Blog 16: Would you consider a legacy of your family lost if the one who started it is gone? Will you continue it? For whom and for what reason.
Me? I will. For my family of course.
I think everyone will too. This story is dedicated to my late Grandfather. He is Pedro “Pete” Fontiveros Mabazza, a Journalist.
He was also a Correspondent at the Manila Bulletin. His job was hard. I saw pictures of him doing lectures too. He goes to different places, far and near.
Although I haven’t met him because he left too early, I know he is proud of me. His story needs to be heard. I am writing this from all the things I know about him.
That is why I need to do this. He inspires me to do what I want, writing. The Mabazza Legacy is still alive.
Here it goes… He was riding a Military Truck with soldiers when armed rebels attacked their convoy. They were ambushed, by the New People’s Army.
Willie Vicoy a photographer for Reuters, an army colonel, four soldiers and my grandfather were killed.
Vicoy and Pete Mabazza, a local correspondent for the Manila Bulletin newspaper, were said to have been the first journalists killed in combat in the 17-year war with the guerrillas.
The Washington Post
I hated it I heard that story from my father himself. I felt sad and angry, then all of a sudden I started imagining the scenarios.
Then that night my Grandmother got a call, she and her 3 children rushed to a funeral home here in Tuguegarao City.
My father was just 10 years old when that happened. Their life started falling apart. My Grandfather left 3 children and a wife.
My Grandma, Lilia Peñaflor Mabazza is a teacher. She had to take care of her children alone.
In the 1980’s my Grandfather had a Provincial Newspaper called “Amianan” I am planning to revive it someday to continue a lost legacy.
In Ilokano, Amianan means “north”. Sounds familiar? I started to see a pattern there for a while. The Northern Forum – Cagayan Valley also started in 1980.
Maybe it was the original Amianan. No one knows.
Refer to this articles for more information:
2 Journalists Are Slain By Philippine Rebels, The New York Times
Archpoint Media 