as a senior staffwriter.

Q2: So miss, what were the circumstances that led you to your first employment in the Times Journal?

A: As journalism students, we were required to have a practicum and it so happened that I have a friend there so I got in as a practicumer. I went with a senior reporter of the Journal, going to a police beat and then in 1986 when Marcos was ousted, most of the senior staff members of the Journal group either went abroad, or joined other papers, or tried to look for other careers because there were rumors then that the Journal would be shut down because of its association with the Marcoses, and that became a good opportunity for us to get into the newspaper.

Q1: Can we go back to your college years? Is being a journalist really included in your choice of career options, originally you wanted to be an…

A: I wanted to enroll in accounting as I wasn’t really decided as to what course to take that time and when I entered college I wanted to take accounting because my sister was a CPA and I have a brother who was also taking up accounting that time. But when I got to the university, there was a long, long line of students enrolling for the accounting course. It was almost sundown, I think. Oh no! It was early afternoon. I was getting hopeless, if I wanted to wait in the line in time before the enrollment period ends. My sister was with me and we looked for other courses that I can jump into and then shift to accounting on the second semester. She found journalism which had I think less than 50 enrollees that time compared to the hundreds on the accounting queue. So I enrolled in journalism with the thinking that I can shift to accounting on the second semester. But then as time went on, nanghinayang ako. I just stayed there until nandito na ako hanggang ngayon. (Chuckles)

Q2: So miss, nagustuhan niyo na iyong journalism?

Q1: What made you stay in journalism?

A: Una, siguro kasi parang sayang iyong time that I’ve spent there, six months. It was also not that easy to shift to accounting because there were also others who were shifting and the accounting course sections have a lot of students. I found it more complicated, I just decided after.

Q2: Ok! Miss, can you describe what were the newspaper, I mean, the physical structure of the newspaper po of the Times Journal? Where was it located?

Q1: Times Journal was the first publication you worked with?

A: Yes. Times Journal had its offices then in Port Area. It was like a warehouse. The equipment were rather obsolete, the typewriter was the big Olympia typewriters. We would churn out stories and at the end of the day and you pinch your fingers medyo nagkakakalyo na siya. When I was assigned to cover Malacañang 1987 – 1992, (Coughs) I would make at least 5 stories a day. I would make about 5 to minsan 12 stories a day and these are not just brief stories. Mostly government stories, and other stories. Most major stories came from Malacañang especially during the time when the Congress was not yet convened in 1987. It was quite difficult. Then towards the late 80’s nagkaroon ng fax ah! That time, from Malacañang, I would still have to go to the office to file my story because there was no fax. You have to go to the office and type your stories and then (coughs) stay there until 8, until the stories were edited.

Q1: Pag dictation by phone lang po, pwede?

A: It’s very time consuming, but sometimes I did that especially during out of town coverages. When we were moving tapos walang typewriter. Sometimes there was no choice but to phone in your stories and the editors take down your stories, it’s good if you get a good editor who can type fast (typing action). But when there’s no available editor tapos iyong mapupuntahan mo iyong story catcher medyo mabagal and mali-mali iyong spelling, minsan you still have to spell out the words, kaya medyo matagal. It’s time consuming minsan naiiwanan ka ng sasakyan.

Q2: Miss, gaano kalayo iyong from Malacañang to…

A: Ano lang naman siya, 2 short rides. Malacañang going to Quiapo, then Quiapo going to Pier, Port Area and at that time, hindi pa masyadong traffic.

Q1: Saan po located iyong Times Journal?

A: Behind the Department of Public Works, near the Manila Hotel area.

A: Tapos mga late 80’s nagkaroon na ng fax, so it became easier because from Malacañang you can already send in your stories. Tapos mga mid-90’s nagkaroon na ng Internet iyong Journal so doon lang medyo guminhawa ang buhay namin.

Q2: Pero before that talagang mahirap?

A: Before that fax. Oo.

Q2: How was the lighting at your office?

A: Lighting?

Q1: Mga lights, ventilaton, yong ganoon…

A: Ahh!

Q2: Dark?

A: Ah, no! The editorial office is always well-lighted. Ang ano lang iyong air conditioning. It was an old building and we have an old air conditioning system that was always not functioning well. Kaya ayun mainit, at saka maraming ipis. Tapos ngayon, ok na iyon kasi noong umalis ako sa Journal they moved to Makati, and then it now it looks very presentable.

Q1: From your time noon, masasabi niyo naman po na parang conducive to…

A: Hindi.

T.P., R.C., & A: (laughs)

Q1: Hindi talaga?

A: Hindi kasi it was really like a warehouse. It’s dirty.

Q2: Miss, may printing din po ba kasama doon?

A: Meron kaming built in production.

Q2: How were the people over there? Yong publisher niyo, iyong editors, iyong colleagues? How was your relationship with them?

A: I went through a lot of publishers and editors at the Journal because it was taken over by the government in 1986, and every time there’s a change in government, there is a change in management. There was a time when under one president there were two or three changes and it was difficult because each time you have to deal with them, some deal with their different policies. Kasi iba-iba yung management style nila eh, iba-iba iyong editorial policies. Usually, ginagamit nila iyong Journal as a mouthpiece of the government. So you have to tell the young not to do something bad talaga. At one point, I think it was in the late 90’s when I caught the ire of the publisher because somebody from Malacañang called the office asking him to transfer me to another beat, because I did a story daw that a cabinet member did not like so I was…

Q1: Under what government rule?

A: That was under Cory, but Cory had nothing to do with it. It was the assistant press secretary who called the publisher asking him to transfer me, but then I argued that it was actually an exclusive story. That became the headline story on that day but it was unfortunate that one cabinet member did not like it. He (publisher) even suggested that I resign.

Q2: Miss, what was the story about?

A: It was about the bases agreement. I pointed out the conflicting position of the DFA and the Department of Finance. It was Estanislao and Manglapus and it appeared to me later that somebody didn’t like my story. The assistant press secretary said that I was instigating a conflict between the two people. Then I argued that it was their position. These were based on interviews and I have notes to present. This was what’s in the story and that I only identified those who were accounted for in the story but the publisher insisted that I interview the presidential spokesman and I take the press releases and I follow the Bulletin’s way of writing. I told him that the press secretary told us earlier on that he couldn’t speak about the bases because he was not privy to the negotiation. The publisher told me and suggested that I quit. Sabi niya, the door is wide open etc., if you can not follow the Bulletin line, the official line of the government, so pagbaba ng telepono, siyempre umiiyak na ako. Tapos naka-scoop na nga ako, ako pa iyong pinagalitan, tapos iyong pinapagaya pa sa akin iyong Bulletin. Ang tamad ng reporter nila na pagdating, this guy would come to the beat at 4 o’clock and would just get the press release, change the slug and submit it. Samantalang ako, nagtatrabaho ako, tapos nakaganyan na ako tapos ako pa pinapa-resign. So when I came home, I wrote him a letter, 3-page letter. In essence, I explained how I got the story, and what the story is about and how I viewed the story and the editor even saw it worthy because he used it as banner story for the day. Sabi ko, if we were to follow the Bulletin’s line of reporting. I think we should waste no time in joining the Bulletin. Tahimik na siya, hindi na niya ako sinagot. Hindi na niya ako kinausap ever.

Q2: Until now?

A: He’s dead already.

Q1: Miss, is the Journal affiliated with the Bulletin?

A: No, but both were for Marcos.

Q1: When you say bulletin style of writing, what do you mean?

A: Press releases.

Q1: Strict din po ba during Aquino Administration sa mga stories about the government?

A: May mga overzealous officials kasi na pag hindi nila type iyong style of writing ng isang ano ipapalipat ng beat or ipapa-suspend, ganoon.

Q2: So paano malalaman kung kaninong papers ‘yun?

A: I think naman naiintindihan naman eventually ng publisher na hindi ganoon iyong case sa Malacañang. When Cory left, when Cory turned over the presidency to Ramos in 1992, I asked to be transferred because I didn't like Ramos. And since the Journal is pro-government, I said, I cannot be objective so I asked to be moved to the Congress…

Q2: So miss, ano ‘yung most memorable experience niyo doon sa Journal?

A: Iyon, that was very memorable.

Q2: So up till now, you still remember the face and the name of the editor?

A: Until now, yeah. You know, you can easily forgive but it's hard to forget especially iyong ganoon na you have a big story, you believe you have a good story - that you worked hard for the story - tapos ikaw pa ‘yung papagalitan, ikaw pa iyong pagreresignin.

Q1: How did that situation affect your style in journalism?

A: It was a challenge. I believe it was a balanced story, because I wrote both sides in the story and I pointed out the conflict in their positions. I think it was about the financing package, they had differences on the computations, iyon.

Q2: How many working hours a day in Times Journal po?

A: Twenty five (Laughs), kasi when you are on the beat, you’re on the daily grind, dapat you're always on standby. Pero yung mga, halimbawa, I covered the Congress for 15 years from 1992 to 2006, may mga scheduled hearings. So iyong mga ganoon, syempre pupuntahan mo din iyong schedule. Pero halimbawa, may mangyaring, like iyong sumabog iyong Batasan, that was beyond the deadline time. You have to be there. Halimbawa mayroong mga secret meetings about a coup, kailangan you have your ears on it na.

A: Oo, kasi like iyong impeachment. Kapag may mga pagbobotohan sa budget na normally iyong final voting on the budget, it lasts until the next morning so you have to be there kasi hindi naman siya naka-capture maski mayroong mga T.V. crew na nakabantay doon , hindi naman nila maka-capture iyon.

Q2: Miss, ikaw lang mag-isa?

A: Merong iba. Other papers assign two reporters in each beat. Sa Malacañang, .there was a time, na dalawa kami pero ‘di kami magkasama. Kasi maarte…(laughs). Masungit siguro ako.

Q2: So Miss, kahit holidays meron pa din?

A: Wala kaming holiday.

Q1: Kahit Holy Week, Miss?

A: Ah! May holiday pala kami Holy Week kasi walang issue ng Thursday at Friday so wala kaming pasok ng Wednesday at Thursday. Friday meron na.

A: Ay, meron pa pala isang memorable experience recent lang ito, in 2001, this was in Congress. I wrote about the activities of five congressmen who were supposedly asking money from the telecom companies that they wanted investigated. It was in 2001 and I got sued for libel, criminal and civil, asking for damages of P21.5 million, and I am currently on trial. Medyo mahaba-haba pa…

Q2: Miss, yun ba ‘yun first libel case mo?

A: Oo, and only one.

Q1: Was this with PCIJ or Journal?

A: People's Journal. Kasi noong 2000 nag fold-up na iyong Times Journal that time so I was absorbed by People's Journal.

Q2: Miss, how was the salary back then?

A: Salary? Kita? Kaya single pa rin ako kasi I cannot - the salary of a journalist can not support a family. I just wondered how they do it (laughs). Poverty level.

Q1: Napag-isipan niyo naman pong magsideline?

A: Ah ‘yun, I started getting sidelines sa Malacañang, iyong mga wire agencies who get those people in the beats. I submit to them, not really stories but iyong mga quotes like, when something happens or the president says something, I just give them the quote and that's it. They just want to have somebody in the beat who tells them what's happening, who keeps them updated on activities in the beat, kaya makikita mo sa ano ko (points to resume), you would see maraming mga sabay-sabay dyan kasi kung wala kang mga sideline sideline hindi ka mabubuhay,

Q2: GMAnews.T.V., miss, online na ba ‘yun?

A: Oo naman. 3 years na sila.

Q1: Iyong libel case niyo po how long has it been...

A: Since 2001 until now.

Q2: Hindi pa rin nako-close?

A: Hindi pa kasi, exciting iyon kasi mukhang malaki iyong kalaban ko. He was one of the five. He sued me in September 2001 (referring to the congressman who filed the lawsuit). It took him four years to present his evidence tapos when we started presenting evidence early in November, gusto niya in two hearings tapos na iyong presentation ng evidence namin, while it took him four years. He has 3 lawyers and one of his lawyers is a topnotch lawyer talaga sobrang galing na handling high profile cases.

Q2: And your lawyer?

A: And my lawyer is a 33- year old attorney, estudyante niya (Laughs), pero magaling naman iyong abogado ko. Tapos iyon last hearing namin a few months ago, he brought his entire class to the courtroom and I wonder why, he said he didn't want to miss his class, so he brought them to court. Pero intimidating eh, if you have the whole court by his side. I really got intimidated and I was very sorry for myself (chuckles) kasi na-iintimidate niya ako kaya unforgettable but very challenging.

Q2: Miss, were you ever a cub reporter?

A: Yeah. I started as a cub reporter.

Q2: What was it like to be a cub?

A: It was somehow exciting, because I was assigned to the police beat, in Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, and Valenzuela and that time, my trainer was no longer covering. I was already covering for him and there were times when he would just change the slug and submit my story under his name.

Q1: So, ano iyong ginagawa niyo doon sa cub?

A: I go to the police stations; I go to the mayor's office to get stories. I go to the crime scene, iyon lang.

Q2: Miss, Hindi ka ba nagkaka-nightmares kapag iyong masyadong bloody iyong…

A: Hindi naman akong masyado - ang pinakabloody na na experience ko yung when I was out and covering Malacañang. It was in August 1987 coup d’etat, we came from a night out somewhere in Ermita and then it was past 1 o’clock na nun. Dumating kami, we heard gun shots and then we heard na meron ngang coup, so we went doon sa may Sampaloc area tapos noong nakarating kami dun sa may Mercury Drug, yung malapit sa Nagtahan, I saw people crawling with some men na bloody. That was the most bloody experience.

Q2: Miss, yung coup d’etat ni Gringo Honasan?

A: Oo.

Q2: First beat niyo talaga is Malacañang?

T.P. & A: Police...

A: …Beat. Aside from that, after I covered the police beat for less than a year, I was assigned to other beats. I was assigned to the UP System, it was exciting because it was a dead beat but almost everyday I was able to produce stories from there because that time, the 1987 Constitution was up for consultation. It was still in 1986. Maraming mga forum sa UP. I was covering the forum about the revisions in the constitutions. So ayun, natapos din. And I also covered human rights, education, energy pero mga brief stints… It was in Malacañang that I stayed long from 87 to 92, and then Congress from 92 - 2006.

Q2: Sino pa po kasama niyo sa beat?

A: Marami.

Q1: Most memorable colleagues? Iyong siguro up to now close niyo pa din…

A: Iyong sa Malacañang my boss, si Malou Mangahas. We were together in Malacañang tapos nagkahiwalay kami for many many years. She was the one who started kasi gmanews.T.V. and she was the one who recruited me and I joined her in January 2007. Then she left January 2008, I left April to join her here.

Q1: So ngayon po with PCIJ na lang po kayo?

A: Yes.

Q1: Wala na iyong...

A: Wala na iyong iba.

Q1: So, iyong sa beat po, how did it made you the journalist you are today? May mga lessons ba kayong natutunan don?

A: Ang dami eh. Ang dami ko kasing experience like dealing with people, dealing with all sorts of people. From the most masungit to the most mabait. Iba- ibang klase yun, that makes you well-rounded. Tapos iyong mga ano din, sa colleagues you'll also learn lessons from them, like, observe them how they ask questions, deal with sources, how they deal with the coverage, ayun.

Q2: Miss, how was the editor's back then? Kunwari naninigaw ba sila?

A: Noong nag-uumpisa ako, ang kwento nila mabait na iyong dinatnan ko sa Journal. Iyong mga kwento kasi nila before iyong ipapatawag ka, and then pag pangit iyong story, the editor will crumple yong story mo and right in front of your face, they throw it into the trash can. Iyong time ko, hindi na.

A: Inabutan ko na si Lito Gagni who is now a columnist of Business Mirror. What he would do is when you get to the office, he would ask you what's your story about and then he would sit on the typewriter, he would start the story. He will begin with a paragraph, “Ok, tuloy mo”. Kasi it's very difficult to begin a story so he starts the story then you would just take the flow.

Q1: So very hands on po siya?

A: Oo. Tapos, I also had another editor then who would point out grammatical errors like result in, common error result to. He would say result in instead of result to, iyong mga ganun. He points out in writing the errors. That time kasi ang editing by long hand, and then he shows you the edited copy with the editing, you would know, you would see how your story got edited and how your story is changed.

Q1: What was the name of the editor naman, iyong sa grammatical errors?

A: Si Raul Valino.

Q2: Is he still alive till now?

A: He is. He is also a columnist of Business Mirror. I had another good editor si Manuel Salak. He was the editor-in-chief but he was willing to take phone-in stories.

Q2: Miss, sino yung pinaka-worst nightmare mo na editor na who’ll say, “Your story’s not good.” or something like that?

A: Actually wala, yung mga natatapatan ko…

Q2: All were nice?

A: Yung iba, they would complain against on some of them pero sa ‘kin wala. Kasi di naman sa pagyayabang because I submit good copies naman (chuckles) tsaka pakikisama din e.

Q1: Sino po yung editor niyo noong time na lumabas yung story niyo sa US Naval Bases?

A: Patay na yon e. (chuckles) Tapos, three or four years later we were on a forum sa Journal din, sponsored by the Journal. He was one of the moderators - the panelists. I asked him that.

Q2: Ano po yong tinanong niyo?

A: Sabi ko, you’re teaching about ganito ganyan, about the study, about journalism integrity, etc. so why then a few years back, you told me, you suggested that I quit because I have this story, ganyan ganyan. You know, very simple lang ang answer niya. Sabi lang niya, “I was just following orders”. Tapos sabi ko “Orders from whom?” pero he didn’t answer. Next time I heard he’s dead. Pero wala kong kinalaman sa pagkamatay niya (all chuckles), he got sick and he was really old na.

Q2: What was your greatest achievement when you were still a cub reporter?

Q1: Siguro parang biggest scoop or biggest story?

A: I don’t remember.

Q2: Ok, up to now?

A: Cub…? Yung naging pinaka-controversial talaga is yung sa Gang of Five.

T.P./Q2: Gang of Five?

A: Ah iyon, yung libel.

A: Kasi when I started that, everybody picked it up – tv, radio, other newspapers.

Q2: Miss, do you still have the copy of the article?

A: I don’t have it now. Siyempre, I have kasi nga I’m on trial because of that short article.

Q2: How short was it?

A: Five paragraphs (chuckles).

Q1: Ano po ba yung point don na they found libelous?

A: Yung title kasi na inano na they were extorting. It’s about the text messages because in 2001, Globe and Smart, text used to be free diba? Tapos biglang Globe and Smart decided to start charging pero ang term nila is reduce the text allocation but they started charging and these congressmen filed resolutions parang pinapa-imbestagahan to stop pero may mga nag-ano sa amin na they were talking to the telecom companies for money, kunwari, we will withdraw this if they give something.

Q2: What significant events have you covered like for example, Martial Law, etc.?

A: Martial Law? Di ko na inabutan yon. Impeachment trial of Erap, the impeachment of Gloria – the failed impeachment of Gloria - the coup d’etats, what else?

Q1: What about EDSA 1 and 2?

Q2: And 3?

A: Mga revolutions hindi na e kasi mga police, sa police…

Q2: What about yung mga Abu Sayyaf?

A: No, may mga beats kasi kami e.

Q2: Manila Pen siege?

A: No.

Q2: So, can you please talk about each historical event?

A: Yung Erap trial was really exciting kasi I covered that from the start since the congressmen filed the resolution for his impeachment until he was impeached in November 2000.

Q1: So from the Congress pa lang po nacover…

A: Ya, tapos noong napunta na sa Senate, I went to the Senate to cover the trial. Then when it got to the Sandiganbayan, I covered it also all throughout until the promulgation. So from beginning to end…

Q2: Miss, is it hard to get stories?

A: No naman kasi open proceedings but kasi, siyempre, you also have to get things like info so kailangan mo din makisama so you can also get documents that they don’t distribute in public.

Q1: Andon din po kayo, diba yung parang highlight ng impeachment trial yung opening of the second envelope?

A: Ya, oo.

Q1: How was that night kasi diba parang…

A: Ya, oo. Tense.

Q1:…nagkakagulo na sila noon e.

A: Biglaan yon e. We knew that there was an envelope but we didn’t know kung if it would be opened that day tapos biglang may mga nanggugulo. Nene Pimentel resigned kasi it was past deadline already e. Tapos pagkagaling ko sa Senate, pagbaba namin we were about to go home there were cars coming in tapos sabi ng mga tao, “O, wala ba tayong something like a rally?” e wala naman kasi konti so we were about to go home then I got a call from Noynoy Aquino tapos sabi niya, “Mommy’s here”, they were somewhere, “and we’re going to attend a mass on the EDSA Shrine at 12”. So from the Senate we diverted to EDSA Shrine instead of going home. We went there at mga 10:30 ata, konti pa lang mga tao noon. In 30 minutes, I tell you, the road was closed. There were lots of people at 12 midnight. It was really a spontaneous thing.

Q1: So ano po yong general mood that night?

A: Parang everybody was excited, they thought that Erap would step down pero it took mga ilang days pa diba?

Q1: Mga 3 days po ata.

A: Yes.

Q2: How about the coup attempts?

A: Coup attempts, nakakatakot. Kasi at one point they were already bombing the Kalayaan Hall where the president was, it was scary but you have to be there (chuckles).

Q1: Did Malacañang naman take care of the security of the journalists po?

A: Tapos ang medyo mahirap lang kasi the place was tightly secured. Mahirap lumabas, mahirap pumasok.

Q1: Sagot po ba ng Malacañang in case na magkaroon ng injured journalists?

Q2: Or casualties?

A: Hindi. Tsaka hindi din sagot ng insurance yon. When we go out of town and we take the military planes, di yon sagot ng insurance. So whenever we travel, one foot is already on the grave.

Q2: Have you ever tried going to Mindanao or covered Abu Sayyaf?

A: When I was covering the House, I joined Speaker de Venecia then to Camp Abu Bakar, sa headquarters of the MNLF. Pagpasok namin, medyo mahigpit yung security pagpasok ng MNLF. We were warned not to bring anything valuable kasi pag nagustuhan nila, di muna makukuha yon. Pagpasok namin ng camp andaming mga bata, mga teenagers, they were already carrying powerful weapons.

Q1: Tinetrain na po?

A: Oo.

Q2: So aside from the coup attempts, what were the other events that you covered?

A: Impeachment ni Gloria. Ayon impeachment ni Gloria, may bigayan ng pera, ng envelopes. May mga nagsasalita naman pero mahirap lang maka-witness ng bigayan ng envelopes.

Q1: May mga nakita po kayo na face to face na inaabutan?

A: Yun lang mahirap kasi siyempre kilala nila ko so they will not do that in front of me.

Q2: Would you take pictures po if you see?

A: Of course! Siyempre, evidence yon e! (laughs) Pero there was a time na wala pa ko sa Congress, there was this congressman who waved his envelope sabi, “Ito na yung Christmas bonus! Christmas bonus!”, pero wala pang actual talaga. Pero you can hear na meron and these are from trusted people.

Q2: So, you were present at the hearings there?

A: Wala na ko noon. Nasa GMA na ko noon e.

Q2: So up to now you’re still at the desk?

A: Oo, pero once in a while I go out. Like yung before sa SONA, I went to the Congress to check on the renovations kaya ngayon galit sa kin si Speaker.

Q2: Speaker?

Q1: Speaker Nograles?

A: Speaker Nograles. If you check the website, I have the story there. I was not objective and I was not fair daw but siyempre when someone’s on the defense they’ll say that but when I nearly confronted him sabi ko, you should release to the public the documents for the public to scrutinize instead of saying that it’s wrong.

Q2: Miss, diba sa Senate and Congress kayo? So naabutan nyo yung mga SONA ng mga presidents..

A: Oo.

Q2: Whose SONA was the best?

A: Wala. Lahat naman sila nambobola sa SONA e.

Q1: Ano po yung parang most dangerous assignment niyo? Or meron na po ba kayong nareceive na mga death threats?

A: Death threats? Hindi directly from the source. Yung sa Gang of Five, I was told by many persons to take care ‘cause of my job. So for a time sinusundo at hatid ako ng kapatid ko kasi there was this couple na balikbayan, they went to Congress tapos they have this magazine na ang cover ay isang 24 year old guy na halos di mo na siya makikilala. 28 bullet holes tapos sa katawan niya is mga 40 something at yung suspect is isa don sa mga nagfile ng suit. Because this guy was already making his presence felt in the district kasi tatakbo siyang congressman don sa district nung suspect. Actually, tong isa, yung nagfile ng lawsuit, sinabi niya from the start na he will have me jailed. In fact, in November 14, 2000 to, I was investigated by the Ethics Committee of the Congress. I was subpoenaed three times by the Congress. During that hearing, the congressman wanted the committee to put me in detention for contempt until I reveal who my source is. Medyo nakakatensed yon and in fact my mother had a stroke because of that.

Q2: Were you ever scared of bumping into big men like him?

A: Hindi naman. Kasi sa kin for as long as you’re doing your job well – you’re doing your job properly – you have nothing to be scared of. Siguro matatakot ka kung you’re pursuing your own interests or somebody else’s interests. If you’re doing your job and you have the public interest, it’s very…motherhood, parang it gives you strength pa. Basta yung personal interests mo, it shouldn’t come in.

Q1: Sino po ba yung parang pinaka-high profile na nakabangga niyo?

A: Speaker (laughs).

Q1: Speaker Nograles?

A: Hindi, Speaker de Venecia (laughs).

Q2: Diba si Speaker de Venecia parang anti-Gloria na siya today?

A: Sabi niya dati best friend niya daw ako. He wouldn’t start a presscon without me daw.

Q2: Paano niyo nakabangga si Speaker?

A: Parang hindi naman masyado. Nagalit lang siya sa akin because his wife said that I was supporting another candidate for speaker. Sabi ko, e wala naman akong boto but he was a personal friend . Yung risky talaga is itong Gang of Five.

Q1: Is it ok po ba if we ask for the names kung sino yung five congressmen?

A: Naku, yung isa nag-aaspire pa ng political office, si Prospero Pichay.

Q2: Ahh! Prospero Pichay?

A: Tinanim mo siya sa Senado? (laughs)

Q2: No, friend po siya ng tito ko.

A: Aaay! (laughs)

Q2: May diyaryo din daw siya, miss.

A: Oo. Sino pa ba? Si Congressman Jacinto Paras, Eduardo Veloso of Leyte, si Aniceto Saludo of Southern Leyte, the one who filed the case, and Rolex Suplico of Iloilo pero friends na daw kami.

Q1: How long were you with the Times Journal?

A: Twenty years, pero hanggang ngayon di pa nila ko binabayaran ng retirement pay.

T.P./Q2: (laughs)

Q1: Ba’t po kayo umalis don?

A: Ayoko na sa kanila. (chuckles)

Q2: Miss, diba Business Journalist kayo? Yung course niyo?

A: Yes.

Q2: So bakit miss di na lang kayo magwork sa mga business papers?

A: Bobo na ko sa business e (laughs). Bobo na ko sa numbers kaya lang when I was in high school, I was good in numbers pero nung nag journ na ko nabobo na ko sa numbers ‘cause everybody hated numbers.

Q2: No math?

A: I can understand a little pero mas enjoy ang politics e. Ang boring ng business. Tsaka ayoko kasi masyadong pampered ang business e. Maliit lang yung sweldo actually pero corrupt din, sabagay sa politics din.

Q1: Corrupt as in may mga lagay-lagay?

A: Oo, yung may mga demandahan…

Q2: Miss, pati yung mga welga-welga kinocover niyo?

A: No. No.

Q1: Naka-experience na po kayo ng bribery?

A: Oo, there were some attempts. Actually, may isang beses kasi I was interviewing this congressman kasi my editor asked me to interview him kasi he has a resolution. There was a resolution asking for an investigation of a smuggling case. Meron kaming series on smuggling cases so I interviewed him. Tapos before the interview ended binigyan niya ko ng picture na 2x2 tapos 500 na pilit niyang ginaganyan (gesturing money being put into a closed hand) sa akin. Sabi niya, “Di sige, banatan mo pa ng banatan si ganito kasi aayusin tayo ni Barbers”.

Q2: Sinong Barbers?

A: Si Senator Barbers kasi siya yung kaibigan nung ininterview ko. So sabi ko. “Hindi, hindi. Di ko na gagawin to”. Then I heard he left na and I never talked to him again.

Q1: So after the Times Journal, san naman po kayo? Sa GMA?

A: Sa GMA.

Q1: How was GMA?

A: It was ok. Sosyal yung office.

Q2: Was it better than Journal?

A: Oh yeah. Tsaka yung experience kasi online siya e.

Q1: Mas less stress po ba pag online?

A: I handled Pinoy Abroad. I handled overseas Filipino workers. Masyado lang stressful kasi andami-dami, everyday you get letters from OFWs.

Q2: So they send letters lang?

A: Minsan din may mga tumatawag. Andami lang kasing problema and you tend to absorb some of their problems tapos minsan wala ka ng magawa, nakakastress. Yung mga ibang problema napapasok sa mga NGOs like halimbawa merong nirape sa Saudi tapos gusto na niyang umuwi kaso di naman siya makauwi kasi may kaso siya na pending tapos parang pinapabayaan siya sa consulate so you try to look for people who would endorse them to the consulate para alagaan naman yung kaso. Tapos, there was this case na merong dalawang workers na nastranded sa Iraqso may sumulat sa amin, nagreport tapos ininterview ko sila by email. Tapos may nakabasa noong story na nag-offer ng tulong tapos nirefer ko sa NGO tapos yung NGO met with the embassy to get them cleared tapos ayon nakauwi sila. So ganon, heartwarming pero pano yung mga iba na may kaso di matulungan? Merong isang matanda 67 years old, 18 years siyang hindi nakauwi ng Pilipinas, meron siyang isang daughter, 6 years old yung daughter nung umalis siya dito ngayon 20 plus na yung daughter, hindi siya makaalis kasi for 18 years that time, andon siya sa isang liblib na lugar sa Saudi nagwowork ata siya with a ship tapos yung iniiwan na budget sa kanya is kulang, yung pambili ng ulam, so from time to time she would go to the town to beg for food until finally, last year dinala siya sa embassy, nakauwi na siya.

Q2: Miss, ang Vizconde Massacre po ba nacover ninyo?

A: Hindi. Hindi ko nacover yon.

Q2: Miss, ano pong massacre nacover niyo?

A: Wala. Police kasi yon e. Yung mga ganon police yon e.

Q1: Sa GMA po ba yung large part ng work niyo don is public service?

A: Parang nagiging public service. Basta anything about the overseas Filipino workers, overseas Filipinos, yun ang main work ko kasi madami din namang mga workers tsaka yung mga migrants.

Q1: So with PCIJ naman po, how long have you been with them?

A: April this year. Interesting din dito. On my second week here, I went to Burma through Bangkok. It was exciting ‘cause journalists cannot just enter Burma. Di ko alam kung fortunate kami or unfortunate that when the cyclone hit Burma, we were there (chuckles).

Q1: So nacover niyo?

A: Ya, pero noong cyclone mismo wala kami noon sa Rangoon which was the center. We were in another province but then, on the third day we went back to Rangoon and we saw the damages. I was able to get pictures, that time kasi kunti lang kami so I was able to submit a story dito. Then Associated Press got my photos and used them and published them so yabang ko na yon (laughs).

Q1: When it comes to your practice po ba do you stick to a principle or philosophy when it comes to journalism? Parang something you live by? Ano po ba yungvalue na pinaka-important sa inyo?

A: Value? Honesty. Tapos, you tell the story as it is. Minsan kasi diba iniisplice yung story para gumanda, nilalagyan ng drama. It won’t be good for your audience pag ganon. You share what you see.

Q1: So I guess, we’ll end on that note and again, thank you very much Ms. Valderama for your time.

Q2: … and for granting our request.

A: Basta pag ano, email na lang kayo. Drama niyo (laughs).

Q1: Thank you, Miss.

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TITA VALDERAMA started in the Times Journal as a cub reporter. At the time of the interview she was a senior staff writer for the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.