Jacque Manabat on summing-up values, loyalty, and credibility in being a Journo pinnacle
“Kahit natutulog ako nananaginip ako ng news”
– As Media and Journalism is the bedrock of critical information to be given out to the public, but in the famous words of renowned current public affairs and multi-platform journalist, Jacque Manabat “Not all Journalists are considered Journalists”.
Knowing more about her experiences in the field and how she solemnly holds on one’s currency in credibility when delivering news to affect change one story at a time.
Early scholastic days
An Alumni from Saint Louis University, Baguio City who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Mass Communications from 2006, Ms. Manabat took the opportunity to further raise the bar of her own expectations ever since she was in just a kid. “I was really interested with how news works.”, according to her, “when I was in grade school, I know that I’ll be a committed news practitioner and when I was in high school I started joining news organizations. You know, like campus paper I started with that, until college.”
Following her desirable following with the news organization ABS-CBN and how she looks up to the industry so much because of their values and being the voice of the people; being the news organization that aired the documentary about Martial Law that started it all and made her fascinated to be a devoted journalist and a tenet for democratic societies. “That’s how my journey started when I was really young, because I know that there is power in words, there is power in information and there is power in freedom of speech.”
Sharing her experiences along the way in how she has a firm grasp on her mantra “Never stop learning”, “I was really excited to graduate (from college) and work, you know; to use all my learnings in real life.”
Following her footsteps that promote her integral presence in showcasing relevant and timely news that is bounded by ethics, removing anonymity, and always being responsible to move and give power to the public alongside her team, and the news agency.
Life inside the Newsroom
The first time that she aired on television in 2006 (after she graduated); there was still a huge gap that need to be filled in terms of experience and quite possibly on her writing and reporting style. “Magkahalong emosyon yan, I don’t know if I feel happy, or nag c-cringe ako.” but hey everyone has got to start somewhere.
But it’s not all limelight and glorification that she wishes to achieve, it’s also to carry out her passion effectively to best that she can, and while on the topic of the cancellation of ABS-CBN’s airing in mid June 2020, the most challenging or scariest realization that hit her and her career and had a deep think to either stay with the news agency or let everything go.
“What scared me the most in my entire career was the denial of the abs-cbn franchise” she adds, “it (ABS-CBN) has been my life for half of the time that I’m living here on earth.”… “Shall I leave ABS-CBN…or not? Pero sabi nga nila, Kapag nasusunog yung bahay mo, will you walk out and run away from it? Or will you go there and help them put out the fire?”
Through her own decision that could make or break her career, she still chose to stay with the news agency to make a difference and keep fighting amidst the cancellation, and it clearly shows that it was the right thing to do.“Parang I would prefer working for other companies (rather than the competition). Ganun ka-solid siguro yung values na-na-inculcate saakin nung ABS-CBN.”
“Going to another network, yes there were offers but I-uh, it wasn’t an option for me. Loyalty kasi eh, they have been helping me and my family for years, they made my dreams come true… kung kelangan pa ako ng ABS-CBN, I’m still here.”
“Hindi lang ako basta Jacque Manabat, I am Jacque Manabat of ABS-CBN news.”
Changing the world through the power of humanization
The ultimate goal for any journalists out there is to affect change to the world and their nations; the sole reason why Journalism/ Journalists exist and brought into the world, to change the nation for the better one story at a time. She further explains the highlight of making the news stories as humane as possible. In visualizing and writing the story, it’s all about perspectives and the angles as to how they see it fitting with diverse people.
Humanizing the news story has that certain charm that gets majority of the masses hooked to what journalists have to say and actually learn or leave with information that will stick to them and not just a “one hit wonder” type. As one of the examples that Ms. Manabat gives “So when you write about inflation stories, you don’t simply about the numbers, you write the stories behind the numbers…. And then you find someone from the audience to relate to”.
Coming back to the strong phrase of “Not all Journalists are considered Journalists”, everything is founded on ethics and verification. One wrong move could end one’s career if they or you are not careful enough when delivering facts or even opinions. Unethical lapses “should not be included in the news”, according to Ms. Manabat. “there are some people who call themselves journalists that are ethical, I despise such people… wala dapat sila sa industriyang ito.”
No Journalist should fear for their life while standing up for something if they are backed up with verified research (knowledge and the facts). She adds a statement, “Never nangielam yung management (ABS) sa stories namin, as long as it’s backed up with research…. so hindi nakakatakot maglabas ng story kahit na matatamaan na ang kumpanya namin… its how Journalists should work.”
“if there’s emotions of human, hindi sya magiging boring because… we (humans) are built for storytelling. We love storytelling.”
VALUES! VALUES! VALUES!
Coming to the end of the interview, the team and Ms. Manabat talk about what tips should future media practitioners always remember when being exposed in the field of media. The tips that she has left were: To take care of one’s credibility (losing credibility is like going bankrupt), treat Journalism as a mission (to create impact and help people to decide better), and to give our full loyalty to the public (as Journalists are the 4th estate).
Being inquisitive, persistent, and having the guts to reach and initiate one’s goals is what Ms. Jacque Manabat ended with.
“While you’re in school, and dapat ninyong pag-aralan is yung diskarte (STRATEGY) ((kung paano nyo pag sasabay-sabayin), because in the real world, bawal lumampas sa deadline. Pangalawa, disiplina (DISCIPLINE) in studying. Pangatlo… matututunan nyo sa school is yung pakikipag-kapwa tao (INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE).”
Words and illustrations by Gab Madriaga
