‘The STAR prepared me for a life of service’
MANILA, Philippines — They say journalists make good public servants. The ability to communicate clearly, understand government policies, and immerse in daily public concerns naturally translates to a connection with the general public.
But I say, not necessarily or not automatically. I believe where and how a journalist was honed will tell what kind of politician or public servant he or she would become.
When I entered government service in July 2022, it wasn’t exactly an unfamiliar world, and the transition was not as difficult as I expected it to be.
My two decades in The STAR prepared me for it.
Many times I covered and also volunteered for “Operation Damayan,” the humanitarian arm of The Philippine STAR established by its founding chairwoman, the late Betty Go-Belmonte.
For years, I’ve joined the packing and distribution of relief goods for disaster-hit communities. Little did I know that I was immersing myself in social work that I would later on use in my government career.
The STAR also gave me one of my role models in “leadership with a big heart” — Boss Miguel G. Belmonte. In this world where business is about survival and profit, MGB demonstrated to many of us how to value everybody in the company — especially those at the bottom of the hierarchy.
Aside from his passion for badminton, MGB’s big heart for the often unrecognized workers in the company was an inspiration I brought with me in my civil service journey.
My daily grind as a reporter in the country’s leading broadsheet inculcated in me the values of hard work, punctuality and diligence. Every day — six days a week for almost 20 years —I had to be keen on details, make sure all information I report is accurate and factual, and handle pressure in meeting daily deadlines.
These values are very important assets in government service, most especially in frontline agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, where work is taxing and where I’ve been serving in the past four years.
Doing “man on the streets” for many years exposed me to the realities in the life of ordinary Filipinos that helped me shape programs and policies in the agency mandated to serve the poor and vulnerable sectors.
As a journalist, I was also trained to always have a discerning and fair mindset, to always get two sides of a story, and to always be open to feedback and opposite views.
Discernment and fairness are requisites of a good leader or manager whose decisions would impact not just the rank and file but millions of constituents as well.
In my experience in government service so far, having been appointed immediately to a sub-Cabinet position, there could have been decisions made recklessly had I not been a journalist.
The feedback and correction mechanisms I’ve learned from years of practice in The STAR also helped me shape a fair and disciplined workforce in the offices and programs I handle in DSWD.
Lastly, The STAR instilled in me the significance of honesty and integrity as well as the pursuit of the truth in the profession.
As a government watchdog, my previous job as a journalist exposed me to problems in systems and practices in public office.
But that did not end with simply knowing what was wrong; we were bred in The STAR to make sure our reports translate into actions and meaningful changes.
As someone who was able to cover all three branches of government and was awarded by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption four times for my exposés, it was the best preparation I’ve had for my government career.
The advocacy for good governance was one of the things I carried with me in my career shift. From a watchdog and influencer to now a decision-maker, I hope to effect changes from within this time around.
Half of my life I spent with The STAR, and I will forever be proud of my roots and be grateful for the values I learned from the organization that I will carry in the years to come.
About the author: Edu Punay is an Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. He is a long-time journalist and a former reporter of The Philippine STAR, most recently covering the House of Representatives before entering government service in 2022.
