Teodoro Benigno
Encyclopedia
Teodoro "Teddy" Benigno, Jr. (1923–2005) was a leading Filipino journalist with a career spanning seven decades. His writings first graced the print media in 1946, when he joined the Manila Tribune as a sportswriter and police beat reporter. However, the greater part of his career was spent with the Agence France Presse, which he joined as a senior editor in 1950. He would spend thirty seven years with the AFP, serving as Manila bureau chief from 1962 until 1987. Benigno maintained extensive ties with France. Fluent in French, he studied at the Institut de Sciences Politiques and in 1989, was awarded the French Legion of Honor.
declared martial law
in 1972, Benigno and other foreign journalists established the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, which proved a welcome balancing force to the Marcos-controlled media during martial rule. Benigno himself, unlike many other prominent anti-Marcos journalists such as Max Soliven and Don Chino Roces
avoided imprisonment during Marcos's rule, shielded perhaps in part by his affiliation with a prominent international news organization as the AFP was.
In 1987, Benigno accepted President Corazon Aquino
's offer to serve as her press secretary
. He held the position until 1989, when he resigned to return to journalism. In June 1989, he began his famous column "Here's the Score", published by the Philippine Star. Benigno would also venture into broadcast journalism by hosting two public-affairs talk shows. The first, "Options" on the ABS-CBN
channel, was short-lived. However, his succeeding show, "Firing Line" on the GMA
channel, would prove durable and eventually attain international recognition. "Firing Line" deviated from the then popular round-table format adopted by most Philippine talk shows. It employed instead a format involving Benigno and his co-host grilling for an hour a solitary guest, normally a leading Filipino political figure of the day, but sometimes the occasional foreign dignitary such as Margaret Thatcher
, Henry Kissinger
, Willy Brandt
, and Zbigniew Brzezinski
. Interestingly, Benigno's co-hosts were also, as he was, former Aquino government officials - first, Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos
, then eventually, economic planning secretary Solita Monsod
. After the cancellation of "Firing Line", Benigno continued to write his column with the Philippine Star, which was regularly published for nearly sixteen years up until weeks before his death.
Benigno employed a highly literary style, replete with flowery descriptions and emphatic denunciations. His emotive style contrasted sharply with the dry stylings of Amado Doronilla, another contemporary of equal stature who writes for the Star's fiercest rival, the Philippine Daily Inquirer
. Benigno's writing style became especially pointed in the last few years of his life, as he emerged as a bitter critic of Presidents Joseph Estrada
and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
. He was frequently heard to lament the failings of the restored democratic rule, and became active in controversial reformist movements.
. The late President, Corazon C. Aquino, with whom he retained a close personal friendship, was one of his last bedside visitors.
Career
After President Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
in 1972, Benigno and other foreign journalists established the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, which proved a welcome balancing force to the Marcos-controlled media during martial rule. Benigno himself, unlike many other prominent anti-Marcos journalists such as Max Soliven and Don Chino Roces
Chino Roces
Chino Roces was the founder and owned of Associated Broadcasting Company and the Manila Times.-Early life:Joaquin "Chino" Roces was born on June 29, 1913 to Don Alejandro "Moy" Roces and Dona Antonia "Nena" Pardo...
avoided imprisonment during Marcos's rule, shielded perhaps in part by his affiliation with a prominent international news organization as the AFP was.
In 1987, Benigno accepted President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
's offer to serve as her press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
. He held the position until 1989, when he resigned to return to journalism. In June 1989, he began his famous column "Here's the Score", published by the Philippine Star. Benigno would also venture into broadcast journalism by hosting two public-affairs talk shows. The first, "Options" on the ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
channel, was short-lived. However, his succeeding show, "Firing Line" on the GMA
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
channel, would prove durable and eventually attain international recognition. "Firing Line" deviated from the then popular round-table format adopted by most Philippine talk shows. It employed instead a format involving Benigno and his co-host grilling for an hour a solitary guest, normally a leading Filipino political figure of the day, but sometimes the occasional foreign dignitary such as Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
, and Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski is a Polish American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman who served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981....
. Interestingly, Benigno's co-hosts were also, as he was, former Aquino government officials - first, Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos
Oscar Orbos
Oscar M. Orbos, popularly known as Ka Oca, is a Philippine TV personality and host of GMA Network's Debate with Mare at Pare.Orbos was a former cabinet secretary, provincial governor, and vice presidential candidate...
, then eventually, economic planning secretary Solita Monsod
Solita Monsod
Solita Collas-Monsod, popularly known as Mareng Winnie, is a Filipino broadcaster, host, economist, professor, and writer.Professor Monsod is best remembered for her role as Socio-economic Planning Secretary during the term of President Corazon Aquino and as a co-host in the GMA Network show Debate...
. After the cancellation of "Firing Line", Benigno continued to write his column with the Philippine Star, which was regularly published for nearly sixteen years up until weeks before his death.
Benigno employed a highly literary style, replete with flowery descriptions and emphatic denunciations. His emotive style contrasted sharply with the dry stylings of Amado Doronilla, another contemporary of equal stature who writes for the Star's fiercest rival, the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
. Benigno's writing style became especially pointed in the last few years of his life, as he emerged as a bitter critic of Presidents Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
. He was frequently heard to lament the failings of the restored democratic rule, and became active in controversial reformist movements.
Personal Life
He was married to Dominga "Meng" Comsti - Benigno ( May 12, 1925 - December 13, 2010), with whom he had a daughter, Aurora Magdalena "Nena" C. Benigno. At a later time, he had a son, Marc Theodore, by Luz Palacios.Death
Benigno died on 3 June 2005, less than a month after being diagnosed with liver cancerHepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
. The late President, Corazon C. Aquino, with whom he retained a close personal friendship, was one of his last bedside visitors.
Television
- The World TodayThe World TodayBBC World News is the standard news bulletin featuring the latest international news broadcast throughout most of the day on BBC World News. Some editions also feature brief business and sport reports as well...
(GMA Network, 1972-1974) - Options (ABS-CBN, 1991-1995)
- Firing Line (GMA Network, 1992-1999)
External links
- "Journalist Teodoro Benigno Jr. passes away" Inq7.net
- http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Main_News_1/Aquino_confers_awards_on_6_key_people_who_inspired_1986_EDSA_revolt_printer.shtml "Aquino confers awards on 6 key people who inspired 1986 EDSA revolt"
- http://www.newsbalita.com/awards-during-25th-edsa-revolution-anniversary/ "Awards During 25th Edsa Revolution Anniversary"
- http://www.english-to-tagalog.com/support-files/nenabenignoprofile7.pdf Nena Benigno, LIFTING CHRIST UP THROUGH WRITING by Ruth Manimtim-Floresca
- http://www.acmnet.org/site/entry.php?title=Asian_Center_for_Missions_Launches_Maiden_Book&id=226 "Voices in the Wilderness" by Nena C. Benigno