by Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
The way to predict the future is to create it in the present
“The way to predict the future is to create it in the present.” This was the gist of the message of Bishop Abet Uy today in his daily morning episode at Ted Ayeng’s program over dyTR.
The message is very timely for the October 30 birthday celebrator, my bff Ardy Ines Araneta-Batoy. She started her career in radio broadcasting at a very young age, as an apprentice of her brother, Raul Araneta. She was in 3rd year high school at that time and her debut on radio was at dyML, owned and managed by the wealthy Lopezes of Iloilo. The radio station, located somewhere near the Dauis-Bool Junction, was the leading broadcast company at that time.
Yes, she started her career during her teen years; a popular charming campus figure, academic scholar, debater, stage performer and student leader. Her distinct voice dominated the airlanes with her impeccable skills in English grammar and rhetorics. She was well known for her style in interpreting the song “My Funny Valentine” and the romantic poem “Beyond Forgetting” by Rolando Carbonell. Her courses, summing up Communication as her major and Mathematics as her minor, are rare combinations in the academe. True enough, she honed herself as a Master in Education and English.
She is and is still on radio, live streaming all over the world. She made true her promise to start as a media person and continue as a media person. She is currently the editor-in-chief and managing editor of The Bohol Tribune, a reputable newspaper in Bohol. She has paved the way for the weekly newspaper to become every reader’s favorite resulting to its wide circulation in less than a decade. Of course, her team supports her well as a fearless and dainty lady broadcast.
With all these achievements she raised her two sons, Chandymar and Gerrymar, very well, single handedly at that. To me, that’s the the pinnacle of her success. She beams with pride saying: “They are my brothers . . . aw mga anak diay.”
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Recently, I lost a friend, Zenaida Pancito. She used to be at the helm of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the province and retired as the no. 2 BIR officer in Central Visayas.
She started her career with the firm directions to become a Certified Public Accountant. And she really was one. Hers was a life of simplicity and frugality. She was not intoxicated with the power of money she saved through her years of public service.
Our friendship just happened naturally at the Oceanjet ferry. This was during one of her trips from Cebu to Taagbilaran for a weekend rest in her home in Baclayon. Ug nagsakay mi sa barko ug kadtong maong panaghimamat, mikulit ug kasaykasayan sa among kinabuhi.
The same start of friendship happened between me and my bff Ardy. Nagtapad mi ug lingkoranan sa Oceanjet ug didto magsugod ang among panaghinigalaay. Bff Ardy is very much younger than I am. But age is not a gap in relationships. I remember her very well when she recited “I Shot An Arrow into the Air” after the flag raising ceremony at the old St. Joseph College (now Holy Spirit School). She was listened to and viewed by the entire student body of the school as she delivered her piece with gusto.
To my bff Ardy, “Happy, happy birthday!”
To my friend Zenaida, “Till we meet again!”