Perils In Journalism - A John Kevin D. Pilapil Story

WRITTEN BY: LARNIE L . BACALANDO

Why are there some people who are willing to pursue their dreams even when they know that it will cost their lives? They are keen to take the risks and dilemmas in life for them to stay in their chosen careers.

The military peopl e, for example, already know that there is a high rate of mortality especially during wars but still they are extremely eager to protect the country and the people no matter how huge the cost is.

The same wars also happen in the journalism profession and it is not an occasional scene but episodic. Different wars occur each day with different people who become their enemies. According to a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) report, since 1992, there have been at least 1,230 journalists who have been killed through various means.

John Kevin D. Pilapil, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (AB Com.) graduate of Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT) from Ormoc City, proved that success is attainable by overcoming challenges and struggles in life. He said that you are not qualified to be a successful person when you never experience those things.

This 27-year-old journalist was exposed already at his young age to the reality that in life, nothing worthy comes easy. It was hard for Pilapil to juggle both work and school. Since high school until college, he had already been helping his parents in their small

business selling empanada.

“Mutabang ko sa akong parents sa paglibod og empanada. Challenge jud to kaayo sa akoa nga mag-eskwela at the same time kay magtinda. Didto man mi nagkuha og pagkaon. Didto sad mi nagkuha og pambaon ug sa pagpa-eskwela sa akoa ug sa akong

igsoon. Duha ra man mi ka mag-igsoon,” he said.

Despite his situation, he was not discouraged to pursue his biggest dream to become a successful journalist. Instead, he became more determined and braver in the journalism industry.

“Before ko ni-graduate, tungod sa akong pagka-aggressive sa media industry, gikuha nako akong AB Com. internship sa Sunstar Super Balita last March 2012 in Cebu City. Pag-graduate nako, gikuha ko sa DYAJ Power FM in Ormoc and then last July 2015, gikuha ko as correspondent sa Cable News Network (CNN) Philippines,” he narrated.

Pilapil showed humility in spite of many achievements he had in his life. He said that even though he is now already a media broadcaster, he cannot unambiguously tell that he is a totally successful person. “Bisan pag nahuman na ta sa atong pag-eskwela, daghan pa ta og maagian nga mga challenges so daghan pa tag dapat lampasan

pa jud,” he stated.

Indeed, in any profession, challenges and struggles were not invisible specifically in the journalism arena. You might think you have done the right thing or you are only doing your job but struggles do not cherry-pick people. Whoever you are, whatever your profession is, you are not exempted.

Sued by a Government Employee

“Ako ra’ng gibuhat ang akong trabaho which was ipahibawo sa mga tawo ang kamatuoran. Naka-base ko sa Palompon ani nga time. Gitawagan ko sa akong friend nga police. Sensitive issue man ni siya between sa teacher and student delving into a rape case. Pero kung unsa ang naa sa police blotter, mao ra akong gisuwat,” he expressed.

“I also conducted interviews sa teacher, sa victim, parents sa victim, sa laing students even sa principal sa school sa PNHS (Palompon National High School). Pag-check nako sa facts nga ok na i-publish, so akong gi-publish sa Facebook. Iya tingaling nabasahan or nabasahan sa iyang kaila ang iyang name, so mao to nga ni-react siya. Volunteer pa ko that time. Wala pa koy sweldo,” he continued. “Pagkahibawo sa teacher, gi-trace ko niya. Gi-print niya akong nawong ug ang article. After ana, gipatawag ko sa Dean’s office pero kami rang duha, nigawas ang Dean sa among department,” he said.

He was then scolded by the teacher, “Ikaw, ha! Estudyante pa gani ka, imo na kong gipraktisan!” but Pilapil still showed respect and maintained his diplomacy. He presented his identification card (I.D.) together with his manager’s mobile number to prove that he

was not using the teacher to practice in his field. Pilapil further said that he conducted an interview with the suspect before publishing it.

“Naa ang nerbyos ug kakulba kay ang nagreklamo nako naa may position sa community. Pero normal man na sa media nga naay mureklamo jud,” Pilapil added.

Death Threat

Aside from the abovementioned event in his life, he also received a death threat. Since Palompon was fun of having “Market Night” during the last Friday of the month, Pilapil together with his cousins and friends attended once. “Naay watchman, tig-bantay sa merkado. Niduol sa tindera sa ilimnon ug sigarilyo. Gitamparos niya ang babaye

maong na-call akong attention,” exclaimed Pilapil.

He conducted an interview with the suspect but instead of answering his questions, the suspect got angry at Pilapil saying “Ako ray mutumba nimo dinhi sa merkado.” Pilapil got threatened in his statement. “Gipangita ko sa watchman,” he continued.

When the article was published already in Sunstar Superbalita, the news reached the

Mayor’s office in Palompon. The Palompon municipal administrator talked to him at the

police station. The municipal administrator told him, “Kahibawo ba ka nga pwede ka kasuhan sa imong gibuhat nga gigamit nimo ang name sa Palompon?” Pilapil replied, “Lain man sa’g mugamit ko’g laing name, lain man sa’g Ormoc akong gamiton.”

“I have this principle man gud nga as long as naa ko sa kamatuoran, tinuod ang gipangsulti sa akong report, there is nothing to worry about. Kung wala ko’y basis, ma’y pa’g wala na lang ko mi sulod sa media, di ba?,” Pilapil said.

Termination in the House

Pilapil confessed that the biggest trial he had encountered in his career was being one of the accused persons on illegal activities in Leyte, associating with the Kerwin Espinosa case. He was included in the master list together with two other media personnel namely, Lalaine Jimenea, publisher of EV Mail and Leo Dumon of Sunday Punch. They were suspected that they were drug protectors.

“Part jud ni sya sa pinakadako nga trial karon nga gipasanginla ko nga usa daw ko ka drug protector but as media, kita nga media, wala man ta’y power, wala man ta’y capacity to become a protector of the biggest drug trade in Eastern Visayas. Ikaduha, we are not politicians nga dunay kapabilidad niana,” he expressed.

Pilapil admitted that, during that time, he was so depressed and there was a point when he did not eat at all and even sleep well. He said that he surpassed it with the thought that he was not the only person who was facing a big problem in life. He further said that he was not guilty of participation in any illegal activity. “Walay mga trials ug mga challenges nga dili nato makaya,” Pilapil said.

Because of the incident, Pilapil was terminated at CNN Philippines. “Dili lang to kay suspension, termination jud to tungod sa pag-include nako sa list. Honest ko sa ilaha. Niangkon man jud ko nga nidawat ko og kwarta gikan kay Espinosa pero tungod to kay nag-handle ko sa program during sa election. Tungod to sa akong serbisyo as an anchor,” he exclaimed.

“Ang success para sa akoa, wala’y kahumanan kay wala ma’y kahumanan ang mga challenges dinhi sa atoang kinabuhi,” he imparted. He concluded that those struggles were just part of becoming a successful person. “There might be different categories of problems we might encounter, easy, hard and difficult, we might fail for how many times but the most important thing is to never let failures get to your heart and never let your success get to your head,” he ended.