Before I transferred in 2005, and I was very new in ABS-CBN, one of the programs that featured my life story is her show called, "Pipol." And I will never forget that experience because of her very direct questions. You know 16 years after, I'm very grateful and I'm very honored that now I get to hear her story. She's one of the most trusted, and one of the most respected broadcast journalists that we have here in the country. We have with us today, Ms. Ces Drilon. Wow, what an introduction. Thank you, Toni. I remember, I had the temerity to ask you if you were still a virgin. I said, "yes." Yeah. I was. I was shocked, right? Was I? I think not so much. I think you just nodded. I think there's only two of you who asked me that question. If I was still a virgin. You and 700 Club Asia. At least I have something in common. See? Anyway, I was reading about your story, Ms. Ces, and I found out that your father was a soldier. Yeah. He was in the military. Army. So when we grew up, we were used to not having him around. And when he gets home, he imposes a lot of things we can't do to discipline us. Very military. Yeah. We weren't used to that because our mother was more liberal. She would let us do what we want. We moved to Manila from Baguio. We grew up in Baguio. So you really were from there. Yeah, I was born there. How many siblings do you have? Four, including me. And I'm the eldest. You're the eldest. And you started your fascination with news because of your grandfather? Yes, yes. He was a news junkie. He reads the newspapers from front to back. I guess... I really can't trace how I got into journalism. One is, I always say this, I'm very nosy and curious. And there was a time in Baguio and I remember this very distinctly, there was a landslide that was near from where we lived, and I was listening intently to the radio, blow by blow, if there were people rescued already, I wanted to go to the site. How old were you then? I was in fourth grade. I want to go to the site. I really wanted to see how a landslide looked like up close. It was visible from our house. But of course, I wasn't allowed to yet because I was young. I think- one of those incidents in my life that... influenced me to become a- -journalist.
-To take this path. Yeah. But, we haven't really talked about your father, how old were you when he passed away? I was- Well, I remember, I must have been 30. Because that time, I just gave birth to my youngest son. There was a strike in Leyte. At the Tongonan Plant. In a helicopter. He was in a helicopter. He was on the way home from Leyte to Cebu. And then it crashed. And then? And then- Was his body found? Never. But we were told this anecdote, I was told this anecdote that I told my mom, a night before the crash, they were talking about death. And the pilot said, "You know if I'm going to die, I want my ashes, my remains distributed to members of my family." Yeah! So they would remember me. My dad said, "You know, if your family loves you... the remains are not important." It was like he spoke to us. - Yeah.
- That's amazing. That was a huge comfort for us, and you know it was so strange because it's very rare to not find the remains, right? - So it was awkward during-
- The burial. - The mass.
- The wake. You were a broadcast journalist already? Yeah, yeah. So 1985, you started your career as a broadcast journalist... MBS-4 Maharlika Broadcasting System. How do you know? Well, of course, I did my research. I thought it was something else. Right, right. It was the coverage you did for Gringo Honasan - that got the attention of ABS-CBN?
- Yes. Then they hired you? Yeah. How many years did you work in ABS-CBN? Thirty plus years. I was also reading about what happened to you in your journey. You apparently had experience with sexual harassment? Yeah. There were many of us who had the same experience. And we met and we were all going to file a complaint. And then? But we all got scared and left only one person to complain. And we felt- I felt so guilty so I revealed it later on. You know that feeling where people say- "Why didn't you speak up?" "You waited too long." But it's true that it's hard for you to say it right away. Because you were afraid to lose your job. Many reasons. But those experiences, those are traumatic and cause triggers, and- you know what memory I've been carrying with me for the longest time? The smell of that place where it happened. - You were harassed there?
- In the old news room, we had a- we had a sink in the pantry with old newspapers stacked there, or plates that haven't even been washed. Stuff like that. So that smell, like that of smelly insects, that smell stayed with me for a very long time. But that was it. He called you? He called me... - In that small room?
- Yes. And he tried to... french kiss me. And I ran away... I ran. So somebody noticed and said, "Didn't I just see you with your very red lipstick?" - It was erased?
- I ran to the restroom. Because it was so messy. And I wiped it off right away. That's it but you know also- He was a colleague too, so it was difficult for me. And a boss. So what did you learn about yourself after that experience? Guilt that- the job was more important than complaining. Let's talk about the very famous 2008 incident that really changed your life. Yeah. Yesterday was my thirteenth birthday, I'm only thirteen years old. After that abduction? Yeah, because I consider this - my second life.
- Really. But I was reading the transcript of what happened to you. Everybody, even your bosses, were telling you not to go and not to do it? That interview. At the last minute. Why did you want to go? I wanted to go because everybody was speculating who is the new leader of the Abu Sayyaf. Not everybody was telling me that this is what was going to happen. Yes. How did I get there? Well, of course it was approved. Why was I able to bring my team? It was approved. But the night before, Charie Villa called and said, "Don't go." Just give them the handicam, the small camera so that they can give their message. Okay so June 2008, you flew to Sulu, you stayed in some sort of dorm, or- - Like a hostel.
- Hostel. And then, the next day, this guy- - comes to your place.
- Yeah. Because we were already actually, we set the plan already. Okay. So you were invited? - Let's go.
- "Let's go." When he said, "Let's go," you didn't feel anything strange? because there's this thing called women's instincts, right? We have a natural instinct. I feel like that's our spirit telling us that there's something wrong or you're going to be in danger. Did you feel it in your heart that something's wrong? - No, not yet.
- When he said, "Let's go?" No. I still wanted to go. Because it's a story. - Yeah.
- That you wanted to cover? Yes. For one, we had a guide, Professor Dinampo, who seemed to be very close to the Abu Sayyaf, so there were a lot of- we were after several revelations, there were many kidnappings happening- many kidnappings happening yet I was there? Anyway, I figured maybe there's proof that they really were conspiring with the military? And the LGU, so maybe they were going to disclose this? So I wanted to get that information. - First hand. Face to face.
- Yeah, yeah. You wanted to get that headline. And also, the new leader, was a former MNLF commander supposedly. Who is not as extreme as the previous leader. So there was hope for maybe a peaceful settlement. Maybe they could negotiate with the government. Something like that. So there were many interesting possibilities and... - Facets of the story.
- Yeah. Correct. - That you could cover.
- Yeah. - So you went-
- But I knew it was dangerous. But I didn't realize right away that it was a trap. Where did you go? When he said, "let's go?" We rode a Ford Fiera. We were supposed to wait for the person who'd be our safe conduct pass. The person is a safe conduct pass because that person is a relative of a member of the Abu Sayyaf. They had a practice like that. If you're related, they'll give some respect. They had practices where they would kidnap relatives so that they could release someone. They had those going on. Or they'd say, "nothing will happen to you because you're with a relative of a member." - It's as if there was an assurance.
- Yes. - That will go with you?
- Correct. He arrived. Okay. So okay, let's go. We have a safe conduct pass already. And it was funny, I was a bit relaxed, nothing will come because he's just pulling paco leaves as we went along. - It was so normal.
- On the way. Correct. Suddenly, he was gone. We stopped and it was raining hard. What time was this that morning? I think it was after lunch, or around lunch- when we were waiting in the Fiera then we started walking. And around three or four o'clock, there was a heavy downpour. We stopped under, I can never forget this tree that was so beautiful. Mangosteen. I never knew mangosteen leaves were that huge. And I had some doubts because, it should have been a warning sign for me before already. I mean a warning sign to not even consider doing it, because they always say, when you're talking to the Abu Sayyaf, don't bring a lot of money, don't bring expensive jewelry because they might take it, or get it from you so- I had a few maybe hundred pesos in my wallet, but they got all our things already. Even the cellphone. For safekeeping, I guess. - Okay.
- You were allowed to text from where you were, right? I said, "Give me my bag." I had my makeup there because I was preparing. - For the interview.
- I kept on retouching my makeup. - Because it was an interview after all.
- Yeah. - Even if there was a heavy downpour?
- Yeah. - So there.
- You kept retouching. Then I checked my wallet, the money was already gone. So, that was like a warning already, right? - You were robbed already.
- Yeah. We still kept walking and in fact at that time, I was already thinking, "what if we make a run for it?" because we would still pass by some houses and the roads were still made of concrete. You wanted to run? Yeah. - You felt like you had to head back?
- Yeah. But then- Why didn't you? Well- I was thinking, I will not even tell them that we're going back. I will run. But how would I give signals to my cameramen? How many were you? - Three?
- Three. Together with Professor Dinampo. And where do I go? - Where would you run to?
- Exactly. - That was the thing.
- Yes. And another mistake was, in hindsight, I didn't want to show that I couldn't keep up. The path we were walking was far and steep. Our source of light was just a lighter. The really small one attached to a lighter. Not the actual flame. But the one on the lighter's butt. That's it. I didn't want to show weakness, so I keep pace with them. So I was rushing to my kidnapping in a way. I mean it was like- The professor also said, "Don't walk too fast." We reached the top of a hill. Maybe... - What time was that?
- Midnight or past that. - Twelve or past twelve.
- I was thinking- I was so worried already. I was thinking of what it was. - It was wrong already.
- Yes. I was thinking I couldn't sleep already, not because of the worrying, but from sheer exhaustion. We slept in a hut. There were piles of clothes, I think they were ukay-ukay clothes, all mixed up and piled up. We just slept on a pile of clothes. Something like that. That was after 8 hours of? - Walking.
- Trekking. Trekking, yeah. We'll pass streams, I even tripped on a rock and our path was uphill. So when you arrived at that nipa hut and you slept, what happened the next day? Well, we were all just looking at each other, thinking that was it. We weren't talking because it seems like there's very little chances for us. Because they said we were going to go to the commander. And then they called for me, and told me, "This is a kidnap for ransom situation now." The kidnapping of the news journalists, Ces Drilon, in Sulu... So when they said, "kidnap for ransom," what did you immediately feel? Oh my god. The first time I ever felt like when you're reading books, and then you feel something so heavy at the pit of your stomach as if something fell, - something heavy.
- Just fell head on. Yes. There. That was the first time in my life I had felt that. - Something heavy just dropped inside you.
- Yeah. Yes, a sinking feeling in my stomach. And then I kept insisting for them to just tell us their story. I was still convincing them but it really was kidnap for ransom situation already. So I called Maria. I said, "Maria, I'm so sorry." Am I fired? That's the first thing you said? Am I fired? What did she say? Well I have to admit I didn't follow their instructions, right? She said, "Are you safe?" "Are you okay?" You were abducted for nine days. Yeah. 9 days. On the tenth day, was when we were released. Where did they bring you? We still walked. To the place where we first stopped- There were even conversations of them saying another group might take us. You understood their dialect? They were speaking in Tagalog? No. In Tausug. But Professor Dinampo could understand. He said that they had fear that another group might take us from them. Stuff like that. So the first- the second night, we were like- they were avoiding taking us to their camp site. We slept on bare land. So there were insects and all that... Jimmy, my cameraman, even said something like, "The ants might crawl inside." And I had some panty liners I've been saving, in case I needed to use them. We ripped them and put them in our ears. Yes. Later on, I called him out. "See, you wasted my stash!" Your panty liners. So that they wouldn't crawl inside. So they won't crawl because we were sleeping directly on the ground. Ground, as in soil. What did they feed you that time? At first, there was one small plate, I thought one for each of us, it was a small plate with a small portion of noodles, one small fish, and a small portion of rice. And we would share that. - Not even-
- The three of you would share that? Four of us. - Four.
- Even Professor Dinampo. I said, "That's it. I won't eat that. Take it!" Later on, I said to myself, " That was wrong. You should think of your survival." So if they feed you, eat because you need energy. So I didn't do that again. I ate that dish- rice with soy sauce, I never knew it would be delicious. Super. I said, "Wow! This is delicious!" You enjoyed it? Yes. So anyway, yeah, later on, I said, "You have to think of how to survive." Don't be too demanding. So during the nine days, what was going on inside your mind? Inside your heart? For sure there was fear. There was fear but you know, I was responsible for two other, my cameraman and assistant cameraman. I could not. I had to be- I had to get myself together. To be strong. - For them.
- For them. I was responsible for them. For their lives. So if I was weak, they'd lose hope, too. I cried once. - When was that?
- Only once. When was the time that you cried? I came from the... "restroom." Because there wasn't a proper one. I answered the call of nature, so they gave me a bolo knife to dig a hole. And they gave me a gallon of water and soap. So, you go to a distant place, and I told myself, "What did I get into? My god." That's where it all- - Dawned?
- Yeah. The gravity of the situation. So I returned, and I was crying. They said to me, "Why the hell are you crying?!" Something like that. After that, I said, "I'll never cry again." Never! So, there. There was even a time, "You know, she's too hopeful. She's too optimistic." they said. They said I should look weary so it'll be easier to negotiate. - If you looked pitiful?
- Yeah. But I never lost hope, in fact, I was still very hopeful. I was the one negotiating with them, I even said, "I'll borrow money!" "I'll borrow and I'll get you the money." - "I will pay you."
- How much were they asking for? That time, Twenty. - Million pesos?
- Yeah. My strategy was I'm- I'm powerful. Not so powerful but- - Strong?
- As if saying, "I can get out of this." - That was your mindset?
- Yeah. The only time I really gave a thought that I could die here, I wanted a dignified death. But I never thought- I never entertained the idea of hopelessness. Did they scare you, Ms. Ces? - That they will kill you?
- Of course! Everyday? What do you say? There was a time when they were so angry at the negotiator so they threw tantrums. We were so scared. And then they said to me, "Still doing your makeup, huh? Go and do that nicely so you'll look nice when we send your head to the ABS-CBN office." Then they tied up my two cameramen. Jimmy and Angel. Then they asked them to kneel and they took their cameras. And then Jimmy said to me, "I shot some footage in secret." So we were so scared, but good thing they didn't know how to operate the cameras. They took the cameras and said, "You! You'll shoot the beheading of your fellow, okay?" Who said that? When they say those things, how do you feel? - Were you trembling in fear?
- Well, of course- That body-shaking moment? This was it. I was sneaking text messages. Wasn't it difficult to delete text messages one by one in old phones? Yes. You need to really- - in 2008.
- Physically erase one by one. What would you text? Some clues tailing where we were. "There are fifteen caretakers," but I really meant "guards." Stuff like that. Who do you text? My family and I think it was Charie. So... I would say, I did send a message. And they would get the phone after. That's when I was shaking in fear already. My hands were trembling and I couldn't stop it. - From the nervousness.
- Yes! - Because if they read that-
- And they figure out- That I was sneaking those types of messages, we're done. There were many speculations, Ms. Ces, with what they did to you, "Was she raped?" "Did they abuse you?" Did that happen? No. You know what I was really very upset at that morbid fascination. Because... if I was, what? Are you gonna look at me differently? It's like, people would whisper, "Ah, she was raped." The possibility of me being raped there, yes. But it seemed like people were so fascinated, well, if I were raped, would they look at me differently? Is it my fault? - That that happened to me?
- So you weren't? I was not. Thankfully. That was the second time that I felt that thing in- - That sinking feeling?
- That sinking feeling. When I was in the inquest in Camp Crame. And for the very first time, Professor Dinampo revealed that there were conversations, of a member who would attempt to do something. Yeah. But while we were there... I had a suspicion with their leader, who lost a part of his arm. He was too close to me, because we would sleep in a hammock. - A hammock.
- Yes, right. So, I was beside him. And I said, "What should i do?" I looked at the bolo knife I could use. - You were going to kill him?
- Yes, of course. I thought maybe a gun? But I didn't know how to use one. At least if it were a bolo knife, - I just need to stab him.
- Right away. Well, those were the thoughts. I never did any of those. But I was thinking- - Survival.
- Yeah. That's what I'll do. But they would always keep a light on me. So they'd see what I'm up to. If I'd escape or what... And I would think to myself, how would I escape? Where would I go? One time, I remembered, there was this place they brought us to that was overlooking the sea. It was so beautiful. I was thinking, what if I roll over until I reach the bottom, and I reach the beach, maybe then, I can escape. I had those thoughts. Did you think about your children? Of course. Of course, I felt- And my mom. It was like- It's probably worse for them. I felt so bad. They're probably wondering... you know. I felt very guilty. Putting them through that ordeal. So during those nine days that you were abducted, what were your prayers? Strength to accept... ...death. To be given dignity, in case. That's what you were praying for? - Yes.
- Accept my death. ...If it comes. To be prepared. Of course I was always hopeful that we will come out alive. And you came out alive after nine days? Yeah. At first, I was so mad at them because- During the last negotiation, Jimmy had his ultimatum already, because it was just the two of us and the professor there, I was so mad because he was begging and saying, "Please, I have kids." Because he was tied up around the neck. Around the neck? Yes. But to put him in that situation, this man who's so honorable He's begging- "I have children!" and he was on his knees, that was so- What they did was so terrible! He was an honorable man and he was begging for his life, he was so kind, and to reduce him and make him beg like that. - For his life?
- Yeah. I was so angry. So after that, there were several calls, and then... one of those Abu Sayyaf, put the phone down and spat on the ground. "You're free." When the kidnappers freed Angelo Valderama, they finally released Ces and her companions, too. How was your reunion with your kids? When you saw each other again? A lot of tears. Of course. Yes. I tortured them in some way, right? It was too much. You know. What was the feeling like to hug your kids again? No words to describe. And especially my mom. - Your mom.
- My mom. I remember hugging her so tightly. But very conscious that I smelled bad. I only took a bath once... In those nine days? Yeah. So the first thing I wanted to do after being released was to take a bath. How did that incident change you, Ms. Ces? That whole experience? Well you realize that life is so short. And sometimes, you know, I feel very guilty because I'm so dedicated to my job, that even when I was about to watch a movie with my children, but if there's a call saying that there's a story brewing somewhere, I would cancel our family schedule. - With your kids?
- Yeah. So I felt that, you know- to really value my family and to stop and smell the flowers. I mean, you know, the world, you don't have to chase after all these stories. Humility, because I had to. I was suspended. Gratitude because so many people prayed for my safety. I believed the power of everyone's prayers. - Really helped.
- Saved. Yeah, saved me. I learned...I guess... It was an important lesson. One, you learn from your mistakes of course. Be more measured. Be a little more cautious. Because I am such a risk-taker. So I have learned to apply that in my life. Did your priorities change after the incident? Yeah. Because before the priority was to deliver the story, to work, "I'm a broadcast journalist. This is my responsibility." and everything came second. - Yeah.
- Your family, your health. Your life. Yeah. I would postpone a dentist appointment. For work? For work, yeah. It was like, my job defined me. - Something like that.
- Yes. You said something really beautiful in an interview, you said- "In a lot of ways, I allowed my being a journalist to define me. I was so single-minded. It's just one aspect of me." - Yeah.
- That's so beautiful. "There are other things I neglected like being a mother, daughter, sister, friend. When I was doing a story, that was the most important thing... Everything else took second priority." I said that. I always ask forgiveness from my sons because... they were scarred after that. So if you were to put your life journey as a headline, did anything come to mind? Oh, wow. Maybe... "Ces Drilon, Unsinkable" Toni, I hate you. Why? Why?! Because you made me cry.
