AI JOURNALISM : A Veteran Editor’s Fight to Stay Relevant; Why I Refuse to Quit”

A Veteran Editor in the Digital Age

22 November 2025, 8:35 AM – Starbucks, Marriott Hotel, Resort World Manila

I recently spent nearly ₱8,000 to repair my ACER V15 laptop. It had been freezing whenever the LCD screen was moved. At first, I suspected the hinges or the flex cable. But when the technician examined it, he discovered the real culprit: incompatible RAM.

The computer store had “upgraded” my unit by adding a free 8GB RAM to make it 16GB. Unfortunately, they installed a weak, generic brand instead of the original. It’s disheartening to realize that even in big malls, scams like this still exist.

The technician was surprised by the strength of my machine—1TB of storage, now fitted with a proper single-slot 16GB RAM, and a GeForce 4050 video card. He asked if I used it for gaming. I said no; I only compose video clips for posting on social media. He then asked if I was into bitcoin mining. I laughed and told him no again. Mining requires far more powerful systems, and besides, I see it as a form of gambling—and I don’t gamble.

He seemed puzzled: why would someone like me need such strong specs?

The answer lies in my profession. I am a veteran editor, with nearly four decades in mainstream media. I remain active today, writing a daily opinion column for the Philippines’ leading tabloid, Bulgar Newspaper.

What troubles me deeply is the collapse of street sales for newspapers—a trend not only here but worldwide. The digital age has reshaped everything, and now artificial intelligence, particularly agentic AI, looms over the industry. Few truly understand it, and fewer still use it. The majority remain digitally or AI-illiterate, both in the Philippines and across the globe.

Years ago, I opened this blog. Today, I feel compelled to revive it—to document the struggle of merging traditional journalism with modern practices, and to imagine the scenarios that will define journalism in the decades ahead.

At 67, I find myself among the very few veteran journalists who still strive to keep pace with modernization. Communication has expanded beyond recognition, and I believe it is my responsibility to adapt, even to lead, so that the younger generation—students and aspiring journalists—can follow a path that is both grounded and forward-looking.

Pagtatagpo ng sinauna at modernong pamamahayag

 

22november8:35am2025

Starbucks, marriothotel, resortworldmanila

 

GUMASTOS ako ng halos P8,000 nang iparepair ko ang ACER V 15 laptop. Naga-hang kasi tuwing gagalawin ang lcd screen. Iniisip kong hinges o flex. Pero nang suriin ng technician, natuklasan hindi compatible ang RAM. Inilibre kasi ng computer store ang isang 8g ram para maging 16g ram, pero mahina klase o generic ang inilagay imbes na original. Mahirap pagkatiwalian ang mga computer store sa mga malalaking mall—may scam pa rin.

Sa totoo lang, nagulat ang technician, kasi’y malakas ang laptop ko—dahil 1 tera ang storage—at ngayon ay pinalitan niya nang single slot 16g RAM. Geforce 4050 ang  videocard nito.

Tinatanong ng technician kung ginagamit ko sa gaming ang laptop—pero sinabi ko na hindi naman. Ginagamit ko lang sa pag-composed ng mga video clip para makapag-post sa iba’t ibang social media platform.

Tinanong niya uli ako: “nagma-mining ka ba? Yun  bang bitcoin”.  Kalmante siya na nauunawaan ko ang tanong niya, sabi ko ay hindi. Hindi naman Talaga. Malalakas na computer kasi ang ginagamit sa “mining” sa bitcoin. Sabi ko, “di ba parang sugal din yun, hindi ako nagsusugal”.

Nagtataka ang technician kung bakit malakas ang specs ng laptop ko.

Sa totoo lang, isa akong beteranong editor at halos apat na dekada na sa mainstream media. Aktibo pa rin ako dahil may opinion column ako nang “daily” sa Top 1, tabloid sa Pilipinas—Bulgar Newspaper.

Hindi ko matanggap na bumagsak ang street sales ng mga diyaryo—at alam kong ito rin ang trend sa buong daigdig dahil sa digital age o modernong teknolohiya—kung saan lumalambong naman ngayon ang articial intelligence particular ang AI agent o agentic AI—na kakaunti ang nakakaunawa—siyempre, kakaunti ang gumagamit kompara sa “digitally illiterate or AI-illiterate” sa buong Pilipinas at maging sa buong daigdig.

Matagal ko nang binuksan ang blog na ito, pero nais kong buhayin upang maidokumento ko—ang marahas na pagtatangkang yakapin at pagtagpuin ang sinaunang estilo ng pamamahayag, iskema ng pamamahayag sa kasalukuyan; at ang senaryo ng pamamahayag sa darating ng mga dekada.

Bibihira na o halos wala nang beteranong mamamahayag na ka-edad ko sa 67-anyos na nakakasabay sa modernisasyon—sa panahong ng ibayong paggamit ng komunikasyon!

Kung makakaya, makikisabay ako o sisikapin nating magpatiuna upang may masundan ang mga Kabataang nababaliw sa modernong komunikasyon particular ang mag-aaral at may potensiyal na maging mamamahayag sa hinaharap.

Ipagdasal nating magawa natin ito nang maayos, epektibo at tuloy-tuloy nang walang diskaril.

You didn’t mean to be there—you were lured, by the hidden hands

You didn’t mean to be there—you were lured, by the hidden hands

1. It was not on the date of September 21 that ordinary citizens felt the declaration of Martial Law, but rather on the 22nd. Former President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. secretly signed Proclamation 1081, and it was implemented covertly in the darkness of night through secret operations.

2. On the 22nd, television and radio programs resumed, and suddenly appeared the youthful, almost teenage-looking Francisco Tatad—the Secretary of the Department of Information. Amid anticipation, Tatad formally read the declaration of Martial Law and explained why it was declared.

3. We can see the role of the youth—on opposing sides—pro-Marcos and anti-Marcos. This contradicts the impression that all youth were against Marcos.

4. Just like today, former Governor Chavit Singson challenges the youth to take a stand and rise against the government. However, he also said that the youth should act and get involved—but of course, the youth “think” fairly—and do not allow themselves to be dictated to or brainwashed by politicians.

5. Let the youth think, research, and decide—we cannot dictate to them what information comes out of mainstream media or even social media. There is a lot of fake information in mainstream and social media—and the youth, especially Gen-Z, who have multiple gadgets—cellphones, laptops, and personal computers—understand this best.

6. The youth today are smarter than past generations of youth, because society now is very different from before. Let us not judge or treat the youth as ignorant or uninformed—they have their own disposition, unlike older people steeped in a culture of corruption and outdated habits.

7. Do not read or analyze today’s situation based on the mold or measurement of past generations. This generation is entirely new.

8. Truthfully, whether or not the so-called “elders” who think they monopolize intelligence, ideas, or concepts of society like it—all of that is outdated. The experiences, education, and even ideas of the “elders” are no longer relevant because they lived immersed in the filth and stench of a corrupt society.

9. There is no one clean—only those pretending to be clean. Corruption exists across all levels of government. From the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council), barangay, municipality, city, province, region, all departments, Congress, and Malacañang—there are clear traces of corruption.

10. Even if government officials are replaced and critics or opposition figures who pretend to be clean are put in place—corruption will not be eradicated. Corruption takes many forms and is immortal, like the tale of the “Aswang.”

11. Widespread protests are the result of maneuvers by “hidden hands” with their own political agendas. We must understand that it’s not only Filipinos who want to control their own government, but also foreigners.

12. Foreigners prefer a Republic of the Philippines riddled with corruption because it makes it easier for them to dictate. This means we should protest not only against plunderers, but also against foreign interference.

13. If Marcos Jr. inherits the fate of his father, we cannot be certain that corruption will be erased—just like the promises made by the group that ousted Marcos Sr.—corruption worsened—and now it has peaked under the administration of his son. Corruption was the issue against Marcos Sr.—he was replaced by various presidents—was corruption resolved, or did it worsen?

14. Now, they want to oust Marcos Jr.—will corruption be resolved? Clearly not! So why are you in the middle of the street? You didn’t mean to be there—you were lured—by the hidden hands of foreigners!

New Monster in Media

"I am currently working on a new innovation in modern journalism. I am combining print or traditional newspapers; news portals or websites; YouTube video channels—and the newly invented avatar with AI.

How I will do it is an intricate daily activity that I am extremely excited to understand, test, and imagine.

I will do this using the shield of my experience in over three decades of journalism, but the concepts and wisdom I will share and embed in the content come naturally from my life since I was born, 67 years ago, shaped by various personal experiences—within family, society, and government.

How I will do it remains a puzzle, but this is precisely the content of our blog—right here in our My Diary. Editor's File!"

---------*******-------

 INIAAYOS    ko na ang bagong inobasyon sa modernong pamamahayag. Pagsasanibin ko ang print o tradisyonal na dyaryo; news portal o website; you tube video channel--at ang bagong imbento na avatar with AI.

Kung paano ko gagawin, iyan ang isang  araw araw na masalimuot na aktibidad na ako mismo ay sobrang nasasabik na maunawaan, masubukan at mapantasyahan.

Gagawin ko ito gamit ang kalasag ng aking karanasan sa mahigit na tatlong dekadang pamamahayag, pero ang paghugot sa mga konsepto at karunungan o wisdam  na ibabahagi at itatanim sa mga kontent ay likas mula sa aking buhay mula nang isilang ako, 67 taon na ang nakakaraan kung saan nahubog ako sa iba't ibang karanasan nang personal kong buhay--sa loob ng pamilya, lipunan at gobyerno.

Kung paano ko ito gagawin ay isang palaisipan, pero ito mismo ang nilalaman ng ating blog--dito lamang sa ating My Diary.  Editor's File!