"Finally, I launch it today."
My memoirs, “The Road Never Ends,” will be launched today by the Manila Standard. There will be a cocktail party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Manila Golf and Country Club, Makati City.
I express my eternal thanks to my boss, Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez.
For many years, I have been hesitant to write a book even as many friends have been urging me to do it. I have been a journalist for almost seven decades and have seen history in the making. Sometimes I found myself part of it. I have walked the corridors of power and have interacted with the greats and near-greats in business, politics and media.
A year ago, a good friend of mine said he would take care of everything, knowing how much it cost to publish a book. And I simply did not have that kind of money!
Another reason I was hesitant was because I knew I was not a pop star or a hero. I am just a journalist.
I have seen so many books of journalists in libraries gathering dust.
So together with my wife, who has always been with me in all my struggles, we agonized for months on whether to write this book. I also consulted my children Vic, Nina, Eric, and Nicky.
Fortunately, there was Lea Manto-Beltran who had the patience to listen to all the recollections from my childhood, pre-war days, the Japanese occupation, my college days at Ateneo, my law studies at the Philippine Law School, and many other stories of my life.
My gulay, my wife often corrected my recollections. I am now over 90 years old and I often forget names, people and events.
Soon, we were able to piece together the book.
But because of unforeseen events, my friend’s promise did not materialize. That left me hanging for months.
It must have been good luck. I got word that my Manila Standard boss, Rep. Romualdez would help me. For these, I am also grateful to opinion editor Adelle Chua and writer Jenny Ortuoste, a Palanca winner, for helping me with the book.
I must also give credit to Dean Francis Alfar and his wife Nikki, both Palanca awardees, for helping me edit the first edition of the book. Later on, I was able to add more stories and events.
I must also thank my Manila Standard publisher Rollie Estabillo.
Lastly, I would also like to thank my former student Bobby Ongpin, chairman of the Alphaland Group of Companies, and Philip Romualdez, former chairman of the Chamber of Mines. They never lost faith in me that I would be able to publish my book.
For the occasion of the launch, I have invited Presidents Gloria Arroyo, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. I have chosen Mike Toledo, vice president of the Metro Pacific Group of Companies, to be the master of ceremonies.
I have invited many friends to honor my book launch with their presence.
***
Some friends have asked me why I decided to write my memoirs. My usual answer is the book is not about me. It is about my journalistic career.
There are actually three reasons I wrote the book.
First, I would like to impart to the younger generation that journalism is more of a calling than a job or profession. Here, one cannot expect to be a multi-millionaire.
Second, there is no substitute to a good education, hard work, patience and perseverance. With faith in God and lots of prayers, one can achieve change and make a difference.
And last, for a journalist, the road never ends.
With this I recall my favorite prayer, the Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
This prayer has given me comfort and peace of mind so many times.
***
Alphaland Group of Companies chaired by Roberto Ongpin is in a roll. After his success with his signature development, the Balesin Island Club Paradise, he now has the Makati Place which houses the City Club and the high-end Aegle Wellness Center, as well as the Alphaland Suites.
He now also has the Baguio Mountain Lodges, which Baguio residents call the Forbes Park of the summer capital.
Ongpin is also now developing a 750-hectare property on Patnanugan Island not far off from Balesin.
Dennis Valdez, who will become Alphaland president on Feb. 1, said that while RVO has gone all over Thailand and Singapore, he still chose to invest in the Philippines.
More power to my former student Bobby, and to Dennis.