PRESS PLAY: How caffeine and cigs made a ball bounce

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By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

It all started in our “tambayan” at the University of the Philippines Visayas Miagao campus.

Circa 2018, approaching summertime.

It was a sunny day, but our spot at the back of the cooperative building had always been blessed with sufficient breeze that was enough to cool our young and playful minds, bothered by the everyday struggle of keeping up with the university’s six-absence rule.

As conversations over coffee, surrounded by the fumes of Marlboro Reds and Winston Greens, got interesting, a serious-looking guy with glasses navigated through the tight space on the left aisle and sat down.

He brought out a pack of Marlboro Golds, offered each one of us a stick, and started joking about the country’s current affairs the “old-school” way.

My mentor, Dr. Zoilo Andrada Jr., quickly introduced me to him.

Little did I know that the serious-looking guy was the editor-in-chief of Western Visayas’ top print media institution, the Daily Guardian.

“Francis ah,” he said.

The moment may seem like a blur and a no-big-deal kind of thing, but that was the first time my love for journalism was rekindled.

Fast-forward to two weeks before graduation, and we met again in the same spot.

After I sat in the corner, I overheard a conversation between my mentor and Sir Francis about a recent job opening as a sportswriter for the Daily Guardian.

Dr. Andrada turned to me and jokingly said, “Basi interesado ka.”

Sir Francis then butted in: “Kadto to next week mig, pasa resume, no question na ini kay UP product. Mangape ta dayun ah.”

As I gauged my options for life after college, I didn’t think twice and applied to the Daily Guardian.

With God’s grace, I got accepted.

The first few months were periods of adjustment.

Researching facts, checking the fluidity of your article structure, and, most importantly, carving out relevant news.

The majority may judge this line of work as labor-friendly, but let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, it is also mentally draining.

Creating three to four stories per day, double-checking your work, and making sure that all polished files are submitted before 6 p.m.

But just like what they say, doing things that you love won’t keep you stressed.

It will do the opposite.

And that’s exactly what I felt.

Every day for me was an exciting opportunity to grow, learn new things, and understand the landscape of local, national, and international sports, while treating millions of people to creative articles designed according to their taste.

It came to a point where it no longer felt like work.

It became my stress reliever.

Wearing the Daily Guardian badge not only means you are a truth-seeker, but it also forms a sense of pride, knowing that you are affiliated with one of the most respectable institutions in the whole world.

People even ask me, “Are you not getting tired of work?”

“No. This is not work. This is something that I love,” I replied.

They tag me as crazy and “alipin ng salapi,” but those were not sugarcoated.

They were pure.

I sometimes feel like I bleed ink.

I am now entering my eighth year handling the sports section of the local newspaper, and I always ask myself:

“Normal pa ni ayhan nga wala ko gaka tak-an sulat adlaw adlaw.”

These words linger every day.

In the middle of my work, after work, or during my coffee time.

However, I just shake my head, get up, and say, “Aysus, na-delay ubra ko. Balik ko ah. Tirahun ko pa NBA, excited nko.”

Darn it.

I think I might be stuck here for eternity, but who cares?

I love this job, and as the years progressed, the Daily Guardian has already become my safe haven.

As my beloved institution celebrates 25 years of success, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the big bosses, the whole Fernandez family, Sir Francis, and my mentor, Dr. Andrada, who became the bridge to where I am now.

Thank you to that caffeine and those cigs, the reason why my flat ball began to roll and bounce again.