Fil-American press club honors slain journalists

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - When the news broke out that 31 journalists had been murdered in the Philippines, media practitioners around the world – including those in the San Francisco Bay Area – have been enraged by the heinous tragedy. The San Francisco Bay Area-based Philippine American Press Club immediately organized its members to honor and assist the families of the journalists that were brutally killed. PAPC is also now calling for an immediate action and justice for the recent massacre that involved 31 media workers in Southern Philippines. The US-based Fil-Am Press Club held a memorial mass for the “media martyrs" on Wednesday night at the St. Patrick’s Church in downtown San Francisco. It was celebrated by Rev. Alex Pablo. One World Institute and a daughter of Mindanao Yolanda Ortega Stern, who is currently in the Philippines, sent a copy of her speech for the event. It was read by her friend and colleague Jossie Allegre during the brief program right after the memorial mass. Stern shared her knowledge and experience in Mindanao especially regarding the clashing tribes in Maguindanao. She and fellow Filipino journalists in the US condemned the gruesome murder of the 31 media workers covering a story in Maguindanao. The veteran Filipino journalist enumerated a plan of action she proposed after the tragedy. She said the Philippine government and media groups should establish a confidential support shelter for the vast media network so that they could provide testimonials on certain issues. Stern also proposed that the Philippines’ Commission on Elections should disallow a parent and multiple relatives and siblings to occupy positions that would control and monopolize an area. A media insurance fund should also be established, she said, adding that it could pay death benefits to surviving family members of murdered journalists. The Philippine media should not cease to find, investigate, and expose all unexplained wealth of candidates by tracking individual income of candidates without fear, Stern said. “Next week all will be forgotten perhaps even forgiven. You are the future my friends. You can be the voice of change," she said. San Francisco Chronicle executive director Phil Bronstein also attended the event. He extended his condolences to the bereaved families of the murdered journalists. He also recalled his very own experience as a journalist covering a story back in the Philippines. Bronstein said what had happened should be regarded as more than a serious matter because there have all ready been 134 deaths among journalists in the Philippines since 1986. PAPC president Esther Misa Chavez welcomed guests and the speakers during the event. Inquirer.Net and Philippine News columnist Emil Guillermo served as the master of ceremonies. Guillermo introduced other speakers including Filipinas Magazine publisher and columnist Greg Macabenta, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Marciano Paynor, Jr., California Senator Leland Yee, Asian American Journalists Association’s Annabelle A. Udo-O’Malley and New America Media chief of staff, news anchor and producer Odette Keeley. The Philippine American Press Club-USA members attended the memorial mass. The group is composed of major Filipino American publishers with nationwide and local circulation that includes: ABS-CBN International, Asian Journal, FilAm Star, Filipinas Magazine, Filipino Guardian, Filipino Gazette, Filipino American Network Radio, Inquirer.Net, The Islander Channel 38 Hayward, Manila Mail, Philippine Headlines, Philippine News, and the Philippines Today. The group is also raising funds to assist the the victims’ families, witnesses, and the legal group representing the murdered journalists. Check donations can be made to the PAPC with memo “Justice Fund for Journalists." Donations can be mailed to 1580 Bryant Street, Daly City, CA 94015. Contact PAPC president Esther Misa Chavez at 650-278-0256 or through email at esther.chavez@inquirerinc.net for more information. - GMANews.TV