Award-winning journalist and content creator Jacque Manabat bravely opens up about how she survived a road accident when she was 13 years old and how her past harassment experience while she was still working in the media industry boosted her to push for an advocacy.
In the fourth episode of The Philippine STAR’s On The Rise, the former ABS-CBN reporter recalled what happened to her when she was a teenager in Baguio City and how it affected her while in high school.
“So hinatid ko ‘yung lola ko. Tawid ng kalsada, pagbalik ko, hindi ko na alam kung ano nangyari. And, totoo pala ‘yung sinasabi na parang nagpa-flashback ‘yung buhay mo. So, I saw, parang a younger me, asking pa ulit-ulit na, what will you do kung mabubuhay ka pa? Paulit-ulit ‘yun. Parang out of the body experience,” she said in an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
“Nung nagising ako, puro dugo na, nagsisigawan ‘yung mga tao. I was only 13 this time. And may tumusok na ribs sa lungs ko, so hindi ko alam kung mabubuhay pa ko or hindi. Tinakbo ko ng jeep sa hospital. Near-death experience talaga ‘yun,” she added.
Jacque had to stay in the hospital for months, and her recovery took time that almost robbed her first few years in high school at St. Louis Girls High.
“I had to stop. Tapos, naalala ko pa nga na may palawagan mga magkakaklase. Hindi ko na nakuha. Pero sabi ng director is that, okay naman ‘yung grades ko. So pinasanan niya ako to second year high school. But I remember I had to transfer to Pangasinan that time kasi mahirap ‘yung akyatan sa Baguio eh. May crutches ako nun, tsaka wheelchair,” she noted.
Adding, “Papasok lang ako sa restaurant, titignan ka, ang hirap umakyat, pinagtitinginan ka, pag-uusapan ka. Kaya siguro, itong experience na ito isa siyang malaking pivot sa buhay ko. The doctor said, I could no longer walk. Kasi putol ‘yung buto ko eh, dalawa. For a 13-year-old na nawalan ako ng social life.”
With the help of her family, she was able to recover, but the accident left trauma to younger Jacque.
“So, kahit ngayon na nakakakita ko ng ambulansya, sumisigaw ako, ‘tabi naman kayo, tabi.’ Because I know the feeling, nang nasa loob ka ng ambulansya, and you are fighting for your life. Na konting lubak nga lang, masakit eh. I’m a road crash survivor. Not once, but twice. ‘Yung second time, may tinulak naman ako na bata, kasi patawid siya. Tapos, pumailalim ako,” said Jacque.
Looking back on the tragic experience, it fueled her to advocate for safer streets.
“I think, ‘yung experiences ko led me to what I am fighting for today. Like, I am advocating for safer streets para sa mga bata, sa pedestrians, na bigyan nyo naman ng priority ‘yung mga tumatawid, ‘yung mga naglalakad, ‘yung mga dapat natawid, ‘yung mga dapat na priority. And reading the newspapers every day with my lolo made me realize that ‘yung news, news is important in our lives. As cliche as it may sound, malaking bahagi siya ng buhay natin,” she stressed.
Jacque first started as a regional reporter for ABS-CBN before transferring to the national TV. Just like other newbie reporters, she started in the graveyard shift in the police beat and eventually became a business reporter focusing on transportation stories.
While covering the Hong Kong mass protest in 2019, she was able to create her online presence by doing mobile journalism (MOJO). From there, she was able to explore social media for news reporting.
Jacque eventually resigned as a reporter after 17 years. She then established her own creative lab. She was also named as the World Vision ambassador.
“I was also harassed in the media. So tingin ko dapat hindi na maulit ‘yung mga downs ko sa ibang mga tao. Bilang babae at batang babae, ang daming downside eh. Sabihin na natin na marami ng opportunities for women and young girls in the Philippines, pero hindi pa talaga empowered. So, it’s really an honor to be one of the ambassadors of World Vision and to teach them what I know and to share with them what I know,” she happily said.
“It’s actually a privilege. Privilege na matawag kang ambasador. I want to share that privilege to others, be that voice for the voiceless. And do something. Kahit wala na ako sa mainstream media, kahit na hindi na akong kasingsikat ng mga nasa mainstream media,” she added.
