It has been five years and counting, a tumultuous and eventful ride with Panay News. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Luis Buenaflor Jr.
I’ve always thought that I’ll tell the story why my column in Panay News is called “Just Another Day” on the day I write “30”. On second thought, however, how can I write the story when I’ve already written “30”?
But stranger things have happened, a wonderful and lovely opportunity presented itself. Why not write about it on the 40th anniversary issue of Panay News? Indeed, why not?
After all, not many local publications have the bragging rights to be the region’s No. 1 newspaper in terms of circulation and readership. In fact, to last this long and still going strong in a very competitive and cutthroat environment are bragging rights no other newspaper can claim except Panay News.
This achievement not many people might be aware of, but I’m very proud to say I am part of. At the height of the lockdown last year brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic when other newspapers had no choice but to close shop or shift to purely digital format to save production cost – and even national newspapers could not get in because of the lockdown – the only newspaper you can see at the newsstands coming out every day was Panay News. Yes, we were the only newspaper standing.
And we segue to our story …
So there I was five years ago, sitting by the window in front of my laptop about to write my very first column for Panay News and still in a quandary as to what will the title be. I have a few things in mind, not exactly criteria but almost. It had to be uncommon, something to do with jazz and would leave people bemused.
At that time I was also listening to the music of Tower of Power, a funk, soul and jazz fusion band on my iPad and then this song floated in my earphones:
Yes, I know my life is kind of strange,
The thrill came down, but didn’t last.
Day by day the same old changes
Time seems to pass so fast
Just another day, has gone, gone and left me.
In the same old boat, aimlessly drifting…
The music was Tower of Power blasting away with this funk, jazz and soul fusion ballad “Just Another Day”. The mood of the day, the music and the thrill of a new adventure all came to place. Yes, this will be the title of my column in Panay News. On top of it, the title presents a profound story to tell as time passes by.
It was perfect, just another day in the travails of a journalist using sarcasm as his weapon of choice.
I joined Panay News coming back to “I Am Iloilo City” just a year after retirement as director of an internationally-funded animal welfare non-government organization and a short stint in the academe. From animal welfare advocacy to teaching journalism and finally to being a journalist again, I have come full circle.
I started life decades ago as a correspondent for an international wire service and editor of a local newspaper. And I thought I came back to “I Am Iloilo City” to retire, hang out in Starbucks and flirt with the pretty baristas over Café Americano. Not just yet. I suppose as I still have a job to do; tickling politicians with my dry humor, with sarcasm as my weapon of choice.
So please don’t shot me, I’m only a columnist.
It has been five years and counting, a tumultuous and eventful ride with Panay News. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And why Panay News?
I say it has to be Panay News as this is the only newspaper that lives and breathes what Founder, the late Danny Fajardo, said, “testing the limits of press freedom”. And that’s just fine with me.
April has always holds a place somewhere deep in my heart. You see, it was in this month decades ago I found love and fell in love for the last time, and I was born on April 7.
Call it an icing to the cake of April, Panay News was also born 40 years ago on April 7. Maybe it was a simple twist of fate that brought me to this column on the editorial page of Panay News but the sentimental old fool that Moi is, I prefer to call it destiny.
Sometime back in 2014 after almost three decades away, we decided to go back to Iloilo City following an uneventful stint in my alma mater, teaching what else but journalism. I decided to make this 360-degree turn and go back to my roots as a journalist.
Of course, it has to be Panay News as no other publication or newspaper will do. Since then I have found my niche…no, I prefer to call home in this column on the Op-Ed page of Panay News and I have never looked back.
Forty years ago on April 7, 1981 to be exact, Panay News was born…yes, indeed April dreams do come true.
Happy Birthday!/PN
