About me
Hello, I’m Raissa Robles – a writer and reporter living in the Philippines.
I’m starting this blog upon the prodding of a fellow writer named Alan who says he’s tired of hearing me mutter every day at breakfast about what’s happening in the country.
Can’t help it. Must be genetic – this knack for dissecting events, asking the most embarrassing questions and getting the most unexpected answers.
I was a reporter before I even knew I was one. Must have been 11 or 12 at that time when my father, the late Professor Jose F. Espinosa of the University of the Philippines, College of Law, carted the family over by bus to Baguio one December while he attended an “acculturation conference” – whatever that was.
Anyway, a group of conference participants decided to drive over to a resort in Pangasinan and one dean kindly offered us a hitch.
I remember asking my father very innocently and loudly for all to hear that the car was marked “for official use only”, then adding “but this isn’t official, is it?”
Boy, did I get it afterward.
What I want to do with this blog, I guess, is share my questions and answers with all of you out there and hope you do the same.
I’ve often been asked why I haven’t migrated yet, given how bad the political situation here is. Why should I? Let the politicians migrate first.
Oops, they don’t have to. Many of them maintain double lives – one in California and the other here.
Anyway, to get back to introducing myself, I currently report for South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and Radio Netherlands. I used to contribute to Riyadh Daily newspaper, Asiaweek and Asia Inc. magazines and have written for The Times of London.
I’ve written two biographical books. “To Fight without End: The Story of a Misunderstood President” is about Elpidio Quirino, one of the most controversial Philippine presidents. It was published by the Ayala Foundation and I was given full access to Quirino’s presidential papers. Ayala was true to its word not to censor the book in any way.
The second book is entitled “Trianggulo” about the growing up years of construction builder Antonio Evangelista, which I wrote like a children’s book.
I cut my teeth in journalism writing political and business stories for Business Day, The Manila Chronicle and Philippine Star, plus I’ve contributed stories to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and Newsbreak.
Professionally, I owe a debt of gratitude to the late Raul and Leticia Locsin of Business Day and the late Betty Go-Belmonte of Philippine Star; the late Prof. Concepcion Dadufalza of the UP English Department and Prof. Joseph Galdon who once chaired the Ateneo English Department.
And of course to Alan.
There, Alan, stop blushing.
@saxnviolins – Yes he was. I had my own version of the hot seat at home
. I was always arguing with him. Imagine me, arguing with Prof. Kingsfield. But he did have a soft spot for students. He agonized over your grades. And when he had to give a failing mark, the least he could do was to decorate it with a coffin and candles. I know because I was the one who had to total up the scores every examination period.
Hi:
Your father was Professor Kingsfield (Paper Chase) personified, in the UP College of Law. I was a survivor of his hot seat (to other readers, the Professor used to put a seat at the center of the class, where the student he grilled sat, while others looked both in pity and gratitude that they were not the one seated).
I owe all that I know in criminal law to his terrorism. He was one of the greats to me, along with Haydee Yorac, Justice Cuevas, and the other cantankerous (in the classroom) professor, Esteban Bautista.
Many female colleagues who saw him with your mother noticed the sweetness despite the years. That is what nailed my argument that the terrorism was play acting – to bring out the best in the students, like tempering steel.
HI Raisa,
I just googled Noy Noy Aquino to know more about what bloggers write about him. I read your very interesting blog.
You certainly have got the talent for expressing your views in a clear manner.
I hope to read your biography of Elpidio Quirino.
All the best.
Jijie Zablan
FB: jijiezablan
twitter: jijiezablan
email: jijie.zablan@gmail.com
Thanks, M.
What are you doing now?
Raissa
Hi! I haven’t heard from you nor about you in a very long while.
I started reading though your blog as I saw we had common FB friends.
You did GREAT! Congratulations and I wish you continued success and all the best!
Regards and keep well.
M
Hi ms. raissa!!
i love your writings and i wish i could also write like that.. LOL..
it rises my curiosity & interest..
i hope that the writings of yours would be an eye opener for all the
Filipinos..
raissa, i”m just curious… mgkamag-anak kaya tayo?
coz” kris doesn”t like him to get married…
yup. The other readers are right & I’m following suit – I’ll be reading. Keep blogging.
Hi Raissa,
I rated you a two thumbs up in my FB profile
, i like your blogs. This is my first time to have stumbled upon blogs that really interest me ( I actually saw your blog, your link, in my daughter’s FB post!) then I followed.
Thank you, you are the second journalist I admire, one was ..mmmmm she seems a little senior, that one who wrote about that particular dam in the mountain province
??
Anyway, I will be one of the millions of Filipinos who will support you, your cause, whatever!. More power to you!
keep up the GREAT work Raissa! we’re reading
Hi Raissa.
I’m John. I work here in Jakarta.
I was looking up my former colleague’s and friend’s name in the news when I stumbled upon your blog. I have only been seeing the news on CNN and so have not read much details about this horrible incident. I learned only today that Anthony Ridao is one of the ‘other’ victims in the massacre. I am devastated and enraged not only because of losing such a good person but more so by the way those monsters treated him and the others.
What was our government thinking when they decided to fetch a criminal like he’s still a VIP. People know who’s responsible for this despicable act. There’s nothing that can give justice to the victims than the heads of the responsible and those that allowed this to happen.
Damn this president who could not even muster enough effort to appear sincere (but then again can she ever?) and say her statement with conviction. She was just plainly and boringly reading a prepared speech! Pardon me for this but damn her!
Thanks for deciding to run this blog. I hope that you and your readers could offer even the simplest of prayers for Anthony and all the other victims and all their loved ones.
John
My son Diego sent me the link. Thanks for writing about the Maguindanao outrage. The story gets heavier on the heart by the day, but we have to confront it, and find ways to express our anger. One way is to sweep out this corrupt and brutal regime, and all their political underlings top to bottom, from power during the coming elections. Let’s massacre and bury them, if only figuratively. Pero mabigat talaga sa didbdib ang trahedya sa Maguindanao. Buti na lang I thought of clicking on “About me” in your blog. At gumaan nang konti ang pakiramdam ko. Pinatawa mo kasi ako! I knew your dad — brilliant and very good- natured fellow — when I was still teaching at the UP Asian Center and he was with the College of Law. Alan and I worked for Philippine News and Features in the early 80s. More power to both of you!
Mabuhay po kayo! at ang inyong mga layunin. God Bless.
Thanks Meikah.
Which Dadu batch were you? Or do you call her Ching?
The country needs a journalist like you who gets to the bottom of things, hear all sides, report facts as they are. I was a student of Dadufalza, too, and like you she has helped form me.
I wish you all the best!