The 1999 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts

RESPONSE of Raul Locsin

Your Excellency, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, First Lady, Dr. Luisa Ejercito Estrada, Members of the Magsaysay family, distinguished guests, trustees, fellow awardees, ladies and gentlemen:

It is for me an honor to be here tonight and be among those acknowledged as one of those who have contributed a share to the endeavors of the community; albeit, in some small measure when put side by side with those who have made really deep changes in the milieu they live in. It is also with humility that I accept this award, not only for myself, but also, in behalf of the countless men and women of who have left footprints across time and space to hurriedly tell the story of mankind as the events took place in his sweep across history. As long as man exists, there will always be someone called the journalist to tell his story, his challenges and his dreams; even his shame and failures.

In today’s world it is now a largely respectable profession of chronicle events, it was not so in the past when it was almost fatal to be the bearer of bad news though it still is sometimes lethal especially in societies where an enlightened environment in the exercise of free thought and free expression has not yet come into its own.

Freedom of the press and expression in the Philippines is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in her Constitution by a provision not unlike that in the First Amendment of the American Charter from where the Philippine organic law drew a lot of its substance during the establishment of what was then the Philippine Commonwealth.

Unlike in the other countries in the rest of Asia, our newspapers, took their roots from the practices of American journalism oftentimes with mimicry far surpassing that of the original model.

Subsequent amendments to our organic law may have altered our political structures but have kept intact the intent of the provision on press freedom which makes the press in this country the only organized business accorded constitutional protection.

The rationale behind this particular provision is that all other freedoms in the citizen’s bill of rights become defenseless if freedom of expression is abridged. It is not therefore strange that those that who would be dictators or who would seek to impose authoritarian rule first assault the press to eventually silence the citizen.

In a sense therefore journalism becomes a commitment for those who exercise it. I am proud to be part of it. Thank you.