By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2009 Journal Group Link International)

NPC Phil.-U.S.A. Raises Funds for Slain Manila Bulletin Reporter; CJA Offers Scholarship for Orphan of Slain Journalists

C HICAGO, Illinois (JGLi) – The National Press Club of the Philippines in the United States (NPC Phil.-U.S.A.) based in Chicago, Illinois, has started the ball rolling for the fund-raising for one of the 31 slain journalists who were massacred last Nov. 23 in Maguindanao in the Philippines.

At the same time, it was disclosed during the board meeting of the NPC Phil.-U.S.A. that the Chicago Journalists Association is offering a $1,000 scholarship to one of the orphans of the slain journalists, who is pursuing a journalism or mass-communications degree.

CJA President Allen Rafalson informed Joseph G. Lariosa, former NPC Phil.-U.S.A president, that the scholarship check will be handed over to the scholarship recipient if another sponsor can extend complimentary round-trip ticket that will take the recipient to Chicago for the turnover ceremonies on October 3, 2010, of the scholarship check.

The NPC Phil.-U.S.A. also decided Saturday (Dec. 5) to collect from its members and their friends donation for the survivors of the late Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, reporter of Manila Bulletin, who was one of the 31 slain journalists. Mr. Reblando was one of the members of the delegation of the NPC of the Philippines who came to Chicago in 2001 as one of the special guests during the induction of officers of  NPC Phil. U.S.A. led by Bart SG. Tubalinal, Jr., the Fil-Am Weekly Megascene publisher-editor.

Mr. Reblando accompanied an NPC delegation led by then President Louie Logarta, Director Lolit R. Acosta, Fred Gabot, former NPC president; and Mel T. Velasco also of Manila Bulletin.

Mr. Rafalson also committed $100 for the CJA to start the fund-drive for the survivors of the 31 journalists, who were brutally slain in Maguindanao, while covering a pre-election event.

Earlier, the New York City-based Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent and non-profit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, had issued a statement saying, it “is working with local-and-international media support groups to extend assistance to the families of the numerous journalists killed Monday in a brutal election-related massacre in the Philippine province of Maguindanao."

Past NPC Phil.-U.S.A. President Yoly Tubalinal, co-publisher-editor of the Fil-Am Weekly Megascene, said “our club wants to donate to survivors of other victims but our limited resources would only be good for the survivors of Mr. Reblando as we want to return him the favor when he paid us a visit eight years ago. Perhaps, if we can get more donations, we can consider giving away donations to other victims’ survivors in the future.”

Ms. Ting Joven-Giovanelli, club treasurer, said, “There will be no too small donation that we will accept because of the economic hardship we are having.”

Messrs. Marlon L. Pecson, Joe Balmadrid and Manny Zambrano of Philippine Weekly and other club officers and members present during the board meeting started contributing initial amounts of $20s to kick off the donation drive.

One of the friends of the NPC-Phil.-U.S.A., Atty. Loida N. Lewis, has also pledged to donate to the fund drive.

Names and amounts of the donation are going to be posted on the club’s listserv.

Prospective donors may communicate with the club treasurer, Ms. Ting Joven-Giovanelli, at her email address at tingjoven@aol.com. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net).

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