A reunion and another life

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AGING brings a temperament of comfort and gladness that somehow goes beyond grumpiness during anniversaries and reunions. Shaking hands tightly, exchanging sincere endearments and embracing old friends probably for the last time seemed to release a redeeming climate of meaning and rest.

A grand reunion of former officers and employees of RPN Channel 9 and IBC Channel 13 took place the other week at the PhilAm Life Homes, the oldest subdivision in Quezon City. A special “Bagets” award went to 93-year-old Ross Carballo, a former engineering executive.

Many prominent familiar faces now gone seemed to make their absence strangely evident: Assistant GM for Operations Frank Abao Jr., Vice President for News and Public Affairs Edwin Fargas, VP for Sales and Marketing Cencio dela Cruz, news anchor Harry Gasser and his wife TV and movie comedian Flora Gasser, Public Affairs host and VP for Provincial Operations Baby “Rachada Balita” Macaspac, production manager Apollo Arellano, Public Affairs and Talk Show anchor and Standard and Practices manager Rey Pedroche, engineering manager Alex Abiog, administrative manager Lourdes Angeles, merchandising director Jonjo Trinidad, merchandising supervisor Greg Vinzons, news editing supervisor Senen Dimanahan, and former president of the RPN 9 Employees Union Jean Mirabueno

‘The sad fate of the RPN 9 employees may have rekindled the huge stigma faced by
ABS-CBN-Channel 2 employees after martial law was declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos.’

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These sequestered broadcast corporations owned by businessman and former Ambassador Roberto S. Benedicto were practically run to the ground during the administrations of Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos, with professional competence and experience thrown out of the window in the Malacañang appointments of presidents/CEOs, chairmen and members of the Board of Directors. Heavily indebted to its major business partner, Solar Entertainment Corporation owned by Wilson and William Tieng, RPN 9 virtually ceded management and marketing operations to it Eventually, Solar would acquire and control 34% of the network in a highly-controversial privatization agreement with the government, the pertinent details of which were never disclosed to the public.

Over 200 members of the two employees unions of RPN had been unjustly and illegally retrenched under then President Noynoy Aquino and ultimately lost their legal cases at the Supreme Court for overdue payments of separation and employee benefits. They were stunned by the shocking turn of events after expecting the High Court to render a very fair judgment that would have ultimately uplift their distressing financial conditions. There are persistent speculations that big money and politics had reversed the otherwise favorable outcome for the two unions.

The sad fate of the RPN 9 employees may have rekindled the huge stigma faced by ABS-CBN Channel 2 employees after martial law was declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos. About 8,000 employees of the largest and pioneering TV and radio network suddenly lost their jobs when its main broadcast station in Quezon City and in stations in the provinces were shut down, along with the rest in the broadcast industry.

Barely a year after, employees of the Benedicto-owned Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS) took over the facilities and offices of ABS-CBN on Bohol Avenue previously occupied by the then forcibly displaced ABS-CBN employees. No one was compensated for the loss of job and loss of personal property in the seized premises. KBS would broadcast over Channels 2 and 9. Government-owned station, Channel 4, would also use the same facilities

It should be more worthwhile to move ahead past our memorable experiences and exemplary achievements in this life which ebbs each passing day, and deal with the reality of physical death and, more importantly, the afterlife which brings us to the actual presence of our Lord and Creator. But, only if we have surrendered our lives to Him and accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, and thus have become children of God. Get-togethers and reunions of senior citizens rarely touch on the subject of eternal life which all of us must face one day. And, the real vital issue is to be certain that our souls do not end up at the place of eternal torment or condemnation.

The following is a prayer I composed as the invocation at the start of the grand reunion of former RPN 9 and IBC 13 employees, which deals with deep gratitude to God, everlasting life and forgiveness:

“Lord, we thank you for this very rare and exceptional gathering. We praise you, Father, for blessing us with this special occasion as we merrily engage in heartwarming reminiscences of the good old days in RPN 9 and IBC 13. We thank you, Father, deeply and wholeheartedly for life’s abundance in our work of many years at our country’s former leading TV broadcasting networks.

“Thank you for your long-time provisions that exhibited the wonders of Your loving and mighty hand for us to have more than enough to see our children through school and raise our wonderful families. Thank you, Lord, for the vigorous joy of being together once again, and for the irresistible burst of fun and laughter that you lovingly bestow on us today.

“Make us turn away from any unwelcome or bitter memories of the past so that we may truly relish this day and the remaining days of our lives, which continue to be precious to you, as your gifts to us and our loved ones. Forgive us, Father, for any lingering or persistent resentments against anyone. Speak to us graciously, Lord, as you prepare us for the new and incredibly glorious life that awaits us.”

“Make us embrace the truth of our real destiny which is to be with you in the life everlasting which, unlike this old one, will never end. We ask all these through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the loving and powerful Name of Your Son, Jesus, Our Lord. Amen! Amen!!

 

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