25 years of firsts

In the hustle of many new experiences and ventures that The Good Lord has blessed me with this year, I had all but forgotten that this is my 25th year in the media, both as a broadcaster and as a writer. The occasion had slipped my mind, until I kept getting this nagging feeling that 2011 was something special for me, especially with the celebrations of the EDSA Revolution, which took place the month before my graduation.

Looking back, there are so many reasons to be grateful for all the successes and struggles that have made me who I am, for better and for worse. I’ve always maintained that I have the best job in the world, and it all really started with my wanting to give something back to sports, which saved me and gave me the chance to live a normal life. Without all the swimming, running, basketball and literally dozens of other sports I’ve tried, I absolutely would not be enjoying the colorful, memorable life and career that I have had.

One thing I’ve taken pride in is having been part of many firsts, not just in broadcast or print, but in sports itself. I have always said, if it has never been done, watch me find a way to do it. As I’ve written before, God gave man such a long list of new things to try, it would be disrespectful to the Creator if we did not attempt to climb some of those mountains on His list. That was a challenge I always took personally.

After a couple of months as a production assistant (gopher) at what was then PTV 4, I had the opportunity to break new ground when ABS-CBN reopened after EDSA. There we were, a platoon of cocky, know-it-all fresh graduates who had just helped install a new government, paired off with grizzled veterans who were coming home after a 14-year hibernation or relocation. It was not an easy fit at first. I was technically the first sports correspondent, writer and segment producer for the network, which was just getting reorganized and back on its feet after their dark days during Martial Law. And there were so many stories.

Truth to be told, in those early days, we drove our personal vehicles everywhere. I logged an average of 100 kilometers a day on weekdays and more on weekends. (Traffic was not so bad then.) I once drove to and from Quezon province to bring back footage of the Palarong Pambansa for airing the same day. I was also covering various other beats and sports at the same time. That kind of experience you can’t get nowadays. I once set a record with nine stories in one day, some of which aired on TV Patrol the same night. Those were great times.

As I was doing the sports segment for the network’s morning show, I have the privilege of working with Noli de Castro, Korina Sanchez, Merce Henares, David Nye, Vivian Zapanta, Jun Encarnacion, Dandin Ranillo and many others who became giants in their fields. My first weekly sports show, “Sportsweek” gave me the chance to learn from legendary “Ka Kiko” Frank Evangelista, who encouraged me to keep writing. ABS-CBN later started covering boxing matches, and I was soon immersed in my first live boxing telecast, an international bout of Pretty Boy Lucas.

As fate would have it, those formative years would lead to something bigger. I sent a crew to cover the 1989 SEA Games in Jakarta when nobody else did. In 1990, the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) created a new awards category, Outstanding Briaas News Agency of the Year for our efforts. I was also a producer to bring home a special citation for Project: Gintong Alay, for that coverage.      

As I was starting my own family, I asked permission to work outside the network. My boss at the time, the late Rolando Cruz, who would give me many of my big breaks (including the first Philippine coverage of the US Dream Team and the Metropolitan Basketball Association), consented.

Thanks to my college professor Sev Sarmenta and visionary producer Bobong Velez, I joined the broadcasts. The PBA games after its highest-rating season ever. That career-changing break allowed me to work with Joe Cantada, Ed Picson, and Butch Maniego, who has been a broadcast partner for more than 20 years. It allowed me to witness the deafening roar of Ginebra crowds of the Jaworski era, Shell’s original “big three” of Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Bobby Parks, the consistent excellence of Alvin Patrmonio and Purefoods, and the ascendance of Alaska and Tim Cone as they chased San Miguel Beer.

Here were other firsts, as well. One of my ideas allowed for the first-ever multiple slow-mo replays in Philippine basketball television. I got to interview all the heroes of the game in its most magnificent moments, and inspired by Smokin’ Joe’s love for nicknames, christened a young power forward “The Captain” and an inspiring kapampangan guard “the Atomic Bomb”. “Electrifying” does not do those memories justice.

Working with Vintage Enterprises gave me ringside seat as producer of the 1991 Manila SEA Games, as the Philippines showed what it could really do in sports, with Eric Buhain and Akiko Thomson drowning the opposition in the pool, and our greatest athletes bringing the country untold honor. My favorite coverage started with me standing on the roof of the Isetann building overlooking Araneta Coliseum, introducing the gold medal game in basketball, as Marlou Aquino, Johnny Abarrientos, Vic Pablo, Vergel Meneses, Bong Ravena, Jun Limpot and their captain, my classmate Nonoy Chuatico, were coached back to the gold by Francis Rodriguez. I marveled at the engineering of The Big Dome, as it withstood the loudest roars of any crowd I had ever heard.

Those learnings opened new doors for me, and I was given a rare opportunity to direct for the first time. A daily public affairs program called “Action 9” was another big break, and at the tender age of 26, I was given the reins to direct Atty. Dong Puno, Rey Langit and Mon Tulfo. Needless to say, it was never boring. And their combined experience was another eye-opener for me.

Those early memories still take my break away, as I continue to search for new ways to do new things. In the last year alone, I have been given the chance to write my first book, produce an international documentary, and appear in my first television commercial. All these blessings fill me with gratitude, as I in turn try in my feeble way to give thanks to everyone who has shown me kindness in my life and career.

The challenges continue. This is going to be fun.