Autobiography of juan l mercado
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“With the harsh insensitivity of youth, I thought this was perfectly fine. And so, how do we title this thank-you-and so- long column?
How else but by writing “–30-.”
2. But this makes for a simple equation: fewer opportunities for the young to move in or move up.”
“But many of us of a certain age have had a great deal of difficulty with the concept of getting older.
The first column, titled “Trade in orphan tears,” appeared on Feb. 5, 2004.
There is a time for every affair under the sun, Ecclesiastes tells us. ‘You guys just won’t go,’ said my well-mannered and thoughtful son.”
Previously, there was an orderliness to how one generation moved aside and another stepped up to primacy.
J.L. Mercado
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His reporting extended to international affairs, including a stint covering the United Nations in New York and work as a correspondent for international publications such as London’s Financial Times and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
A proud Cebuano, Mercado graduated from the University of San Carlos and began postgraduate studies at Ateneo de Manila before choosing to pursue full-time journalism.
He instituted PPI's first training programs as well as hands-on courses that helped facilitate coverage of sensitive beats like street demonstrations, the stock exchanges, the police and military.
He continued writing exposes on graft and corruption in government using the Philippine News Service as outlet, while still PPI director. And now I will.
We too will be stepping aside from over half a century of journalism.
Following the “People Power Uprising,” and after 19 years of United Nations service, Mercado returned to the Philippines to resume journalism work.
Mercado was the first director of the Philippine Press Institute (1965-1972). To Inquirer readers, ‘30’ is passing the torch, stepping aside
[First published in Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 30, 2014]
“You’re a fool,” our fellow journalist snapped at us. After his release, Mercado joined the United Nations, serving in Thailand and Italy.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mercado received numerous accolades.
“Journalists have always liked to create odd or weird names for things that they do or conventions that they have.”
In her final New York Times column, “Stepping Aside,” Anna Quindlen points out: “Youngsters today account for about a quarter of the population. Mercado became the Philippine Press Institute’s founding-director.
“Even when I was the same age as my children are now, there was a natural transition from one generation to another.”
Every year, a small group of reporters would leave the newsroom, to be replaced by younger ones.
For his leadership and impact, the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre honored him in 2014 as “an illustrious pioneer in the field of Asian journalism and mass communication.”
A defining moment in his life came during the martial law years.
Step aside.
He later trained at the American Press Institute at Columbia University and was named a Kissinger Fellow at Harvard University.
Among his many contributions, Mercado was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) in the early 2000s. Then we gave up our permanent-residence status in the United States, which had earlier given us sanctuary, as it did to previous generations of refugees.
We broke loose from martial-law detention and two years of city arrest under the Marcos dictatorship.
He ended his 56-year newspaper career with a farewell column that concluded with — what else? “You guys just won’t go,” said my thoughtful son.
Previously, there was an orderliness to how one generation moved aside and another stepped up to primacy.