The cat is out of the bag in this all-in story about the Amanpulo murder investigation. Having just emerged from a “death defying” series on controversial mining projects in Southern Palawan, I had wanted to lie low for a while with pot boiler stories like the Palawan cherry (whoever thought that that flower we adored was neither Palawan nor cherry?) or file that long overdue piece on the 10th Pagdiwata Arts Festival (ahem… I did a forgettable rendition of Bach’s Prelude to Symphony on A major in classical guitar). But the lure of a major breaking story is to a journalist what a bait is to a fish. Without batting an eyelash, I had to dig into this one.
And yes I did catch the ire of not a few as I read some of the comments in my earlier related posts on the subject. Win some, lose some. But I am pleased with how the story has evolved. It is a legitimate story and I don’t mind being hit by a few interested parties for putting a respectable establishment such as Amanpulo on the spot in this way. It has nothing to do with tourism promotion and it is not a responsibility of journalists to promote tourism by looking the other way when a messy affair such as this one comes to the fore. Journalism is the advocacy for truth, fairness and transparency. Everything else is contextualized by how these big words translate into detail for every story written or told.
I like Pamalican Islands and how the resort is keeping its surroundings free from the usual cyanide and blast fishing that’s been happening all around. I buy the idea that tourism promotion is priority over extractive development like mining. These are personal disclosures and advocacies that as an individual I am entitled to. But this has nothing to do with journalism and the pursuit of a story. At the end of the day, everything settles down and things fall into their proper places. That’s the queer truth of life on this planet. Whatever one does out of commitment or due to a price having paid, the world heals itself.
So I take my hats off Mrs. Abamo who had trusted me without the benefit of seeing me in the flesh, with just my voice on the phone, and opened up with her fears and pains. And all other sources that are better not named in this log entry. And to Amanpulo that has expressed hurt in the publicity that the story has generated, I had extended my apologies. It’s been a long day at the office.
I hope that next week is less stressful and even more fun, with the Palarong Pambansa unfolding in my turf.
