BY: BEN CONTRERAS
For more than 30 years, Gold Star Daily had been my home in column
writing, touching on diverse issues under the sun, so to speak. It was
there where my writing skill was honed. It was there where I was, in all
humility, given recognition as a columnist.
One of the more sensitive issues thrown against me was my grammar.
Perhaps, grammar was really my handicap. Being one at the tail end of
our class batch, I knew my limitation. It was my love for writing poems
and composing songs that helped me improved my English. When I was
19 years old and started working, I saw to it that I get a copy of
newspaper to read every morning, if only to help me improve my
English.
I can’t remember exactly when it started. It must had been sometime in
the early 80s. But I do remember what inspired me to write. Things that
were happening around us like social issues, politics, natural disasters, I
felt I just can’t keep my mouth shut without doing anything, much less,
say anything. That’s when I approached GSD if I could contribute as a
columnist.
It was in 2019, when I ran for mayor in Cagayan de Oro City that I
decided to stop writing when our Editor-in-chief told me I should not
run because “…corrupt man ka, bai. Ga illegal quarrying man mo ni
Ralph Abragan.” Well, from someone who teaches what “Investigative
journalism” is all about, it was a big let-down. The rest is history.
There were attempts to write in other local newspapers but failed for
reasons I don’t want to discuss here. I thought it would be the end of
that vocation until I met Mr. Dante Sudaria in Dynasty Court where the
induction of KBP new set of officers was held. Thanks to KBP Pres. Dr.
Ronnie Waniwan who invited me to that occasion.
Mr. Dante Sudaria is the publisher of several local tabloids that have
gained acceptance and popularity by the public, especially in the city.
Thus, one topic led to another until he invited me to write in this paper
Mindanao Daily. Thank you, Mr. Sudaria.
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Writing a column, I found out later on, should not be just about the
topics as enumerated above. It should touch on anything under the
sun. My personal experiences, about people of all walks of life, success
stories, tragedies, etc.
To my readers, I hope you are still out there, this is now my new home.
I hope to write regularly, though I was not given a definite schedule or
frequency yet.
Until then, Happy New Year, everyone.
