It was actually Greg Deligero, our Associate Editor at that time, who invited me to join Edge Davao-The Business Paper, 10 years ago. I did not ask why, for all he knows, I’m passionate about sports, its development and how it should be properly managed.
But it was manong Tony Ajero, our Editor In Chief, who, in a way, led me in the direction of solidifying sports and business. And so the Golfer of the Week section of the sports page was born and we first featured Mr. Eduardo Bangayan, owner of several businesses in Davao and an active supporter of Metro Davao Sports Association, an organization that does philanthropy work.
We were then a weekly newspaper and so it was relatively easy managing the sports section and the late Ramon Maxey, our Editorial Consultant, had plenty of time to polish my stories.
Just recently, I dropped by at the Edge Davao office, met some new lovely faces and delighted to see our GM ma’am Olive, Ate Chay(sales), Lani Maratas(finance) and Ella Tingzon(HR), who popped the question why I stopped writing. Well, I responded with a bowed head, “I just got tired”.
Ate Chay wanted me to stay a little bit longer for the 10th Anniversary but who knows I may pop up and surprise the staff once again, hahahaha.
I just could not help but just be happy with the progress of this newspaper. I just could not believe it, 10 years. It’s just wow!
I’m quite bothered, though, with the brain drain after Greg, Bambam Garcia, our original photo man, and Charles Maxey joined Malacanang. However, when I formally met Mr.Jimmy Laking, the Associate Editor, I know that the Editorial Department is in very good hands.
What happened to our managing editor, Neil Bravo? Ahhh, he is just like me, serving our lovely Boss, our respective spouses. Him, Down Under, me, Up North! Ahhh, the beauty of marriage, eh? Oh well, Neil is still actively writing, thanks to the invention of the internet. That reminds me, when Neil is away for a national sports coverage, I have to man the fax machine many moons ago and make sure that the copies are not garbled. Those were the days.
To the editorial and printing departments of Edge Davao, I’m very proud of you and congratulations!
* * *
And since it is the month of March, happy birthdays to manong Tony, James A. Zimmerman and Mayor, now President Rodrigo R. Duterte and happy Araw ng Dabaw too!
