We take care of our own.
That adage had never been more true than with the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) in its recent MOPC-MVP Golf Cup Invitational last December 7 at the Manila Golf and Country Club. The tournament was held for the benefit of the continuing MOPC scholarship program for deserving children of journalists who need support to pursue a Journalism degree in the country’s major universities.
The MVP Group of Companies, through PLDT-SMART, Meralco, Maynilad, and Philex Mining sponsored the one-day event. Around 60 players participated, including some members of the diplomatic corps like US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder, Indian Ambassador LD Ralte and Thai Ambassador Thanatip Upatising.
Lady golfer Leanna Carmona emerged as the overall winner, and her feat was warmly applauded during the awarding ceremonies I was privileged to host together with the lovely Patricia Bermudez-Hizon of the MVP Sports Foundation.
The MOPC is the country’s premier press club and one of the oldest in Asia. It was established in 1945 at the close of the Second World War, though there are stories that tell of its founding well before the war.
In this time of Yuletide cheer, we say a prayer and remember our journalist friends and comrades who died in the line of duty while bravely soldiering on for the Truth. It is in this regard that the MOPC strives to take care of its own, the ones that fallen journalists have left behind, in the same way that we take care of ours.