Antonio Zumel’s Radical Prose

That Zumel’s writings continue to be relevant today shows that great journalists never die -- they just continue to wield greater influence through their writings, leaving their imprint on their readers and the country.

BY BULATLAT

The articles could have been written today. The writer could have been someone who covered the 12^th or 13^th Congress, taking note of the endless politicking. He could have been at the Oakwood Hotel during the rebel soldiers’ failed coup d’etat last year. He could have been here, now, when the prices of oil, basic commodities and social services are skyrocketing.

But the writer, Antonio Zumel, died on August 17, 2001, at the ripe age of 69. And the things he wrote about -- pork barrels, dissent in the military, unending price hikes -- were things that happened in the ‘50s up to the early ‘70s, when he was on the beat.

That his writings continue to be relevant today shows that great journalists never die -- they just continue to wield greater influence through their writings, leaving their imprint on their readers and the country.

In this case, however, the journalist was also a unionist and, later, a leader of the underground revolutionary movement. Thus, his writings took on a far wider scope and greater depth as he used his pen to advance his revolutionary ideals.

All these are reflected in Radical Prose: Selected Writings of Antonio Zumel, a 356-page anthology of Zumel’s writings published by the First Quarter Storm Movement and the Friends of Antonio Zumel.

Divided into three chapters, the book starts with his journalistic pieces as a veteran newspaperman with the Philippines Herald and the Manila Bulletin. The second part includes some of his writings in underground movement, all of which had no bylines when originally published. According to the publishers’ note, it was this part of the book that was most difficult to research given the security precautions of underground leaders.

The third and last chapter consists of Zumel’s selected writings while in exile in The Netherlands. By this time, he was already the chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), actively involved in diplomatic work for the revolutionary organization.

A postscript, which consists of two pieces on Zumel’s life, concludes the book. One is an autobiography that vividly describes his childhood, union work and early underground days. The other is an article that continues where the first one leaves off, describing Zumel’s life in exile.

Ten pages of photos show Zumel with different companions, from former presidents Marcos and Macapagal to comrades in the underground such as Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni, and daughter Aya. The most precious one perhaps is the last one, that of Zumel, laughing with fellow journalists Joe Burgos, Nilo Mulles, and Sol Villa – a rare treat for journalists, old and young. The photo was taken just a few months before Zumel died.

The book will be launched on August 10 at the Balai Kalinaw, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. The date coincides with Zumel’s 72^nd birth anniversary.

The Antonio Zumel Foundation will also be launched during the activity. The foundation is the initiative of Zumel’s family, friends and confreres. It aims to continue his legacy in promoting and defending press freedom, raising and upholding the ethical standards of journalism.

Through training programs, the foundation will also develop skills of journalists, including campus journalists and will serve as resource center for media people. It will also conduct research on the conditions of journalists and issues related to the press. Bulatlat

"The People's Interests Come First" By Antonio Zumel

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