Newsmen light sketches

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- In this age of hi-tech communication, there should be lesser circulation of fake and wrong information, but it is the opposite that I see. In five unfamiliar news articles posted on Facebook and Twitter, I have to allow the brain to scan which one is the truth or nearest to the truth.

That, in comparison to the good old days when the art of making news involved a vintage but reliable typewriter and a long distance telephone call to reach the publisher. It was the time when there was no space for errors and intentional fake information. 

Unlike now, news comes very fast that there is not even enough time for details to be checked. What is shocking is that even news sources take advantage of the speed of sharing information by disseminating fake news.

It makes me recall stories about the good times with good old friends. Here is one story about how the late Sid Chammag, Manila Bulletin’s longest but shortest correspondent came to love the fax machine.

Dean Chammag as President FVR called him, writes down his news articles long-hand on yellow pad, dials the phone and starts dictating and shouting word for word what he wrote to his publisher.

That was a daily familiar commotion in the offices of the Philippine Information Agency and the Philippine News Agency, the Session Café, Dainty Restaurant or anywhere Manong Sid can get hold of a telephone.

Then came the facsimile or fax machine. To be able to “teach an old dog new tricks”, PIA multi-task man Joe Zambrano asked Manong Sid to insert his article on paper into the fax machine.

Joe Z. told Manong Sid that his Manila Bulletin editor on the other end of the line will receive his article exactly appearing the same as the paper that he inserted.

The question that lingered in the mind of the Dean of Newsmen in the Cordillera was “how could that be possible.” He did not believe Joe and insisted to send his news the usual way – by dictation.

However stubborn, Joe Z. convinced Manong Sid to do as instructed. Then Joe Z. told him to ask the guy at the other end of the telephone line if he received his article. Of course, the answer was positive. Thanks to Joe Z. From that time on, Manong Sid always looked for a fax machine.

Communications equipment advanced many times more when the personal computer (PC) started making the typewriter a thing of the past. This time, news articles were saved in floppy discs or diskettes then sent to news publications via land or air transportation.

At that time, news articles printed by the PIA in their publications came in from their provincial offices in diskettes sent through public utility bus lines. One time, Sir Pat Balansi of the Kalinga PIA office sent a floppy disc filled with news articles and pictures.

Joe Z. received the diskette but found nothing when he opened it. So he called Kalinga PIA and told Sir Pat “manong please send me another diskette gamin na-virus jy inted mu” (send another diskette because the one you sent was destroyed by virus).

I still wonder why the computer makers were able to give a new definition for the term “virus” that was originally used as a medical term meaning worm, infection or disease. And that was how Sir Pat Balansi of Kalinga knew it.

Anyway, Joe Z. on the phone with Sir Pat received the funniest reply: “Kasatnu nga na-virus dayta diskette ket nabalkot met nga usto!” (How can the diskette be hit by a disease when it was wrapped tightly).  

***

            As we go to press this weekend, the Asin Hot Springs that is owned and managed by IPMR Roger Sinot’s family was illegally fenced in by unidentified persons believed to be taking orders from Baguio City officials of the executive department.

The city through the court was “awarded” more than 4,340 sq. meters, including an old dilapidated hydro plant, half of a water impounding dam that was converted into a swimming pool, sheds and bath houses.

The Sinots turned over the property as described in the court decision to the court sheriff who in turn turned it over to the city. What happened next was that the city did not implement the court order properly as it fenced in more than what was agreed on in a joint relocation survey. What greed.

Merry Christmas and please sleep well.