It’s human nature for us to expect what to receive or what to get.
Like any kid growing up, we always expect something from our great grandparents, grandparents and parents.
Rap, son of Dr.Bong Presbitero, would always ask something from his dad each time Doc Bong arrived home. “Dad, naa kay something?”. That’s what kids are.
And because of folks’ generosity, any instructions we receive from them, we follow, or else expect that those things we receive, will slowly cease and eventually stop. Worse, you’ll get a sermonette.
Then our bad hormones kick in as teenagers. Masuko na ta kung sige tag ka sugoan. Yawyaw dayon ta, “Sige lang panugo”.
However, God has been good for us “receivers”, because he has created humans in this chaotic world to be “givers”.
I am fortunate to be surrounded by “givers”, especially in this profession that does not earn much, although the opportunities are there, you just need to be ready for it (di gyud ma appoint kay wala man mahuman eskwela, so human eskwela gyud).
Foremost of my “givers” is Antonio “AMA” Ajero.
I don’t expect money from him because I know that in the media industry, there is already a long list of “solicitors”, kanang ma short gani, adto dayon mamarayig kang ‘nong Tony.
I could not forget compadre Dennis Lazo who made lambing lambing to ‘nong Tony many years ago. Nong Tony was laughing all the time as Dennis kept on talking, relentlessly convincing ‘nong Tony to give him some cash. Of course, nong Tony after all that discussion, handed him some money (kalimot na ko pare Dennis, pila to, LoL) and told Dennis that he should have a wealthy ninong. “Dennis Lazo, dapat datu imong ninong”. Dennis instantly repaid him with a kiss on the cheek. Mao na toy bayad ni pare Dennis.
That one sweet moment is one of the unforgettable moments in my life as a journalist. That one moment seeing ‘nong Tony how he treats media colleagues like his children was especially unforgettable.
So, when rewarding opportunities come our way, we do our best to be like ‘nong Tony.
With patrons supporting us, we’ve given opportunities to some media colleagues to lift their stations in life, specifically brothers in the sports media profession.
Why? We learned from ‘nong Tony that it is always best to give.
So, there are sports media members who were able to do writing and photography projects and the best part, some were able to travel abroad for the first time, and my reason is that “nagkuhag passport Boss, aron matatakan pud ug maka toon unsay sports sa gawas sa nasud” (ang expired passport, wala ka uban, di ba Leonard Paul Palo? LoL). Fortunately, the “givers” gave them the opportunities.
You see, as a cub reporter, I am very curious about how other journalists work.
So for years, I have listened and observed the veterans of the industry.
When the opportunity came to work for ‘nong Tony, I did not make any reservations. Thanks to Gregorio Deligero, then our associate editor, who told me about the formation of Edge Davao as a weekly business newspaper and he wants me to take care of their sports page.
There I was in the company of the greats of the Davao media industry, Ram Maxey, editing our work, Tony Ajero providing the editorial direction and Olive D. Velasco (who eventually took role too as our ninang) making sure that money is coming in for the paper and printing requirements.
My first assignment from ‘nong Tony was to write the “Golfer of the Week” and Mr. Ed Bangayan was our first featured golfer. That’s the start of the highlight of the sports page that featured the captains of the business and professional industries in Davao.
What I loved about staying at the Edge Davao editorial office was just to listen to the conversations of daddy Ram and ‘nong Tony about events that happened many, many years ago. “Pare, nakahinumdum ka……”, that is his first line to daddy Ram.
Believe me you’ll learn a lot from two veteran editors.
I’m trying to recall what happened that night that I decided to sleep in the newsroom and ‘nong Tony was telling me stories of what happened to some big personalities.
In the morning, he told a staff member to buy breakfast for us and after he took a shower (yes, the editorial office is his second home), we ate together and the lovely morning chat started.
Lami kaayo ang life noh?
If ‘nong Tony happened to be a millionaire, sa hotel gyud unta mag breakfast noh? Mas lami kaayo.
But ‘nong Tony is not a millionaire, he could be one if he is kuripot. He can’t be one because he is gifted with a personality that is of a giving human being.
No wonder, he is a loving godfather to us all.
Rest in peace ‘nong Tony.
You’ll be dearly missed.
