US-based media groups raise funds for slain journalist
CHICAGO, Illinois - Chicago-based media organizations – including a group of Filipino journalists in the United States – have begun raising funds for one of the 31 media workers who were killed in the Maguindanao massacre.
Donations have begun to be collected by members of the National Press Club of the Philippines in the United States (NPC Philippines-USA) for the survivors of the late Alejandro “Bong" Reblando, reporter of Manila Bulletin, who was among the slain journalists.
Although NPC Philippines-USA aims to donate to survivors of other victims, its limited resources “would only be good for the survivors of Reblando as we want to return him the favor when he paid us a visit eight years ago," former NPC Philippines-USA president Yoly Tubalinal, said.
“Perhaps, if we can get more donations, we can consider giving away donation to other victims’ survivors in the future," she added. [See: Journalist in Ampatuan town carnage saw himself on front page]
To start the fund drive, a $100 donation was committed by the Chicago Journalists Association (CJA) for Reblando’s surviving family members.
Marlon L. Pecson, Joe Balmadrid and Manny Zambrano and other members present started contributing as low as $20 to kick off the donation drive.
One of the friends of the NPC-Phil.-U.S.A., Atty. Loida N. Lewis, has also pledged to donate to the fund drive.
Names and amounts of the donation are going to be posted on the club’s listserv.
Prospective donors may communicate with the club treasurer, Ms. Ting Joven-Giovanelli, at her email address at tingjoven@aol.com.
In 2001, Reblando was one of the NPC delegation members who visited Chicago for the induction of NPC Philippines-USA officers led by Bart SG. Tubalinal, The Fil-Am Weekly Megascene publisher-editor.
Reblando was accompanied by then-NPC President Louie Logarta, Director Lolit R. Acosta, Fred Gabot, former NPC president; and Mel T. Velasco also of Manila Bulletin.
In the meantime, the CJA also announced it was offering a $1,000 scholarship to one of the orphans of the slain journalists who is pursuing a journalism or mass communications degree.
The scholarship check will be handed over to the recipient if another sponsor can extend a complimentary round-trip ticket that will take the recipient to Chicago for turnover ceremonies slated for October 3, 2010, CJA President Allen Rafalson told GMANews.TV.
Earlier, the New York City-based Committee to Protect Journalists, issued a statement saying, it “is working with local and international media support groups to extend assistance to the families of the numerous journalists killed Monday in a brutal election-related massacre in the Philippine province of Maguindanao." - Joseph Lariosa, GMANews.TV
Donations have begun to be collected by members of the National Press Club of the Philippines in the United States (NPC Philippines-USA) for the survivors of the late Alejandro “Bong" Reblando, reporter of Manila Bulletin, who was among the slain journalists.
Although NPC Philippines-USA aims to donate to survivors of other victims, its limited resources “would only be good for the survivors of Reblando as we want to return him the favor when he paid us a visit eight years ago," former NPC Philippines-USA president Yoly Tubalinal, said.
“Perhaps, if we can get more donations, we can consider giving away donation to other victims’ survivors in the future," she added. [See: Journalist in Ampatuan town carnage saw himself on front page]
To start the fund drive, a $100 donation was committed by the Chicago Journalists Association (CJA) for Reblando’s surviving family members.
Marlon L. Pecson, Joe Balmadrid and Manny Zambrano and other members present started contributing as low as $20 to kick off the donation drive.
One of the friends of the NPC-Phil.-U.S.A., Atty. Loida N. Lewis, has also pledged to donate to the fund drive.
Names and amounts of the donation are going to be posted on the club’s listserv.
Prospective donors may communicate with the club treasurer, Ms. Ting Joven-Giovanelli, at her email address at tingjoven@aol.com.
In 2001, Reblando was one of the NPC delegation members who visited Chicago for the induction of NPC Philippines-USA officers led by Bart SG. Tubalinal, The Fil-Am Weekly Megascene publisher-editor.
Reblando was accompanied by then-NPC President Louie Logarta, Director Lolit R. Acosta, Fred Gabot, former NPC president; and Mel T. Velasco also of Manila Bulletin.
In the meantime, the CJA also announced it was offering a $1,000 scholarship to one of the orphans of the slain journalists who is pursuing a journalism or mass communications degree.
The scholarship check will be handed over to the recipient if another sponsor can extend a complimentary round-trip ticket that will take the recipient to Chicago for turnover ceremonies slated for October 3, 2010, CJA President Allen Rafalson told GMANews.TV.
Earlier, the New York City-based Committee to Protect Journalists, issued a statement saying, it “is working with local and international media support groups to extend assistance to the families of the numerous journalists killed Monday in a brutal election-related massacre in the Philippine province of Maguindanao." - Joseph Lariosa, GMANews.TV
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