In her message reminding me of the dinner marking the 20th anniversary of the Guru Press on July 1, 2024, Editor-in-Chief Ghumie Pinkihan said “datdatayo laeng” (just us). I did not expect that the gathering would be that small though. Aside from Ghumie and myself, only the following were present: incorporator Christine Wangdali; Brent Martinez, editor-in-chief for social media; Christian Malnawa, staff writer; Sherilie Jovellanos, radio station in-charge; Jennifer Layugan, videography services in-charge; and Assistant City Information Officer Geraldine “Gigi” Dumallig.
Ghumie said that the rest of the staff had valid reasons for their absence.
Gigi and I were among the local media people who worked part-time for the Guru Press during the early years. She laid out the paper for some time and her byline appeared in the paper via her news production for the Philippine Information Agency where she was working then which were published by the Guru Press. As for me, I contributed news and photos regularly and wrote a column in the early years. I revived the column in the second decade of the paper and discontinued it two years ago due to a project which demands my entire time and attention.
It was unfortunate that other part-timers could not make it. Ghumie said that Giovanni Asbucan and Regino Wacas begged off due to pressing matters they were attending to. For more than a decade now, Daniel Cagan had migrated to Canada. Marciano “Mars” Paroy, Jr. who served as layout artist and columnist for sometime declined the invitation. A stroke several years back has limited his mobility and impaired his speech but left his mental powers intact. He regularly shares his thoughts on serious subjects through his column aptly titled “Truth be Told.”
I also missed my dear friend Rev. Luis Aoas who succumbed to a lingering illness in January 2022 five issues after he discovered the Guru Press could also be his pulpit. At Ghumie’s encouragement, he overcame his initial doubts about his writing ability and launched his column “Over a Cup of Coffee” where he dished out advice on how to attain happy and healthy family relations. His daughter Stephanie Salisbury who resides in the United States has taken over the column writing on sundry topics.
My response to the meal was a rude reminder it was not only the Guru Press that grew older by 20 years. I remember hearing suggestions that I try this or that dish. I declined the cake outright due to my abiding concern over my blood sugar level which has been borderline for a decade and ate sparingly from the dishes that appealed to me. Back when we started the paper, I had no health issues and indulged my appetite for food to the hilt whenever the owners invited me. Prodding to eat was absolutely unnecessary. Back in those days, I could not imagine myself snubbing any meat dish like I did during the anniversary.
My appetite for conversation, however, remains unchanged. Although I had planned on going back to my laptop as soon as the dinner was over which happened at around 6 PM, I stayed until the group called it a day at around 10 PM.
Naturally, the sudden and saddening closure of the Midland Courier came up in the conversation. Brent said that the Midland is not the first Baguio City paper to go as the Sunstar also folded up sometime back. Some ideas on how to prolong the life of the Guru Press were discussed. Brent repeatedly declared that the paper will not cease operation “in our lifetime.” If that is reckoned by Brent’s age, then the Guru Press is good for at least 20-30 years more as the occasion also served as his advance 44th birthday.
With Brent aboard, I believe that the Guru Press has a good chance of weathering the challenges ahead. Multi-talented and brimming with fresh ideas, he masterminded the transformation of the Guru Press from a provincial newspaper to a tri-media outfit covering the Cordillera and Cagayan Valley. Apart from the weekly print edition, the Guru Press maintains a news website a Facebook page and an online radio broadcasting station, the Station 1. The Guru Press also operates a videography service to help support its media operations.
From a regular staff of one – Ghumie – when Brent came in in 2020, the Guru Press now employs 16 personnel four of whom man the Apayao branch which was set up in 2023.
I did not have a chance to work alongside Brent in the Guru Press but we worked together at the Tabuk City Information Office for a while. After he took over as City Information Officer from me upon my retirement in March 2018, I stayed on to edit the “Tabuk Life,” the Tabuk LGU magazine, as a job order until the end of 2018.
Ghumie admitted to me later that the 20th anniversary celebration was ill-prepared adding that the plan is to do justice to the 25th anniversary. I am praying that God grants me the privilege to attend the occasion – and as an active participant of the news organization once again.
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