I continue to be hounded by questions on my resignation from the city hall. Some people even maliciously put political color into it, saying I have defected to Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez’s perceived opponent in the mayoralty race next year.
Of course, this is very far from the truth.
I gave up my position at the city hall — even if it was a career position – to finally fulfill my dream of becoming a full time journalist. Since I finished college, the only time I was a full time journalist was during my stint at Radyo ng Bayan, when I also moonlighted as news editor of The Weekly Guardian and eventually, as correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Most of the time in the last 22 years, I have either worked as a government information officer and a correspondent, as a teacher and a reporter, and so on.
But what is there in being a full time journalist, you may ask. Simple: It’s the freedom of movement. By being outside a restrictive 8 to 5 office structure, you can chase stories and beat deadlines and have fun. And it is in enjoying your work that you avoid stress, enabling you to be more focused and become more productive.
The most common remark I still get from people who learned about my resignation was “Sayang.” No, it was not because that the city lost me. I am just a lowly rank-and-file employee and I am not indispensable (no one is). It was more because they all felt nanghihinayang about my giving up of such as a “stable” government position.
Truth is, the only permanent government positions I occupied were that of the Radyo ng Bayan and the job I have just left. All the rest – executive assistant, PIO, CIO – were co-terminus. To me, these were all just work. Job stability, anyway, depends on the employee himself or herself and on the appointing authority. Even with the so-called “security of tenure” clause, any government employee may be made to suffer by his or her boss until he or she is forced to resign.
I have seen department heads and even assistant department heads being “floated” and even “badmouthed” or given odd assignments by their bosses. And even if these personnel did not resign to continue to collect their salaries and have an uninterrupted government service, what pride and dignity do they have in being still in there?
The point is: it’s not always the pay that counts in a job. Believe me.
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After almost a month of preparation, Aksyon Radyo 1161 Pangasinan finally went on air last June 20. To the station’s production and technical staff, it was the start of a hopefully long broadcast journalism adventure in Pangasinan.
As we re-launched our programs that day, we all felt good and excited with the knowledge that in our own little and humble ways, we can be of service to the people of Pangasinan again.
Through this column, I want to reiterate our profuse thanks to all those who helped us in our successful re-launch: Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Usec. Bebot Villar, Commissioner Al Fernandez, Congressman Gener Tulagan, Ms. Rachel Arenas, Mayor Leo de Vera, Board Members Danny Uy and JR Resuello, Councilors Vlad Mata, Dada Reyna and Farah Decano, Supt. Allan Purisima, Supt. Edgar Basbas, Supt. Harris Fama, Engr. Rosendo So, Engr. Nelson Sotto, Ms. Belen Fernandez and all our colleagues in the media who graced our celebration.
