Meet Niño Anthony Petalbo of the University of Eastern Philippines

Truth seekers. Truth speakers. Truth defenders.

Niño Anthony Petalbo has long been exposed to various struggles and injustices in his hometown so he vows to create a positive change by exposing the unseen realities on the ground.  

He serves as the current Editor-in-Chief of The Pillar, the official student publication of the University of Eastern Philippines – Main Campus.

To get to know him better, Republicasia asked Niño a few questions about his journey as a student journalist fighting for press freedom in the country. 

Behind the Persona

Tell me about yourself as a student journalist and your life outside of publication.

Coming from a student publication in one of the poorest and underprivileged provinces in the country, I, as a student journalist, am built to be tough. I always stand firm on my duty to disseminate factual, relatable, and educational releases for the Nortehanon students and even audiences outside the academe. The road to these very values was paved since my high school years as a student journalist. For five years, I was exposed to the various struggles of young journalists around my province and region through collaborative and competitive press conferences. Being a student journalist for almost eight years now, I already acquired the attitudes of perfectionism, expression, and fairness that I even bring with me outside of the university. There, where I can be anybody else, I choose to be that gay man who transcends boundaries on genders, enjoys artistic fields such as the drag community and chorale society, and unlikely enough, the engineering sciences.

Defining Moment

Tell me about that ‘defining moment’ that made you pursue journalism and continue to do so.

As a writer for the people, I can say that my defining moment that made me pursue and continue journalism is the time a young student told me how fascinated he was by my work. The biggest propelling factor is when he said he also wanted to be like me in the future, one who does not only aim to excel in his academics, but also one who utilizes their God-given skill to inspire with their relatable ideologies and to create positive change by calling out irresponsibility and incompetence in our societal leaders. The fact that I was able to bring others in this journey to equality, academic growth, and freedom of expression is the only validation that I seek for as a journalist.

Generation Voice

What do you think is the most pressing issue that affects press freedom in the country nowadays? What do you think are the significant roles of young journalists in advancing genuine national press freedom?

The administration shift is truly a turning point in the lives of student journalists. The rise of the Marcoses is an attempt to reimpose the censorship and control that the dictator government once promulgated. Back then, the voice of the media was shut and their lives even taken. This assault presents itself in a different form now but never in a different magnitude and purpose. It all boils down to the major issue on Anti-Terrorism Act, which resulted in over 200 cases of red-tagging, where almost 1,850,500 individuals are affected. This is the most pressing issue that affects press freedom in the country nowadays. 

Powerful Quote

Tell me about your mantra as a journalist. What message can you give to the aspiring journalist of the new generation?

Throughout my life, I only have one favorite quote. That is “Only dead fish go with the flow.” It jibes with The Pillar’s mantra, “Critical. Fearless. Unapologetic.” These three words are crafted to be catchy enough so that in times of doubts, I am reminded of the values I should embody.