Some years ago I attended a press conference with Richard Gordon, who I guess was still running for senator, and I remember telling myself at the onset that this was one big (expletive deleted – sorry, I don’t use bad words in public, or in private, for that matter) who was talking to us. He came off as condescending, irritable, and downright rude as he talked to us. The climax came when one of us asked him something (which I can no longer remember), and he replied, “That’s a stupid question.” I tuned out after that, no longer listening or taking down notes or even caring what he was saying. I didn’t even write about the interview.
The other day the same thing happened with a young Davao City reporter. In an ambush interview with Gordon after appearing at the regular City Council session, she asked, “Are you using your position as chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross for your presidential campaign?” I personally wouldn’t have phrased the question that way, but it was nonetheless a legitimate one, and it deserved a straightforward answer. Instead, Gordon told her, “Shame on you!”
Needless to say, the young reporter was taken aback. But it is a testament to her professionalism that she actually wrote about the interview, and the story saw print the next day. A lesser mortal – someone like me, for example – would have ditched the whole thing and written about more important things, like the economy or blades of grass.
Another reporter told me that she had a similar experience with Gordon a few years ago. At a press conference, she asked the senator for his take on a certain situation in Zamboanga, and he replied, “You answer that. You know more about Mindanao.” My colleague did know the answer, but as a reporter she could not quote herself in her stories. Her job was to get people like Gordon to speak, and she was doing just that. And there he was, a Senator of the Republic, refusing to answer a legitimate question from a legitimate media professional.
Someone who is actively asking us to make him the next President of the Philippines has no business talking to reporters – or any other person – this way. The young reporter asked a question, she deserved an answer. If anyone should be ashamed, it’s Gordon – for his uncouth and rude behavior.
Shame on who?
Random Posts:
i don’t think he’ll win anyway
haha… if he does we’ll have a president who’s even harder to interview than GMA.
Hi Jon! Thanks for sharing this. Kino-consider ko pa naman na iboto sya, tsk2.
Sulat ka naman about the other presidentiables…
@titit: i hope to snag interviews with the candidates. abangan!
Just started following your blog. Always nice to get insights into a public figure’s character. Thanks.
He scrapped the “HUWAG MAGING DAYUHAN SA SARILING BAYAN” campaign created by the Tourism Secretary he replaced – Gemma Cruz-Araneta & DDB Phils. (the ad agency creative was led by Bai Manginsay). Sayang ang idea, sayang ang perang ginastos sa campaign …he also brushed aside DDB. The “WOW Philippines” was created, led by a creative-wannabe who is now that President-wannabe.
…so, not just media men – some admen, too, have the impression of him as condescending, know-it-all and arrogant.
[...] about Senator Richard Gordon? Forget about it. Bro. Eddie Villanueva? I supported him in 2004, but I think his time has passed; 2004 was his year [...]