Echoes From
BY JOHNNY DAYANG

Give thanks for the community press

In the midst of warm felicitations and good cheer that usher the coming of the Yuletide season, let us pause and spend a moment of silent prayer for all the community journalists that gave their lives in the name of press freedom and the ideals of a genuine and free community press.

Let us pause and pray for the souls of the community journalists who perished in what the world press has cited as the "worst, single incident of violence against the Philippine media" - the grisly massacre of 33 community journalists in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao.

Let us pause and give thanks for the National Press Month and the Month of the Community Press Service of the Nation, which has afforded community journalists in every municipality and city, the chance to come together, every December, in the spirit of camaraderie and a common regard for a bigger, better, and livelier community press for the Philippines.

Let us pause and reflect on the achievements of community media practitioners that over the decades have stood out as vanguards of press freedom and free speech; remaining steadfast and relevant in an increasingly complex psycho-social, geopolitical, and strategic economic mileau.

Let us pause and take heed of our collective commitment to promote the natural beauty of our 7,100 islands - in the spirit of harmony and eco-friendly tourism, even as we consistently sound-off the need to be proactive protectors of our environment in a world experiencing far-reaching climate change.

In truth, our stories of tourism help in building international bridges of friendship, regardless of creed and culture. Correspondingly, our news on climate change aid in creating that much-needed global cooperation and resolve required to pursue to the end the universal campaign to save the planet.

Whether as saviors or just the harbingers of news, the community press is here to stay. It is the broadest, most widespread, and productive organization of journalists and media practitioners in the country today.

Far from being confrontational and opinionated, community press journalists are quiet, but persistent workers. They are the indefatigable champions of freedom and of truth.

Let us joyfully celebrate the Month of the Community Press Service of the Nation! Happy National Press Congress Month to one and all !