PATRICIA CHANCO EVANGELISTA

Dear Mouse,

Now that the article is out, I feel I can publish already in my blog what she sent me days ago.

For her and my detractors, read how she humbly asked for apology.

For myself, I cannot ask for an apology because I know I did not err in standing by her side and believing in her.

Read and be enlightened:

The foolish and the weak

CRAZED By Patricia Chanco Evangelista

The Philippine STAR 11/19/2004

Three weeks ago I wrote a story about a young girl named Faye. I read about her account in an advertisement by Bread of Life Ministries, and like so many others, I was shaken by what I read.

The story painted the picture of a young girl who, alone and unaided, persevered in the face of incredible odds to bring honor to the Philippines.

Thanks to so many who believed in her cause, her story has been flashed from channel to channel, her name featured in newspaper columns and news articles all over the country, and her experience discussed in chat rooms and e-mail exchanges all over the world.

I was once in her shoes, but I was luckier than she was. I wanted to give her the chance I was given. It was against all I believed fair and just for such a situation to remain as it was. I called Bread of Life Ministries immediately upon reading the article – I may be guilty of many things, but that of "malicious journalistic adventuring" is where I draw the line. Bread of Life assured me of the truth of the story, the existence of a web site and the promise of an interview with Faye scheduled for the following week. I blame no one but myself for relying on the word and documentations provided by Faye and Mrs. San Juan. It was my failure that led to the misleading of many. I used to say that my generation had a special mission of our own. We are accused of being a generation without an identity, and maybe there is some truth in that.

It has been said that every generation is defined by a cause. But unlike the last generation who rallied on EDSA, this generation does not have a definite wrong to correct, or a distinct institution to oppose. But we grew up with the Ninja Turtles, Spiderman and the Power Rangers – we want to be heroes too. So we fight our own battles, we slay our own demons. We find our own causes. I found my cause in Faye. I live in time and place when Filipino pride and the Filipino identity are questioned. It sounds like typical teenage idealism, but I’m a teenager. I believed I could make a difference. My cause was to inspire, to bring to the forefront unsung heroes who give the Philippines cause to be proud.

This one girl was a symbol of Filipino excellence triumphing in the midst of adversity – the same story many of our athletes, singers and writers have experienced. I grew up faster over the past few days than I ever did in a year. Maybe we all come to a point where those rose-colored glasses are ripped away. I did make a difference – only it was a difference based on a lie. The story of Faye Nicole B. San Juan is a lie. The shock of that revelation is made worse with the knowledge that Catherine San Juan, Faye’s mother, willfully created a story for her child to tell. There was no competition. There are no records of the pair leaving the country. The trophy is not real. The certificates were forged. It is a towering pile of lie upon lie built on intentions we cannot as yet understand. Those wiser and more credible than myself believed her story too, from powerful newspapers and television networks to respected churches. We all believed in her account, for how can a twelve-year—old girl speak such an incredible untruth with such innocence? This is no excuse, merely an attempt to explain the context. I was proud to have been part of the movement that gave Faye San Juan the recognition she deserved. Now I am humbled, and can do nothing more than apologize to the many readers who believed me enough to defend my cause. There are many who went out of their way on nothing more than my word. To them, thank you. It has been said that it is the foolish and the weak of the world that will humble the strong. Perhaps my foolishness and weakness will serve as an example to many who risk believing blindly. Today, I write knowing that much of what I stood for and defended was untrue. I am a writer; I trade by my word. I have been in the business for less than five months, but I grew up knowing that truth is a journalist’s only weapon. A writer’s power goes only as far as her credibility. As I write these words now, I am filled with both helplessness and anger. More than the fact that I was deceived, it is infinitely more painful to be responsible for others’ deception. My responsibility is to correct that untruth. I still have a cause. I may be the least person now with the credibility to speak of serving the country, but I will try. There are many who warrant the praise that Faye has unjustly received. In time, I’ll take up that cause again, in the hope that this one failure will not taint the names of all those who still deserve their recognition. I stand for my convictions, and can only wish that my doing so would in some way aid this cause. In a world where change is the only thing that’s constant, there are a few things that I still count on. I count on my family’s support. I count on my friends’ understanding. I count on the sun rising in the morning and setting in the evening. Most of all, I count on the idea that all people are basically, inherently good. After all that has happened, it’s hard to hang on to even that. But I’m nineteen, and I guess it’s a good thing that I’m not-quite-grown-up yet. I still believe in the goodness of people, and the greatness of the Filipino. It is one of the few truths that no lie, however big, can ever blot out. * * *

Saiyo Patricia, Mabuhay!!!!! from

The Ca t