An Interview with Mr. Erwin Tulfo

“Journalism yields so much power unlike other professions. You can be a doctor, you can be an accountant, you can be a psychologist, psychiatrist, a professor, but there is no profession in this world that comes with so much power.”

This was quoted by Mr. Erwin Tulfo when asked about his inspirations for choosing journalism as his career. He is well known as a news anchor of TV5, mainly as one of the Tulfo Brothers who are famous for openly expressing their opinions regarding sensitive issues. In the earlier part of the interview, he stated that his brother, Ramon Tulfo was the first to influence him on the writing profession, he was five years old when his brother started in the industry, which later on turned out to be the alpha of his passion. In addition to why he chose journalism as a profession, he responded, “You have power and at the same time you are popular. You have the power of the pen wherein you can move the government. Where can you see a profession who can directly criticize the President? No one. Only we journalists can do that. You can correct a wrong action. If the government is not moving, you write about it.”

In his 31 years of existence in the business, he regarded writing his first by line in their college paper, Ang Pahayagang Malaya as his most unforgettable moment in the industry. The article was about the Bus Martial, where in the government was not able to stop all the bus robbery. As a result, President Ferdinand Marcos assigned policemen to ride in every bus to stop the crime. As a journalist, he openly admitted that the hardest and most challenging part of having journalism as a profession is writing the truth, but then putting your life in the line. Throughout his career, he has been receiving death threats constantly and already have more than 60 libel suits where in most are already dismissed and four are still ongoing.

          With those numerous threats and cases he has encountered, there is one thing where his courage is coming from, he stated, “Thinking that you are helping, you can make a difference in this world, in society, in this country. That’s where I get my courage. Yes, this career may be hard and dangerous but then again, the result that you’ve helped a person, that’s the pay off. You sacrifice your life that others may enjoy and have a wonderful life.” Having been in the industry for so long, he already have hindered service especially to those who are abused and mistreated by others, may it be by the common people or of the high ranked officials. When asked what is the greatest sacrifice he is willing to give for his career, he said that he almost lost his life on the coverage of Yolanda way back November 2013. He said that sacrifice is reporting an event live in the comforts of the audience’s house. And so a follow up question was raised regarding if it requires a journalist to sacrifice his own life just for the sake of informing, which he answered with, “When I left the print media to join the United States Army way back in 1987, I said I’m not going back, I will become a soldier. But then when I was already there, I missed writing. You see, it runs in your blood, from then on I came back. I became a broadcast journalist. I treat this job now, this profession, as a way of life. You see, when you treat your job as a way of life, there is no day that you get tired, and there is no day that you complain. This is my life. And it doesn’t matter anymore if your pay is commensurate or not, because you love it. I am a journalist, I was born to be a journalist, and I will die as a journalist. You mark my words.”

Mr. Tulfo, at this height of his career and with the numerous events he had experienced disclosed that there is still one thing that he wants and aspires to achieve; to be on top in the industry. He mentioned names like Mike Enriquez, Noli De Castro as people whom he wants to be like; to be in that position. He also added that he wants to be known as Erwin Tulfo, not with their household name as Tulfo Brothers, but on his own.

During my interview, October 24 2014

As one of the Tulfo brothers who are known fearless when it comes to facing sensitive issues, Mr. Erwin confessed that there have been people who have urged him to join politics, however, declined it for the purpose that politics have limitations; when there is something to be done, there is a need to move as a whole, while in journalism there is freedom in expressing thoughts. Having been in different countries, he said that the journalism here in the Philippines is better than the other Asian nations in terms of freedom of expression. However, he mentioned the aspect in which should be improved in the Philippine journalism, he addressed it as the low salary paid to journalists, especially in the print media, which sometimes is the reason for the paying-off of some in the writing profession. If the salary is enough, then a journalist can have the stand to question why he is being bribed but if not, then there is a chance he will be forced to accept it.

Before calling off the day, Mr. Erwin Tulfo, after his inspiring and motivational interview, said his last words and advice to me and all aspiring journalists.

“Before you can be famous, you need to sacrifice. Like a child, before you can run, you need to walk first. In journalism, all you need is sacrifice and courage. And then finally, you pray to God. You see, this is a dangerous job, a public service so you should always talk to your creator. Okay?”