MARLEN V. RONQUILLO
IF you were a reporter in the late 1970s and paid by the column inch, the best place to be was the maritime beat. If you were restless and hungry enough, the maritime beat offered a broad expanse of people, events and issues to cover. One day, you had to report on cargo tonnage for the coastal (interisland) trade. On some days, you might be at one of the piers of the Manila North Harbor, the major domestic seaport, to cover the maiden voyage of an old, international cargo carrier converted into a passenger vessel — now called a “modern, luxury vessel” in the press release of the interisland shipowner. All of these meant column inches, and survival, for the near-to-starving young reporter.