Sunday, January 18, 2015
Dad's bash lift scribes heart into craze!
MALUNGON, Sarangani – "He never (truly) renege to what he said," says a half-smiling late comer Toto Golez, publisher of General Santos City's oldest weekly newspaper - The Southern Review, and concurrent president of PRO-12 PNP Press Corps, as he passage the mansion's ballroom where the over half a hundred mediamen play games, dine and cheer the night with all of finely-bottled beverages that both Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino and better half Roselyn had provided the Tuesday night press fete in Brgy. Nagpan, Malungon, Sarangani Province.
Marking the fourth commemoration of the yearly held "RFC night with the Press," the Constantino-initiated gathering of friends in Fourth Estate was also grace by majority members of the Sangguniang Bayan, distinguish guests such AFP 1002nd infantry brigade commander, Col. Ronnie Villanueva, local entrepreneurs and a number of newsmen’s kin who were allowed to party - but not given the privilege to participate in the long line listing of gifts, that were only exclusively stressed by the Constantino couple to those who had been rendering actual media coverage, on field.
"This gathering is a self-designed gesture of gratitude to all of media friends, regardless of their respective entity and affiliations, who worked hard the whole year round in broadcast, and publishing the good deeds of my administration. At the same time, this is also a dedicated emphasis for those who contributed much in providing constructive views and criticism, which serve as a guiding tool for the local government to anchor right into where it now belongs," said the mayor, who is now serving his last and final term.
Consistently doing such since he assumed office in 2007, the "Press Night" was officially launched by Constantino sometime on December 2010, at Family Country Homes Hotel in General Santos City.
That was on the same day where prominent media practitioners and publishers of city-based news publications, to wit includes SAPOL daily news publisher John Paul Jubelag, the Frontliner publisher Jun ‘Rashid’ Castro, the Southern Review publisher Toto Golez, Periodico Banat publisher Jong Gorgonio, Dadiangas Balita publisher Ronald Mascardo, selected radio personalities, and news writers of different weekly and national-based dailies openly stressed on stage, their firm statement of support to the Constantino-lead administration.
At late night, Derick Atoc, photo editor of the Larry Sevilla-owned The 'Fightingist' Newsmaker, have not also stopped himself from expressing personal views over the scheduled mandatory termination of Constantino's public calling, next year.
"The end of Constantino's term in the government service is not only a big loss to the lingering number of media-friendly institutions, but likewise to the people whom he served, and the place (Malungon) that have gained more that enough under his administration," he said.
Last year (2014), a larger number of media practitioners brought with them, tents for their respective families to enjoy the overnight stay amid the wide naturally-designed ambiance, as the Mindanao Bulletin editor-in-chief and Manila Bulletin correspondent Joseph Jubelag-lead 'Scribes Band' plays the continuous rhythm of blues and country music, from dusk 'til dawn.
Great 'tilapia' fishing comes the following day for those remaining ones to enjoy at the nearby pond.
"This year’s merriment dubbed as "A place called home by journalists in Nagpan" has been flaunted with respect and all the other lucid emphasis of camaraderie, unison and oneness to each of the attending press people," said Ms. Roselyn Constantino, as she takes a brief glance at the cheering teams and players of Bombo Radyo, Brigada News, RMN Radio, RPN News, DXGS Radyo Pilipino that were mixed up by print correspondents of Sarangani Journal, Dadiangas Times, Ang Mindanao Ngayon, Masa Patrol, BIP news and Punto Mindanaw, all basing the neighboring city of Gensan that is located some 40 kilometers away from this municipality, which is the only landlocked town of Sarangani.
Before end, Mayor Bong as being addressed by most friends in the media, once again thanked the support of the press and so of the Castro Family, who sided the MIO's three-day preparation of the said event. (MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).