T he members of the Media Breakfast Club (MBC) remembered Alejandro "Bong" M. Reblando during their 1,025^th weekly meeting on Nov. 25, 2009, at the Social Hall of the Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA). The meeting started at 10:30 a.m.

The 53-year-old Bong M. Reblando was one of so-far 30 journalists who were killed (out of 37 press people covering the event) together with confirmed 27 (as updated) other Maguindanao-Massacre victims on Nov. 23, 2009, at about 11:00 a.m. (Philippine time). He was recently promoted to the position of full-time staff reporter of the Manila Bulletin. Mr. Reblando was based in General Santos City.

According to Joseph G. Lariosa, Bong Reblando accompanied Louie Logarta and Fred Gabot, then the National Press Club (NPC) president and former NPC president, respectively, to Chicago, Illinois, in the third week of November 2001. Mr. Logarta inducted Bart SG Tubalinal, Jr. as the NPC Philippines-U.S.A. chapter president.

Mr. Lariosa is the dean of Filipino correspondents in the United States. He is the Chicago-based correspondent of the Manila Bulletin and the Tempo newspapers of the Philippines. He is also the NPC representative in the United States. Mr. Lariosa contributes articles also to this website.

Joseph Lariosa adds that Mr. Reblando missed the induction ceremonies, as he visited a relative in Springfield, Illinois, whom he had not seen for a long time.

H owever, Bong Reblando was able to accompany Louie Logarta, Fred Gabot and two other NPC officers to the Nov. 30, 2001, MBC-Dean Reyes Awards for Journalistic Excellence and Literary Distinction. The event was held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Mr. Lariosa was one of the awardees that night. Messrs. Logarta and Gabot were the keynote speakers.

The following day, Dec. 1, 2001, Mr. Lariosa and this writer picked up Bong Reblando at his relative’s residence in Southern California and they drove to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a meeting with some Filipino-American media practitioners, as headed by photojournalist Renato "Rambo" Avenido. They stayed overnight in Las Vegas and drove back to Los Angeles late the next day. Among the topics that the trio discussed during their long trip to-and-from Las Vegas was how the Overseas-Filipino journalists could help their counterparts in the Philippines. One topic was the “SOS-J” Project. It was the acronym for “Support for the Orphans of Slain Journalists,” which this writer proposed earlier.

Editor’s Note: To read a tribute to Bong Reblando in the Manila Bulletin, please click on this link,

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/230965/my-brother-bong-reblando

D uring a meeting with the visiting NPC officers on Nov. 29, 2001, this writer mentioned the concept of an “SOS-J” project. The NPC officers promised to look into the idea but nothing really came out of it.

In the meantime, the NPC Philippines-U.S.A. chapter in Chicago proposed to Mr. Logarta’s successor, Tony Antonio, the concept of raising money to help pay for the insurance premiums of Filipino journalists, especially those who cover dangerous zones.

The settlement money from the insurance coverage would go to the orphans of the slain journalists, as designated in the policy. But again, the concept remained solely an idea that never took off the ground – just like the “SOS-J” Project.

By the way, Tony Antonio retired from the Manila Bulletin in September this year and migrated to Michigan. He is now publishing a community newspaper there.

This writer will discuss with his fellow members during the MBC meeting tomorrow the possible launching of the “SOS-J” Project and/or the insurance-coverage proposal advanced by Mr. Lariosa. It is an opportune moment to begin helping the orphans of Filipino journalists who are killed in performance of their duties, starting with the “Maguindanao 25” (and counting) slain journalists. Bong Reblando is survived by seven children.

Editor’s Note: To read another story about Bong Reblando in the Inquirer.net, please click on this link,

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/
inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091125-238190/
Slain-reporter-leaves-7-kids

 

In the meantime, Mr. Lariosa and the MBC members request readers to pray for the repose of the souls of Bong Reblando and other unarmed 24 journalists, who became victims of the heinous crimes of corrupt-and-senseless Filipino politicians and warlords.

Editor’s Note: To read the names of the journalists killed in the “Maguindanao Massacre,” as posted in the Inquirer.net, please click on this link,

Inquirer man recounts harrowing tales of survival

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