Unsung heroes of a challenged industry
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the newspaper industry had already been grappling from the effects of the internet, especially as the latter got more accessible and more affordable.
Many newspaper outfits worldwide have closed operations or resorted to going digital and connected to social media.
In Cebu, despite the advent of technology and access to the internet, The Freeman Newspaper continues to survive, not only because of its own workforce but because of hardworking news dealers.
As soon as the newspaper’s printing press sounds off, it is also the start of the day for most news dealers.
Jacinto “Into” Ybanez typically sleeps at 8 p.m. and wakes before midnight to get ready for the day.
By 1 a.m., Into is already at The Freeman office to get copies and turn over returns from his outlet in Sikatuna Street. He sorts out the fresh copies of The Freeman, and distributes them to newsboys as soon as they could.
Into got into the business from his mom who started it almost 40 years ago. Their family paved the way for some of their workers and newsboys to learn the ropes and become dealers themselves.
Into said they continue what they do up to this day because this is where their family earns a living.
“Wala may panginabuhian lain. Mao na gyud niy akong nahibaw-an nga income,” he said.
During the first lockdown back in 2020, Into stopped for around 10 days to observe around since Covid-19 was something new to everyone.
“Nihunong ko, siguro mga 10 days, naniid pa man gud ko pagsugod atong lockdown then balik na. Wala gyud tay mahimo kung wala tay income kay mao ra gihapon ang gastuhonon maong nihinay-hinay kog balik sa newspaper,” said Into.The Freeman also chanced upon three more dealers who were in one plant in Mandaue to get copies of newspapers instead of getting them from the office itself.
After sorting out copies from different newspaper outlets, newsboys come in to get their respective copies as early as they could.
Danny E. is already set to deliver copies for both North and South at past 3 a.m., from Carcar to Lutupan to Ginatilan then from Consolacion to Sta. Fe in Bantayan island as well as Camotes. He used to have some newsboys in Cebu City and Mandaue but the business was forced to stop during the pandemic because of problems with working attitudes.
It was Danny E.’s brother who started dealing newspapers which he assumed after his brother’s death in 2000.
With most of the dealers in Cebu Province having already stopped, Danny E. said their income had remained steady.
“Sa akong area sa Cebu Province, as is ra gihapon ang mga kopya sa panahon na pandemic ug walay pandemic,” Danny E. disclosed.
Danny E. has been telling newsboys under him not to stop selling papers even during the pandemic so that people will not be used to getting news online or without reading any news at all.
“Ako sila giingnan akong mga tawo na ayaw mog pangundang kay once mangundang mo, ang mga customers sa newspaper mangundang or mangawagtang na pud labi ng high-tech naman ta ron, naa nay news pwede tan-awn sa cellphone,” said Danny E.
As a dealer, he said they are letting newsboys avail of promos accorded to them by the newspaper companies. He has also given them some considerations if not all copies will be sold.
Danny E. said they have to be kind enough to the newsboys as they are getting fewer these days and no new and young ones have followed suit.
“Lisod kaayo kung imong estriktuhon, mangundang na nuon. Unya, maghire na pud kag lain, sugod na pud sa sinugdanan, lisod na kaayo. Naay mga bag-o bag-o pa sa syudad, medyo mga tapulan pud so focus na lang sa gyud ko diri sa Province,” Danny E. said.
Danny E. admits some customers don’t care if they got their copies that day or not since they can catch up on news items online.
Good thing, though, there are foreigners in different towns and offices in different LGUs who continue to look for physical copies of the newspaper.
Some customers are also generous enough to continue buying newspapers even with their access online, all for the sake of the newsboys.
“Among paningkamutan lang gyud nga ang among mga customers dili lang gyud muundang kay para padayon lang gihapon ta ani,” said Danny E.
When Danny Encabo left, another Danny, Danny “Taya” Ybanez, and Leni Agas arrived to get their copies of different newspapers too for distribution to their respective newsboys.
Agas used to work for another dealer back in 1991 and went on her own in 1999 when she quit the job since it was something she already knew.
“Mao na may akong naandan nga negosyo, maoy akong nahibaw-an, so mao na lang pud akong sudlan pag undang na nakog trabaho didto and until now, padayon lang gihapon ko,” said Agas.
Agas’ area of distribution is from Lahug to Mandaue