CAPTURED by Arlyn dela Cruz

BINUBUO--kasunod na edisyon ng PAGES, kuwento ng ating buhay, kuwento nating mga Filipino.

24 Nobyembre 2008

Kasalukuyang binubuo ang mga pahina ng kasunod na edisyon ng PAGES. Kung nais ninyong maging bahagi nito, sa pamamagitan ng pagambag ng mga artikulo tulad ng kuwentong ito na isinulat ng mamamahayag na si May Rivera, maaari kayong magpadala ng artikulo sa email address na ito: [email protected] o sa [email protected].

Doon natin pag-usapan ang iba pang detalye ng magiging susunod na edisyon ng PAGES. Umaasang pagkatapos ng edisyong ito ay magiging sunod-sunod at regular na ang paglabas ng PAGES na ipinakilala sa unang bahagi ng taong ito.

Ito ay bagay na aming pinagsisikapan.

Salamat sa mga unang tumangkilik ng pagtatangkang ito na maglimbag ng isang lathalain/magasin sa wikang Filipino.

Salamat.

Arlyn dela Cruz
Patnugot/Tagalimbag

PAGES, kuwento ng ating buhay, kuwento nating mga Filipino

We actually printed two samplers which got both positive and negative feedbacks. It's more like dummy issues and a way to test the waters so to speak.

The positive comments range from "it's about time for that kind of Filipino magazine"; "wow!";""awesome";"unique ha!" to a very overwhelming "you scored a scoop again!"

The negative comments are centered on the layout with some saying," It's like a souvenir program";Why are the pictures so small?Kailangan ng magnifying glass!";"parang chopsuey, walang theme, ano ba gusto mong direksiyon?"

Some even said, "mukhang mahal ang papel na ginamit, baka walang bumili." Even if in reality, the proposed price is actually very affordable. Pang BURJER baga!

There are in fact many too who took the time to email us using [email protected] and contributed stories and feature ideas for our future issues and really, really launching issue.

The truth is we appreciate all the comments forwarded to us. Salamat po talaga, positive man o negative, kailangan namin iyon.

Every masterpiece is a work in progress and our readers, the first batch, the lucky ones, (he-he!) get the distinction of being part and parcel of the refinement process of PAGES through their comments and feedbacks.

Sabi nga namin, kuwento iyon ng ating buhay, kuwento natin iyong mga Filipino kaya dapat may say kayo di ba?

Yes--everyone who has a story to tell is part and parcel of PAGES. Lalong-lalo na kung Pinoy ka!

Presenting some of the introductory pages of "PAGES"... (Enero, 2008)

Who reads PAGES?

"This is something good and beautiful", this was the first reaction of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos upon seeing PAGES. You could say that  it is a typical "Imeldific" comment  of everything good and beautiful. But hey, I was surprised to learn from her that she actually read the entries on PAGES when she  made a follow-up remark weeks after she was handed copies of the first two introductory issues. She said, "I like the Komiks section and you should feature more poems next time."

No, PASTOR "BOY" SAYCON of the Council for Philippine Affairs (COPA) is not planning another version of EDSA 2. He is simply appreciating the cover of a special issue we did for the province of Sulu. Saycon said, "The cover sends a very strong message."

I needed to hear it from senator Francis "CHIZ" Escudero. We used a combination of English and Tagalog articles in our introductory issues. Senator CHIZ said that's how Filipinos speak and communicate nowadays, not really just Taglish, but a combination of straight English and straight Filipino. We sounded our intention to put him on the cover in our coming issues and the answer was a resounding "YES!"

Camp Crame is a very familiar ground for me and when the first introductory issues were printed, I made sure that my friends in the Police Headquarters got a copy of PAGES.

"Okey ito ah! Mabuti naman naisip mo ito. This is educational and very informative." Yes, that was the comment made by Education Secretary Jesli Lapus who happened to be a friend and colleague since I once co-anchored with him in one radio show over Radio Mindanao Network - Manila called "Cong Jesli, Simple Lang!" Sec Jesli is an an easy man to please. If you want to get constructive reviews for any of your work, go to him, you'll get what you really need to hear. To get his nod on this endeavor really meant a lot. Pampagana ika nga. Go! Go!

Linda Montayre gave the honor of reading the manuscript of her book entitled, " A NATION UNBORN". i am returning the honor as I included her in the list of the select few that reviewed the two introductory issues.

Her comment: "the contents are very interesting but improve on the layout. The more pictures, the better it will be."

Yes, she also promised to write something for PAGES, an article which I can only speculate to be of very explosive and revealing content.

National Archer and ASEAN gold medalist Maya Paz also got a copy of PAGES. Her only wish is to see more  articles that promotes national athletes.

Wish granted. Pronto!

If there was one person who believe in this undertaking, it is my Ninang Cherry Cobarrubias. One of the reasons I pursued this undertaking is to honor her. I owe this woman a lot. Had she not answered her cellular phone on February 3, 2002, it would have been over for me. Her negotiation skills and natural motherly charm persuaded my kidnappers then to give it more time and spare my life.

I was ready to give up but her voice on the other hand gave me hope. My prayers were answered. Here was a woman who dropped everything to exhaust all possible means to help me---really help me and reunite me back to my family.

Ninang Cherry, PAGES is offered to real brave and nurturing people like you.

RNA or Robert Aventajado was interested in the article about the making of "Stalking Jihad" about the rescue operation on American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham abducted by the Abu Sayyaf from Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan in 2001. A year before that, it was Aventajado who hugged the limelight when he negotiated for an earlier hostage taking of 21 mostly European nationals by the ASG from Sipadan Resort in Malaysia.

His comment: "When are we doing the behind the scene documentary of SIPADAN?" My response, "Going there..."

I left copies of the Magazine at FRIDAYS TRINOMA branch. If you happen to drop by, ask for a copy and read  and let us know what you think.

I am sure you heard him on radio with his extro, "Ako si Benjie Liwanag ng Super Radyo DZBB, proud to be Kapuso". Who would not know him when almost all the biggest and breaking stories are assigned to him? I would be truly honored if one day, Benjie would agree to contribute an article for PAGES that hopefully would also expose his literary depth.