Jacque Manabat's Near-Death Experience That Shaped Her Journalism Career
A Journey of Passion and Purpose
Award-winning journalist and content creator Jacque Manabat is a certified lolo’s girl! Her journey into the world of journalism was deeply influenced by her grandfather, Primitivo, and a near-death experience that shaped her perspective on life and storytelling.
Raised in Baguio City, Jacque spent a lot of time with her lolo, who loved reading newspapers. From an early age, she would sit with him, listening to his translations of news articles into Filipino. Although she didn’t fully understand the content at first, she cherished the moments spent with her lolo.
“The Philippine STAR and other huge newspapers were part of our morning routine. Reading the newspapers every day with my lolo made me realize that news is important in our lives. As cliche as it may sound, it's a big part of our lives,” she shared.
Jacque also recounted a heartwarming incident where her voice on television helped locate her lolo, who had Alzheimer's. While he was wandering alone, he heard her voice on TV and remembered who he was.
“His memory came back when he heard my name. He knew my screen name, and that really meant something. Even though he was in a confused state, I gave him the papers that were in circulation that day,” she said.
Despite the joy of building a career in broadcast journalism, Jacque was heartbroken when her Lolo Primitivo passed away in 2023. She continued to read to him until his last breath, ensuring he felt connected to her work.
A Dream of Being a Lawyer
At one point, Jacque dreamed of becoming a lawyer after seeing her father's customers in his car repair shop. The lawyers she met were well-dressed and respected, which inspired her to consider a legal career.
“I wanted to be a respected lawyer and someone who would fight for the rights of those who don't know they have rights. It seemed like a comfortable life,” she explained.
However, her passion for writing and journalism began in elementary school when a teacher asked for volunteers to interview a visitor at their school. The experience sparked her interest in storytelling and led her to watch the news more closely.
Education and Career Path
After graduating from St. Louis University in Baguio City with a degree in AB Mass Communications, Jacque did not immediately enter the media industry. She worked as an English teacher for Koreans in Baguio and explored different sidelines before joining ABS-CBN as a regional reporter.
She started in the graveyard shift covering the police beat and eventually became a business reporter focusing on transportation stories. During the Hong Kong mass protest in 2019, she created her online presence through mobile journalism (MOJO) and began exploring social media for news reporting.
Overcoming Adversity
Another reason for her career in journalism was a tragic accident that left her in the hospital for months when she was 13 years old. The experience was a near-death encounter that left her with lasting trauma.
“Nung nagising ako, puro dugo na, nagsisigawan ‘yung mga tao. I was only 13 this time. And may tinulok na ribs sa lungs ko, so hindi ko alam kung mabubuhay pa ko or hindi. Tinakbo ako ng jeep sa hospital. Near-death experience talaga ‘yun,” she added.
The accident left her with a deep commitment to advocating for safer streets for children and pedestrians. “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 n’yo naman ng priority ‘yung mga tumatawid, ‘yung mga naglalakad, ‘yung mga dapat natawid, ‘yung mga dapat na priority,” she said.
New Beginnings
After 17 years as a reporter, Jacque resigned and established her own creative lab named Amber studios. She was also named a World Vision ambassador, allowing her to explore stories on a wider scale and use her platform to advocate for the voiceless.
“So, it gave me creative freedom to explore stories that I could publish on a wider scale. Privilege na matawag kang ambassador. I want to share that privilege with others, be that voice for the voiceless and do something. Even if I’m no longer in mainstream media,” she noted.
