My Freeman story

My Freeman story does not start on March 28, 1989 when I first became a member of the family as an intern.

It starts many years before that reading after my grandfather finishes with the paper and enjoying the puns of Mr. Juanito V. Jabat in his old column “Have Bat Will Strike.”

Years later, I used to go to The Freeman office to submit the press releases of the Philippine Amateur Judo Association Cebu Chapter.

Then I had the luck of the draw, I was picked to be sent to The Freeman for my internship that was supposed to last only 120 hours later extended to 200, but I did not anymore mind how long it would take to finish.

After over 20 years, I still around and my Freeman story is probably still unraveling. Today, as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the paper, I would like to thank the institution and its leaders, who have helped mold me into what I am now.

At 90 years old, The Freeman is not old and rickety, in fact it remains very dynamic and I pray that I will still be around to see more milestones that this paper would achieve, not necessarily as an insider, but as one who spent a good part of his life as part of The Freeman, which I will forever be thankful for.

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This Tuesday will be a sporty day for the Peemayers in Cebu as a series of sporting activities are scheduled for the whole day fellowship.

Navy Lt. Jim Alagao of the Central Command has been busy contacting the members of the PMA community (both graduates and former cadets) for the activity, which was originally set for Wednesday but moved a day earlier.

This is hosted by Lt. Gen. Isagani C. Cachuela, commander of the Central Command.

Sports competitions will start with golf at the Mactan Island Golf Club with a shotgun tee off at 6 am and from there participants will head the Centcom headquarters in Camp Lapu-Lapu for a “boodle fight.”

The games for basketball, football and badminton will be held in the afternoon and fellowship follows in the evening of the same day.

While the team composition is not yet final, the participants will be classified based on cadet company.

To the men and women of the Cebu Squad now headed by our president, Col. Clarence Martinez, see you on Tuesday!

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings go to Dr. Dinah Saavedra and to Jasmin Uy, who both turned a year older yesterday. The same goes to Rhea Mangaccat, who celebrated last Thursday.

Today’s greetings go to my mistah Maj. Samuel Sagun, deputy spokesman of the Philippine Army and to Genevieve Capacio-Velasquez.

Advance greetings go to Robert Paul ‘Bobby’ Martinez, who is turning a year older tomorrow.

More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN