The Christmas holidays are a joyful time. The holiday season always trigger recollecting some past happenings, good or bad. For some reason. whenever you hear Christmas music, it creeps into the present time and makes you feel nostalgic.
We marvel at our many lucky breaks and good fortunes, our strengths and at how we handled life’s challenges. We pat ourselves for doing a good job but being people of faith, the picture is not as true unless we give credit to the Almighty and say “It’s all in God’s will.”
For starters, it was another banner year for Ruben, notwithstanding that he is confined in his wheelchair. For his career spanning accomplishments in Journalism that continues to this day the Kol Hope Foundation recognized him on November 11, with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Already a hard hitting, fearless and well respected reporter in the Philippines in the late 60s and early 70s he was among the first victims of then President Ferdinand Marcos to be incarcerated in the infamous Crame detention camp for government critics.
Earlier at the widely popular summer event of Filipinos Making Waves in Canada that is celebrated in Toronto every August, Ruben was one of those honored. Organizers Mon and Teresa Torralba said the award for Ruben recognizes his unique achievements as a media pioneer, and honors his impact in leading the fight for democracy during the Martial Law in the Philippines.
That man on a wheelchair proves to the world that disability is not a hindrance if you have the determination and you try to face all the challenges that confront you.
That dreadful night of the accident that forced us to take a new direction has now become a thing of the past. It was luck that I was taught how to handle the running of the papers and became his right hand since then.
I would be dishonest if I say I am not enjoying it now. From a nine to five job working as a Corporate Executive Assistant, it was so hard to just throw it away and stay home with him. But when Balita started operating, under my control, the pain, depression, self pity slowly disappeared
I was given a chance to prove my worth as a wife, lover, friend and a business partner. Ruben fought hard for me during our courting days and it is just fair to love and take care of him till the end. There are so many unwritten rules about loving and relationship, but what matters is the fact that strong love did us wonders.
Afar from some legal hurdles that we are still trying to clear and as what we reported before, we had to defend ourselves to some legal issues, it was a struggle but mind you it feels so good when you know you are defending your principle despite of the hurdles and the legal expenses.
Sometimes I think it has something to do with gender that I get more legal threats and fought more lawsuits than Ruben, but just the same, I remember what he told me before. “As long as you have practiced fair reporting, followed journalism ethics, you have the capacity, you have the resources, keep your dignity and fight like hell.”
Balita is the legacy of my husband Ruben Cusipag, so we really try our best to take good care of its goodwill.
As community advocate, Balita receives all kinds of unsolicited reports and complaints, seeking help and action, against acts of injustice, or victimization of kababayans.
Some we refer to the authorities, some we follow up ourselves, many we keep on file until the right moment. So let us serve you this warning- we know who you are and what you have done, it’s just a matter of time when your story will get published on the front page of Balita, or the national dailies that we are associated with. There is no turning back once your name gets tarnished because the stink lasts forever.
On the family front, my three boys who experienced the heartaches of family breakup when they were little have grown up to be responsible and good human beings. They saw how I tried to keep a very unhappy home for their sake, but in the end, they also understood and accepted that love had finally died and parting ways with their father was the only option.
It was so difficult to move on when you are wounded inside but my boys helped me through it. When I was blinded by pain and hurt, they kept my spirits high. They had become my rock when I was fighting for their rights…. I might have spoiled their little dreams, and put them through hell, but I know that the experience made us all better people.
Thanks to Ruben who filled in the gap and treated them like his own. We watch them grow and we were able to bring them up well. They are all professionals now. Two of them got married and no longer living in the family home but we kept their rooms clean and ready for sleepovers with their new family.
We have three grandchildren on my side, Caitlyn, Julian and our 10 month old Tristan from my first born Michael and his wife Melissa. They are making me feel young and spoiling them has become my passion.
With my second son Anthony and his wife Patricia, we have a bulldog named Dexter who is always excited to see all of us. Funny that every time Dexter is in my house, he is like a kid, he does not want to go home anymore and Anthony is forced to carry him out to their car.
With our extended family all have done well this year, thank God for that. In our gatherings there is always empty spots for our sister Liberty and her son Christian . Liberty went home to the Philippines last year to manage a business. She took on the heroic task after she was given an early retirement package. Christian goes home during school breaks and this time for the holidays
She now lives in our family home in Baliuag Bulacan and is keeping it beautiful and welcoming for our family and for our Filipino Canadian friends who are home for visits. We miss her terribly but thanks to Facebook we can communicate almost every day.
This year, I thank all the friends and the new ones that came our way. We always cherish you guys and you make our lives fulfilled. Thanks to all our columnists here in Canada, Philippines and in the US, you are making Balita complete and always sought after. Our advertisers and advertising agents, thanks for all your support and we hope to continue working together in the coming years. We love you all.
I promised Ruben that I will keep Balita afloat as long as I am capable. I just wish that he continues his healing journey. I know that our love will in some way keep us both strong to avoid the rocky roads. We will continue to make memories, love and value every moment together and I pray that God gives us more time because, I cannot imagine life without him.
To our readers, may your holidays be as happy as ours. Thank you, thank you very much.
Happy New Year everyone!!!!God bless.
