It has been the word of mouth for the past days. Most of my colleagues in ABS-CBN just had their last day of work as June ended. A lot of questions were asked. We chose to keep mum about it. It was a bittersweet ending; knowing that there will always be tomorrow. Some of them already made plans on where to go, others still wanted to get a feel of what’s going to happen next in this life full of uncertainty. The common denominator for them all was embracing change and that all good things come to an end.
They weren’t just ordinary people. Two of them made a mark in the media industry. Junrey Nadela and Edgar Escalante became gems when it came to broadcasting. Edgar is one of the pioneers of the local newscast adapted to take advantage of technology; he was one of the first to use the smartphone for his live reporting. Junrey, on the other hand, always had stories with impact. He paved the way for people to be helped and connections to be forged. Two different people, but had the same heart and passion for the craft.
We will never forget them, and all that they have done. For sure they have made friendships, long-standing ones, with others also in the industry. Their names became common in every household that learned to love the ins and outs of the region with the newscast. For days, we tried to swallow the truth that after more or less two decades, they will be focusing on different priorities including their families. You see, being in the news requires time and energy. At this time, they have felt that their families need them more than ever.
I’m sure we will all miss them, on and off air. They were not just friends, but mentors who have trained not only this writer but many others who have ventured on to different fields. Their Facebook posts stating their goodbye yielded many comments from people from all walks of life, including former interns who are now scattered among the media outlets. Imagine the legacy that they have left behind.
To me and rest who have been left behind, we ask ourselves – what is our legacy when we leave the portals of the not-so-glamorous life of the media? Have we fought hard for press freedom to be upheld? Or have we joined the group of people who are apathetic to the situation?
There is no other time to be an agent of change but today. For Junrey and Edgar, they have made their mark during their prime years. For us, there are still many years and moments ahead of us to pave. So, we challenge ourselves to be better and better as the days go by. We only wish the best for the both of them, and the rest that have to leave the portals too. We remember all the lessons learned and the moments shared.