“Anyone
who tries to make a distinction between education and entertainment doesn't
know the first thing about either.” Marshall McLuhan
By
Alex P. Vidal
I
would like to thank Panay News Editor-in-chief Danny Fajardo and Managing
Editor Herbert Vego for personally inviting me to grace the paper’s Product
Launch, a thanksgiving party for PN’s 33rd year in business at
Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center last November 28 night.
It
was a very successful and much-ballyhooed affair attended by the metropolis’
who’s who mostly from the business, marketing/advertisement, government, and
media/entertainment sectors.
The
program, very innovative and colorful, was arranged by the indefatigable CEO,
Daniel Fajardo II, and marketing manager, Lei Fajardo, as well as VP-corporate
affairs Maria Fajardo.
I
left immediately after guest speaker, Eugenio Boy Abunda Jr., finished talking
on “Print Advertising vis-à-vis Public Relations and Media Celebrity.”
No
more selfies. No more photo-ops.
It
was at around past 8 o’clock in the evening when Abunda, partner of
presidential sister Kris Aquino, entered the hall when everyone had finished
eating dinner.
He
was not around during the cocktail party in the poolside that kicked off the
program at 6 o’clock in the evening.
Abunda
would have met a lot of prominent Ilonggo businessmen and media personalities
had he made himself available during the cocktail party.
BORACAY
Mr.
Vego introduced me to La Carmela de Boracay hotel owner Samuel “Boy” So,
Abunda’s event factotum and real life best friend, while Abunda was not yet
around.
It
was So who later tapped my shoulder to indicate that the guest speaker, a
rumored senatorial wanna-be in 2016, was already walking behind him as they
entered the hall, thus I was able to greet the visitor, “hi Boy.”
He
replied, “hello po.”
I
wanted to hear how Abunda would dissect national issues as a prominent member of the
nation’s entertainment and media world.
After
being introduced by society columnist John Castigador, my media colleague for
over 25 years, Abunda buckled down to work.
He
read a prepared speech and recalled important national and international events
leading to PN’s birth as a weekly newspaper in the pre-EDSA years.
Abunda
also praised highly “those behind the Lapus Calami,” PN’s most popular column,
saying “they should go to heaven.”
He
told the PN family and guests that he read the paper regularly in Metro Manila.
CHANGE
Abunda
hailed the constant change in the paper’s layout and presentation of news and
features saying “it constantly whets the appetite of advertisers and readers
alike, thus keeping it competitive.”
The
top-rated TV host cited PN’s success story to disprove the notion that the
Internet would weaken the print media.
A
writer cannot be credible overnight, he emphasized.
A
writer cannot attain instant credibility with only one or two articles.
He
must be able to prove himself by writing more stories and he must not be afraid
to commit mistakes, Abunda exhorted.
Abunda
has the material to serve the government. He was reportedly offered the
Department of Tourism portfolio after President Nonoy Aquino assumed office but
turned it down saying he was happy where he was when the alleged offer came.
Will
he run for senator in 2016? He denied it but in politics, only fools don’t
change their minds, as the saying goes.
In
Metro Manila, the grapevine says Abunda is being considered as one of the
administration’s bets for senator.
Atty.
Ade Fajardo, PN CEO, led the awarding of plaque of appreciation to Abunda.
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