I MET some journalists over the weekend and over shots of brandy and some pulutan, we added some verbal pulutan, mostly intriga.
We were talking about the unfortunate life of a local journo, who is widely considered as a “local celebrity” of sorts because of his growing number of “followers” who never get tired of making some comments on the journalistic endeavors.
Every comment, every post of the “local celebrity,” susko, paka-paka dayon ang commentaries, mostly urging him for some more juicy tidbits of bashings.
Obviously, the “followers” and commentators love it very much every time the “local celebrity” delivers very strongly-worded, ultra-scathing birada against some local politicians, usually the governor and some congressmen.
Kana, birahi gyod na og maayo, their commentaries go, plus, some libelous and very personal birada of their own against the politicians. Ganahan sila mo-birada og komentaryo nga mosakay sa “local celebrity” pero dili sila ganahan mo-birada sa ilang kaugalingon nga window.
Meaning, gusto ra mosakay, dili sila mo-byahe og ilang kaugalingon.
Ang labas, hilabihan gyod nilang maka-abiba every time these scatching and fiery remarks are posted.
Resulta, hilabihan ka-popular ang maong “local celebrity” and because of this, he has assumed another persona in the local scene. Kon makit-an siya anywhere, daghan gyod nga motan-aw ug magpa-picture niya.
So, this was the verbal pulutan that we shared.
* * *
So what happened?
Popular lagi na siya kaayo pero maka-looy sab, the journo said.
Why, I countered.
Because he is facing several counts of libel charges, from 4 groups of complainants. One complainant has already secured “probable causes” against the “local celebrity” and because of this, he was compelled to post 10k per count, and there are 10 counts filed so he posted a cool 100k, for that complainant alone.
Another complainant is saying he is expecting another issuance of probable causes against the “local celebrity,” also for more than 10 counts of libel. If this is true, this means another huge cash down the drain for the “local celebrity.”
And there are 2 more complainants, also working on the immediate issuance of probable causes against the same “local celebrity.”
The causes of action are almost the same, kanang birada gyod nga way preno-preno bitaw, mora’g kanang nagtuo bitaw nga pasagdan ra siya sa iyang tirada og di ra siya baslan. Kanang uli bitaw nga paka-ulaw kay mao man poy gusto sa iyang mga likers, followers ug “commentators” so nagpatuyang ra pod siya og pangigo.
Karon kay mi-hire man og abogado nga way lingaw ang maong duha ka mga complainants, so impas patatas ag “local celebrity.”
* * *
Asa na man ang mga aktibo kaayo nga mi-abiba sa maong “local celebrity?”
Wa na igkita ug wa na igdungog oi.
Ang resulta, solo flight ra sa “local celebrity” ang iyang problema sa mga kaso, mogasto pa siya og pang-piyansa, mogasto pa og acceptance fee ug retainers fees para sa iyang mga abogado plus mogasto pa gyod siya og kanang maglisod bitaw ka’g katug kay gahuna-huna kas imong mga problema.
Sleepless nights ug very stressful daily situations bitaw, unya ganahan ka ana?
Ang resulta, kon mo-birada siya og kanang way preno-preno, suskong daghanang mo-abiba pero kon ka-bahin na gani sa mga kaso nga giatubang ang “local celebrity,” tua nag-inusara ra siya intawon.
Dunay ginagmay nga mga “donations” man tuod pero dako-dako gyod ang iyang andamon nga kwarta oi, sariling kwarta ha. Unya maayo laman og pinunit ra nang mga kwarta o kaha, gikan sa multo nga mga projects kay mada ra, pero kon gikan sa imong pasingot ug kahago, suskong sakitas heart na oi.
Di gyod na lovely, matod pas journo.
