FOREWORD
In the beginning, FIDEL A. REYES was only the name of an illustrious great-grandfather whose editorial AVES DE RAPIÑA (Birds of Prey) gave the American colonial official Dean Conant Worscester, D. Sc. cause to dismantle the revolutionary newspaper EL RENACIMIENTO for allegedly libeling him as an exploitative American using his position in the colonial administration to identify mining sites he could explore for his personal gain.
Documents of the past detailing the career of her great-grandfather were turned over to Mona by her grandmother. 
Thus began the process of discovery. Tracing the footsteps of Fidel A. Reyes, Mona found herself embroiled in the life and career of her ilustrado relative. In the process, Fidel A. Reyes ceased to exist as a mere name and began to assume the features of a person whose dedication to government service coupled with genuine care for his countrymen gave him stature as a genuine Filipino hero. 

BIENVENIDO LUMBRERA
National Artist for Literature







Contents


Introduction                                         
Chapter 1. Reconnect                                        
Chapter 2. Volunteer                                        
Chapter 3. Watchdog                                        
Chapter 4. Vote                                                 
Chapter 5. Travel                                              
Chapter 6. Empower                                         
Conclusion                                           
References                                           









Introduction


Fidel A. Reyes is known as the author of "Aves de Rapina" (Birds of Prey), an editorial published in the revolutionary newspaper El Renacimiento (The Renaissance/Rebirth). His work bravely exposed the corruption and abuse of a powerful government official during the American colonial period in the Philippines. The editorial ignited the country's national spirit and was subject to the most sensational libel case filed by the Unites States government against the Filipino nationalist movement. Not much has been documented about the editorial's heroic author, a fact that has led Philppine historian Ambeth Ocampo to refer to him as "the forgotten Reyes".

Uncovering the life of Fidel A. Reyes reveals a timeless and inspiring story of how nationalism is able to transform the lives of ordinary men and women. It tells the tale of how a devotion to the welfare of one's country changed a pharmacist from a middle-class family in the province of Lipa, Batangas into a crusading journalist, politician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. More than just another historical biography, the story of Fidel A. Reyes contains important lessons on how to become a thriving and involved citizen today. His life reads like a guidebook with each chapter demonstrating simple yet powerful ways to transform oneself and society by following the same driving themes that defined his own life.

He has been a true inspiration and mentor to those who have had the privilege to know him. As his great granddaughter, I have seen how his immediate family cherished him for generations. Probably one of the reasons why his life has not become the subject of books was because of a deep attachment of his children and grandchildren to everything that reminded them of their Tatay (Father). He was the greatest treasure his family had known and his memory, the greatest inheritance they had ever received. 
So much so that when my grandmother, Josefa Reyes-Luz ceremoniously gave me her collection of photos and clippings about her father, it seemed to make all heirloom jewelry and land titles fade in the background. What she handed me was the most valuable gift of all and she and I both agreed that it was time to share our precious Tatay with others.

Unexpectedly through the course of our little book project, what was at first intended to be a straightforward narration of his life turned into a living and breathing testimony of just how inspiring and transforming his story really was. Significant events began to take place in my life as I pieced together all the pivotal moments in his.
Like most heroes, his story is set during a time of revolution. But not the large scale revolutions that have emerged time and again in the Philippines without the lasting results the nation had hoped for. This book is about a revolution that may put an end to all revolutions - a profound change in consciousness, a deeper acceptance and understanding of one’s role as citizen. It is this revolution that Fidel A. Reyes started within me and how he became a hero in a surprisingly personal way during my final years in university. He helped me win the revolution I was fighting within me against my apathy towards the poverty, injustice, and corruption in my own country. In many ways, my great grandfather saved me and I hope my journey of change stands as a reminder of the great potential we have in each of us to become better citizens. The chapters of this book: Reconnect, Volunteer, Watchdog, Vote, Travel and Empower represent six simple steps we can take to make a difference, following in the footsteps of Filipino nationalist, Fidel A. Reyes.

Fidel A. Reyes, 1907

Chapter 1. Reconnect

For years, I had known my family’s great patriarch, Fidel Alejandro Reyes only as a scary bronze bust that stood at the street corner of our ancestral home in Lipa, Batangas. Translated from its Tagalog text, his historical marker read:
Fidel A. Reyes (1878 - 1967) Born in the City of Lipa, Batangas, May 3, 1878. Graduated from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 1895, and the University of Santo Tomas, 1902. Editor of La Vanguardia and El Renacimiento. Exposed the abuses of the American government with his editorial "Aves de Rapiña", sparking the nation’s collective consciousness. Representative, Philippine Assembly, 1912, First Filipino Director of the Bureau of Commerce and Industry, 1918 - 1929. Donated the site for the first SOS Children’s Village in the Philippines. Died September 10, 1967.
All that somehow did not seem real to me growing up. He was more like my family’s illusory hero and definitely lacked the celebrity of other national heroes such as Jose Rizal. I never met Fidel A. Reyes because he died years before I was born and I was only four years old when I attended the unveiling of his historical marker. I hardly knew what the fuss was about and I am pretty sure all the people who passed by the corner of P. Torres and G.A. Solis streets in Lipa and saw the ceremony that day were thinking the same thing.


Newspaper article on the unveiling of the Fidel A. Reyes historical marker
and bronze bust by Abdulmari Imao, National Artist for Sculpture

Since then, there were hardly any tributes for the man in the bronze sculpture. His memory was eventually reduced to an occasional reunion anecdote. If his name came in print it would create a bit of excitement for my relatives but all the fuss would have died down by next Sunday’s lunch. It seemed my family’s Tatay was eventually going to be forgotten. Articles and memorabilia would be kept hidden in personal treasure chests for years and the name Fidel A. Reyes would remain unrecognized by many.
Born and raised in the busy city center of Manila, I grew up resisting my Filipino roots, or more accurately, my being a Batangueña (a Filipina from the Batangas province). I remember feeling anxious about the obligatory trips to my family’s hometown. My relatives, who were mostly based in Manila would flock to Lipa at least twice a year for the town fiesta and Holy Week. As everyone gathered on these occasions, I found it strange how my relatives seemed to change as soon as we all touched Batangas soil. The older generation would start speaking with a different accent, and with pure joy used the local Batangas Tagalog dialect with its ubiquitous "ala-eh" and "ano ga". Lipa was just a two hour drive from Manila but everything and everyone suddenly seemed so foreign.
I dreaded the long days and nights in my family's ancestral home with its mean combination of no television, no air conditioning, and no running hot water. To make it even more nightmarish were the black and white photos on the walls and the ominous possibility of supernatural sightings Philippine provinces were known for: the white lady in the mirror at midnight, the kapre (a mythical hairy giant) in the tree, and the black dwarves in the garden. Fresh air and suman (rice cake) could only do so much. I did not want to have anything to do with that place. I came to the conclusion early on that getting familiar with my heritage would only give me the creeps.

Fidel A. Reyes historical marker in Lipa City, Batangas

The bronze bust I feared as a child did haunt me eventually. The year was 2000, as I was taking a history quiz on a reading assignment the question came up, "Who was the author of the “Aves de Rapiña” editorial?". Now that surely would have been a no-brainer but at the time I had a bit of thinking to do before writing my answer down. I definitely knew who the author was but the history book we were asked to read did not mention my great grandfather at all. The answer my professor was looking for was Teodoro M. Kalaw, a much more well-known politician and historian, who was the Editor-in-Chief of El Renacimiento during the time the editorial was published. The textbook failed to mention that it was the newspaper’s City Editor Fidel A. Reyes who was the author of “Aves de Rapiña”. 

I was not surprised that his name did not appear in your run-of-the-mill history textbook and I did not bother to do anything about the omission when I read the assignment. It had just confirmed something I had already known. My great grandfather was indeed a forgotten man in history.  

But the test question was staring me right in the face. I thought to myself, “Should I write the name I was sure my professor was asking for and live happily ever after? Or should I dare place what I knew for certain was the correct answer and prepare to get into a discussion defending a dead relative I didn’t care much about?”. Out of principle, well I have to admit mostly out of impulse, I wrote the name Fidel A. Reyes on my piece of paper. True enough, my answer was marked wrong and I had to approach my professor after class to discuss the matter further. Yes, the clueless Communication undergrad was about to take on a university professor with a PhD in History. I set an appointment to meet him after class to discuss the authorship of “Aves de Rapiña”. He was curious and wanted to know specifics but I was already having what felt like an out of body experience. I quickly told him it was my great grandfather Fidel A. Reyes who wrote the editorial and I hurried off.
I needed solid proof to defend my claim so I reached out to my grandmother for help. She had an old collection of articles and I was allowed to photocopy a few pages for the meeting. I came early on the day of the appointment, armed and ready to meet my professor and after all the build up was relieved to find that he was not going to put up a fight after all. He pulled a small book out from one of the shelves in his office library. It was an old publication he found in his personal collection with a firsthand account of how “Aves de Rapiña” came to print written by Teodoro M. Kalaw himself, confirming that Fidel A. Reyes was the true author of the editorial.
Our meeting could not have gone any better. After some discussion, he offered to lend me the book he had found,  Ang Usaping Libelo ng El Renacimiento (The Renacimiento Libel Suit). Written entirely in first person, Teodoro M. Kalaw provided a detailed narration of the events that unfolded when “Aves de Rapiña” was published. The text was in Tagalog which made the story seem even more personal. It was the kind of writing that I did not usually encounter in history textbooks and I was completely riveted. He clarified the authorship of the editorial and the circumstances that surrounded its being published:

“Ibig kong ipahayag dito na sa katunayan, bagama’t aking inako ang pananagutan ay hindi ako ang tunay na sumulat ng editoryal na “Aves de Rapiña” o “Mga Ibong Mandaragit.” Oo nga’t binasa ko ito at iniwasto, ngunit hindi ko ito pinagtibay. “Pinatulog” ko ito nang isang linggo, habang pinag-iisipang mabuti (kung gagamitin o hindi), hanggang isang gabing nagmamadali kami sapagkat gahol na sa panahon at wala pang nakahandang editoryal. Noon din, kahit hindi ko pa napapasadahang muli gaya ng balak ko, ay pinahintulutan ko ang punong tagapaglimbag na itakbo na ito (alalaong baga’y gamiting editoryal). Ang may akda ng editoryal na ito ay ang Editor-Panlungsod na si Fidel A. Reyes.”
Teodoro M. Kalaw proofread the article, but he tucked it away for an entire week because he was not sure if it should be published. The editorial was gathering dust in his office until one mad scramble to meet a deadline for the now famous October 30th issue forced him to send “Aves de Rapiña” to the printers in 1908.
Reading the words of Teodoro M. Kalaw made history come alive for me. There I was, finally realizing after years of taking my great grandfather for granted, that everything that was declared in his historical marker was all true. I was filled with a great sense of pride and set out to learn more about him from a real authority, his daughter, Josefa Reyes-Luz, my grandmother. Known as Lola Phine to family and friends, she was Fidel A. Reyes’ youngest child and definitely one of his greatest fans. 

I spent several Sunday afternoons with my grandmother listening to her stories about her father. It was a delight to see her face light up with every memory that came back to her. She would share stories with great joy and excitement. There were times she was so enthusiastic that she would have stories prepared in time for my visits. She lovingly worked on handwritten stories about her father until she could barely hold a pen. Before she passed away, she turned over all her memorabilia and cherished texts about her father to me in hopes of turning it into a book on Fidel A. Reyes.


"Let this be my pamana (inheritance) for you".
Excerpt from the last handwritten note of Josefa Reyes-Luz

One of the first personal accounts in my grandmother’s collection was from Gualberto Mayo, who was a close family friend from Lipa.  Fidel A. Reyes was based in Manila for many years but made frequent visits to his hometown to check on family and friends.  Reconnecting with people played such an important part in his life. As the practice was during the time, Gualberto respectfully referred to him as Don Fidel and remembered how they bonded over his fondness for the stories of the many great heroes and families from Lipa:

“After my father’s death, I became closer to him [Don Fidel] because every time he arrived from Manila, he used to send for me to dine with him in his house. In my conversations with him, he was most interested in the lives of our great Lipenos of the past. He knew none or very little about them and very often made me elaborate on the life of Don Teodorico Pantoja, Galo de los Reyes, Petronio Katigbak, among others. He was very interested also in the history of the following families: Katigbak, Luz, Mayo and Reyes. In his visits to Lipa, his brother Dr. Carmelo Reyes joined him with pride, in recalling and appointing the lives of our heroes - the great Lipeños of the past.”
It is interesting to see how inspired Fidel A. Reyes was by the people in his own hometown. How a sense of oneness and appreciation for his heritage contributed to his being counted among the great men he had admired. In all his accomplishments he stayed grounded and connected to his roots.
Fidel Alejandro Malabanan Reyes was born in Lipa, Batangas on May 3, 1878, the sixth of the eleven children of Felipe Quizon Reyes and Josefa Malabanan Reyes. His parents were middle class folk from Barangay No. 101 in Lipa, Batangas. He began his schooling in Lipa and when he was ten years old continued his studies in Manila at San Juan de Letran graduating in March 28, 1895 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He began to study Pharmacy at the University of Sto. Tomas but his studies were interrupted by the Philippine Revolution. 

University of Sto. Tomas school records of Fidel A. Reyes, 1895

A biographical sketch written by Fidel A. Reyes’ younger brother Carmelo, entitled Kuya Fidel (Older brother Fidel) narrates the beginning of his brother’s nationalist awakening during the revolution:

“Some time in 1897, before actual skirmishes began in the Lipa area, he must have felt a wanderlust or some real patriotic urge and disappeared from home, either to observe or actually join revolutionaries in Laguna and Rizal, probably Sta. Cruz, Pagsanhan, or San Mateo, from which he returned 2 or 3 weeks after with 4 or 5 young fellow companions who stayed at our home, must to the embarrassment of poor Mother who had very little help and the wherewithal at the time. He brought with him, either as a souvenir or a trophy, a fine-silver plated sundang (native sword) which he privately displayed with gusto.”
The Philippine Revolution was the beginning of a new life for Fidel and many young men of his generation, who participated in the victorious battle for freedom from over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule.
My generation’s nationalist spirit was awakened by the events of the EDSA 2 Revolution in 2001, as hundreds of thousands gathered in protest against the corruption of the country’s president. Before this, there was a general sense that the youth had become apathetic, no longer interested in important issues concerning the country. This was true in my case.  I used to believe that any sort of involvement could only be expected of some radical who was devoid of a social life. In any case, I was far from nationalistic and definitely not the activist type. But thanks to the help of the Philippine news media, the corruption of the president could no longer be ignored, even by me. The revelations and the political drama that unfolded during the president’s impeachment trial evoked such strong feelings of anger and discontent among the people. I felt compelled to take action and I took to the streets in protest calling for the resignation of the president.  Without much planning, people gravitated towards the symbolic shrine in EDSA. A new generation came to demonstrate on the same streets the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 was won against a dictatorship.
The next day was difficult as I had to go back to attend a full day of classes.  Our university was yet to announce its support of the revolution and it was business as usual. During one of my classes, I surprised everyone including myself when I gave a fiery speech about the urgency for all of us to take action and continue to join the protests. Our class had been following the news closely for months and discussed issues such as government corruption in depth but it was now time to take a stand against it. There was no use in sitting and talking about what was going on when we could be doing our part to shape our country’s history that very day. My professor was brought to tears overwhelmed to see that after all her years of teaching, there was hope in the country's youth.
It was a very powerful time. I discovered for the first time what it felt like to be compelled by a nationalist spirit and saw what  it was truly capable of. I went back to join the growing crowd of people gathered in EDSA and after the four day street protest, celebrated the successful ousting of a president.  The presence of other young people in the crowd was undeniable. I witnessed the birth of nationalism for my generation and was filled with so much hope for the future. There was no turning back for me  after what had just happened. The experience helped me understand in a deeper way what the Philippine Revolution did for Fidel A. Reyes. I felt more connected to him after I knew how it felt to stand up for my country against abuse and corruption. The kind of superficial life I was living before no longer made any sense and I wanted to make a change. It was in his story that I found the guidance I needed during a time when my feelings of nationalism most likely would have faded. Clinging to him as my mentor, I felt more secure about taking a new path and considered it as being part of his legacy. The steps he took immediately after the Philippine Revolution inspired me to begin searching for ways to help make a difference after the EDSA 2 Revolution.  

Chapter 2. Volunteer

After the liberation of Lipa on June 18, 1897, Fidel A. Reyes along with his other young friends in Lipa founded the Club Democratico Independista or Club Independiente. An article, “Teachers and Journalists: Six young men who ran a nationalistic tabloid between gabfests, lesson plans, German beer” shared the details of this joyous period:  

“In Lipa, Batangas, six young men, four of whom were barely out of their teens, and two not yet out of their twenties, got together, formed the Club Independiente which not alone ran a school, held regular gabfests, spurred the nationalistic movement with their various activities, but also published a newspaper, tabloid size, now eight-paged, now four, depending on the amount of news that filtered to them from neighboring towns and the ideas that they themselves could germinate.”
The Columnas Volantes de la Federacion Malaya (Loose-leaves of the Malayan Federation) featured political articles as well as original works of literature and poetry. Published in both Spanish and Tagalog, it carried news features from correspondents all over the Luzon region. Fidel was a core reporter and had a regular section, "Actualidades" (Current Events) which ran critical commentaries. He wrote under pen names Negro (Black) and Fin de Siecle (End of the Century). In Teodoro M. Kalaw’s book Aide-de-Camp to Freedom, he described Fidel during this time as “stimulating, sensitive, and subtle”.
Fidel worked with Editor Gregorio Aguilera Solis and other great Lipeño staff members such as Baldomero Roxas, Petronio Katigbak, Tomas Umali and Albino Dimayuga. The article “Teachers and Journalists” gave more details on the publication and its dynamic staff.

“The Columnas Volantes came out once a week, was sold at a nominal price, ran advertisements which included those of established firms in Manila and printed no less than a thousand copies each time, sometimes much more. Everything about the whole set-up was elastic, including the income which the six derived from the paper. This was usually zero, but now and then there would be enough for a round of German beer and some food ordered from outside, and served at the Club Independiente, where they gathered daily with their friends to talk about the events of the day, or make lesson plans. It was the six who also ran the school of the Club, which gave out Liberal Arts degrees and had students coming from as far as the city of Manila itself.”
The school they established in Lipa was named Instituto Rizal and offered excellent programs and professors. Fidel became a World History professor at the school and worked alongside other intellectuals educated in universities in Manila and Spain. Talented students attended the school including Teodoro M. Kalaw who proudly remembers the period as one of the most vibrant in Lipa in his book Aide-de-Camp to Freedom:

“The days were filled with seemingly endless activities. No week passed without some important visitor coming to town. With reason was it said that Lipa was another Athens where the select and the illustrious in culture and arts met."


Teachers and Students of Instituto Rizal (Fidel A. Reyes seated in second row,
fifth from left, his brother Carmelo seated in first row, fifth from left). 
Inspired by the post-liberation renaissance in Lipa, I was excited at the opportunity to contribute in my own way after the EDSA 2 Revolution. I approached like-minded students who had been working on different advocacies through our university. Many were just as concerned and fed up as I was and wanted to take things a step further by becoming actively involved in the community. I was already well into my senior year when I decided to join a student organization, something I had not considered previously because of my misplaced priorities.
There was one organization doing incredible work helping abandoned and abused children in the city. It was quite a heavy cause for a beginner but I thought if I wanted to do something impactful that was definitely it. Among the group's activities was helping an understaffed orphanage that needed volunteers to come in on a weekly basis to help in the toddler room. It sounded easy enough except I had no experience caring for babies or toddlers and to be honest, did not have an ounce of maternal instinct.  Newborns and infants found in extreme cases of neglect were sent to this particular orphanage. Most of the toddlers were found as babies in the worst conditions, some were abandoned and left to die in dumpsters. Because of this, several suffered developmental delays and were in poor health. 
Intimidating as it was, I signed up and committed to spend a few hours each week at the orphanage. On my first visit, the immediate reaction of the toddlers was so overwhelming as they clung to me, as it seemed, for dear life. They held on tight and at times would be aggressive towards each other when they felt threatened.
There was a little boy whom I was drawn to from the very beginning who could not walk or talk. Like most toddlers in the orphanage he was sickly, clingy and would constantly fight off other children. My visits became less about volunteering for a cause and more about the reality of that little boy. Each week I would be there carrying him, wiping his runny nose, and watching him sneeze on my favorite shirts. But it was all okay. In the end, I owed that little boy so much more than what I had given him. Without a doubt, the whole experience made me understand the kind of suffering and misery I was fighting against and what constant dedication it would take to make things better.
For Fidel A. Reyes and his friends in Lipa, the struggle for justice and freedom would continue after the United States occupied the Philippines. On January 13, 1900 when American forces took control of their town, they had only enjoyed its independence from Spain for two and a half years. After a period of fear and uncertainty, Fidel returned to Manila to continue his studies in Pharmacy at the University of Sto. Tomas and as a student, joined the staff of revolutionary newspapers El Nacionalismo and La Independencia.
He made his way back to Lipa  after passing the Pharmacy board exam and opened a pharmacy, the Botica y Perfumeria – Sociedad Anonima o en Comandita on the ground floor of his family home. Later on, he opened a pharmacy on Calle Real, which was considered the best pharmacy in Lipa.  


Sociedad Anonima dedicada al Negocio de Boticas Articles of Incorporation. Organized by Fidel A. Reyes, Rufino M. Marave and Francisco D. Bautista.

But the heart of Fidel was elsewhere. He closed shop, left the pharmacy profession completely and moved to Manila to work as a full-time journalist. An article, “Journal of Crusaders” describes his dedication:


“Reyes belonged to that old school of journalists who wrote under fancy pen names, believed writers were crusaders above all, looked upon the profession less as a means of livelihood than as a means of self-fulfillment and never discussed such prosaic matters as wages and working hours with their employers.”
He was interviewed for the article about his days working in El Renacimiento and what it meant to be a Redactor en Jefe or City Editor for the paper.

“As “redactor en jefe,” he was news editor, copy reader, news gatherer, and even proofreader, when the occasion demanded it, rolled into one. He recalls there never was a fixed payday in the old days of the Renacimiento. Occasionally three or four pesos would be thrown his way, and he’d consider himself paid until the next three or four pesos again came in his way.”
I gained courage from the leap Fidel took in leaving his life as a pharmacist to pursue a much greater calling. My interests and ambitions had changed drastically by the time I finished the requirements for graduation. One such requirement was to participate in an immersion program, where graduating students were to live with families in impoverished communities for two and a half days.  The idea terrified me because of how sheltered and pampered I had been all my life. At the time, I was still being cared for by a Yaya (Nanny), the same doting and protective Yaya assigned to me the day I was born. It seemed that being raised as a spoiled princess had caught up with me but it had also served to intensify the positive effects of the immersion program. The experience set me straight for sure, and hopefully for good.
I lived with a widowed fisherman and his two daughters in their storm-flooded village in Laguna. My foster father helped me with my bags, and led me on a series of wooden planks to get to his home. I held my shrieks and screams inside as I tried not to fall into the murky polluted water along the way.  The first floor of his home was completely flooded so we were all cramped in a small space on the second floor that served as the family’s living, dining, and bedroom. There was no bathroom or toilet in the house. For that, we had to walk another set of planks to get to a community outhouse. I shared all their meals, mostly small fish they had caught in the polluted water and the rice that I had brought for them. When it was time for bed, all of us slept side by side on the floor and I remember waking up in horror one night as giant ants were crawling all over my face. 

Half the time I was living there I was in shock, afraid, and didn’t know what to do. My only comfort was the kind company I was with. My foster family showed genuine love and respect for each other and I saw their strength and joy amidst their hardships. We shared stories, sang songs, and prayed together. After the immersion experience, I received a letter from one of my foster sisters who had become close to me. Part of her letter read, “Alam mo, na mimiss na kaagad kita kasi para na rin kitang tunay na ate kasi ang bait mo sa amin. Ang sarap pala ng may ate. Sana naging ate nalang kita.” (You know, I miss you already because you were like a true older sister to me because you were so kind to us. It felt good to have an older sister. I wish you really were my older sister.)

She was grateful for the time we spent together and of course so was I. It was then that I decided to change my plans after graduation and pursue studies that would allow me to better help children like her and the little boy I had cared for in the orphanage. I wanted to work for a non-profit organization that served children and planned to take a new course of study in international development. 

The new direction I was taking was a far cry from my old dreams of studying fashion marketing in Paris. I tossed the information package I remember receiving with so much excitement a while back and realized how my passions had shifted quite dramatically. My past ambitions used to be shaped by my own vanity and materialism more than anything else. There was no real happiness or fulfillment for me in following my old path, not after being rudely awakened to the realities of the Third World.

Chapter 3. Watchdog

When Fidel A. Reyes became the City Editor of El Renacimiento the paper was already known for  its crusade for the oppressed, bravely investigating all forms of social injustice. The stories it published exposed the corruption and abuse of power of government officials, rural landlords, and members of the police force. The paper had already fought and won its first libel case after it had published several articles against the Philippine Constabulary.

It was the libel suit filed by a powerful American official in the colonial government, that would eventually force the paper to shut down. The editorial "Aves de Rapiña" exposed the variety of ways, Secretary of the Interior Dean C. Worcester used his position for his personal and financial gain. Without directly naming him in the editorial, it described his misuse of public funds and his interest in the vast amounts of gold found in the mountains provinces, home of the indigenous Igorot people of the Philippines.  

The article, “A Journal of Crusaders” provides Fidel’s account of the circumstances in which he wrote and submitted the editorial about Secretary Worcester:

“Before the libel suit, Reyes had never had any direct dealings with Secretary of the Interior Worcester but had heard of his various activities and he had seen him on one or two occasions - “a very arrogant man, with a forbidding look on his face” is how Reyes describes him. 

Not one to be intimidated by mere appearances, however, the satirist in Reyes had taken lightheartedly, almost mockingly, the formidable Worcester’s scientific posturings at measuring Igorot’s skulls, importing fish eggs and cutting up insects, and judged rather correctly, that they would make good material for a written caricature of the man. The resulting piece, in which he pictures Mr. Worcester as the typical example of big bluff, while he mentioned no names, sounded a little libelous, even to the author himself. 


When he handed the copy to Editor Kalaw, Reyes admonished him, “I think this is a little too harsh, but see if you can use it anyway,” or words to that effect.”
On October 30, 1908, El Renacimiento published Fidel A. Reyes’ fateful editorial. Translated from the original Spanish text,  “Aves de Rapiña” read:
Birds of Prey
On the surface of this globe, some people are born to eat and devour, others to be eaten and devoured.
Now and then, the latter bestir themselves, endeavoring to rebel against an order of things which makes them prey to, and food of, the insatiable voracity of the former. Sometimes they are fortunate in successfully putting to flight the eaters and devourers; but in the majority cases, the latter only gain a new name or plumage.
The situation is the same everywhere;  the relationship existing between the one and the other is that dictated by a too keen appetite, the satisfaction of which must always be at another fellow-creature's expense.
Among men, it is easy to observe the development of this daily phenomenon. And for some psychological reason, nations who believe themselves powerful take the fiercest and most harmful of creatures as their symbol. Such as the lion, or the eagle, or the serpent. Some have done this on a secret impulse of affinity; others, because it has served them as some sort of stimulant to an inflated vanity, the wish to make themselves appear that which they are not nor will ever be.
The eagle, symbolizing liberty and strength, has found the most admirers. And men, collectively and individually, have ever desired to copy and imitate this most rapacious of birds in order to succeed in the plundering of their fellowmen.
But there is a man who, besides being like the eagle, also has the characteristics of the vulture, the owl and the vampire.
He ascends the mountains of Benguet ostensibly to classify and measure Igorot skulls, to study and civilize the Igorots; but, at the same time, he also espies during his flight, with the keen eye of the bird of prey, where the large deposits of gold are, the real prey concealed in the lonely mountains, and then he appropriates these all to himself afterwards, thanks to the legal facilities he can make and unmake at will, always, however, redounding to his own benefit.
He authorizes, despite laws and ordinances to the contrary, the illegal slaughter of diseased cattle so as to make a profit from its infected and putrid meat, which he himself should have condemned in his official capacity.
He presents himself on all occasions with the wrinkled brow of a scientist, who has spent his life deep in the mysteries of the laboratory of science; when in truth, his only scientific work has been the dissection of insects and the importation of fish eggs, as though fish in this country are of so little nourishment and savoriness that they deserve replacement by species from other climes.
He gives laudable impetus to the search of rich lodes in Mindanao, in Mindoro, and in other virgin regions of the archipelago, a search undertaken with the people’s money, and with the excuse of its being for the public good; when, in strict truth, his purpose is to obtain data and discover the keys to the national wealth for his essentially personal benefit, as proved by the acquisition of immense properties registered under the names of others.
He promotes through secret agents and partners, the sale to the city of worthless lands at fabulous prices, which the city fathers dare not refuse for fear of displeasing him.
He sponsors concessions for hotels on filled-in lands, with the prospect of enormous profits at the expense of the people.
Such are the characteristics of this man who is also an eagle, who surprises first and then later devours, a vulture who gorges himself on the dead and putrid meats, an owl who affects a petulant omniscience, and a vampire who silently sucks his victims bloodless.
Birds of prey always triumph. Their flight and aim are never thwarted. For who can dare stop them?
There are some who share in the booty and the plunder itself, but the rest are merely too weak to raise a voice of protest. Some die in the disheartening destruction of their own energies and interests. Yet, at the end, there shall appear, with terrifying clearness, that immortal warning of old: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin   
The editorial ended with a biblical warning "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" (Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; Upharsin: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians). This script mysteriously appeared on a wall for King Belshazzar, the King of Babylon. The oracle was interpreted by the prophet Daniel as a sign of impending doom because of the ruler’s misdeeds. It was Editor-in-Chief Teodoro M. Kalaw who added the cryptic threat at the end of the editorial before handing it off to the chief printer.


Aves de Rapiña editorial published in El Renacimiento, October 30, 1908  

On November 5, 1908, less than a week after the editorial was published, Fidel A. Reyes and Teodoro M. Kalaw, together heard the news of the libel case. Kalaw recalls the events that day in his book Aide-de-Camp to Freedom:

“One afternoon while taking my siesta, I was rudely awakened by someone and told that Fidel A. Reyes and I were wanted at the office immediately. Fidel, our city editor, and I boarded at the same place. We dressed up hurriedly and upon arrival, found the staff nervously talking together in the office. A formal notice of another libel suit had just been served upon us. The publisher, Don Martin Ocampo, Fidel, and I were being under arrest.”
Warrants of arrest were issued for the three, along with two staff members of the paper’s Tagalog counterpart Muling Pagsilang.  An esteemed team of lawyers took on their case. with Felipe Agoncillo and Felix Ferrer assigned to Fidel’s defense.  News of the libel case soon spread, and fellow journalists from around the world sent them telegrams of support and rallied for freedom of the Philippine press. There was strong public support for the accused, and the proceedings were well-attended, with a great majority of the spectators being students from universities in Manila.


Claro M. Recto's poem Himno al Volcan de Taal for Fidel A. Reyes, 1911
Secretary Worcester sued the El Renacimiento for all it was worth. In addition to the criminal libel case, he filed a civil suit against the editors, publishers and stockholders of the business  asking P100,000 for moral damages. The Secretary took both cases very seriously as he had a growing reputation for winning against all those who would dare challenge him. He was punctual in attending each and every court hearing and summoned top government officials and prominent personalities to testify as his witnesses. The cases were almost impossible to win. Most of the motions of the defense were overruled from the Court of First Instance and onwards.
For the civil suit Worcester was awarded P25,000, which was a hefty amount during that time. The paper was forced to close and a series of court-ordered public auctions stripped their offices to cover the fine. Worcester was not satisfied with merely shutting the paper down. As cruel vengeance, he won the right to use the titles El Renacimiento and Muling Pagsilang during the auctions for P1,000. He also acquired personal property owned by the defendants such as the family home of one of the shareholders, for P7,000.
According to court documents, Fidel A. Reyes was sentenced in the Court of First Instance to six months imprisonment and a fine of P2,000 and one-fifth of the cost of the action. After appealing the case to the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the case against Fidel was dismissed but the decisions were affirmed for his editor-in-chief and publisher. Martin Ocampo was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of period of six months and to pay a fine of P2,000, and to pay one-fifth part of the costs of the action in the lower court and one-third part of the costs in the Supreme Court. Teodoro M. Kalaw’s sentence was increased to prison sentence of twelve months, to pay a fine of P3,000, and one-fifth part of the costs of the action in the lower court, and one-third part of the costs in Supreme Court.
The decision was affirmed on May 25, 1914, after the case was brought to the United States Supreme Court. But after almost six years of legal battles, a new "pro-Filipino" Governor General Francis Burton Harrison granted them pardon. Sullivan’s Exemplar of Americanism: The Philippine Career of Dean C. Worcester, shares details on the recommendation for pardon sent by George A. Malcolm, who had previously served for the prosecution. In Malcolm’s letter “he cited the “drastic” Philippine libel laws, the “integrity and standing” of the defendants, and Worcester’s “controversial attitude”. He praised the editorial as “a masterpiece of polemic literature” in which the defendants attempted to perform their “patriotic duty.”


Fidel A. Reyes, 1913

The men behind El Renacimiento were hailed as national heroes for their dedication to serving the country no matter what the cost. The paper continues to be one of the most important news publications in the history of the Philippines. According to Valenzuela’s History of Journalism in the Philippines, the El Renacimiento was a landmark in Philippine journalism:
“... it was a lonely figure standing head and shoulders among its contemporaries. Men become heroes because in supreme moments of crisis they stand steadfast by their principles and risk life minding not the sacrifice. As in men, so in newspapers; for newspapers are nothing more or less than children of men’s minds. El Renacimiento was justly a hero among Philippine newspapers.”
Fidel’s daring efforts as a journalist had paid off in the end, exposing the truth about the abuse and corruption of one of the most notorious government officials of his time. His editorial “Aves de Rapiña”, became an important topic in classrooms for generations. Acclaimed university professor Bienvenido Lumbera, would passionately teach his students about the editorial’s content and history. In an article “An Intellectual of Our Times” which was published when Lumbera received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication in 1993, author Edilberto Alegre recalls the effect of the editorial on Lumbrera, his former graduate class professor:

“In his classroom he displays no flamboyance, neither in dress nor in teaching style. When he spoke of “Aves de Rapiña”, however, his voice rose a note higher, and his delivery partook of the emberglow of his disposition. Nationalism was the constant fire in his mind that burned into the stodgy minds of most students in literature.”
I did not have the opportunity to study the editorial in-depth in any of my courses. The “Aves de Rapiña” editorial was something I had not read until my grandmother handed me her personal copy. It is an important part of my family history and I cherish is it as a reminder from my own great grandfather to be courageous, defend the oppressed, and stay vigilant towards those in power.
During this time, my appreciation grew for the tireless work of journalists in the country. I had the privilege of having a seasoned investigative journalist as a professor who shared the same dedication Fidel A. Reyes did. It had been very timely for me to be in her class during the events of the EDSA 2 Revolution in the Philippines. She had been part of a group of journalists that exposed the corruption of the country's president. At the beginning of my professor's course, I remember her lamenting over the lack of knowledge and interest of students about current events and important national issues, as well as our unthinking acceptance that everything being presented in mainstream media was true. By the end of the semester, the regime had changed and my attitude towards the news and my country had changed too. 

It had become important to me to understand the issues facing the country with more depth and to watch the actions of those in power much more closely. My living room magazine rack no longer held my regular collection of fashion magazines. In their place, were the weekly political news magazines that came out after the EDSA 2 Revolution, with my journalism professor as one of its editors. I took in all that I could about social and political issues from those pages and more, keeping them as precious mementos from my period of rebirth.