Families of slain journalists joined a three-day workshop of sharing, healing and learning organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines held at the Subic Bay Freeport from April 21-22, 2007.
The 2007 Saranggola Summer workshop, consisting of field trips and psychosocial sessions, was joined by over 40 children and wives and a mother of journalists slain from 1987 onwards. All are beneficiaries of a scholarship program managed by the NUJP, jointly with the British-basedBevil Mabey Study Foundation and the Makati-based Kasangga sa Kaunlaran Inc.
The workshop culminated in a lunch with the scholarship sponsors and members of the media.British ambassador Peter Beckingham, in a message to the participants, said that "my heart, and that of everyone in the embassy, goes out to the relatives, especially the spouses and children, of journalists killed in the Philippines.
He added that "the appalling loss of life, and the sufferingwhich follows, is something no one should have to endure."More inspiring words were shared by NUJP vice general-secretary Nonoy Espina, Mabey and Johnson Philippines General Manager David Watson and Kasangga president Jose Tumbokon.
Most participants expressed their appreciation for the activity. "I made new friends and they laugh at my jokes," said John Kelvin Binungcal, 12-year old son of Remate correspondent Romy Binungcal, killed in Bataan in 2004.
"It made me even even more determined to pursue journalism as a career," said Princess Mae Palo, 18-year-old daughter of radio broadcaster Leo Palo, killed in Davao in 1987.
"Now I realize that I am not alone," said Cecil Ramos, mother of two children and widow of reporter Robert Ramos who was killed in November 2005.
Several of the widows demanded that the government authorities move decisively to investigate and prosecute the killings of journalists.
"The government has to act. We don't want anymore journalists killed," said Elvie Sanchez, widow of reporter Romeo Sanchez, killed in Baguio City in 2005.
This is the second Saranggola summer workshop held by the NUJP for the beneficiaries of its scholarship program, with main sponsor as the Bevil Mabey Study Foundation.
This year's activity was hosted by the NUJP chapter in Subic and Olongapo. The Children's Rehabilitation Center, anon-government agency accredited with the Department of Social Welfare and Administration, prepared the modules and facilitated the workshops.
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